Got myself a box brownie and not afraid to use it

photogav

photogav

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Gavin
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As the title says. I just put a test film through a new (yet old) box brownie. Just need to find somewhere to process it. Anyone have any recommendations as to where to send 120 roll film (B+W). I'm based in Dorset, but I guess anywhere could do it.

It's just a test roll to check exposure etc so its not going to be earth shattering.

Gavin
 
I don't know where in Dorset you are but if you happen to be in the Bournemouth area Snaps Photo Services are based in Bournemouth and do 35mm, 120 and even 5x4 now i believe in C-41, B&W and E-6.

You can send it to be developed by post or drop into the shop and do it that way. I live in Bournemouth so i go down there with my films. I picked up some Velvia and Ektar from developing earlier this week and the owner said with more labs closing down now he's never been so busy with orders, he used to do E-6 and B&W developing only twice a week but now he's having to do it more often to keep up with demand.
 
photogav said:
As the title says. I just put a test film through a new (yet old) box brownie. Just need to find somewhere to process it. Anyone have any recommendations as to where to send 120 roll film (B+W). I'm based in Dorset, but I guess anywhere could do it.

It's just a test roll to check exposure etc so its not going to be earth shattering.

Gavin
Click to expand...

erm Box brownie..then you might like going around with an Iford Sporti ;)
 
photogav said:
As the title says. I just put a test film through a new (yet old) box brownie. Just need to find somewhere to process it. Anyone have any recommendations as to where to send 120 roll film (B+W). I'm based in Dorset, but I guess anywhere could do it.

It's just a test roll to check exposure etc so its not going to be earth shattering.

Gavin
Click to expand...

Welcome to TP Gavin.

Good on ya!......Nice to see someone else giving a new lease of life to an old Box Brownie....You may be pleasantly surprised at what results you get .....perhaps not earth shattering as you say but nonetheless if the camera works something like after all these years does it really matter?!!

I can't help re developing as i don't live in the Uk but you have already had a couple of responses to help ....perhaps at some point in the future you may have a dabble at developing at home....plenty of us on here to help you learn how to get started.

excalibur2 said:
erm Box brownie..then you might like going around with an Iford Sporti ;)
Click to expand...


A little condescending do you not think?

I don't personally think there's anything wrong with wanting to use a Box Brownie ...I've got several most of which will throw out a half reasonable result given their ages and condition.

Perhaps an Ilford Sporti could be a handy p&s for slipping in a pocket to walk about with.....I've had results from lesser quality gear....If there is fun to be had then what does it matter what kit we use?....
 
Asha said:
A little condescending do you not think?

I don't personally think there's anything wrong with wanting to use a Box Brownie ...I've got several most of which will throw out a half reasonable result given their ages and condition.

Perhaps an Ilford Sporti could be a handy p&s for slipping in a pocket to walk about with.....I've had results from lesser quality gear....If there is fun to be had then what does it matter what kit we use?....
Click to expand...

The title says it all ;)

..but it is amazing to me that camera makers have made great advances in cameras that produce great results and they are cheap to buy now, yet people will enjoy a camera that I couldn't wait to get rid off when I was young. :shrug: My parents too used box Brownies and have a suitcase full of poor to average quality photos.
 
excalibur2 said:
erm Box brownie..then you might like going around with an Iford Sporti ;)
Click to expand...

The Ilford Sporti and Box Brownie are both on the 52 cameras list and I'm really looking forward to bringing out of the dark recesses of the camera vault (or the cupboard under the stairs as it's better known).

There's a whole lot of folk out there whose past wouldn't have been recorded if it wasn't for the likes of the Brownie and the Sporti. OK they may not be cutting edge technology now but there deserve their place in the history and evolution of the point and shoot and bringing photography to the masses.

I love 'em :thumbs:
 
excalibur2 said:
yet people will enjoy a camera that I couldn't wait to get rid off when I was young. :shrug: My parents too used box Brownies and have a suitcase full of poor to average quality photos.
Click to expand...

I am one of those that enjoys using those types of cameras that many people like yourself were glad to see the back of, ...The reason being is i like the challenge and satisfaction of being able to get a result from them....albiet often of poor or average quality but a result nonetheless...I would be interested to see if my D80 (my most modern camera) will still be able to offer any image at all at the turn of the next century when it reaches near on 100 years old.....

Please do take a look at my 52 challenge and yes you will see that many of the shots are poor quality but nonetheless with light leaks, plastic lenses, and other faults/quirks, the cameras used have all given a result.

I think many people search for creativity in their photography (the OP included going by his profile/website).....I see myself as being creative in making this old gear "live" again.....very time consuming, often frustrating but ultimatley satisfying that i can get a result out of something that many folk consider is only good for the dustbin.

I'm sure most photographers enjoy photography museums.....well I consider my home to be a "living museum" where the gear that is capable of being used, is used as well as admired as an ornament and a fantastic piece of photographic memorabilia.

Please don't get me wrong, I too enjoy the ease, practicality and quality that modern digital gear has to offer but doesn't give me the same buzz, regardless of the result.

I for one would like to see what results the OP has managed to obtain from his Box Brownie....probably better than what i can get from mine!!:D
 
RaglanSurf said:
There's a whole lot of folk out there whose past wouldn't have been recorded if it wasn't for the likes of the Brownie and the Sporti. OK they may not be cutting edge technology now but there deserve their place in the history and evolution of the point and shoot and bringing photography to the masses.

:
Click to expand...

:clap: :clap: :clap:
 
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I think Asha has described my feelings for wanting to use the Brownie very well. Photography is a creative medium (or at least it was). I've seen it change hugely from the early 90s when I was the technical writer for Practical Photography magazine. I shoot with the latest digital cameras, but the sheer crispness and detail of the images produced sometimes override the creativity and playfulness of film photography.

The Picture Post photographer Bert Hardy famously used a box brownie to record a picture of two girls in Blackpool to show it wasn't the equipment, but the photographer who took the picture. I would like to emulate those sentiments and will indeed share my results on here and my website.

As for home developing, I did a lot of that in the late 80s and early 90s, so I may take it up again if I can find a decent 120 film scanner.
 
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