Why did I bother...

TheBigYin

TheBigYin

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Mark
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As I've said a few times, it's been ages since I've been out taking pictures. But, galvanised by the re-appearance of Helga from her travels, I thought I'd finish the roll of film off and get things finished - the sun was shining, and I was in dire need of a "rest day" from riding the bike after the last 3 days training.

Worried that my B&W chemicals might have "gone off" I decided to take my EOS-3 out loaded with a roll of HP5, shoot the 35mm and dev that to prove the chemicals were working, before risking everyone elses shots. EOS had the 17-40L fitted, screwed a yellow filter in place, grabbed the lens hood and stuffed everything into my bag, picked up the Holga and off I drove to the local Sculpture Park.

At the park i climbed out of the car, and decided to load the film - as it'd had a while to "aclimatise" from the 'fridge. Film loaded no problem, but as I looked through the viewfinder there was something wrong. Top panel saying "bc" - normally something to do with the battery - but in this case, I knew what was wrong - the focusing screen had sprung out. Removed the lens and out dropped the focusing screen - not only had it come unclipped, but it'd rattled completely out of any mounting. Out of the mounting, out of the camera, and onto the gravel of the parking space. ARSE! Carefully picked it up, but the damage's done - dirty great big lines in the smooth etching of the screen.

Cleaned it up and fitted it for a walkaround, shot off a few frames, and completed the roll in Helga, but every time I looked through the viewfinder I just saw the mess I'd made of the screen. Didn't really make me want to spend much time looking through the viewfinder, so I ended up not finishing the roll... :shrug:

So - Looks like I need a replacement Ec-R or Ec-N :( (might get a Ec-D as well if it's a special order job - the grid would be nice for the still life and landscape stuff) - looks like a whole bunch of internet trawling and emailing people to see if the kit they advertise as "in stock" is really "in stock" and not "we'll take your order then contact canon and hopefully they'll have one that you'll get in 7-10 days (which usually metamorphose into 9-12 months!)"
 
I feel your pain.
:(

I was doing some DIY today and just about everything that could go wrong did.

I've lost a bit of photo mojo too but intend to force myself out tomorrow to finish a roll or two then get some darkroom time in to have something to show for the effort.
 
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My film mojo has prettying evaporated. The time I get to shoot is best spent with digital as I just don't have the time to dev, scan and then fiddle with in LR etc. it's got to the point where the Leica kit is in serious danger of sale. The Rolleiflex will stay as 120 is more forgiving with regards time and has something extra with regards quality over digital.

Hey ho.
 
I really feel for you guys, Mark sometimes these things just come along to try your patience and all you can do is work your way through it.

And Jim, I know it can be a struggle to find your mojo and selling your Leica kit if it's not being used is the right thing to do. These things often go in cycles I hadn't bothered with photography for about 5 years apart from p&s snaps until buying a D80 reawakened my interest in all things photographic and particularly my love of film.

I know you both have more important things than photography in your lives at the moment so give it some time guys and all will be right with the world.
 
Yeh guys, mojo loss/ life getting in the way happens to me fairly regularly, I've learnt to be patient and not get too stressed.
Managed a day out today on my own in the Peaks, weather was great, so I took out the Yash Mat, the Bessamatic and the D300. Finished the last 9 shots on the Yash went to get another film from the bag.....no more film, its in the small rucksack, which is in the study.:bang: Oh well still got a nearly full roll in the Bessamatic.....Oh no I haven't, the counter goes from 1 to 36 not 36 to 1....I have 5 shots :bang::bang:

So a mainly digital day today then......:lol:

Andy
 
Sorry the day went pear shaped for you Mark, especially as you don't get much chance to get out shooting.

Try not to let it get you down too much ....there's always another day and if needs be, another camera.

If it's any consolation, I loaded and went out with a camera today believing all was good with it only to find the shutter was intermittantly sticking.

Had two choices...pack up and go home feeling p****d off or stay and shoot the roll anyway.

I chose the latter, still felt very fed up and wondered why i was bothering as was only getting the shutter to fire properly with every other shot but thought "what the hell", could be fun....maybe some "lomo" shots to be had.

Not convinced there'll be one decent result but still enjoyed snapping away whilst threatening the camera with a 200° oven meltdown if it didn't play ball.....the threats didn't work btw.....all my cameras know i "love" em too much to hurt em!:D
 
oh, I'll get the EOS-3 looking right again - it works fine, it's just horrible looking through the finder. Strangely enough, the EOS-3, despite being to all intents and purposes the same as a digital camera but running film is just the one film camera I'd sell a kidney to keep working - if it costs to fix it, so be it. Just wish it hadn't spoiled my mood at the time, and I'd have actually finished the roll, because I haven't a scooby when I'll get out again now.
 
Everything would be too easy if things all went according to plan
 
I'd happily shoot my Ex... sadly, I don't know anyone with a pig farm to dispose of the body with...
 
menthel said:
My film mojo has prettying evaporated. The time I get to shoot is best spent with digital as I just don't have the time to dev, scan and then fiddle with in LR etc. it's got to the point where the Leica kit is in serious danger of sale. The Rolleiflex will stay as 120 is more forgiving with regards time and has something extra with regards quality over digital.

Hey ho.
Click to expand...

I know how you feel, I find it takes longer to fiddle with tifs from the scanner than raw from the dsrl. I always think I'd be happier with a wet print darkroom the fiddling on the PC is worst part for me what ever medium I use.
 
Bummer - could you not clip the used portion of the film off and test that, at least you'd have something to show for it then, or is the EOS like my Oly compact and winds everything the wrong way?
 
Mark,
It may be worth trying MR CAD it is an aladdins cave, if have spent well over an hour in there in the past just looking and still not seeing everything.
 
Dave - thanks for the lead, had a quick look - they've a couple in, but at £29 used (ie no guarantee they're any better than the one I've got in now!) I'd sooner make sure and get a new one on order from WEX for £3 more - and in fairness, it's not as if the scratches on the current one actually preclude using the camera now it's been cleaned, and I'm sure that there's nothing untoward going to drop off it and into the guts of the camera...

Thanks again for the suggestion though :thumbs:
 
Mark, may be worth contacting Mifsuds in Brixham. Their 2nd hand stock is always carefully checked and their condition reports can be trusted.

Just a thought... if the scratches/damage is on the ground side of your current screen, might it be possible to regrind it on a plate of flat glass to retore the ground finish?
 
Only way I'd trust a s/h screen in this case is to walk into the shop, fit it, and examine it "in situ" before forking over the £££'s tbh - no, it's not worth the messing about, I'll just get a new-factory-sealed one I reckon - fortunately, afaik, it's a part that's shared (or at least compatible) with the 1st Gen. Canon 1D's, so hopefully it's not long-gone from the spares catalogue... hell, it's only gonna be £40 tops - barely an evening in the pub! - got to be worth that to get my favourite film camera back working ;)
 
As you say, if the part is still current and easily available, and not too expensive, probably worth forking out the extra few quid for a brand new sealed one!

Have fun fitting it and I hope the clips still clip properly (may be worth replacing them/it if possible since it may have been a clip failure that dropped the screen out in the first place.)

http://www.katzeyeoptics.com/page--Custom-Focusing-Screens--store.html may be worth a look - for fitting tips if nothing else.
 
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