Toronto Photography Meetup Group

I have a Mamiya RB67 -- this camera is completely manual, so I have to rely on my lightmeter to give me some accurate meter readings. Thankfully I've been very lucky so far. In the past, I used my DSLR (though that is really only a stop-gap solution for a meter), but carrying two cameras, especially when one is nearly 8 pounds, doesn't make a lot of sense.

I'd like to ask about what you guys do for your medium format film.

I get my film processed at downtown camera on Queen E. They're good, though a little expensive (especially for E6). I went to San Francisco a month ago and was able to process E6 film for far less. I realize that it's a completely different place... but there's got to be a good place somewhere.

Also, where do you buy your film? Again, in SF, there were no problems in finding film that I would have a hard time finding in large quantities in Toronto (it's also expensive). Namely Velvia 100. B&W is very easy to come by, at least, it seems that way, but I like colour film a lot more.

After you've processed your film, what do you do with it after that? For me, I'm pretty fortunate since I'm a member of Hart House (alumni of UofT) and they have a Nikon Super Coolscan 9000 ED, which is probably the best scanner out there. One day I'm not going to have access to it anymore though (or I'll move) so when that day comes, what should I do? Any recommendations on digitizing services?

Finally, printing. I got some really nice (large) prints from Black's at Yonge & Dundas downtown. They have a large format printer that isn't too expensive to print from. Though I'm thinking that there's got to be something better than that too.

Thanks for the help everyone!

There's Toronto Image Works, and I like to use ElPro who are on Elm just west of Yonge. They can do push for free, which is a plus. They're cheaper than DC.

As for film, these places sometimes have short dated film once a year, so you can do that. I often order online from EBay sources or Freestyle photo. I buy in bulk to save on shipping (rather than a roll or two)

Get an incident meter - the Sekonic L308 S/B are both great, accurate, compact and light. They use a single AA battery which lasts months if not a year under regular use.

Don't bother spending a lot of money on a light meter..... Do you have an iphone? Download the light meter app..... It works really well! I use it on my ipad for shooting large format.

I shoot with the Mamiya 645 AFD, usually shoot either Kodak E100VS when I can find it, or Ektar 100. For black and white FP2 or FP4. I also shoot Ektachrome, and ocassionally Velvia or Provia.

Developing at Toronto Imahe Works..... Cheaper that DC

Scan at home... V700 Epson.

I usually process at Toronto Image Works (I tend to prefer the negatives from there). From time to time I'll rent an Imacon scanner there or at Pitko. To date I've been printing at home on an Epson printer.

For film I tend to buy from Freestyle or (more often) B & H- both for selection and price- usually I'll just order a bunch when I'm ordering something else. B & H has cheaper shipping options now (well when it works). I find it a bit tough finding slide film locally for a reasonable price.

For light meters- I've been using a Sekonic 758DR- which I quite like (I like that it has a spot meter as well). I recently picked up a Sekonic 308S as I wanted something more portable to use with my rangefinder- I like it so far as well.

Develop my own film (bw, c41 and e6).

Maybe it is time I have a developing workshop

I just use the sunny 16 rule.

I've heard that this works well, but the meter readings have told me otherwise (more or less). How effective do you find that it is?

For city use I don't believe in sunny 16. You can't beat a good meter and the knowledge on how to use it correctly. But if the light is not changing you don't have to use it for every shot.

My blog entry: "who says sunny 16 cant lie"

http://blog.metrix-x.com/2010/08/who-sa ... t-lie.html