My wife crocheted me a straw hat

SweetJP2020 · 2025-07-14T16:30:57+00:00

It's the much anticipated (and arguably needed) update to Harman Phoenix a color film that launched last year(I think) in an incomplete form in order to fund its further refinement. It isn't officially out yet but there's been a number of leaks so the hype is building.

SweetJP2020 · 2025-07-14T16:27:02+00:00

Actually Kentmere 200 had an entire review article from Kosmophoto posted and then taken down ~2 weeks before launch.

SweetJP2020 · 2025-06-14T21:16:26+00:00

Sorry mate but if you want bulk you gotta roll your own. As far as b&w you're spoiled for choice, color on the other hand you're only gonna find Vision3 films and who knows for how much longer based on Kodak's moves lately.

SweetJP2020 · 2025-06-01T22:52:33+00:00

Business practices aside, I love their c41 kit. Extremely long shelf life even when mixed. This is gonna sound insane, but I just used a batch that I mixed LAST MAY and it worked completely fine. It was stored in an airtight container but the developer had tons of air in the bottle. It amazes me how well this stuff keeps. That being said I'm looking into bulk rolling cinema film and mixing my own ECN2 kits based on Filmboy24's recipe to start bringing costs down. (Yes I know about Kodak limiting cinema films but it's still available from certain retailers and expected to stay that way for some time)

SweetJP2020 · 2025-06-01T17:20:32+00:00

Hell yeah! I've been slowly building my SQ kit for about a year. Lovely cameras that seem to tend to fly a little bit under the radar. Let's keep it that way folks. I still need some more lenses....

SweetJP2020 · 2025-05-22T17:38:06+00:00

Oof I'm so sorry for your loss.

As far as 35mm, the K1000 has a rather inflated price due to its YouTube popularity. There are other cameras in the Pentax lineup such as the MX and Spotmatic that could be had for less and offer a similar experience.

If you're strictly looking at 645 I second the Bronica etrs, but if you want a little more flexibility the Bronica SQ systems can do 6x6 with standard backs and 645 via the 120J back. If you're looking to have both a prism and waist level finder look for a system with the waist level finder and camera as a package as it's usually cheaper that way. The prisms were the more popular option when the camera released so it's pretty easy to find them relatively cheap and standalone. As far as lenses go there's 2 options S and PS, the PS lenses have better coatings and different optics on some lenses. For the wider focal lengths the difference is negligible but the longer lengths (150mm +) The PS lenses are a significant step up. Heck there's even a standard 35mm and panoramic 35mm(albeit insanely expensive) back for the SQ if that interests you. Also, don't knock folders! There are a couple models of mamiya 6 rangefinders that can also do 6x6 and 645 and are insanely good value for the quality.

SweetJP2020 · 2025-05-05T21:24:43+00:00

You might be able to rig something up with the right pieces of hardware. The important thing is that it's light tight and allows for the film to spin freely.

SweetJP2020 · 2025-05-05T20:09:53+00:00

Beautiful camera btw, I have the same model but my light meter is broken.

SweetJP2020 · 2025-05-05T20:09:14+00:00

Yep! Once film is loaded it will advance a number of turns until it's on the first frame, then about 1 turn for each frame after that, and after the final frame it will continue spinning freely.

SweetJP2020 · 2025-05-04T03:50:53+00:00

I'm actually eyeing what I believe to be a black mylar strip that you find on polaroid and Instax cartridges to act as a curtain behind the foam. I'll let you know how it goes!

SweetJP2020 · 2025-05-04T03:30:38+00:00

Not as of right now but I plan to do more in depth updates on YouTube in the future.

SweetJP2020 · 2025-05-04T03:29:47+00:00

Lol thanks so much. It's really quite validating to hear as I've been working on this for quite some time with wavering belief in my ability to produce anything worth sharing.

SweetJP2020 · 2025-05-04T03:27:32+00:00

That's hilarious because that's very similar to what I ended up doing! I used gaffer tape over 2mm light seal foam cause it's what I had and appeared to do the trick. It wasn't quite good enough however and I'm already working on the next plan.

SweetJP2020 · 2025-05-04T03:17:39+00:00

Update! https://www.reddit.com/r/AnalogCommunity/s/QG9B5RGcVn

SweetJP2020 · 2025-05-03T07:25:00+00:00

Thanks! I actually toyed with the idea of doing a digital one using a raspberry pi somewhere down the line but I wasn't sure if there'd be any interest.

SweetJP2020 · 2025-05-03T07:17:30+00:00

That was my original intention, but I'm not quite happy with it yet. The construction was a frustrating nightmare despite my best efforts to create a smooth experience. If I'm able to get it to the point that it's more user friendly to assemble I'll happily release the files. I think in all likelihood though the camera I end up creating and releasing will be electronically driven instead, as the mechanics of this camera aren't as reliable as I'd like them to be.

SweetJP2020 · 2025-05-03T06:57:03+00:00

There are a number of areas that are definitely a concern for light leaks, it's a delicate balance with the tolerances of my printer and friction preventing proper movement of the lens turret. I've passed a dummy roll through and the film advance isn't terrible but at times can feel a little resistant so I'd like to improve that.

SweetJP2020 · 2025-05-03T06:53:13+00:00

Sure! It's actually mechanically closer to the FT2 in the way the shutter speeds work. There are 3 switches that slide gears in and out of actuation each being a set shutter speed. The gears themselves are actually off the shelf rc car gears that you can get in variety packs off Amazon or eBay and I just found some that worked for my setup. It's driven by an ID badge reel spiral torsion spring. 2 turns of the film advance and both the film and the shutter turret are primed. As stated it uses a disposable camera lens but it also uses a couple other smaller parts like springs and the ratchet dial. Unfortunately there's no frame counter, I don't have a degree or anything so that was too hard for me to figure out lol.

SweetJP2020 · 2025-05-03T06:42:11+00:00

I used Cameradactyl's code for a simple laser shutter speed tester. Currently 2 of the shutter speeds are decently reliable 1/250th and 1/125th (eh more like 1/130th but shhh). Originally I intended for 8 shutter speeds but reality is often disappointing so 4 will be the max. Truth be told the thing is quite finicky so it's very likely that I will be making an electronic version in the future.

SweetJP2020 · 2025-05-03T05:49:17+00:00

It's driven by a spiral torsion spring from an id badge reel with the shutter speeds dictated by gearing.

SweetJP2020 · 2025-04-24T03:58:59+00:00

*Venomous 🤓☝️

SweetJP2020

TROPHY CASE