Zeiss Ikon Maximar

A bit of autumn sunshine encouraged me to have another go with the Maximar. As I discovered the first time I used it, its quite a complex process. I loaded up the plates with very old FP4 sheet film, I still have problems getting it the right way around in the plate with the emulsion to the light. The film does have notches  on the top left to aid the process but I still managed to get it wrong on 2 of the 3 plates!

Focusing on the ground glass screen in sunlight is impossible so I needed my dressing gown over my head!

To process the sheets, last time I used the 'taco' method in a Paterson type tank with hair bands to hold the films. This did not work well as the hair bands disintegrated and left deposits over the film. This time I used elastic bands. This was not much of an improvement! The films were not full immersed in the developer and so have undeveloped strips on one side. I used stand development with Rodinal 1+ 100 for 1 hour. Negatives are a little dark. Maybe because the film is so old and it has lost some of its sensitivity.

This shot was taken in a mirror, dark section on the lower right is where the negative was not developed.

Focus is a little soft on this one but I think the negative was the wrong way around in the holder with the emulsion to the rear.

If its sunny tomorrow I might try again.