Non-digital SLR in India

Onecuponly · Dec 3rd, 2007, 22:59

Hello hello

Thought this might be a pertinent question to ask considering all the threads in this forum seem to relate to digital SLRs rather than the classic, analogue types...

Basically I'm going to be in India for 2 months (and will be in SE Asia for a further 4 months afterwards) and was wondering if anyone had exprerience with using 35mm in hot, humid climates. Does this damage the film/lense, is it more practical to post negatives home and keep prints, vice versa or just not get nagatives developed?

Any advice particularly in terms of maintenance would be most appreciated... I'm taking my digi compact as well but in my opinion you just cannot beat Film SLRs for beautiful, vibrant atmospheric photographs!

thanks all

dzibead · Dec 4th, 2007, 03:09

I don't think this will be a problem. After all, before the "digital tsunami", people used (and still continue to use) film SLRs in hot and humid climates, not only in India but also lots of other places. And anyway, not every place in India is all that hot/humid all the time ... depends of where you're going and when.

LilyB · Dec 4th, 2007, 04:23

Dzibead makes a good point and your camera shouldn't have any trouble with the weather. Ditto with your film, unless you're shooting with infrared, which has to be kept cool and isn't practical for the traveling you're doing. Just use common sense and don't leave the film or camera in a car on a hot day or sitting around in direct sunlight.

So the question is developing. How fussy are you about film processing? Does it matter if the color is a little (or a lot) off? If it matters to you, send your film home undeveloped or keep it with you, to be taken to a trusted photo lab upon your return. Beware of airport scanners that can damage film though, especially ISO speeds 400 or above. This risk will only increase the more times it's scanned, whether exposed or unexposed.

Film doesn't suffer from getting wet (it's developed in liquid after all) but on the very off chance that extreme humidity has caused it to stick together inside the canister, let whoever develops your film know what conditions you've been traveling in and to be careful pulling it out of the canister. There's no recovering negatives that have had the emulsion ripped off.

As much as I love my digital camera I agree that there are moments that film captures best. Have fun shooting!

Shaktipalooza · Dec 4th, 2007, 05:09

Film is dead!!!

At least for me. I spent years dragging film to the other side of the planet. Fighting security personal to hand check instead of nuking my film was never much fun, especially when they have so many guns.

I've always developed my film when I get back from a trip. Unless you're very familiar with whose developing the negatives the results can be less than optimal.

Other than that the film can certainly handle the climate but not the xray machines. Your best option is to hand carry the film and try to protect it as much as possible. Take the rolls out of the little plastic canisters and put like types in clear zip lock baggies. The security people will be more likely to do the hand check rather than send it through the machine, but this is not guaranteed.

Checked luggage is subjected to far more powerful xray radiation. Avoid packing your film.

the opoponax · Dec 4th, 2007, 06:25

Does anyone know how readily available 120 (medium format) film is in India? How easy is it to get such film processed? I'm toying with the idea of bringing a Holga or Diana, but I probably won't if I'll have to bring all the film with me and then pack it back to the states to be processed.

Bhaswaran · Dec 4th, 2007, 07:47

I use both film and digital SLRs and have no complaints till date. However, in hot and humid climates (like sea shore) keep the camera and lens wrapped in silica gel to keep them dry as far as possible. Do keep them while you come back from the trip.

120 mm film is still availabe, but at some select places. In Kolkata, you can find them in the Esplande region.

A good processing laboratory in Kolkata is Bourne & Sephard, near Elite CInema/opposite to Regal Cinema, at S.N.Banerjee Road. Otherwise, process them in a lab familiar to you, may be in your hometown.

capt_mahajan · Dec 4th, 2007, 08:02

Second Bhaswaran on the silica gel. I had to get all my lens' cleaned every year, almost, in Mumbai because else they had a tendency to catch fungus.... before I did that, and also installed a zero watt bulb in the cupboard.

Of course, I was living there at that time, and the lens' were exposed to humidity througout the year.

Shaktipalooza · Dec 4th, 2007, 10:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by capt_mahajan

Second Bhaswaran on the silica gel. I had to get all my lens' cleaned every year, almost, in Mumbai because else they had a tendency to catch fungus.... before I did that, and also installed a zero watt bulb in the cupboard.

Of course, I was living there at that time, and the lens' were exposed to humidity througout the year.

Eek. Fungus? I've been trying to find out if this is an issue but none of the photography forums seem to have experience with long term stays in South India. I'll be moving there with a duffle bag full of lenses and really can't afford having them messed up with fungus.

Bulb in the closet works?

capt_mahajan · Dec 4th, 2007, 10:19

The first time, I got fungus on my zoom lens. Very expensive to get professionally cleaned.

A professional photographer gave me the bulb tip, plus silica gel, another guy told me wrapping the camera/lens in a pure wool pullover helps.

The bulb works. Generates some heat, and keeps the humidity away. I have seen a couple of people in Mumbai doing it with their clothes cupboards, too.

Nick-H · Dec 4th, 2007, 10:28

How easy it is to buy silica gel here?

I never found it easy in London!

capt_mahajan · Dec 4th, 2007, 10:37

Go to your friendly neighbourhood chemist. They have a lot of silica gel packets used in medicine bottles etc.

At least, thats what I did.

Nick-H · Dec 4th, 2007, 10:45

Good idea!

I'm afraid that my Olympus SLR, once a prized possession, is probably rusting and fungi-ing away. I'm not even sure where it is

.

One thing I've found that the monsoon season brings is a fine coating of mould on leather. Probably most older kit came with leather/natural-fibre cases, and this may be one way of helping the fungi find the kit?

capt_mahajan · Dec 4th, 2007, 10:47

Nope. I used to store the camera and all other lens' without the protective leather cover; but then, I was very very close to the sea in Mumbai, maybe higher levels of humidity did it.

abhijeet sojwal · Jun 10th, 2008, 20:21

Nothing will happen to the Film, there is no place in India atleast where the temp and humidity will spoile the film, provided you store it in cool dry condition, use the original plastic pack to store the film,

Secondly develop your film ASAP after you shoot irrespective of place.

Keeping films in refrigerator is the best idea.
and highly recommended in case of Slids and Hi-ISO films.

However film is dying - and will. There is a sentimental side to it, otherwise there is nothing that digital can not serve compare to film. SO the best idea is to forget the film, no matter how much you love it.

abhijeet sojwal · Jun 10th, 2008, 20:29

Oxferd Street, there are atleast 4 big camera shops or any electronics shop, or try at Pharmacy shop.

Dec 3rd, 2007, 22:59	#1
Onecuponly Norfolk's finest Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: East Anglia Posts: 26	Non-digital SLR in India Hello hello Thought this might be a pertinent question to ask considering all the threads in this forum seem to relate to digital SLRs rather than the classic, analogue types... Basically I'm going to be in India for 2 months (and will be in SE Asia for a further 4 months afterwards) and was wondering if anyone had exprerience with using 35mm in hot, humid climates. Does this damage the film/lense, is it more practical to post negatives home and keep prints, vice versa or just not get nagatives developed? Any advice particularly in terms of maintenance would be most appreciated... I'm taking my digi compact as well but in my opinion you just cannot beat Film SLRs for beautiful, vibrant atmospheric photographs! thanks all

Dec 4th, 2007, 05:09	#4
Shaktipalooza Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Portland Oregon USA Posts: 894	Film is dead!!! At least for me. I spent years dragging film to the other side of the planet. Fighting security personal to hand check instead of nuking my film was never much fun, especially when they have so many guns. I've always developed my film when I get back from a trip. Unless you're very familiar with whose developing the negatives the results can be less than optimal. Other than that the film can certainly handle the climate but not the xray machines. Your best option is to hand carry the film and try to protect it as much as possible. Take the rolls out of the little plastic canisters and put like types in clear zip lock baggies. The security people will be more likely to do the hand check rather than send it through the machine, but this is not guaranteed. Checked luggage is subjected to far more powerful xray radiation. Avoid packing your film. __________________ IndiaGroove - Train finder now in beta! Pics from India 2006 Traditional Indian Dance

Dec 4th, 2007, 07:47	#6
Bhaswaran Landscape Photographer Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Kolkata. INDIA bhaswaran@redifmail.com Posts: 895	I use both film and digital SLRs and have no complaints till date. However, in hot and humid climates (like sea shore) keep the camera and lens wrapped in silica gel to keep them dry as far as possible. Do keep them while you come back from the trip. 120 mm film is still availabe, but at some select places. In Kolkata, you can find them in the Esplande region. A good processing laboratory in Kolkata is Bourne & Sephard, near Elite CInema/opposite to Regal Cinema, at S.N.Banerjee Road. Otherwise, process them in a lab familiar to you, may be in your hometown. __________________ ....life is a journey.....and the journey is more important than the destination........ http://www.indiamike.com/photopost/s...0/ppuser/15496

Dec 4th, 2007, 08:02	#7
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 8,972	Second Bhaswaran on the silica gel. I had to get all my lens' cleaned every year, almost, in Mumbai because else they had a tendency to catch fungus.... before I did that, and also installed a zero watt bulb in the cupboard. Of course, I was living there at that time, and the lens' were exposed to humidity througout the year. __________________ . Humpty Dumpty was pushed. Indiamike moderating team ..ich bin ein oneliner

Dec 4th, 2007, 10:28	#10
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 24,473	How easy it is to buy silica gel here? I never found it easy in London! __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Dec 4th, 2007, 03:09	#2
dzibead Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern California Posts: 1,911	I don't think this will be a problem. After all, before the "digital tsunami", people used (and still continue to use) film SLRs in hot and humid climates, not only in India but also lots of other places. And anyway, not every place in India is all that hot/humid all the time ... depends of where you're going and when.

Dec 4th, 2007, 04:23	#3
LilyB Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Washington State, USA Posts: 61	Dzibead makes a good point and your camera shouldn't have any trouble with the weather. Ditto with your film, unless you're shooting with infrared, which has to be kept cool and isn't practical for the traveling you're doing. Just use common sense and don't leave the film or camera in a car on a hot day or sitting around in direct sunlight. So the question is developing. How fussy are you about film processing? Does it matter if the color is a little (or a lot) off? If it matters to you, send your film home undeveloped or keep it with you, to be taken to a trusted photo lab upon your return. Beware of airport scanners that can damage film though, especially ISO speeds 400 or above. This risk will only increase the more times it's scanned, whether exposed or unexposed. Film doesn't suffer from getting wet (it's developed in liquid after all) but on the very off chance that extreme humidity has caused it to stick together inside the canister, let whoever develops your film know what conditions you've been traveling in and to be careful pulling it out of the canister. There's no recovering negatives that have had the emulsion ripped off. As much as I love my digital camera I agree that there are moments that film captures best. Have fun shooting!

Dec 4th, 2007, 06:25	#5
the opoponax Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brooklyn, via New Orleans Posts: 1,054	Does anyone know how readily available 120 (medium format) film is in India? How easy is it to get such film processed? I'm toying with the idea of bringing a Holga or Diana, but I probably won't if I'll have to bring all the film with me and then pack it back to the states to be processed.

Dec 4th, 2007, 10:19	#9
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 8,972	The first time, I got fungus on my zoom lens. Very expensive to get professionally cleaned. A professional photographer gave me the bulb tip, plus silica gel, another guy told me wrapping the camera/lens in a pure wool pullover helps. The bulb works. Generates some heat, and keeps the humidity away. I have seen a couple of people in Mumbai doing it with their clothes cupboards, too.

Dec 4th, 2007, 10:37	#11
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 8,972	Go to your friendly neighbourhood chemist. They have a lot of silica gel packets used in medicine bottles etc. At least, thats what I did.

Dec 4th, 2007, 10:45	#12
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 24,473	Good idea! I'm afraid that my Olympus SLR, once a prized possession, is probably rusting and fungi-ing away. I'm not even sure where it is . One thing I've found that the monsoon season brings is a fine coating of mould on leather. Probably most older kit came with leather/natural-fibre cases, and this may be one way of helping the fungi find the kit?

Dec 4th, 2007, 10:47	#13
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 8,972	Nope. I used to store the camera and all other lens' without the protective leather cover; but then, I was very very close to the sea in Mumbai, maybe higher levels of humidity did it.

Jun 10th, 2008, 20:21	#14
abhijeet sojwal Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: India Posts: 3	Hot Humid wont damage Nothing will happen to the Film, there is no place in India atleast where the temp and humidity will spoile the film, provided you store it in cool dry condition, use the original plastic pack to store the film, Secondly develop your film ASAP after you shoot irrespective of place. Keeping films in refrigerator is the best idea. and highly recommended in case of Slids and Hi-ISO films. However film is dying - and will. There is a sentimental side to it, otherwise there is nothing that digital can not serve compare to film. SO the best idea is to forget the film, no matter how much you love it.

Jun 10th, 2008, 20:29	#15
abhijeet sojwal Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: India Posts: 3	Silica gel Oxferd Street, there are atleast 4 big camera shops or any electronics shop, or try at Pharmacy shop.

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