Film Fun Folio #22 - Zeiss Ikonta 521 and Cross Processed Agfa CR 200

Periodically, I'll be posting scans of some complete rolls of film on here, showing both the good and the bad, and giving some basic information as well a little write up of the shoot as well as the reasons why I selected each camera and film.  Enjoy the trip! 

Feature #22:

Camera: ca. 1946 Zeiss Ikonta 521 with Novar f/3.5 lens.

Film: Agfa CR 200 (Cross Processed in C41)

Locale: Central Maryland.

Amid a very busy shooting session in the Fall of 2015 in Frederick County, Maryland, I ran through my rolls a bit more rapidly than originally anticipated.  I'd brought along a few spare rolls as insurance, and I hastily elected to use this roll of CR200 to get a few more exposures.  In hindsight, I'd have more likely elected to use one of the many rolls of Velvia 100F I had on hand rather than my only roll of CR200, but this allowed a good chance to get another look at this unique film.  The frugal part of me would have felt better eeking out 12 or 16 exposures from this roll rather than the 8 possible using a 6x9 camera, but this allowed me a fun chance to see the capabilities of this film in a range of daylight situations.

When it came time to process the film, I elected to cross-process it, mainly because I had read good things about cross processing this film compared to more disparaging things about developing it in E-6.  I guess it was time for me to see what the fuss was about.  

1 - Braddock Heights, MD - f/11, 1/250 - The first shot is sharp enough, but man is it golden in hue.  I don't hate it, but it didn't quite have the fun vibe from the offset that my first cross processed roll had going for it.

2 - Jefferson, MD - f/8, 1/100 - More hues other than yellow making their way into this one, so it works a bit nicer than the first.  The sunlit sections appear to carry a nice golden warmth on a fall afternoon.

3 - Braddock Heights, MD - f/5.6, 1/100 - Interestingly the yellow leaves render pretty true to tone while other shades have their casts re-worked.  It works well, though a bit laden in a cast overall. 

4 - Frederick, MD - f/5.6, 1/250 - I shot this focused on the branch in the foreground to try to soften the replica covered bridge in the distance.  The overall effect does not quite make the 3D separation that I had hoped, but overall, this image, lacking any sunlit spots, appears more balanced in color than the first shots. 

5 - Frederick, MD - f/7.1, 1/250 - Was trying to focus on the tree in foreground - messed it up.  Badly.  Results speak for themselves. 

6 - Braddock Heights, MD -  f/3.5, 1/50 - Accidental Quirky Self Portrait.  Damn, two shots ruined. 

7 - Braddock Heights, MD - f/3.5, 1/50 - Some blur but an overall good result amid a canopy of yellow foliage.  I wish it had come out a tad sharper, but I do like the composition.

8 - Braddock Heights, MD - f/3.5, 1/50 - Bing! I got what I had been trying to do with this one.  Leaves in the foreground focused, and an out of focus background, and even got some medium format bokeh in the backdrop as well!

Thoughts: Since I have no idea how this might have rendered if it had been developed in E-6, I can't say for certain if I made the right move in electing to cross process this roll in C-41 chemistry.  That said, I had hoped to see results more in line with the first roll I shot and cross processed on my Agfa Billy in the Spring of 2015.  Seems I would have done better to have used the film I used then rather than the CR-200.  Still, not a terrible roll. 

Film Fun Folio #17 - Zeiss Ikonta 521 and Provia 100F

Periodically, I'll be posting scans of some complete rolls of film on here, showing both the good and the bad, and giving some basic information as well a little write up of the shoot as well as the reasons why I selected each camera and film.  Enjoy the trip! 

Feature #17:

Camera: ca. 1946 Unbadged Franka Solida with Schneider 75mm f/2.9 lens.

Film: Fuji Provia 100F

Locale: Frederick County, Maryland.

Very few of my 6x9 folders lack some sort of issue.  Some are just less than stellar performers, while others have an issue or two that make completely care free operation an impossibility.  The Zeiss 521 along with the Agfa Billy Record are in fact the only two 6x9s that I have which function just as they should, and of these, the Zeiss is the far more capable of the two.  Given this, you would think that the 521 would constantly have an active roll of film going through it, but in fact, it had been sitting idle and empty since March for little good reason.  

Finally, with Fall in bloom, I rekindled my affection for this reliable and venerable folder by feeding it a roll of Provia, to see what would result in my rambles through Frederick County, Maryland.  Enjoy!                                                       

1 - Lewistown, MD - f/11, 1/100 - I made the error of not really checking out the shutter a few times before loading film into the Ikonta, and when I shot this image, I heard a bit of drag.  I thought I had overexposed it, but it wasn't so bad.  Since I shot the image again, I didn't bother cleaning up the dust after the scan.

2 - Lewistown, MD - f/11, 1/100 - Trying again, the results are improved but not perfect.  Focus and exposure on the sign in particular are distracting.

3 - Catoctin Furnace, MD - f/8, 1/100 - An old iron furnace was next on my rambles through Frederick County.  There was no perfect angle at which to shoot, but this provided a decent enough perspective.

4 - Thurmont, MD - f/5.6, 1/50 - I had hoped for a lot more from this image, but the result is one with a bit of blur and fuzzy focus.  

5 - Graceham, MD - f/8, 1/50 - Better than the last at least is this one, the angle of the sun made picking up this image pretty challenging.

6 - Frederick, MD - f/3.5, 1/250 - Taken in a short lull between showers, I didn't quite get the focus I had hoped for with this one.  At least it is close by so I can try again next Fall.

7 - Frederick, MD - f/4, 1/250 - The Frederick County Covered Bridge that isn't. I think this one would have worked better had I stopped it down to f/5.6 to get it a bit sharper.  As it is, it is fuzzy.

8 - Frederick, MD - f/4, 1/250  Another angle of the same subject above, this one does not quite convey what I had hoped, but isn't a total loss.

Thoughts: Given the subject matter and the colors available within these scenes, I had higher hopes for this roll than the results portray.  It seems some of the shots in the early part of the roll were overexposed, adding to the need for post processing.  I did follow up with one more roll from this camera, that will be featured later on.