Thanks for the thoughts, Paul. I'm going to see if Scott has those 5x7 holders first because if I can use a couple of those, I can get Arista film at a semi-sane price from Freestyle. The real hassle is going to be getting good paper for contact prints - the one I'd like to get, Lodima, can't be described as cheap.

That and a scanner... 

I agree, Larry. My most recent 2 rolls of 120 have been at EI200 and come out of diafine looking perfect. My 4x5 sheets did the same too so I expect that's what I'll try at first. I wonder how well diafine sheets will do contact prints? That's been my goal for awhile but 4x5 is just too small for that. But 5x7 should give just enough extra room to make sellable prints of landscapes up here. 

Yeah, I like that film in 120 & 4x5 so that's what I'm thinking of getting. I'll have to find a bigger tank to develop in though as my 4x5 daylight tank is too small. Then comes the scanning problem  hrmmm

I was also reading at Rodger Hicks site http://www.rogerandfrances.com/photoschool/ps%20how%20loading%20cut%20film.html and the two sizes may be closer to each than others have implied. Sounds like I'll have to check the holders when they arrive. Still if you've got one or two I could borrow that would be good.

Interesting times. I just can't wait to drag it to a couple of places up here

Yesterday Mike Johnson of a must read (for me) photoblog The Online Photographer http://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer/blog_index.html
posted about how he's selling his Chamonix Whole Plate camera kit because he's just not an LF kind of person. I can dig that part, I just mearly creebed about being broke so that I couldn't even imagine affording such a camera. Well, someone else was reading that blog and now I've been given a "long term loan" of a Mentor 13x18cm flatbed folding camera, holders & 2 lenses. This is not quite the same size 5x7 - close enough you'd think it would work but reading online says it doesn't. Though 5x7 holders probably would fit the camera back without problem. 

So now comes the hard part - film.

It would seem I have two options:
1) Finding 13x18cm film. I'm guessing that's probably going to be only really easily done if I have the money for the annual Ilford odd size cutting sale?
2) Find some 5x7 holders and film. This seems somewhat more plausible. Anyone got some holders to spare?

Any other thoughts or tips or ideas?

LOL. Good answers to someone who'd had a wee too much of the water of life last night.

Sweet jesus Pete... You get handed a diamond mine and you're worried about it?
1) Get the 21 professionally cleaned ASAP to make sure the fungus doesn't hurt it.
1b) Get a finder. Don't worry about the cost. It's [beep]ing worth every penny.
2) Get a 50/1.5 & 85/2 for it
3) You will never need another 35mm camera in your life.
4) Yes, I am serious. Selling my Contax/Kiev RF gear is the only regrets I have.


Sheesh. Now for my valuable advice you should give me the money for the beautiful Chamonix Whole Plate view camera I saw for sale today...

Very nice indeed! Thank you for sharing that capture - I like it.

Quite a few from what I've read, Pete 

More seriously, I've learned a lot from his prints and his books. He did a great book called "Examples" where he talks about how he took 40 of his shots (some famous, some not) that's is just amazingly full of good info.

Well, yeah, that's true and all Pete, I just want all of my cloud pictures to look at least as good as this...




 

 

Here's a couple of shots from my most recent roll. I have no real complaints about developing or scanning this time. No, the issues are much more photographically mundane - the sky was a dull slate gray that day and there was little contrast in it. Perhaps if I'd used my Orange filter? Still I like the locations and when I have another chance I'll go shoot the again. Especially the remains of the trestle. I could get very into shooting it... 

Hah! Well, we'll see soon enough, it's in the fixer. 

Got a roll I need to dunk. Oh, what the heck, I'll go dig out the Diafine...

Why do I feel the urge to bow down saying "We are not worthy!" ? 

Exquisite as always.

Another really great capture. You ought to make a book

Hmm... try to use the vignetting of where you run out of coverage? Sort of a frame within the image?