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I'm thinking about getting a decent inkjet printer to print my own digital images. Mostly black & white, occasionally color. primarily smaller prints, probably as large as 8.5x11, at least for now. Not sure of quantities, or frequencies at this point yet. I do have a local shop that still develops film & has digital printing capability, but my few recent dealings with them have not been too favorable. Looking for quality a few notches above Walgreens, as well as having more control over the process. Also looking to jumpstart my digital darkroom skills (very hobbyist-level, mind you) & see where it goes. I like giving prints as gifts too. Epson seems to have the pro edge (I am particularly drawn to their models with "Advanced Black and White Photo Mode" tech), with Canon running second, I think. But even within each of their lineups, each model has different ink tech & the numbers of cartridges they use, so the best stuff doesn't really trickle directly downstream. Does anyone here print their photos? If so, what's your setup & flow?

I wish I had EXIF: I wanna go back and shoot this whole cemetery with the same setup. I know I was shooting HP-5 in a Nikon; maybe my 35mm f/2?

It's good to see Weird Al is still doing his thing, but I'm curious to see the original.

Roger Corman, low-budget filmmaker who launched many careers, dies at 98 https://wapo.st/3QELIVy

Meanwhile, in a change from Eurovision

This is my favorite candid portrait taken with the Yashica: it looks like it should be 1994 (even has an ashtray!). Critical focus isn’t bad if you nail it, but it’s a bit of a chore with the waist level. I wish the darkroom scanned medium format at 36 like the 35mm, instead of 20 (it’s probably 24 or something at 6x7): I feel like I’m focusing a lot more resolution than the scans give.

First weekend up in our Maine Condo, nice to be up here. As always, set up the stereo (all-in-one with Orchard Pecan Pi + board and Purifi amp modules -> Kaya S12 speakers). This is the second all-in-one like this I modded, did a cleaner job on the back of this one....no panel scratches. Also a lovely picture of Nubble Lighthouse in York Maine with the Northern Lights; not my pic. But one of Karen and my favorite places!

Nice! I do miss seeing them dance in the sky.

Rare sight in NH - northern lights visible due to a significant solar storm. It was clearly visible and photographed more impressively than it looked. Still fun.

I've been attempting to take meaningful photos at 300mm. It's been a nontrivial task. First up is some carefully edited photos taken with my (never not crap) Canon 75-300mm. A heron stepping around the pond. 75-300 @ 300mm, F/10, 1/800, ISO1600. I took advantage of the 5D4's high ISO performance to use a small aperture (the 75-300 sucks ass at anything else) and maintain a decent shutter speed. First day with the 300mm F/4 Nikkor. The subject is more native MV wildlife. This time, the wheelbarrow belonging to my (sainted, octogenarian) mother. It was holding still and well lit. The 300mm Nikkor works on a Canon body with an adapter, but it's nontrivial to use. First off, it doesn't have a hard stop at infinity focus. Many (most) old manual focus lenses have one and I find it super useful at any focal length. At 300mm, lacking a hard stop is a serious handicap. I eventually learned to deal with it. Not terribly interesting shot of Sweetened Water Farm, from my driveway. The main point of this shot (besides capturing some golden hour sun on some trees) was to demonstrate just how far back infinity focus starts with a 300mm. Bonus: (Nearly) the same view last summer, taken with my second Orestegor 300mm (which is significantly bigger and heavier than the 300mm Nikkor.) Again, not the wacky depth of field the 300mm provides. Both of these shots were taken wide open, which is to say F/4. Late afternoon sun on Jernegan pond. The 300mm Nikkor does produce a tiny bit of CA wide open. You both have to work to make it in a shot and then look for it afterward. A small plane flew overhead and I managed to capture it. Not as easy as one might imagine. There's shooting the moon, then there's shooting the moon. F/4, 1/160 with my hand on the front of the lens (steadies it a bit), ISO3200. Moments later, F/4 (I *think*), 1/160, ISO6400. More use of the 5D4's ISO performance. When I took this shot, I was very proud that I captured two herons and a duck. Upon editing I realized it was actually three herons. TBH I haven't picked up the 300mm Nikkor in a few weeks. I've been too busy editing photos from 2013 and 2023. More on that later.

For the Yashica? Split focusing would be great on any TRL; I dunno how many have one. I guess that’s what you mean: consider a third party screen. Probably not for the Yashica, it isn’t very good, but I could see it on an Autocord or Mamiya C3! I see myself with either a Mamiya 6 or 7, in 2025. I haven’t shot 6x7 yet, but I like 6x6 a lot.

@EdipisReks1 Mamiya 6 is a super cool camera. You might consider a split circle focusing screen

If I’m spending Rolleiflex money I’m just going to save up and get a Mamiya 6! Minolta Autocord with meter is likely my next purchase, and I’ll just get more practice with composing. I really do think the incredibly dim viewfinder on the Yashica is the biggest problem for me. I picked up a variable diopter for the FM2. Cheaper than getting new glasses; I find critical focus very hard to get if I’m even a little bit off, of course, so it’s great being able to dial in with my imperfect corrected vision. Oatmeal Johnny was made for the camera. A combination of methods and equipment, but the same cat.

Happy belated Shelly!

We chose the correct joint....yummy chow EDIT: as long as someone takes their mushy peas seriously...LOL HS

Mmmm, fish and chips!

I'm determined to find the best fish and chips in town for lunch today. Likely means the Red Lion but I have a bit of reconnoitering to do in case things have changed over the years... HS

My back hurts just thinking about playing a record on that turntable.

Interesting but don't like the aesthetic in that room.... I DO like the side view pic, maybe a variation on "His Master's Voice" perhaps?

Ferguson Hill Jetstream loudspeaker system:

https://bluemooncamera.com/shop/product/AAA0823|14810/rollei-rolleiflex-penta-prism

Thats whats needed but, stax logic is simple: why make a better product when you can sell something worse for much more and the hifi magazine reviewers are guaranteed to say its the best thing since non-sliced, small batch, organic artisan, seeded, whole meal, bread... *sigh* between on semi and Stax we just can't have nice things.

Saw a Play in Ross. We may well have been the youngest people in the audience.