Rockland Tintype Kit

So I picked up the Rockland Tintype Kit to try my hand at the "old fashioned" way of making photographs.

The first thing I discovered was the plates are too wide for my film holders. After a quick trim that issue was solved, and I slipped a plate into a film holder for a test fit. The next thing I discovered was that the metal plates are stiff enough that it is next to impossible to side them back out without a tweezers or something.

And the tweezers bends the metal a bit.

Has anyone else ran into this problem?

If so, what do you do to get the plates out after exposing them?

You really can't use the plates in a standard film holder. The metal plates are much thicker than film, so it gets stuck. And may peel part of the emulsion off as well. What I use (for 4x5 tintypes and ambrotypes) is an old Graphic Film Pack Adapter. There are better descriptions on here, but here's the quick version:

You need a Graphic Film Pack holder, with the insert. Take out the old film (or shoot it!) and your 4x5 plates will fit nicely inside the pack film cartridge. Slip the film cartridge back in the film pack holder, and you have a light-tight, single-shot plate holder. They can be found on the auction site for dirt cheap. The last several I've picked up were about $7 each, with inserts. Including shipping!

Hope that helps!

i use mine in a falling plate camera with a piece of black board behind it. also in a bag mag and just widen the gap a little bit...

I have three 4 x 5 plate holders that wandered in among flea buy film holder buys. Pm your mailing particulars and i'll pass them on.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gleaf

I have three 4 x 5 plate holders that wandered in among flea buy film holder buys. Pm your mailing particulars and i'll pass them on.

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Mr. Leaf.

The holders arrived today. The 2 wooden ones will work perfectly! The Riteway is just like most of the ones that came with my Cambo, and will certainly be a nice addition to the film holder group.

Thank you so much for your generosity.

Now to find a few more of the Graflex wooden type . . . . . .