Hi,
I am posting this I guess after coming out of a 10 year absence from my hobby, I trust my questions might be very basic, but I appreciate your patience.
I am a B&W enthusiast, I own several cameras but my pride and joy is my 4x5 Linhof Technica. I own the basic 150, along with a 210 and a 90 lens. My incentive to get back to my camera is simply put, I now have the time.
At the time I left the hobby I was building a darkroom, I had the plumbing and all the cabinetry installed but I came short on time and funds, and time slipped by, 10 years.
Going back to the marker by the road where I left , I find that my notes had me looking at a set up that involved a 4x5 enlarger (perhaps a Saunders or a Beseler), and setting up a system that would allow me to process film and paper prints (not RC).
I have in the last month made my rounds to a variety of photo supply retailers, some were helpful, some of my trusted places are now out of business.
One thing became painfully clear, there is a serious lack of support now out there for my B&W appetite, some retailers have dropped all semblance to it completely. I am still determined to make fine prints but with the huge amount of conflicting information out there I am confused.
I would like to ask in basic terms, for a hobbyist my self, what is the current state of affairs in the B&W 4x5 Hobbyist world. I am focused on making traditional silver based prints on quality paper, using traditional chemical tray processes for paper and film, using traditional darkroom methods.
With patience I appreciate your informed responses and advice, I feel like I may have to learn to walk again if much has changed.
Take care,
Jim Shaver
Oakville, Ont
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