Re: [APML]: no more shunks!!!

[byen@ix.netcom.com]

Mike Regish wrote:
> 
> 
>         Is there any chance of getting off the skunk thing and back to
> astrophotography?
>         Like, does anybody with a hyper kit live in Mass. by any chance? I'd
> like to try a roll of hypered Tech Pan before I seriously consider the
> buying a hypering kit myself.
>         How long does it take to get it from Lumicon and how well hypered is
> it by the time it arrives?

I'd recommend buying Lumicon hypered film first.  Many people (including me) do 
this.  It's hypered in pure H2, which supposedly gives better results.  Lumicon 
says it will last in the freezer for 1 year.  I've actually used hypered 6415 
(120 size) after 2 yrs, and it was still good.  I still have several rolls from 
last March (for Hyakutake) & just used 1 of them for Hale-Bopp - still good.  I 
wouldn't worry about the latency during mail transit.  I was chasing Hyakutake 
in Arizona for 10 days (~90 deg temp), with (hyp) TP2415 film in unrefrigerated 
cooler.  Saw no ill effects; I think moisture-free storage is the main concern.

 I'd go with self-hypering (buying one or making your own) ONLY  1) if you're 
doing a lot of color film hypering or 2) if you _absolutely_ want strict quality 
control (B&W or color).  For 1), because you can hyper a fresh roll just before 
a shoot (hypered color film doesn't long, ~2 months or less).  For 2), to avoid 
mistakes by another party.  With the newer color films exhibiting excellent 
reciprocity characteristics (Kodak PPF400 or Fuji SG800: 5-7 min @f2.8, 15 min 
@f4), I don't think you even need to bother with the hassle of hypering (unless 
you're using a slow system, f8 or beyond).

*****SIDENOTE
 check out T. Hallas' homepage.  He says his customers shots with unhypered 
Kodak PPF400 seem to give better results (more contrast).  He had previously 
said the blue response "took off" after hypering.  He is going to (or already 
has) try it out with his f7 system (70min exposure).  B. Fletcher has 
communicated to me, that hypering PPF may not be desirable.

  This might corroborate some reports of people getting magenta cast negs after 
hypering (C. Cook and others).  The film is simply getting "exposed" by the 
hypering. (??)  I did some exposure tests on unhypered PPF...  My fast f1.5 
Schmidt camera shows a magenta cast after 2-4 min..  Also did some bracketed 
shots @f2.8 with a telephoto lens (5min, 7.5min, 10min); the 10 min shot showed 
a more magenta cast.

***end of sidenote


 I haven't gone with my own hypering setup, since I like pure H2 hypered TP2415 
(which Lumicon sells).  Note that most people who hyper their own stuff use 
forming gas (8% H2, 92% N2), a few use pure H2 (potentially dangerous).  There 
was an article a few years ago on how to build your own hypering setup 
(Astronomy? by K. Zussman?).  A friend did this, and is getting good results.