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u/RatiKGrainCaptures

Image 1 — Experimental Portraits on Decades-Expired Mikrat-200 | Metol-Hydroquinone Development --- 1979 Mikrat-200 | Praktica MTL 3 + Helios 77M-4 | Shot at ISO 8
Image 2 — Experimental Portraits on Decades-Expired Mikrat-200 | Metol-Hydroquinone Development --- 1979 Mikrat-200 | Praktica MTL 3 + Helios 77M-4 | Shot at ISO 8
Image 3 — Experimental Portraits on Decades-Expired Mikrat-200 | Metol-Hydroquinone Development --- 1979 Mikrat-200 | Praktica MTL 3 + Helios 77M-4 | Shot at ISO 8
Image 4 — Experimental Portraits on Decades-Expired Mikrat-200 | Metol-Hydroquinone Development --- 1979 Mikrat-200 | Praktica MTL 3 + Helios 77M-4 | Shot at ISO 8
Image 5 — Experimental Portraits on Decades-Expired Mikrat-200 | Metol-Hydroquinone Development --- 1979 Mikrat-200 | Praktica MTL 3 + Helios 77M-4 | Shot at ISO 8
Image 6 — Experimental Portraits on Decades-Expired Mikrat-200 | Metol-Hydroquinone Development --- 1979 Mikrat-200 | Praktica MTL 3 + Helios 77M-4 | Shot at ISO 8
Image 7 — Experimental Portraits on Decades-Expired Mikrat-200 | Metol-Hydroquinone Development --- 1979 Mikrat-200 | Praktica MTL 3 + Helios 77M-4 | Shot at ISO 8
Image 8 — Experimental Portraits on Decades-Expired Mikrat-200 | Metol-Hydroquinone Development --- 1979 Mikrat-200 | Praktica MTL 3 + Helios 77M-4 | Shot at ISO 8
Image 9 — Experimental Portraits on Decades-Expired Mikrat-200 | Metol-Hydroquinone Development --- 1979 Mikrat-200 | Praktica MTL 3 + Helios 77M-4 | Shot at ISO 8
Image 10 — Experimental Portraits on Decades-Expired Mikrat-200 | Metol-Hydroquinone Development --- 1979 Mikrat-200 | Praktica MTL 3 + Helios 77M-4 | Shot at ISO 8
Image 11 — Experimental Portraits on Decades-Expired Mikrat-200 | Metol-Hydroquinone Development --- 1979 Mikrat-200 | Praktica MTL 3 + Helios 77M-4 | Shot at ISO 8
▲ 47 r/Darkroom

Experimental Portraits on Decades-Expired Mikrat-200 | Metol-Hydroquinone Development --- 1979 Mikrat-200 | Praktica MTL 3 + Helios 77M-4 | Shot at ISO 8

Portraits shot on hand-rolled Mikrat-200 film using a Praktica MTL 3 with a Helios 77M-4 50mm f/1.8.

This film came from a 300-meter factory bulk roll produced in 1979. It had spent decades stored in a basement, and the emulsion now shows heavy age, fogging, scratches, and even traces of fungus — but somehow that only adds more atmosphere and emotion to the images.

There’s something fascinating about giving expired film a second life and embracing all the imperfections that come with it. The results feel raw, fragile, and impossible to fully recreate digitally.

Shot at ISO 8 and developed in a homemade Metol-Hydroquinone developer.

The combination of extremely old Mikrat-200 film, decades of poor storage conditions, and low-speed exposure created unpredictable textures, fog, and organic imperfections that I honestly love. The traces of age, fungus, and damaged emulsion give the images a ghostly atmosphere that feels almost timeless.

u/RatiKGrainCaptures — 3 days ago
▲ 113 r/VintageLenses

Dreamy portraits with the rare Soviet Jupiter-6 180mm f/2.8 & Canon 5D IV

Portraits shot with the rare Soviet Jupiter-6 180mm f/2.8.

I absolutely love the way this lens renders backgrounds — soft, painterly, and cinematic without feeling artificial.

The compression and smooth bokeh give these images a very calm and dreamy atmosphere.

Vintage Soviet glass still has something special that modern lenses often miss.

I’d really appreciate any advice, feedback, or experiences from people who have used the Jupiter-6 or other vintage Soviet lenses. I’m especially interested in learning more about how others use this lens for portraits and nature photography.

The Jupiter-6 180mm f/2.8 is based on the Carl Zeiss Sonnar optical formula, originally developed in Germany by Ludwig Bertele. After World War II, many Zeiss optical designs and technologies were transferred to the Soviet Union, where they became the foundation for several Jupiter-series lenses.

The Jupiter-6 inherited the classic Sonnar characteristics — strong subject separation, smooth tonal transitions, and distinctive rendering that remains highly valued even today.

u/RatiKGrainCaptures — 3 days ago
▲ 57 r/AnalogRepair

Restoring a Forgotten Kiev 60 medium format camera After 30 Years in a Basement

I received some advice and shared experiences about a medium format camera — a Kiev 60. It had been stored in a basement for 30 years. The camera has rust almost everywhere, but the shutter curtain is still in good condition. The lens has no fungus, and even the prism survived without any spots or damage. The mechanism is jammed, though, and the back door won’t close.

u/RatiKGrainCaptures — 3 days ago
▲ 33 r/Darkroom

Learning to See Through Mikrat-300

My first work on 1982 Soviet microfilm Mikrat-300 developed with a metol-hydroquinone developer. I’d appreciate any advice and shared experience, since I still have 300 meters of Mikrat-300 left to shoot.😂😂 Film photography teaches you to see..📸

u/RatiKGrainCaptures — 6 days ago