This little section just has to be here. If you are interested in
your camera at all - even for just family pictures - there is no
reason to try for anything but the best possible quality of
results.

That applies to trade processing too. It has to be said that some
processing firms - not always the cheapest - are not good at
quality control. Find one that is, then stick to them.

Always hold the camera still, take care with focusing and buy
good quality fresh film. Some of the stuff you see in shop
windows on holiday looks ancient - check the expiry date on the
carton. Correctly stored film will last long after it's display
date, poorly stored will not.

All of my film, except for the stock in my bag, is kept in a
polythene bag in the fridge. Film should never be allowed to get
too warm or damp.

Have the film processed as soon after exposure as possible, or do
it yourself. When in the darkroom, take great care to prevent any
dust from being on the negatives. Clean the enlarger lens,
condensers and negative stage regularly, and focus accurately. I
use a focusing aid - a thing like a little microscope - only a
few pounds but a very great help. Get the enlarging exposure
right using a meter or test strips.

If you don't know what a good print should look like, visit some
exhibitions, or join the local camera club. Mono prints should
show a full range of tones, from a dense black at one end - not a
brown/black - and a pure white at the other. Nothing looks worse
than a 'muddy' print, and, if you had to snatch the print from
the developer because it was going too dark, then it was over
exposed under the enlarger and is no good.