which cheap film camera for fun?
Discussion
Hi all,
I've just been looking back through some old pics that were taken with a film slr and scanned. it was a minolta dynax that i sold a while back (wish i didn't now)
I'd like to get a film camera just for fun and snaps so i'd like something cheap preferable with autofocus and metering.
can anyone recommend anything.
alternatively, if i go for a fully manual older camera am I going to be struggling with focus and metering whilst out and about?
Thanks for the help
I've just been looking back through some old pics that were taken with a film slr and scanned. it was a minolta dynax that i sold a while back (wish i didn't now)
I'd like to get a film camera just for fun and snaps so i'd like something cheap preferable with autofocus and metering.
can anyone recommend anything.
alternatively, if i go for a fully manual older camera am I going to be struggling with focus and metering whilst out and about?
Thanks for the help
I was looking at a rangefinder type camera for ease of use and small size
i've got an old polaroid land camera that I gave to guests to use at our wedding and it produced some great shots, But film is expensive and it's a bit big and cumbersome to lug around for retro snaps.
it had a rangefinder type focussing device so focussing shouldn't be an issue. I'll just set it to manual exposure. job done
i've got an old polaroid land camera that I gave to guests to use at our wedding and it produced some great shots, But film is expensive and it's a bit big and cumbersome to lug around for retro snaps.
it had a rangefinder type focussing device so focussing shouldn't be an issue. I'll just set it to manual exposure. job done
One of the "last of the line" SLRs will do full auto adequately, but manual is more fun. The trick is to buy one that works with any lenses you have - the bodies are really cheap since they're obsolete, but people kept their lenses.
As to pricing - it's not any more expensive than it used to be. B&W is around £8 a roll, I think colour can be had a bit cheaper. You'd be hard pushed to find a company that didn't offer scanning negatives at 20+ megapixel as their standard service rather than making prints.
As to pricing - it's not any more expensive than it used to be. B&W is around £8 a roll, I think colour can be had a bit cheaper. You'd be hard pushed to find a company that didn't offer scanning negatives at 20+ megapixel as their standard service rather than making prints.
mybrainhurts said:
FUN, you say..? 
You know how we spend hours and hours moaning on here about how ESP, ABS, Brake Assist, Lane Assist, Active Cruise Control, throttle and brake by wire, stop-start, and all manner of other things have taken all the fun out of driving?It's the same thing. If you know how to take the photos with no aids at all, it makes you a better photographer even in automatic mode. You know exactly when the camera will struggle with auto-focus or auto-exposure before you take the shot, and you can sort it out beforehand.
Plus there are some times when the camera can't understand what you are asking it to do. Photos without a flash in a nightclub are a good example. Manual mode gets you places that automatic just can't.
Kermit power said:
Hmm... Maybe I should put my Grandad's old SLR and lenses on eBay. Hadn't realised there was still a market for them!
Good lenses can hold value very well - I sold 2 Pentax 'F' lenses for well over £100 each. They didn't look much; no idea they were so sought after! But brand is important - Sunagor etc won't do much more than £25.If you want one with AF and you have a DSLR go for one that you can share lenses with, I've got an EOS 5 that I've taken some good images with.
Where abouts in the Midlands are you? I got given an old film SLR a few years back and it has just sat in my office, would be willing to give it to someone who would use it more.
Where abouts in the Midlands are you? I got given an old film SLR a few years back and it has just sat in my office, would be willing to give it to someone who would use it more.
vladcjelli said:
The cheapness of film SLRs has piqued my interest.
For very occasional use I agree they're a bargain at around 30 pence a shutter activation. I'm upto about 20,000 activations on my 400d and 10,000 on my 7d over the course of the last 6 years, which I think is about average for an enthusiastic amateur snapper. You can do the maths as well as I can.
I agree there's a certain something about film though. An old EOS film camera that would work with my EF lenses would be a nice addition.
Edited by Seight_Returns on Thursday 4th October 22:02
Craikeybaby said:
If you want one with AF and you have a DSLR go for one that you can share lenses with, I've got an EOS 5 that I've taken some good images with.
Where abouts in the Midlands are you? I got given an old film SLR a few years back and it has just sat in my office, would be willing to give it to someone who would use it more.
Thanks. pm sentWhere abouts in the Midlands are you? I got given an old film SLR a few years back and it has just sat in my office, would be willing to give it to someone who would use it more.
Simpo Two said:
Good lenses can hold value very well - I sold 2 Pentax 'F' lenses for well over £100 each. They didn't look much; no idea they were so sought after! But brand is important - Sunagor etc won't do much more than £25.
Well the pick of the crop seems to be a Minolta MD Rokkor 50mm f1.4 prime. Anyone know if it's worth anything? Seight_Returns said:
For very occasional use I agree they're a bargain at around 30 pence a shutter activation.
I'm upto about 20,000 activations on my 400d and 10,000 on my 7d over the course of the last 6 years, which I think is about average for an enthusiastic amateur snapper. You can do the maths as well as I can.
I agree there's a certain something about film though. An old EOS film camera that would work with my EF lenses would be a nice addition.
The thing with film is that you can't check the shot you've taken. You very rarely reshoot something when you're using film; you learn to get it right first time. I'm upto about 20,000 activations on my 400d and 10,000 on my 7d over the course of the last 6 years, which I think is about average for an enthusiastic amateur snapper. You can do the maths as well as I can.
I agree there's a certain something about film though. An old EOS film camera that would work with my EF lenses would be a nice addition.
Edited by Seight_Returns on Thursday 4th October 22:02
davepoth said:
The thing with film is that you can't check the shot you've taken. You very rarely reshoot something when you're using film; you learn to get it right first time.
Must be a bit like learning to drive by getting no feedback at the time but getting 36 pictures of you doing it in the post 3 weeks later. Not sure that would make you a better driver.Simpo Two said:
Kermit power said:
Hmm... Maybe I should put my Grandad's old SLR and lenses on eBay. Hadn't realised there was still a market for them!
Good lenses can hold value very well - I sold 2 Pentax 'F' lenses for well over £100 each. They didn't look much; no idea they were so sought after! But brand is important - Sunagor etc won't do much more than £25.
Kermit power said:
Well the pick of the crop seems to be a Minolta MD Rokkor 50mm f1.4 prime. Anyone know if it's worth anything?
The low price for this lense is that it is not 'A' mount, so will not fit Sony DSLR's and it will probably be manaul focus and only suitable to older Minolta camaera's
Paul
Well the pick of the crop seems to be a Minolta MD Rokkor 50mm f1.4 prime. Anyone know if it's worth anything?
The low price for this lense is that it is not 'A' mount, so will not fit Sony DSLR's and it will probably be manaul focus and only suitable to older Minolta camaera's
Paul
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