Discussion
Being 26 I never really grew up fully with film cameras. Parents had a basic one when I was little and that's about it. However I want to get one that has partial & full manual controls so as to try and force myself to shoot manual (or at least learn it). I have a small compact that lets me choose shutter speed and 2 apatures. I've borrowed a friends DSLR and find myself mainly using Av mode 95% of the time.
Long story short, what's a good film camera with Av on it? having manual would then be nice once I've mastered it. So far the Canon/canonette QL17 has caught my eye. fixed 40mm f1.7. (plus it looks like a x100s abit).
Long story short, what's a good film camera with Av on it? having manual would then be nice once I've mastered it. So far the Canon/canonette QL17 has caught my eye. fixed 40mm f1.7. (plus it looks like a x100s abit).
i have an olympus om-2n. its a lovely thing to use and since i acquired it my 550d has remained on the shelf.
it has two modes; manual and "auto". auto is essentially aperture priority on this camera. metering is available in manual and focus (of course) is manual.
they are superb for someone wanting to get into film. it has well and truly converted me.
it has two modes; manual and "auto". auto is essentially aperture priority on this camera. metering is available in manual and focus (of course) is manual.
they are superb for someone wanting to get into film. it has well and truly converted me.
Edited by shielsy on Sunday 10th November 20:05
Simpo Two said:
Get a film SLR - eBay is full of them from about £15 upwards.
(Note that 'Av' is a Canon peculiarity that just means, in the wider world, 'aperture priority')
Retro look with a lot of capability.(Note that 'Av' is a Canon peculiarity that just means, in the wider world, 'aperture priority')
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Canon-AE-1-AE1-35mm-film...
FD lenses can be obtained very cheaply as well.
Haven't checked the cost of film processing for several years though. It had become almost reasonable, especially for scan to digital processing with no prints, just before digital took off in a big way, so long as you used a high street resource and were not too concerned about the absolute quality of the processed results. In other words that might be a good way to go for learning if you have a local processing resource.
shielsy said:
i have an olympus om-2n. its a lovely thing to use and since i acquired it my 550d has remained on the shelf.
it has two modes; manual and "auto". auto is essentially aperture priority on this camera. metering is available in manual and focus (of course) is manual.
they are superb for someone wanting to get into film. it has well and truly converted me.
Second the OM2 idea. Gorgeous cameras and lovely to use.it has two modes; manual and "auto". auto is essentially aperture priority on this camera. metering is available in manual and focus (of course) is manual.
they are superb for someone wanting to get into film. it has well and truly converted me.
Edited by shielsy on Sunday 10th November 20:05
Don't worry shooting manual, DSLR or film.
I'm 25, film cameras are great, grew up playing with my dads broken film kit as toys.
I bought a canon A1 which does Tv and Av, but it was mint condition and I didn't want to damage it. Now have a F1 with Fn finder for Av which was a little bashed up, but now restored and it's a great toy.
I'm 25, film cameras are great, grew up playing with my dads broken film kit as toys.
I bought a canon A1 which does Tv and Av, but it was mint condition and I didn't want to damage it. Now have a F1 with Fn finder for Av which was a little bashed up, but now restored and it's a great toy.
LongQ said:
Simpo Two said:
Get a film SLR - eBay is full of them from about £15 upwards.
(Note that 'Av' is a Canon peculiarity that just means, in the wider world, 'aperture priority')
Retro look with a lot of capability.(Note that 'Av' is a Canon peculiarity that just means, in the wider world, 'aperture priority')
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Canon-AE-1-AE1-35mm-film...
FD lenses can be obtained very cheaply as well.
Haven't checked the cost of film processing for several years though. It had become almost reasonable, especially for scan to digital processing with no prints, just before digital took off in a big way, so long as you used a high street resource and were not too concerned about the absolute quality of the processed results. In other words that might be a good way to go for learning if you have a local processing resource.
Processing wise, most Boots stores still seem to do it. I find their quality more consistent than Jessops, though every place I've used so far seems to manage to scratch my negs. Processing your own B&W film is more fun!
Honestly, film is a bit of a silly way to learn these days. Unless you're developing at home (and you won't be) it's extremely expensive. My last lot of pictures worked out at 80p per shot, and if you don't really know what you're doing (I don't!) they can end up being a big waste of money.
Get a DSLR to start with, learn the ropes in terms of how lenses, focus, aperture, exposure and ISO affect things by taking thousands of pictures, and then if you do want to go for film you can buy a body that will fit the lens(es) you'll already have from the DSLR and go from there.
Get a DSLR to start with, learn the ropes in terms of how lenses, focus, aperture, exposure and ISO affect things by taking thousands of pictures, and then if you do want to go for film you can buy a body that will fit the lens(es) you'll already have from the DSLR and go from there.
I had a Pentax P30 then moved to Canon , try a EOS 5 or for less a EOS 10.
amazing what you can get for little money now.
you will learn nothing though lol as you cannot take enough pics and see what does what.
My Camera skill went through the roof as soon as I could see what things did straight away with my 1st Canon 10D
amazing what you can get for little money now.
you will learn nothing though lol as you cannot take enough pics and see what does what.
My Camera skill went through the roof as soon as I could see what things did straight away with my 1st Canon 10D
Edited by mrdemon on Tuesday 12th November 00:46
Shooting in film is a good antidote to just rushing off hundreds of similar shots and picking the best later, it does force an amount of composition and planning. That said, I haven't used my old Pentax ME Super for a long time now. I find that the display on the back of my DSLR isn't really good enough to show whether or not I've got a good shot, I can't properly tell until it's back on the PC, though that might be my eyesight as much as anything else.
droopsnoot said:
I find that the display on the back of my DSLR isn't really good enough to show whether or not I've got a good shot, I can't properly tell until it's back on the PC, though that might be my eyesight as much as anything else.
If possible set up a one-button zoom to check focus, and histogram/zebra (flashing white bits) to check exposure. That way you can be fairly sure you have an acceptable photo, even in bright sunlight.Gad-Westy said:
shielsy said:
i have an olympus om-2n. its a lovely thing to use and since i acquired it my 550d has remained on the shelf.
it has two modes; manual and "auto". auto is essentially aperture priority on this camera. metering is available in manual and focus (of course) is manual.
they are superb for someone wanting to get into film. it has well and truly converted me.
Second the OM2 idea. Gorgeous cameras and lovely to use.it has two modes; manual and "auto". auto is essentially aperture priority on this camera. metering is available in manual and focus (of course) is manual.
they are superb for someone wanting to get into film. it has well and truly converted me.
Edited by shielsy on Sunday 10th November 20:05
DIW35 said:
Just wondering why you think a film camera would be the best choice to learn how to take photographs with manual settings. Why not just use a dslr in manual mode?
I'm inclined to agree.I used various Olympus film cameras for many years before 'going' digital. Always used manual or would end up with crappy sky, though colour and black and white differ for where you expose to.
Bought a 1ds as my first digital camera and always use it in manual. Just treat it like a film camera, and never use the histogram either.
If I were starting out now I would go digital. Currently work only in 35mm, but thats the equipment I have.
Processing costs of film are not cheap. I just processed 2 rolls of film ( 72 frames)at my local pro lab cost breakdown
Negs and contact sheets £30 ( inc VAT)
4 x 8x 10 prints B&W, 4 x 16 x 20 B&W 120 ( including VAT)
I sometimes do my own processing, but at mo am without studio/ darkroom space.
Processing costs of film are not cheap. I just processed 2 rolls of film ( 72 frames)at my local pro lab cost breakdown
Negs and contact sheets £30 ( inc VAT)
4 x 8x 10 prints B&W, 4 x 16 x 20 B&W 120 ( including VAT)
I sometimes do my own processing, but at mo am without studio/ darkroom space.
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