Retired and rediscovering film photography
Jan 5, 2019 15:41:58 #
BillO
Loc: Eastern Shore Maryland
Hello
I'm recently retired from the National Park Service and have rediscovered my old film SLR cameras. I kind of forgot how much I used to enjoy this. Oh sure, I've taken loads of family photos with my phone or little digital point and shoot, but had put away my SLR cameras years ago.
With plenty of time on my hands now maybe its time to get back to it.
Heck, I may even break down and pick up a decent DSLR if I can afford it. I'd welcome suggestions on a good fun DSLR (new or used) on a retirees income? The cost of film development will get to me sooner or later I guess.
Anyway, Here are a few of my favorite photos that I took some time ago at Theodore Roosevelt NP. Feel free to comment and I'd welcome critiques. They may even be scans from prints if I remember correctly.
My other hobby is wooden boat building and restoration .
Thanks
BillO
I'm recently retired from the National Park Service and have rediscovered my old film SLR cameras. I kind of forgot how much I used to enjoy this. Oh sure, I've taken loads of family photos with my phone or little digital point and shoot, but had put away my SLR cameras years ago.
With plenty of time on my hands now maybe its time to get back to it.
Heck, I may even break down and pick up a decent DSLR if I can afford it. I'd welcome suggestions on a good fun DSLR (new or used) on a retirees income? The cost of film development will get to me sooner or later I guess.
Anyway, Here are a few of my favorite photos that I took some time ago at Theodore Roosevelt NP. Feel free to comment and I'd welcome critiques. They may even be scans from prints if I remember correctly.
My other hobby is wooden boat building and restoration .
Thanks
BillO
Jan 5, 2019 15:54:57 #
Jan 5, 2019 16:23:51 #
Welcome to the HOG. I did film for decades and came kicking and scratching into the digital world with a Nikon D200 about 10 years ago. I've never looked back. Although I have several 120 rolls of transparency film in the freezer for a Mamiya 645 medium format that I dip into every now and then. I love 120 transparencies on a light box! But digital is the way to go for many reasons.
Check out Adorama or B&H for older digital SLRs. You can get some great deals on bodies and then add lenses as you can afford them.
Check out Adorama or B&H for older digital SLRs. You can get some great deals on bodies and then add lenses as you can afford them.
Jan 5, 2019 17:48:03 #
Very nice images, Bill!
In the long run, digital is much more affordable, and will produce amazing images, comparable to the best of film days. The budget, however, is mostly in gear and software - processing becomes a minimal expense except for printing and framing.
I will make a few suggestions, but not as to brand or specific items. A lot of that will depend on the types of photography you enjoy - burst speed may be important for sports and wildlife, for landscapes, not so much. If you're hiking around a lot, weight becomes important, etc., etc. It is hard to buy a poor digital SLR or MILC today. Some will assert the inherent superiority of "only" their brand, but I think that's just brand loyalty speaking. So here goes:
First, make a decision on your budget. How much can you afford to spend, and over what period of time? My wife and I set a goal of making fairly complete outfits for each on a budget of about $2,000 expended over a period of about one year. That inherently made our choice the APS format, which is actually plenty good enough for our needs - we've blown prints up to 16x20 with good success. If you're only outfitting one photographer and don't need or want a wide range of focal lengths, you may be able to afford full frame outfits from the get go.
Second, spend your money first on good glass. Don't just pick a lens because it's on sale or people at UHH are hyping it. One good lens at a time. If you pick your initial system well, you can start with an entry level body and upgrade to a later and newer one later, rather than having to swap out all your gear. Trading systems up can be very expensive, especially if you bought lenses and bodies new. Like cars, they depreciate as soon as they leave the showroom floor.
Speaking of which, don't be afraid of buying refurbished or used gear. We've had only one camera body fail since we started, and no lenses turn up with a defect. Buy from reputable dealers and you'll be fine. B&H, Adorama, Hunt's, Roberts, KEH, and Cameta come up frequently here as highly recommended.
Finally - try out the camera in person before you buy it! Try out several different ones, in fact. Ergonomics differ greatly and what is comfortable for one shooter may be horrible for another. You may be able to borrow or rent, but you need to see how the camera and lenses feel in your hand and at your eye. I found Nikon the most comfortable, but several others as well. When I practice shot with one brand (which I won't mention) everything felt wrong in my hands. I'm sure that if we'd bought into that system I'd have had many frustrating moments.
Have fun and don't try to build Rome in a day!
Andy
In the long run, digital is much more affordable, and will produce amazing images, comparable to the best of film days. The budget, however, is mostly in gear and software - processing becomes a minimal expense except for printing and framing.
I will make a few suggestions, but not as to brand or specific items. A lot of that will depend on the types of photography you enjoy - burst speed may be important for sports and wildlife, for landscapes, not so much. If you're hiking around a lot, weight becomes important, etc., etc. It is hard to buy a poor digital SLR or MILC today. Some will assert the inherent superiority of "only" their brand, but I think that's just brand loyalty speaking. So here goes:
First, make a decision on your budget. How much can you afford to spend, and over what period of time? My wife and I set a goal of making fairly complete outfits for each on a budget of about $2,000 expended over a period of about one year. That inherently made our choice the APS format, which is actually plenty good enough for our needs - we've blown prints up to 16x20 with good success. If you're only outfitting one photographer and don't need or want a wide range of focal lengths, you may be able to afford full frame outfits from the get go.
Second, spend your money first on good glass. Don't just pick a lens because it's on sale or people at UHH are hyping it. One good lens at a time. If you pick your initial system well, you can start with an entry level body and upgrade to a later and newer one later, rather than having to swap out all your gear. Trading systems up can be very expensive, especially if you bought lenses and bodies new. Like cars, they depreciate as soon as they leave the showroom floor.
Speaking of which, don't be afraid of buying refurbished or used gear. We've had only one camera body fail since we started, and no lenses turn up with a defect. Buy from reputable dealers and you'll be fine. B&H, Adorama, Hunt's, Roberts, KEH, and Cameta come up frequently here as highly recommended.
Finally - try out the camera in person before you buy it! Try out several different ones, in fact. Ergonomics differ greatly and what is comfortable for one shooter may be horrible for another. You may be able to borrow or rent, but you need to see how the camera and lenses feel in your hand and at your eye. I found Nikon the most comfortable, but several others as well. When I practice shot with one brand (which I won't mention) everything felt wrong in my hands. I'm sure that if we'd bought into that system I'd have had many frustrating moments.
Have fun and don't try to build Rome in a day!
Andy
Jan 5, 2019 23:28:46 #
there's really not a lot to say in favor of film anymore -- no way can you compete with the ability of digital to take dozens or even hundreds of images across a variety of conditions - what film could deal with changing white balance within a museum, then go on to deal with changing light conditions on a variable cloud day? to say nothing of the ability to take varying I n camera HDR and other lighting experiments at the flick of a switch.
no need for multiple lenses - a body and a broad zoom (16-300?) outmatch any film camera with fisheye & 500mm lenses - with the added advantage of steadier shots even at highest range - for $1500 or less you're on your way
unless you're printing at 16x20 or greater, MP count really doesnt matter either
if you're not sure start with one of the point&shoots like cyber shot for < $600 and you may find you never need anything more!
no need for multiple lenses - a body and a broad zoom (16-300?) outmatch any film camera with fisheye & 500mm lenses - with the added advantage of steadier shots even at highest range - for $1500 or less you're on your way
unless you're printing at 16x20 or greater, MP count really doesnt matter either
if you're not sure start with one of the point&shoots like cyber shot for < $600 and you may find you never need anything more!
Jan 6, 2019 06:57:21 #
Jan 6, 2019 07:57:51 #
Jan 6, 2019 09:15:25 #
Welcome to The Forum. You'll find plenty of support for film and a very large support for digital. I went digital years ago and never looked back. My camera and laptop, with Photoshop installed, assist me in crafting the photos I want to make.
(I saw that word "crafted" in an article on Nikonians and really feel it tells the story of my digital photography.)
(I saw that word "crafted" in an article on Nikonians and really feel it tells the story of my digital photography.)
Jan 6, 2019 09:39:28 #
Jan 6, 2019 10:32:11 #
spend $ 500 in a entry level dslr with its 2 kit lenses , like a nik d3400 or same in canon or pentax .
Jan 6, 2019 10:54:32 #
Peteso
Loc: Blacks Hills
Central Camera in Chicago is also an excellent source for film photography. They are third generation camera store going back to 1899 (still family owned), so they have a deep background in film photography.
Jan 6, 2019 11:00:15 #
Jan 6, 2019 11:13:57 #
Jan 6, 2019 11:57:24 #
Jan 6, 2019 12:10:49 #
nadelewitz
Loc: Ithaca NY
cascoly wrote:
there's really not a lot to say in favor of film a... (show quote)
Kind of a silly response. How come lots of people are going back to film, or never stopped? To dismiss film entirely is just plain wrong.
As for all your reasons......depends on whether you want to use a camera that does all your thinking for you, or you want to be a knowledgeable photographer rather than just a button-pusher.
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