35mm film cameras? What do you use?
Dec 19, 2016 01:49:24 #
kb6kgx
Loc: Simi Valley, CA
RWR wrote:
Maybe check on Ebay, one cannot have too many cameras!
Of course. I try to explain that to my wife, but it doesn’t work :)
Dec 19, 2016 02:34:08 #
RWR wrote:
Maybe check on Ebay, one cannot have too many cameras!
Easy to find, but the last thing I need is another lens mount.
Dec 19, 2016 03:02:12 #
therwol
Loc: USA
LoneRangeFinder wrote:
I'd like to hear from those who actively shoot 35 mm film.
Which camera do you use? How long have you owned it?
Favorite film?
Thanks!
Which camera do you use? How long have you owned it?
Favorite film?
Thanks!
The last film camera I used was a Nikon FA. My son in law still uses it frequently and does quite a bit of black and white darkroom work. The camera was a dream to use and far ahead of its time (Introduced in 1983), 4 exposure modes, matrix metering, 1/4000 shutter and 1/250 flash synch, and the option to put a motor drive on it. The one feature that hadn't been worked out at the time was balanced fill flash. You have to do the calculations yourself. I've read that there were some quality control issues with the camera, and if one breaks, it's unlikely that it can be fixed (though that is true of many older cameras). Mine worked and still works perfectly.
Dec 19, 2016 03:11:23 #
I use a Canon F1 with ilford film. I used to do my own darkroom work. Now I just send it out.
Ron
Ron
Dec 19, 2016 07:45:30 #
Tomcat5133
Loc: Gladwyne PA
I admire my friends here that use film. I have a box of film cameras. Mostly cheaper Nikon's. Had Nikon F3's I believe a bunch for my AV company in 80's.
Always traded the good bodies in for newer cameras with good prices. And of course would keep all the lens. I think film has become a special art form.
Darkroom work is an art form. And admire those that create prints.
That said I wouldn't give up what the newer cameras can do. A Canon DSLR created a whole new world for young film makers and the latest versions are
still coming out. The film looks that we can create with software and the adjustments in post are revolutionary.
Good luck.
Always traded the good bodies in for newer cameras with good prices. And of course would keep all the lens. I think film has become a special art form.
Darkroom work is an art form. And admire those that create prints.
That said I wouldn't give up what the newer cameras can do. A Canon DSLR created a whole new world for young film makers and the latest versions are
still coming out. The film looks that we can create with software and the adjustments in post are revolutionary.
Good luck.
Dec 19, 2016 08:44:30 #
I shot a roll a couple months ago. I wish to use my film cameras more often. I have plenty of 35mm cameras and a number of them I never used. I bought them used and put them in my case but never use them. The ones that I use are Nikon F3HP, FM and F5 and in that order.
Dec 19, 2016 09:06:36 #
cjc2 wrote:
Agree. I miss Kodachrome and, having been there, ... (show quote)
would still have the darkroom going if I could
Dec 19, 2016 09:39:36 #
RWR
Loc: La Mesa, CA
asiafish wrote:
Easy to find, but the last thing I need is another lens mount.
I hear you. It can easily become a never ending spiral. Takes a lot of discipline to avoid becoming a collector. My photography would surely improve if I had sense enough to sell off 2/3 of my gear, but I don’t!
Dec 19, 2016 10:52:37 #
Besides a slew of Canon Rebel 2000's that I have picked up cheap from garage sales (with the lens), when I shoot film I prefer my 1976 Vivitar SL-250 (nothing automatic on that one), with threaded lenses. That's my fun camera since the internal light meter uses mercury based batteries (that don't exists anymore). The nice part of the garage sale cameras is that the lenses also fit my DSLR's.
Dec 19, 2016 11:55:16 #
RobertW
Loc: Breezy Point, New York
Still love my Nikon F, my Leica M and my Minox IIIS ((WWII vintage w/ "SS" Engraved on it!)
Dec 19, 2016 11:58:55 #
therwol
Loc: USA
lwhitehall wrote:
That's my fun camera since the internal light meter uses mercury based batteries (that don't exists anymore).
C.R.I.S Camera sells adapters that let you use readily available silver oxide and alkaline batteries in cameras that were designed for mercury batteries. Mercury batteries were 1.35 volts. These adapters drop the voltage of silver oxide or alkaline batteries to something close to this so that your meter is still accurate. Silver oxide batteries are more expensive than alkaline batteries, but they have a very flat discharge curve. Basically they work at the right voltage until they don't, whereas the voltage drop of alkaline batteries is continuous over time. This is no problem with cameras with voltage regulation, but cameras that relied on mercury batteries didn't have this. They relied on the flat discharge curve of the mercury batteries to maintain a constant voltage over time. If you use one of these adapters, then I would suggest investing in silver oxide batteries. They cost a bit more.
http://shop.criscam.com/collections/mercury-battery-adapters
Dec 19, 2016 12:00:18 #
wj cody
Loc: springfield illinois
leica m6, with 50mm f1.4 summilux, 35mm f2 aspherical summicron, 90mm f2.8 elmarit, nikon f, nikon f2, nikon f100, hasselblads 201f and 205tcc, mamiya rz67, rolleiflex 2.8 xenotar, minolta srt101, full lens set, 5x4 linhof technikardan, ICA tropical 5x7 field camera and last but not least pentax k2dmd with lenses.
Dec 19, 2016 12:45:02 #
Cat, look into the Platypod tripod replacement at platypod.com, it is great for low level photography.
Dec 19, 2016 13:59:11 #
CatMarley wrote:
The all time best camera was my Nikon FM. It would even work without a battery. But with the battery, it had a great split prism for focus, a meter in the viewfinder for exposure. It was small, lightweight, durable. If only they made a digital copy of it! All it would need is a dial for ISO and a digital sensor, and it would be the perfect camera for me!
You kept saying about the digital FM but I really don't think you want it.
1. The FM is manual only so there is no A,S or P mode
2. The FM is also a manual focus camera so there is no AF
3. The FM doesn't work with lenses that don't have an aperture ring
4. The FM doesn't have an LCD display and yes there is at least 1 digital camera that doesn't have the LCD display
Last the FM actually has the ISO control on it but they called it ASA back then.
Dec 19, 2016 16:59:21 #
Canon A1, Canon AE-1 Program with either Fujichrome Velvia 50, Kodak Ektar 100 and Kodak Tmax
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