Beginner Bought a SLR ? Couple of questions.

Oldbones

Oldbones

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I have managed tp purchase a Nikon FG-20 which is equipped with a zoom 43 to 86 mm lens.
Back in the 70s I had a Russian built Zenti, so I sort of remember bits and bobs about this type of camera.
The Nikon, its in good condition as far as I can tell, all appears to be working.
Fitted new batteries and hey presto the light meter works fine.
Of course I have watched plenty of You Tube on this so that has been a great help.
The lens is nothing to write home about, but I am not familiar with it yet so it might be fine.
On my DSLRs, I use a 35 and 50 mm prime lens, so I was thinking that I should get another prime for this, I would like a recommendation on that aspect, because I don't know?
Went out this morning, clear and frosty it was, I was happy with the lens and the performance of the light meter.
I have not placed any film in the camera so far, but that will happen soon.
So when I get to that point and I take photographs, where about do you send yours to get developed ? And where do you buy film ?
At the end of the day I am very happy pottering about with my older and old gear, it works fine and works for me.
Being a member of a camera club has helped, but the competition aspect although I have entered a couple now, I am under no illusion about my skills and at this point are far less than some of the others.
So the FG-20 will take me down my own road to perhaps getting a few nice shots and possibly a print or two up on the wall.
Your thoughts and opinions would be greatly appreciated, Thank you for reading and or commenting.
 
I sometimes dev at home, but other times I send films to either FilmDev or Analogue Wonderland for dev and scan; I've used AG Labs too in the past. All very good. I tend to buy most film from Analogue Wonderland too, though there are other sources.
 
Oldbones said:
On my DSLRs, I use a 35 and 50 mm prime lens, so I was thinking that I should get another prime for this, I would like a recommendation on that aspect, because I don't know?
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I'd look for a used Nikon 50 f1.8 in AI mount.
 
Oldbones said:
Being a member of a camera club has helped, but the competition aspect although I have entered a couple now, I am under no illusion about my skills and at this point are far less than some of the others.
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On this particular point, I would say just concentrate on taking pictures that you like, rather than trying to win competitions (unless you really enjoy the competitive aspect, of course)..

My own experience with the camera club I used to be a member of was that there was a very strong focus on competitions, all of which would be judged according to a set of rules (often very subjectively too!). There were people making technically and creatively very good pictures, but they all felt like photo-competition entries - pictures made with the intent of impressing other people, rather than pictures made for their own sake. I wanted to take pictures that impressed me, and these were often not subjects that did well in rules-based contests.

It's interesting to consider how many important and/or famous photographs would likely do terribly in a camera-club competition.
 
if the lens fits the fg and works ok , would that be a post ai lens and probably the second up rated better version ?
 
welshwizard645 said:
Isn't the Nikkor 43-86 zoom lens one of the worst lenses ever made?
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I did read that as well, so I will have to check actually which one it is, I did read there is an upgraded one, I might be lucky.
 
FishyFish said:
On this particular point, I would say just concentrate on taking pictures that you like, rather than trying to win competitions (unless you really enjoy the competitive aspect, of course)..

My own experience with the camera club I used to be a member of was that there was a very strong focus on competitions, all of which would be judged according to a set of rules (often very subjectively too!). There were people making technically and creatively very good pictures, but they all felt like photo-competition entries - pictures made with the intent of impressing other people, rather than pictures made for their own sake. I wanted to take pictures that impressed me, and these were often not subjects that did well in rules-based contests.

It's interesting to consider how many important and/or famous photographs would likely do terribly in a camera-club competition.
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I know exactly what you are saying here, and I totally agree, I am not against editing as such but sometimes it appears like its no longer a photograph.
I have made friends there and I have learned plenty, and I have had the same advise from them as you have given me, Thank you so much, it has cleared my mind about what I doing.
 
Is this AI or AIS F mount, and will it fit a Nikon FG-20, Thanks in advance. Ps it is a 50mm 1.2

s-l1600.jpg
 
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Interesting thread. I was thinking about acquiring a nikon film slr. Hope this is relevant for the OP too. I was wondering about film development and scanning. My dslr has 20mp - the scanning processes seem to offer this or less, so from an objective pov what is the benefit ? Is it just nostalgia or is each mp better quality ?
 
eoSimon said:
Interesting thread. I was thinking about acquiring a nikon film slr. Hope this is relevant for the OP too. I was wondering about film development and scanning. My dslr has 20mp - the scanning processes seem to offer this or less, so from an objective pov what is the benefit ? Is it just nostalgia or is each mp better quality ?
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I am doing it simply because I am close to retirement and want an involved hobby to let me be creative and busy, New cars are nice but vintage cars are interesting if you know what I am trying to say.
The cost of modern-day cameras are very high, although they are packed with amazing tech.
But if I look at photographs from the Old West or WW I or II or any part of history, some of these are amazing. No real tech involved, just good practice and knowhow. .
For me its about learning the craft and not having the latest tech, My newest camera is 15 years old my laptop is about 10.
Perhaps nostalgia is part of it, I have bamboo fly rods, but the fish don't know that do they.
Not knowing the age of my latest camera, Nikon FG-20, I just love the mechanical aspect, the manual focus etc.
I know that on an outing I may use a whole 24 strip of film, with the DSLR I usually have between 70 to 120 shots per outing and most of them go in the bin.
Might make me think twice before I press the shutter, less may be more as they say. I will make every shot count, course I can take a DSLR and the FG-20 and do it that way, might be a nice wee project.
 
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