Film camera suggestions

lookmore said:
LOL yes that can be a problem. You might be able to find one locally. I could give you one but shipping from Belgium might be too expensive.
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I'll keep that in mind thank you :). Was wondering if one of the new ones would fit, looks like it accepts one that slides onto it
 
Kei said:
The Canon AT-1 is an all manual version of the AE-1. Comes with needle match metering, has 1/1000s and ISO 3200. It does need a 4SR44 battery to operate as the shutter is electronically timed, but I can state that the battery seems to last forever. (mine has had the same battery in it for 20 years and is somehow still going fine) Should be dirt cheap as they aren't as popular as the AE capable models like the A-1 etc.
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I got an at-1 in the end, I like it a lot, I just pick a shutter speed that I'm happy with then adjust the f stop as needed. One question I have do you find the black needles hard to see? It's been ok so far but I've lost it when people are wearing black clothes. It's not possible to get to them to paint them a different colour is it?
 
I know you have said Canon but for me the Nikon FE is a classic - looks great and works great!
 
Ben johns said:
I got an at-1 in the end, I like it a lot, I just pick a shutter speed that I'm happy with then adjust the f stop as needed. One question I have do you find the black needles hard to see? It's been ok so far but I've lost it when people are wearing black clothes. It's not possible to get to them to paint them a different colour is it?
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Good to hear you like it. Sadly I seriously doubt you could colour the needle. I generally haven't had any issues with the needle blending in so never gave it much thought. The only time it is a pain is night photography, but in these circumstances, I've always used a hand held meter as they have much greater range.

If you get any fogging on your films, you will probably have to get the light seals around the film door replaced. I had to do mine about 10 years ago. (but this is a common issue on any old camera)
 
YEa
Kei said:
Good to hear you like it. Sadly I seriously doubt you could colour the needle. I generally haven't had any issues with the needle blending in so never gave it much thought. The only time it is a pain is night photography, but in these circumstances, I've always used a hand held meter as they have much greater range.

If you get any fogging on your films, you will probably have to get the light seals around the film door replaced. I had to do mine about 10 years ago. (but this is a common issue on any old camera)
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yea it's not really been a massive issue just popped up now and then, doesn't put me off the camera. I'd probably have to take my a6000 to help with that unless I get a cheap meter lol.
Hoping it won't be a problem, it came in the box, was from a shop as opposed to a person and was told it's been all fully checked over
 
I've always used my iPhone for metering and have never had any issues, even when shooting Velvia 50 slide! With regards to the needle, you probably could get to it by removing the top plate and disassembling the pentaprism surround because it will be mounted outside of the actual viewfinder itself. However, in low light it probably wouldn't stand out much more (unless you painted it with luminescent paint!) because there is no LED/bulb inside the pentaprism to light it up more.
 
All manual mechanical cameras that only require a battery for metering Canon
FT FTbn or F1 all A series and T series require batteries to fire the shutter.
Olympus OM1 or 1n Pentax MX ,K1000 or Spotmatics, Nikon Fs F2 FM Fm2 all mechanical shutters and a wide range of Practicas but not the B series.
I guess your spoilt for choice when you start looking also Fuji ST, Or perhaps a nice old Leica ;)
 
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stevelmx5 said:
I've always used my iPhone for metering and have never had any issues, even when shooting Velvia 50 slide! With regards to the needle, you probably could get to it by removing the top plate and disassembling the pentaprism surround because it will be mounted outside of the actual viewfinder itself. However, in low light it probably wouldn't stand out much more (unless you painted it with luminescent paint!) because there is no LED/bulb inside the pentaprism to light it up more.
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Do you use an app? Downloaded a couple but couldn't get any consistent results
 
Ben johns said:
Do you use an app? Downloaded a couple but couldn't get any consistent results
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I've always just used one called "Light Meter"

IMG_1486902796.675100.jpg

(Left side, middle row)

I can't see it in the App Store now but I've always got good results.
 
A good Canon A1 would be my choice having owned one from new. It is dependent on the battery though although the huge range of S/H lens available is in its favor. My favorite film camera is my built like (and weighting similar to) a tank trusty Canon FTBn. It's a nice idea returning to film and tried it once but quickly scurried back to digital. Perhaps having endured film from the mid 1950's on and still having a full color darkroom packed safely away in the roof has destroyed my nostalgia gland. Good luck with whatever you settle on.
 
stevelmx5 said:
I've always just used one called "Light Meter"

View attachment 95660

(Left side, middle row)

I can't see it in the App Store now but I've always got good results.
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That's a pain, the one I have seems to be ok, just slightly out from what the at-1 says, but then again the at-1 is centre weighted metering
 
Personally I'd trust the iPhone over the AT-1 meter although the iPhone will be more like a spot meter reading so the even a small change in angle towards the sky/dark foreground will affect the metering result.
 
stevelmx5 said:
Personally I'd trust the iPhone over the AT-1 meter although the iPhone will be more like a spot meter reading so the even a small change in angle towards the sky/dark foreground will affect the metering result.
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Just downloaded one called myLightMeter pro, its about 1-2 stop different from my canon. From memory it said at 3200 f 2.8 I needed 1/30 when the camera said 1/125
 
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