Film Camera's

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JohnnyLebeau

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Hello everyone, I'm getting into Film Photography and was wondering what film camera's you'd all recommend? So far I've picked up a Canon T50. Suggestions of good camera's to get and ones to avoid. Thank you one and all.


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Well, I think you will probably get as many suggestions as there are grains of sand on a (small) beach. There are literally hundreds or even thousands of film cameras, what system do you use digitally? Might be worth getting a camera to compliment the lenses you already have. Do you want to try medium format, rangefinders, 35mm? What do you like to shoot, street, wildlife, landscapes? What's your budget, leica style or Olympus trip?
So many questions and so many correct answers.:D
Welcome to the wonderful world of fillum:wave:
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An excellent post there by Andy, it depends on what you want to photograph and your budget. My personal suggestion would be something like an Olympus om10 as it's light and easy to use. It also has all the manual features you could want if you add the manual adapter. Fantastic choice of cheap lenses as well.
 
Well my budget is not high. I've put a few hundred away to start. I love to photography buildings, cars, city life, landscapes, well a lot really lol. I'm leaning towards 35 mm.
 
JohnnyLebeau said:
Well my budget is not high. I've put a few hundred away to start. I love to photography buildings, cars, city life, landscapes, well a lot really lol. I'm leaning towards 35 mm.
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A few hundred quid can go a long way. I've just bought an OM10 with manual adapter plus 3 prime lenses, all in very good condition, for less than £150.
 
It's going to be difficult to shop like this - there's everything from pinhole cameras to professional grade, weather sealed, fast fps, autofocusing cameras.

Decide what sort of camera you want.

Rangefinders? Yashica Electro 35, Olympus 35RC etc.
Aperture priority manual focus cameras? Nikon FE, Canon A1 etc.
Larger, modern AF cameras - Canon 1N, Nikon F100

That's a very small number of examples of each category, of which there are countless more excellent models. Plenty of information across the Web for you to look at as well :)
 
Out of my collection I can only tell you what I like that are cheap i.e. cameras that you select auto or semi auto or manual.....But these you should pick up cheap:-
1. Canon T70 very good camera but ugly and takes AA batteries....I use two and with Canon the lenses are plentiful and cheaper and also with an adapter you can use those old screw lenses, about £25 with 50mm f1.8 lens.
2. Ricoh KR-10 super takes Pentax, Rikenon, and Centon (if you are short of cash) lenses, plus also can use old screw lenses...the shutter dial goes from 1/1000 to 16 secs but meter info in the viewfinder is basic.
3. Canon A1 but have to watch out for the Canon "squeak" sorta jack of all trades camera but master of all for an ordinary amateur...but flash sync is only 1/60 sec
4. Minolta X-500 or X700 (I have two)..very nice cameras but the very good lenses are more expensive and not as plentiful as Canon, also can use old screw lenses with an adapter...but flash sync 1/60 sec
5. Cheapest manual only camera for screw lenses Praktica MTL3 or MTL5 but don't get one with Domiplan lens..the only problem is that if you want to use the meter you'll have to make some easy adjustments as the meter used old mercury 1.35v batteries...some people use hearing aid batteries.


You can go Nikon but be prepared to pay higher prices for lenses but they can't use old screw lenses, well only for close ups.....screw lenses won't work at all for Olympus.
Also a smooth camera is the Contax 139 Quartz, uses more expensive Yashica lenses (ML recommended) or if you are rich Contax lenses....doesn't do anything special but feels a bit more expensive using it.
 
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JohnnyLebeau said:
I know someone with a x7000. I might be able to convince him to sell. :). And my dad has a canon ae1
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You'll like the Canon AE1 (my father had one too), maybe your dad will let you borrow it. Also let us know what he is asking for the X700...as you can get them cheap.
 
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JohnnyLebeau said:
He's asking 35 for 2 body's and 3 lenses
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If they are all Minolta lenses then grab the whole lot as it's a bargain....but still can be a very good buy, well as long as the lenses are decent..maybe you can ask him what the lenses are and who makes them.
 
JohnnyLebeau said:
They are all Minolta :). All lenses
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You're in a great position to step into film photography; a healthy budget and the offer of some good quality bargain slr systems. Go for it, whichever one you choose you'll be happy.
Don't forget to share your pictures with us and :welcome:to film
 
Just remember not to spend ALL of your budget on the camera. You will need to stock up on film also ;)
 
^^^^^^^^^^^

Agree with that.
 
I agree. The Minolta deal sounds excellent, and the great thing about the old 35mm film cameras is that most of them, and the lenses, can be found quite cheaply so you're not committing yourself to a serious investment if you want to try something else later on. There are exceptions though. Some of the earlier Nikon and Canon bodies are getting pricey. A lot of them were used professionally and hammered, and really good ones have some collector interest, but the F2 is still the pick of the crop as far as I'm concerned! Try one if you ever get a chance...............
 
JohnnyLebeau said:
They are all Minolta :). All lenses
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WOW! get it this morning and you never know he might throw in some film and filters with it as well ;).....The Minolta X-700 was one of their top range cameras and the next thing is to buy some Agfa Vista from the poundland store to check the camera out, if you have a Asda super store handy they will dev and scan to a CD for £3 while you shop...if the camera seals (to prevent light leaks) or gooey it's an easy fix to put some new ones in.
A very handy friend and great start to 35mm film photography as Minolta lenses are up amongst the best.......lucky you (y)
 
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Word of warning... confirm the capacitor/s has/have been changed before looking at the x700.
 
Well, you've got all the sound advice you'll need to get you started including opinions on specific makes and models. I'm not going to add to that but I am looking forward to hearing how you work through to the point of knowing what you like and don't like.
Having been where you are now I found that buying, shooting a film or two then selling and sometimes regretting gave me a quick measure of how much I enjoyed using a given system.
 
Not really - but if the batteries are flat who would know?
 
sparty said:
You're in a great position to step into film photography; a healthy budget and the offer of some good quality bargain slr systems. Go for it, whichever one you choose you'll be happy.
Don't forget to share your pictures with us and :welcome:to film
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Hi Steve
Now Royal Mail have reduced their price to £2.60......do you still want the Minolta A5 to play with?
 
sparty said:
Ooh, yes, that would be great!
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(y) Email you address and I'll post it next Monday or Tues......I did test it out some time ago, with seven shots, and they were all sharp and no light leaks (y) .......enjoy.
 
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