film noob

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David
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Hi all. Been looking more and more into film and am considering giving it a go.

What are peoples opinions on an easy camera to get going with? I'd like a simple one with an auto setting if possible. I like the looks of the rangefinder type cameras and have been looking into the Olympus OM10.

Any help greatfully recieved!

Cheers.
David.

EDIT: When i say auto setting i mean like an aperture priority mode. ;)
 
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Hi David, actually an OM-10 is an SLR camera, an Olympus Trip is sort of a rangefinder (actually a viewfinder but its similar). The OM-10 is a cracking little camera and the Oly lenses are really top notch, it would be a good one to start out with. What do you shoot at the moment? It might be that you already have some lenses for a certain brand and we could advise on something to fit them.

As is often the case with a question like this you will probably get a fair few different answers and when the rest of the fillum folk awake for their kippers and copy of the Times you will get lots more suggestions. Welcome to the wonderful and slightly dusty world of fillum. :D

Andy
 
Hi Andy, thanks for the reply! I did say i was a noob din'i? :D I've previously looked at the Oly Trip also and thought it would be ideal with it being a fixed lens and one less thing to worry about. Would only really be wanting it for some portraits of my daughter initially. I do have an old Praktica MTL-5 (m42) in the cupboard that i got from my Mum and Dad but looking at the top of it frightens me :LOL: Does that shoot aperture priority? (I did say i was a noob din'i? :D ) I think the thing is i just really like the old Olympus cameras and would love to own one, lol, so that was what i was leaning towards? I already have some film so i suppose i should give the Praktica a whirl and if i mess up, which i'm pretty sure i will then it's only cost me a few quid in Asda to bosh em on a CD.

Currently shoot a Nikon D7000 and a Fuji XF1.
 
Andy's right. The OM10 is a good entry into film. In its standard form shoots in Aperture priority. There is an optional plug in manual converter which gives you full control.
Manual focus in the main. (There's an auto 35-70 zoom, rare though).
Super lenses, and can be found at bargain prices.
Most will need new light seals, easily done at home.
 
I was out yesterday with my OM10 + 28mm loaded with good old poundland Agfa Vista.
Still delivers the goods for what is (now) a very cheap system.You can get the Zuiko fifty mm 1.8 for peanuts which is a good lens.
 
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As you shoot Nikon it might be worth having a look at an F401 or F801 or summit like that. Even the later F55/65's as they can be picked up for a tenner. If you want completely manual (including focus) the FG is a cracking little camera.
 
Hi Andy, thanks for the reply! I did say i was a noob din'i? :D I've previously looked at the Oly Trip also and thought it would be ideal with it being a fixed lens and one less thing to worry about. Would only really be wanting it for some portraits of my daughter initially. I do have an old Praktica MTL-5 (m42) in the cupboard that i got from my Mum and Dad but looking at the top of it frightens me :LOL: Does that shoot aperture priority? (I did say i was a noob din'i? :D ) I think the thing is i just really like the old Olympus cameras and would love to own one, lol, so that was what i was leaning towards? I already have some film so i suppose i should give the Praktica a whirl and if i mess up, which i'm pretty sure i will then it's only cost me a few quid in Asda to bosh em on a CD.

Currently shoot a Nikon D7000 and a Fuji XF1.

Ahem ^^^^ :D
 
The OM-10 is a little expensive for that set-up (but not daft pricey) , but it does look the dogs doodahs and it would certainly get you some good images. Same goes for the Trip, a bit overpriced but looks good.

I think the OM-10 would probably give you a better film experience overall and as its the same price probably pound for pound a better deal.

Yes, the 401/801's were not the the prettiest cameras. But they were very good. I think the Fg is a lot better looking.
 
Yeah i know they're pricey but they've been serviced and work as they should so thats's what you're paying for i guess? Would rather buy something that works and pay a bit more than buy something for £20 and it be knackered and it makes me hate film.

Maybe a little wanted add here could get me a bargain?
 
I'm sure it would. Like I said they are only a little bit pricey and if they are in perfect working order you are still getting a cracking camera set up for peanuts. Just got to find the cost of fillum and developing... :runaway:

I started off paying for dev and scan but it got very expensive as I was shooting quite a few rolls of 35mm so I eventually bit the bullet and bought a scanner which paid for itself after about 25 rolls of film. I now dev my own b&w which also saves a bit and is great fun, colour next but that will be a bit later in the year I think.

Andy
 
I would be using Agfa Vista and good old Asda develop and scan to a CD service to start with. If i got really into it then i guess a little 'at home' setup would be ok. The missus used to work in a chemists developing film so she has a fairly good understanding of what is needed.
 
Another slippery slope David... :p

I've got a lovely OM10 with a few different lenses but still not got around to giving it a go yet... once you start looking into processing costs and buying yourself a nice little scanner so you can self publish your pics online its probably the price of one of those nice MFT lens on your list... :D

Olympus OM10 SLR Camera by XFile2708, on Flickr
 
This looks worth a look on the bay

281367829764
 
A concern from me that given the digitals the OP is used to that he may find an OM-10 too basic for him quite quickly?

Maybe an OM2 SP would be a better Olympus choice, even with the battery drain concern? They can be picked up for a good price & I got enough batteries to keep my one running for 5 years off of ebay for a couple pounds. From what I read I was expecting to get a lot less that a 6 month life span out of a set.

Another Nikon to think about is the F301 perhaps as they go for peanuts. Paid around £15 for mine.
 
I'm pretty simple tbh. :D so I think the OM10 would be plenty complicated enough. I shoot pretty much exclusively in aperture priority so as long as the camera can do that then I'm a happy bunny. Having said that I will look into the OM2 and see what's what. As for the Nik, if it looks anything like the 4/801 then I'll give it a miss as the styling is terrible compared with the Oly's.

Thanks peeps.
 
I'd try and get a OM20 if I were you. There isn't much cost difference but the 20 has the shutter speed selection on the body instead of a funky little plug in adaptor which can be as expensive as a 10.
 
A concern from me that given the digitals the OP is used to that he may find an OM-10 too basic for him quite quickly?

It's a fair comment to make, but you have people who shoot film with basic cameras despite owning high end digital stuff.
 
I got back into film a few years ago with a Pentax ME Super SLR. The "auto" program is aperture priority. If you find one with a Pentax-M 50mm f/1.7 or fast on it, you have a magic camera. Just be wary that cameras of this vintage (25 years old plus) tend to have knackered light seals. You might get away with sticky crumbling light seals on the back cover of some cameras, but I had a nasty experience with the first Pentax ME Super, and I suspect other similar 35mm SLRs of that era are similarly vulnerable. It had a "mirror pad" - a light seal that the mirror hit when it lifted. The seal was so perished, that a sticky glue like substance leached out, sticking the mirror up -and running down into the focal plane shutter. I bought another body, and changed the light seals immediately.

So if a nice sexy metallic 35mm SLR circa 1980 is your fancy, just consider servicing it.
 
It's a fair comment to make, but you have people who shoot film with basic cameras despite owning high end digital stuff.

Quite so, I've got three semi-complex film slr's and I still go back to my semi auto ae1 as my first choice to use, without fail.
 
Quite so, I've got three semi-complex film slr's and I still go back to my semi auto ae1 as my first choice to use, without fail.

I know people love their Nikon F5s, F100s, Canon whatevers... but I have a DSLR for all of that complex nonsense - 50,000 metering sections and 24 different autofocusing modes etc.

That's why my go-to camera has an aperture, shutter speed and focus settings, and not much else!
 
I know people love their Nikon F5s, F100s, Canon whatevers... but I have a DSLR for all of that complex nonsense - 50,000 metering sections and 24 different autofocusing modes etc.

That's why my go-to camera has an aperture, shutter speed and focus settings, and not much else!


Too complicated man, you should kick loose and try one of those focus free pano cameras like I got :P
 
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