Film rookie - rate my purchases

IanC

IanC

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Ian
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Hello all, I decided I would like to try film so today I bought a practika llc and a praktica bca electronic for £25. Have I chosen wisely or should I have got something else?
 
Unless you can actually return it and get something else, it's all a tad irrelevant. Get some 35mm film ASAP, shoot it and enjoy it Ian. Everything else doesn't really matter :)
 
freecom2 said:
Unless you can actually return it and get something else, it's all a tad irrelevant. Get some 35mm film ASAP, shoot it and enjoy it Ian. Everything else doesn't really matter :)
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Well I do have the option to return the cameras as I work with the person I bought them off. I quite like the look of the olympus om-10 .... I'm getting addicted already.
 
Aw, a film camera's just a light tight box, a hole at the front to let light in, and something to move the film about - get some film in it, and take some pictures - save your money for the film and processing :)
 
Oh, that changes things then. Return them.

The LLC uses a PX21 battery which is an expensive, uncommon battery - you won't get much change from a £10 note for one from the small battery company here. The BCA uses a slightly more common 6V battery, but again these are not as common as button cells (it can use button cells, but four of them slapped together). The BCA doesn't have a way of allowing you to choose shutter speed properly, the dial only has four limited options rather than a full range of manual speeds.

Also, the LLC features an alarming amount of electronics for a 70s camera - and in my head, 40 year old electronics + East Germany don't create a reliable shooter. Additionally, it seems that a lot of the electronics were moved to the lens, so you have electronics in the body and the lens to rely on, and that probably limits how many M42 lenses that you can have access to with full usability.

etc. etc.
 
freecom2 said:
Oh, that changes things then. Return them.

The LLC uses a PX21 battery which is an expensive, uncommon battery - you won't get much change from a £10 note for one from the small battery company here. The BCA uses a slightly more common 6V battery, but again these are not as common as button cells (it can use button cells, but four of them slapped together). The BCA doesn't have a way of allowing you to choose shutter speed properly, the dial only has four limited options rather than a full range of manual speeds.

Also, the LLC features an alarming amount of electronics for a 70s camera - and in my head, 40 year old electronics + East Germany don't create a reliable shooter. Additionally, it seems that a lot of the electronics were moved to the lens, so you have electronics in the body and the lens to rely on, and that probably limits how many M42 lenses that you can have access to with full usability.

etc. etc.
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Yeah that's one thing that put me off with the LLC. The fact that the batteries are so rare, it is a shame because it is in quite good condition for its age. The bca bulb setting doesn't seem to be working so I think I will return them on monday
 
Apologies, that's probably the post you wanted to read rather than my original reply. It's just that with used cameras, most of the time the only places you'll be able to return to are dealers, and all the dealers I'm aware of don't stock any Praktica's - usually Praktica's are sold in boot sales and charity shops (i.e. places where you can't return).
 
freecom2 said:
Apologies, that's probably the post you wanted to read rather than my original reply. It's just that with used cameras, most of the time the only places you'll be able to return to are dealers, and all the dealers I'm aware of don't stock any Praktica's - usually Praktica's are sold in boot sales and charity shops (i.e. places where you can't return).
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No I'm glad you made me see sense :) I also picked up a Prakticar 135mm 2.8 lens in the same deal. Is that worth keeping?
 
It's M42 right (the lens mount by being screwed in?). There's a thread on pentaxforums about it - well, where they try to work out more information about it: http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/...on/16435-anyone-familiar-praktica-lenses.html

It's only useful to keep if you want to shoot it on your digital body, but the adaptors for M42-Nikon are a bit rubbish, and only if the camera you want to replace the Praktica's with is also M42 mount.

There's lots of good stuff out there for £50 and less, just have to find it!
 
Practika cameras have their uses, and I've a soft spot for them, but an OM10 is much more pleasurable to use (along with the better reputation for build quality and lenses), especially if you get one with a manual adapter.
The batteries are easy to come by too.
I'd say the OM10 will more likely convert you to being a regular film user.
 
I suppose it depends what you want to do really and how much you are prepared to wait for a bargain. I have bought some great items cheaply (and some not so cheap) from ebay.

I bought a Black OM2n with a Zuiko 50mm f1.8 from ebay for £33 including postage. It is in great condition overall with just a little bit of paint loss and I have send it off for a CLA (clean, lubricate and adjust and replace light seals) which is costing £50. The camera itself though could have been used as it was, I just wanted it to be sure it was accurate, I also got a 70-150 f4 Zuiko zoom lens for £6.49 plus £5 p&p and a Winder 2 for £13.79 including postage.

There are some great bargains out there.

Pentax ME Supers can be had for a pittance (better than an OM10) and give access to a massive range of lenses in PK, PKM, PKA and Ricoh mounts. Better bodies again are the MX, Super A and LX although the LX is rarely found going cheaply.

It really is a case of making a decision as to what mount you want to use and going for it, just keep looking for that bargain.

Personally though I would stay away from the M42 mount cameras, as a lot of the lenses are either not automatic, or bodged to be 'not automatic' (glued aperture pin) in order to work with modern DSLRs.
 
freecom2 said:
It's M42 right (the lens mount by being screwed in?). There's a thread on pentaxforums about it - well, where they try to work out more information about it: http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/...on/16435-anyone-familiar-praktica-lenses.html

It's only useful to keep if you want to shoot it on your digital body, but the adaptors for M42-Nikon are a bit rubbish, and only if the camera you want to replace the Praktica's with is also M42 mount.

There's lots of good stuff out there for £50 and less, just have to find it!
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Yeah it is a M42 mount. Its also made in Japan.
 
Nothing wrong with M42 and Practika :) I have had many a Practika and they have the added bonus of being built like tanks.
 
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