finally my first film slr - a few questions

[lensworx]

Hi everyone,

I have been wanting to get a film slr for some time, My uncle came around today with an old contax MF camera for me to borrow and see how I get on before spending out.

It has a carl zeiss planar f/1.7 T* 50mm prime and a bobinuse computrol loading machine still with a bunch of 30 year old film(film unknow).

First of all is it even worth bothering with the old film or should I rip it out and buy something new ilford film instead? how much cheaper does it work out by buying the film and loading the spools rarther than buying them as individual reels?

Can I use my remote triggers with it for studio use and also can I use my flash unit with it (crappy jessops make)?

Can anyone recommend or even give me some examples of different ilford films that give good results for portraits and also street photography
I would like the option of something with a fine grain and smooth tones and then something with a bit more grain and contrasty.

at present I will be getting them developed at my local printers but may decide to develop myself if I decide I like it

thanks in advance

Mark

 

[Knikki]

Hi everyone,

I have been wanting to get a film slr for some time, My uncle came around today with an old contax MF camera for me to borrow and see how I get on before spending out.

Nice piece of kit

It has a carl zeiss planar f/1.7 T* 50mm prime and a bobinuse computrol loading machine still with a bunch of 30 year old film(film unknow).

First of all is it even worth bothering with the old film or should I rip it out and buy something new ilford film instead? how much cheaper does it work out by buying the film and loading the spools rarther than buying them as individual reels?

If the film is that old maybe not BUT then again seeif you can get it developed it may have some suprises on it

Can I use my remote triggers with it for studio use and also can I use my flash unit with it (crappy jessops make)?

Remote triggers? so long as you have a 'flash lead' basically a PC sockets on both ends don't see why not. I use those cheap wireless triggers with my older cameras no problem. Yes you should be able to use your Jessops flash but you may have to do it in manual mode.

Can anyone recommend or even give me some examples of different ilford films that give good results for portraits and also street photography
I would like the option of something with a fine grain and smooth tones and then something with a bit more grain and contrasty.

HMM! The Delta range 100 & 400 are good fine grain and good for a nmber of uses from Portrait to Street. If your after grain then HP5+ pushed to 800ISO or even P3200 rated at 1000ISO as som ideas

at present I will be getting them developed at my local printers but may decide to develop myself if I decide I like it

Sounds like a plan it is not difficult to dev your own

thanks in advance

Mark

 

[freecom2]

If this is the first time you are shooting, I'd forget the 30 year old film in the bulk loader. You want to shoot a roll to know that everything still works and that there is no light leaks, and fresh film is the only way you can ensure that - if you use really expired film, it could be the film rather than the camera at fault, but you wouldn't be able to know.

Getting a bulk roll and loading it yourself has become far less economical - bulk rolls are much more difficult to get hold of and are priced pretty high. My current film, Kodak T-Max 400, is currently being sold for more than £80 for a bulk roll, and considering you can only get 18-21 rolls out of it and that 7dayshop (often the cheapest place for Kodak+Fujifilm in the UK) can give me a roll for £3.29 in a bulk order, without the hassle of the loader or needing to find cartridges and being fresher, it seems pretty pointless. If you have a bulk loader and run across a cheap bulk roll then yes it might be, but the economics tend to be against it.

You are considering Ilford film but don't forget the vast range also offered by Fujifilm (Acros) and Kodak (Tri-X, T-Max).

 

[EdBray]

Lucky boy, that 50mm Planar Lens is one of the sharpest standard lenses ever made.

What model is the Contax?

I would buy a roll of Kodak TriX to start with, gives good results and is ISO400.

 

[TheBigYin]

For the first film, just grab a roll of Ilford XP2 - its a B&W film, that can be processed at high-street minilabs. Bash that through the camera to test it. After that, until you're processing your own film stick with buying fresh film, already rolled. IMO the only point in hand loading film, is to be able to make up "short rolls" - say 10 frames - for when you're not planning on shooting that many pictures, but don't want to wait to see them. As the bulk film you have is quite old, I'd wait until you're proficient at home-processing before starting using it - another couple of months won't hurt it. Once you're home processing, and have the routine down pat, then hand-load a short roll and try it. That way you're not paying good money to see if the film's munged or not - home processing can cost much less than 50p/roll in chemicals, compared with at least a fiver for someone else to do it for you!

 

[lensworx]

thanks for the replies everyone.

Ive done some digging to try and find out the model and a manual.
it turns out that it is a contax 159mm.

im glad that I have a decent lens to start with, as soon as i saw it bells started ringing.
I will not bother with the old film for now, will pop into town and see what ilford films i can get.

thanks everyone.

 

[lensworx]

right a quick update.

Went into my local printers this afternoon to get some film.
Ended up with a roll of ilford Delta 100 and a roll of ilford fp4 plus 125, these are all he had left but should be getting a delivery of some xp2 and a few others over the next week or so. The good thing is that he can develop them all in house.

im starting with the fp4 and will get some photos up once I done my fist roll. I intend leaving the delta 100 until I do a studio shoot.

Thanks everyone

Mark