Recommend me a first film camera please

bigtel

bigtel

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Hi, can anybody recommend me a first film SLR to have a play around with?

Confident with my DSLRs but want to try on something where it all began.

I use Nikon so would prefer a Nikon but if an Olympus etc is cheaper and just as good then that's fine.

Any other tips I should know about? I take it the number on the film is equivalent to the film speed / ISO and once I've put the roll in I need to shoot to suit that ISO?

Thanks
 
Hi Terry

If you already have Nikon lenses then I would stick with Nikon for your film camera, unless your dslr lenses are DX rather than FX as film needs full frame lenses? The Nikon F80 was a late AF film camera and should be easily used with your dslr experience. They come up regularly for £50 or less in really good condition.

You're correct about the film speed being what you set on the meter or more likely the camera will set it automatically.
 
What's your budget, and what Nikon lenses do you hope to use on a Nikon film camera?
 
Well as above but you could see what it was like using a camera say..... in the 1960's early 1970's. i.e. a basic mechanical camera with say just a battery for the light meter.
 
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freecom2 said:
What's your budget, and what Nikon lenses do you hope to use on a Nikon film camera?
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These are really the questions you want to answer first. If you only have Nikon AF-G lenses, you'll want a film body that can control their apertures. If you have AF-D lenses or older, you have a much wider range of bodies to choose from.

On the assumption you have some AF-D lenses (or older), you can use a fully manual SLR. This will be a much more pronounced difference in how the camera handles and your approach to it. In essence, with a camera like an F80, all you're really doing is changing the sensor. It's similar enough to digital cameras to not be worth it, in my opinion.

Then comes your budget. If you want something uber cheap, the Nikon EM can be had for around £25. Something completely functional and capable, I'd look at the FM2. If money is the least of concerns, the FM3a is a frankly stunning camera and deserves full consideration.

Or! Hahaha, just found this on Greys: Scroll to the "Nikon F High Speed Sapporo Camera"

http://www.graysofwestminster.co.uk/products/secondhand.php?cat1=1&pg=1

:D
 
...but the EM is more of a point and shoot camera....if the Nikon FE can take more moden Nikon lenses that would be my choice.
 
Well I inherited the Nikon EM from my father (bought new when they came out) and used it a few times years ago and IMO it's a good camera and never let my father (or me) down and the results were very good as it seemed to get the metering (exposure) correct most times.
 
Wow, thanks for all the replies, some great information there.

To answer the questions.

Lenses I have:
50mm AF-S 1:1.4 G
24-70mm AF-S 1:2.8 G ED

Hopefully they fit and work fine then.

Budget I would say around £100

Thanks
 
bigtel said:
Wow, thanks for all the replies, some great information there.

To answer the questions.

Lenses I have:
50mm AF-S 1:1.4 G
24-70mm AF-S 1:2.8 G ED

Hopefully they fit and work fine then.

Budget I would say around £100

Thanks
Click to expand...

Well you have to make a decision:- do you want a film camera that works like a digital camera OR the old fashioned type mechanical camera?
 
bigtel said:
Wow, thanks for all the replies, some great information there.

To answer the questions.

Lenses I have:
50mm AF-S 1:1.4 G
24-70mm AF-S 1:2.8 G ED

Hopefully they fit and work fine then.

Budget I would say around £100

Thanks
Click to expand...


Those lenses don't have aperture rings which means you need a modern SLR that can control the aperture, something like a Nikon F80.

So in reality it won't be like going back to "where it all began", it just means you'll be getting film shots from an automated camera.

If you want something a bit older, manual focus etc, then you will need different lenses. These can usually be picked up pretty cheaply although the modern lens mount adapters means the prices are going up as people buy them to use on CSCs like the Sony A7.
 
With those lenses and £100 I would suggest an F100 or an F80. The F100 is just superb and feels like a modern DSLR the F80 is similar and cheaper.

If you really want to try something different one of the older Nikon SLR camera (EM, FM etc) can be had for that price with for example the 35-70mm lens which was a very nice sharp lens.
 
Go back to basics, get yourself a Nikon F/FG/FE2 or a Nikkormat and a 50mm lens. Forget your modern G lenses, keep them for your digital and experience old school film shooting.
 
If you want to get the film experience of Ye Olden Days, I would forget about compatibility with your modern Nikon lenses. Shooting a modern autofocus plastic film SLR isn't going to be the experience you're looking for, although the results will be great.
 
I would second (third?) the F80 suggestion as the cheapest and easiest intro, given the lenses you have which are perfect for it. The F80 will even do VR if you get new lenses that can do that (and it's actually REALLY useful with film, given you can't play around so much with ISO).

Of course this isn't going to give you the full retro experience, but it would be a good cheap starting point just to shoot a couple of rolls of film and see what you think of the results. If you then get excited by it you can always move onto something more classic like an FM2 and manual focus lenses, but since you have two top notch lenses there already it seems an obvious route in.

I bought an F80 on ebay last year for about £25 and it was boxed and practically unused. If you want to push the boat out a little further for an F100 it will cost you more like £100 but is a more rugged, bigger, pretty much pro-quality built camera, and it will also use any manual focus (or older AF lenses that don't have motors built in) lenses you might acquire in future.

Apart from the gorgeous, still available new F6, and the enormous/heavy/bulletproof F5, these two are the most advanced, modern film cameras Nikon made and are fully compatible in every way with your AF-S lenses. Both are absolute bargains too. My advice would be to start with an F80 for no more than £30...only caveat is to make sure it doesn't have the sticky rubber on the back door - doesn't affect functionality but it's a common problem with them that can be a bit irritating.
 
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Full retro experience is what I'm after. Like some of you have said, I'm experiencing the digital format currently and want to try something different.

So I think its down to the OM10/20 or Nikon F/FG/FE2/FM/EM?
 
I'm rather biased as i shoot one but get an FE, the shutter will be more accurate than the FM ones (except the FM3a), the ergonomics are great, you can use it with pre-AI lenses through to AF-D, you don't have to tap the shutter to re-activate the meter every 15 seconds like on the FE2, dual needle metering system is excellent once you get how it works but you can use the aperture-priority auto mode as well if you want. It's pretty much a perfect mix of manual and auto to me.

Whatever you buy factor in the cost of having the light seals replaced, you might not need to but it's worth keeping in mind.
 
bigtel said:
Hi, can anybody recommend me a first film SLR to have a play around with?
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Is there a reason that you've specified SLR?

In film, there are many types of cameras to choose from. Personally, if I had £100 and were buying film equipment from scratch, I'd be buying a TLR like a Yashica Mat, Minolta Autocord, or Rolleiflex Automat. The cost/performance ratio for those cameras is impossible to beat, the image quality blows 35mm SLRs out of the water, and it's a totally manual experience.

It's all very personal though, so I'd take your time and read up. Everyone has their own idea of a great starter film camera...
 
skysh4rk said:
Is there a reason that you've specified SLR?

In film, there are many types of cameras to choose from. Personally, if I had £100 and were buying film equipment from scratch, I'd be buying a TLR like a Yashica Mat, Minolta Autocord, or Rolleiflex Automat. The cost/performance ratio for those cameras is impossible to beat, the image quality blows 35mm SLRs out of the water, and it's a totally manual experience.

It's all very personal though, so I'd take your time and read up. Everyone has their own idea of a great starter film camera...
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Baby steps here but they do look good. See how this goes then will look into those. Think I've made a plastic one with my brother once.
 
Last question, and probably the worst...

Looking at Nikon FE - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nikon-FE-...313824?hash=item5b232f1be0:g:egMAAOSw8RJXDPXt

50mm 1.8 mm - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nikon-50m...459574?hash=item28160a3536:g:pVQAAOSwiYFXENLw

Will I have to manual focus?

The first DSLR I got was the Nikon 3100 and I got that 50mm lens and as it didn't have a motor in it to autofocus the results weren't good the first time I used it. I was out of focus on a few shots at 1.8 and these were still objects so couldn't take the risk for moving subjects. I'm hopefully better now though!

Thanks
 
When I got into photography a few years ago I did what you're doing now and ended up with an FM2n and 50mm, I absolutely loved it and my keeper rate went through the roof.

Then all the places that developed film locally stopped doing it and then I got lazy, which is a shame. Now I get it out on special occasions as you just can't beat the look, I was using Fuji Superia 400 as it was cheap from 7dayshop and I loved the colours.
 
bigtel said:
Last question, and probably the worst...

Looking at Nikon FE - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nikon-FE-...313824?hash=item5b232f1be0:g:egMAAOSw8RJXDPXt

50mm 1.8 mm - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nikon-50m...459574?hash=item28160a3536:g:pVQAAOSwiYFXENLw

Will I have to manual focus?

The first DSLR I got was the Nikon 3100 and I got that 50mm lens and as it didn't have a motor in it to autofocus the results weren't good the first time I used it. I was out of focus on a few shots at 1.8 and these were still objects so couldn't take the risk for moving subjects. I'm hopefully better now though!

Thanks
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Yes, manual focus but it is actually very easy as these cameras and lenses are designed for it. There is what's called a focus screen in the viewfinder that uses clever visual aids to tell you when it's in focus.

MF on a modern DSLR is stupidly difficult in comparison.
 
bigtel said:
Thanks Nawty, to be fair I won't be using it for toddlers or weddings so should be fine!
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MF for fast moving kids is a problem and before I bought a film AF camera (just for them) used to focus on a spot and waited till the kids came into that area...same idea for any moving object e,g cars on a race track.
 
Andysnap said:
With those lenses and £100 I would suggest an F100 or an F80. The F100 is just superb and feels like a modern DSLR the F80 is similar and cheaper.
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:plusone: For a cheap and easy entrée into film using your existing lenses.

abdoujaparov said:
If you want to get the film experience of Ye Olden Days, I would forget about compatibility with your modern Nikon lenses. Shooting a modern autofocus plastic film SLR isn't going to be the experience you're looking for, although the results will be great.
Click to expand...

:plusone: As the next step!
 
Had an F80, bargain, its basically a dslr that takes film, but that for me was its downside. Also had an FE, lovely camera, classic look and nice to use. Meters which is nice and for £100 you should get a decent one plus a 50mm 1.8 lens and away you go.
 
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