Should I buy a film camera tommorow?

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Skips

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Skippy
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Hey guys,

You lot seem like a decent sort so hope you can answer some questions for me.

I cannot afford a digital SLR, and I'm not trying to say that film is the poor mans photography in any way just that it seems it might be a cheaper way if I'm smart about it.

My only memories of film photography are from when I was about 8 and had a few basic film compacts and had a couple of goes with my mums (now sadly dead) slr.

So my question is, could Film photography be a way I could get into more serious photography and how much would I have to spend to be satisfied with the results? (I'm working as a volunteer so no real spare money, hoping for christmas present)

Also any guides on buying out there for avoiding any pitfalls and traps? Or any tips you guys can give?
 
I've just bought a film camera and got another on the way , they're peanuts to buy !

its definitely a cheap way to do photography , you obviously dont get to see the results straight away as with digital (probably not a bad thing sometimes) and obviously if you're doing something wrong you dont find out till you've got your film developed.

but the initial outlay is minimal and they give great results
 
Yes, its the best way of learning how to take photographs.

As to how much to spend, well it can be as lttle as a tenner. Buy a cheap rangefinder, great results for a tiny outlay or something like an Olympus OM-10 with a couple of lenses can cost less than £30 and the picture quality from Olympus Zuiko lenses is excellent.

I'm sure someone with more knowledge than I will be along after breakfast to help some more but I say go for it, I did and now I'm hooked and I think I'm improved as a photographer as well.

Cheers

Andy
 
the price of Canon FD lens is rock-bottom on eBay

so you could buy a Canon AE-1 body, may come with the 50mm f1.8
and then search for 28mm, 135mm or 70-210 etc

or buy the whole kit like this "listing"

if you have limited knowledge of Canon - stay away from Canon A1 - a superb camera but many suffer from a small shutter problem....mine is presently away for fixing at £40

also buying a film camera older than 10-15 years may mean the light seals on the back cover need replacing...[ you will see light streaks on your prints ] not a big DIY job though, with seals being available on eBay

good luck....!
 
in fact that listing is not bad for a starter kit - depends on your budget

the batteries are available "here" 2 for £7
 
****well it can be as lttle as a tenner***

It can be very cheap to try film even buying the gear. I've quite a few excellent shots for £6.10 inc development of film and images to a CD. How come? For those who have time to search.....Praktica MTL3 with Meyer 50mm lens for £4, film 10p, and at the time Tesco did the CD for £2 up to 38 images.......but unfortunately doing the same today would cost me £7.10 ;)
 
yes and no. If you want to learn photography - an used dslr for about 150 + a manual lens will be a lot cheaper. I mean ! A lot, lot cheaper. film is only cheap if you do 3 rolls a year or when you know what you need to photograph. good lens costs the same for digital and a good scanner costs more than a good dslr.
 
Starastin said:
yes and no. If you want to learn photography - an used dslr for about 150 + a manual lens will be a lot cheaper. I mean ! A lot, lot cheaper. film is only cheap if you do 3 rolls a year or when you know what you need to photograph. good lens costs the same for digital and a good scanner costs more than a good dslr.
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Using a Digital camera costs me nothing as I was given a Sony P&S P92...but it's sooooo boring.
 
Go for it. It's a good way to learn, and I'd suggest a manual camera, or using manual mode. It forces you to slow down, concentrate and learn about the relationship between film speed, shutter speed and aperture instead of relying on the camera to do everything automatically. Manual focus is also a good idea, and it's easy with the big/bright viewfinders the old SLRs had.
 
I could actually offer a minolta 7000 with a lens for free. It can produce some really amazing images. but I would only do so if you promise to stick around the TP , so we can see how are you doing ! :p

I'll even put a roll in it.
 
excalibur2 said:
...but you did mention costs re film versus digital ;)
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a dslr for around 150quid that's what I mentioned ! :p . ok maybe I did mention just digital in the first post. don't know.


p.s. eemm.. no I didn't but even so - dslr is still much more boring and there is no - image feel in it , well, only if you have a reallly good dslr.
 
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Starastin said:
a dslr for around 150quid that's what I mentioned ! :p . ok maybe I did mention just digital in the first post. don't know.


p.s. eemm.. no I didn't but even so - dslr is still much more boring and there is no - image feel in it , well, only if you have a reallly good dslr.
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p.s. eemm.. no I didn't but even so - dslr is still much more boring and there is no - image feel in it , well, only if you have a reallly good dslr.[/QUOTE]

Huh!

I posted #6:-

"It can be very cheap to try film even buying the gear. I've quite a few excellent shots for £6.10 inc development of film and images to a CD. How come? For those who have time to search.....Praktica MTL3 with Meyer 50mm lens for £4, film 10p, and at the time Tesco did the CD for £2 up to 38 images.......but unfortunately doing the same today would cost me £7.10 ;)"


You posted #7

"an used dslr for about 150 + a manual lens will be a lot cheaper. I mean ! A lot, lot cheaper. film is only cheap if you do 3 rolls a year or when you know what you need to photograph. good lens costs the same for digital and a good scanner costs more than a good dslr."
 
oh ! sorry, I was just answering (sort of) OP question ! ;)


p.s. you got a praktica + meyer oreston 50mm f1.8 ? if so that's a cracking deal.
 
Dont forget to try Photo Express in Hull for developing they develop and put quality scans on a disc for £4.50 and for any order above £4.50 they give a discount to TP members
 
Starastin said:
p.s. you got a praktica + meyer oreston 50mm f1.8 ? if so that's a cracking deal.
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Ah! you are not a follower on my "how to buy and use film and get excellent quality, on the cheap" :)
 
actually just bought a praktica bc1 + 50mm f1.8 + a bag for 12quid delivered, but it's not working ! :( the film advance isn't .
 
CaptainPenguin said:
Dont forget to try Photo Express in Hull for developing they develop and put quality scans on a disc for £4.50 and for any order above £4.50 they give a discount to TP members
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I called into Boots about an eye test, and nearby at the photo counter asked about film costs erm they have no idea about film or their charges are ridiculous...so:-how much to develope a film only? Ans £5.99 and to put on a CD? ans £2. And the punch line is:-

I said that very expensive! ans YES :clap:
 
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Starastin said:
actually just bought a praktica bc1 + 50mm f1.8 + a bag for 12quid delivered, but it's not working ! :( the film advance isn't .
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This lot at the boot sale for £18, no one wanted it because it was late in the morning and hundreds of people must have walked past..but it might have worked in my favour as she might have wanted £40 at first and when she realised it wasn't going to sell at anything near that price, took my offer.
Also the wind on, on my BC1 sticks now and again, but inc was an auto winder so I use that with no problem. If you have a similar problem as mine, then if you see an auto winder going for peanuts, it might solve it.

DSC00667.jpg
 
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thanks Brian ! I'll have a look at the auto winder . but the only prob is - that I bought it because of it being manual ! :( .
 
CaptainPenguin said:
You jammy git Excalibur all I ever see at Car Boots whenever I go are plastic 35mm compacts
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...I was lucky, the right seller, the right place at the right time, can you imagine the ones I've missed over the years :'(
 
Starastin said:
thanks Brian ! I'll have a look at the auto winder . but the only prob is - that I bought it because of it being manual ! :( .
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Well I prefer auto wind on, as there is nothing worse than say:- every one posing for a shot and you say "Oh wait! keep your smiles going as I forgot to wind on" and for action shots it can be annoying.
 
Starastin said:
I could actually offer a minolta 7000 with a lens for free. It can produce some really amazing images. but I would only do so if you promise to stick around the TP , so we can see how are you doing ! :p

I'll even put a roll in it.
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Bloody hell thats generous I'm going to stick around whatever but unfortunately I'm in South Africa at the moment so might be unfeasible. So you guys have pretty much sold me on the idea ...my budget is £30-50 equiv. Any ideas on what to look for and what to avoid like the plague?
 
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Skips said:
Bloody hell thats generous I'm going to stick around whatever but unfortunately I'm in South Africa at the moment so might be unfeasible. So you guys have pretty much sold me on the idea ...my budget is £30-50 equiv. Any ideas on what to look for and what to avoid like the plague?
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Skippy, I lived in SA for 30 odd years, until last year, and have just returned from a six month engagement there. I stayed on the forums right through. No problem, unless you're in Poffadderfontein or somewhere like that, with no internet.
 
Skips said:
Bloody hell thats generous I'm going to stick around whatever but unfortunately I'm in South Africa at the moment so might be unfeasible. So you guys have pretty much sold me on the idea ...my budget is £30-50 equiv. Any ideas on what to look for and what to avoid like the plague?
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oh ! I see ! :)

but it's even cooler that your in CA, that means you can take some mind blowing pics there .

can you ebay around in SA ?
 
Not that, actually meant getting the camera might be an issue
 
Not sure on ebay tbh, and the postal service here is utterly terrible
 
Will have to start looking I guess, will report back tommorow!
 
Skips said:
Not sure on ebay tbh, and the postal service here is utterly terrible
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I know. Buying from overseas is only viable if you pay for courier service, because there's a high risk of theft by the Post Office.

Where are you based?
 
Parow, Western Cape (Cape Town basically)
 
Skips said:
Parow, Western Cape (Cape Town basically)
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OK, that's just off the N1, north of the city.

There aren't many stores selling used film equipment in SA, so the first thing I would do is visit http://www.outdoorphoto.co.za. Have a browse and register, then you can post and ask for advice/suggestions. It's not all about outdoor photography and covers just about everything. Bit like TP on a much smaller scale. There may be guys on the forums from CT that can point you in the right direction. The site owner is Hedrus Van *** Merwe and you could give him a call. He's a good guy and very helpful.

ORMS is the biggest photographic dealer in CT. They don't sell used gear AFAIK, or anything that would come close to your budget, but they might be able to suggest where to go or who to get in touch with. Kameraz in Joburg do stock used film gear, but out of your price range again. They have a web site and might offer some suggestions too.

There's not much in the way of boot sales or cheap charity/second hand shops in SA, but it might be worth looking out for sales held by Hospice and other charities.

Local newspaper classifieds and a weekly called Junk Mail might be worth checking.

Let us know how you get on. Good luck!
 
Tried two stores that were meant to sell 35mm and found only 1. F65 Nikkon (I think) ...but it looked pretty beaten up and was R1100 or around £110 ...so no luck yet ...registering for that forum now
 
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