Urge to replace main Camera

Mr Badger said:
Come on in, the water's lovely! (y)

Banter aside, I enjoy using both film and digital, and being able to use the same lenses on my EOS 6D and 35mm EOS SLRs is a real bonus. I often take both formats with me if I'm going out for a day's photography.
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My film camera is packed away still in its original plastic bag, and in its original box, still looks new. If I thought I could get film developed looking like they did in the 70s and 80s, I just might have a dabble. I don't like the modern thing they now do with films, whatever it is that they do, I don't know as am not well up on that sort of thing.
 
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What, get my old film camera back into action? It is only a bog standard Niko F60, I always was a cheapskate. But, it still feels lovely in the hand. I have had this camera for ages, but it is still so shiny and clean, with no marks at all.

Whenever I put film in the camera, my heart starts pounding. It just feels real. Plus, I always get slightly nervous, before and after I take the photo. I do admit, you just don't get that feeling with digital. As with digital, you press and press unlimited amount of times, with no feeling whatsoever.

But, will I be getting my film camera back into use again? :eek:
 
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jonbeeza said:
If I thought I could get film developed looking like they did in the 70s and 80s, I just might have a dabble.
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If you want a bit of retro fun then you could always buy an old box camera (making sure it takes 120 roll film and not an unobtainable film size) and shoot some black and white. Match the look the camera gives to the subject and you can get some quite pleasing results. You can pick a working box camera up for about £10 in a junk/antiques shop, or less at a boot sale. Hold it steady though, as the shutter speed is probably around 1/60 second! Photo fun doesn't have to cost £1,000s. :)

1924 Kodak Box Brownie:

 
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Mr Badger said:
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If you want a bit of retro fun then you could always buy an old box camera (making sure it takes 120 roll film and not an unobtainable film size) and shoot some black and white. Match the look the camera gives to the subject and you can get some quite pleasing results. You can pick a working box camera up for about £10 in a junk/antiques shop, or less at a boot sale. Hold it steady though, as the shutter speed is probably around 1/60 second! Photo fun doesn't have to cost £1,000s. :)

1924 Kodak Box Brownie:

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Maybe I should revisit my old camera collection. :-)
 
jonbeeza said:
My film camera is packed away still in its original plastic bag, and in its original box, still looks new. If I thought I could get film developed looking like they did in the 70s and 80s, I just might have a dabble. I don't like the modern thing they now do with films, whatever it is that they do, I don't know as am not well up on that sort of thing.
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Please take it out of the plastic bag. Let it breath and stay dry. The camera will last a lot longer out of the bag. When first made, the bag protected the camera from adverse transport conditions and was not expected to be in use for more than a couple of months at longest.
 
Al1944 said:
I find it a lot easier to have just one camera - at a time :)
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I currently have four loaded with film. Colour, new B&W, very old B&W and one I cannot remember which film. I like serendipity.
 
john.margetts said:
Please take it out of the plastic bag. Let it breath and stay dry. The camera will last a lot longer out of the bag. When first made, the bag protected the camera from adverse transport conditions and was not expected to be in use for more than a couple of months at longest.
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But I have kept it like that for about twenty years, and it still looks pristine. Before I put camera away, I wipe it clean with a soft dry cloth. As I say, still looks new.
 
jonbeeza said:
But I have kept it like that for about twenty years, and it still looks pristine. Before I put camera away, I wipe it clean with a soft dry cloth. As I say, still looks new.
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Looks new, maybe, but what about internal fungus and corrosion?
 
I have often thought, scanned film ends up as digital. I have done it myself, but why not use digital from the beginning?
 
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Me being a firebug, and burning some scrap wood. Might sit out in the evening with a drink. I never could take a good photo of fire. Quick snap with the G7X.
 
jonbeeza said:
I have often thought, scanned film ends up as digital. I have done it myself, but why not use digital from the beginning?
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The 'look' of film is usually captured by scanning, plus the the enjoyment of the whole film photography process. I've always thought scanning film v digital camera is a bit like comparing using a microwave to cook a lovingly prepared home-made stew, as opposed to a ready meal. If all you want to do is eat then the end result can be similar, but if you enjoy the whole experience then it's home cooked food all the time. Or when you don't need the speed and convenience of a ready meal.

Plus you get a little bit of that Christmas morning excitement when the processed negatives drop through the letterbox... will I have got what I wanted, I can't wait to see? With digital it's instant gratification (or disappointment!), but quite often the journey to the destination can be half the enjoyment. Some people just don't get film photography though, and fair enough, we're all different.
 
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Mr Badger said:
The 'look' of film is usually captured by scanning, plus the the enjoyment of the whole film photography process. I've always thought scanning film v digital camera is a bit like comparing using a microwave to cook a lovingly prepared home-made stew, as opposed to a ready meal. If all you want to do is eat then the end result can be similar, but if you enjoy the whole experience then it's home cooked food all the time. Or when you don't need the speed and convenience of a ready meal.

Plus you get a little bit of that Christmas morning excitement when the processed negatives drop through the letterbox... will I have got what I wanted, I can't wait to see? With digital it's instant gratification (or disappointment!), but quite often the journey to the destination can be half the enjoyment. Some people just don't get film photography though, and fair enough, we're all different.
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Who knows, I might give my old camera another whirl at some point. I probably would if it were for something like family photos.
 
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