Getting Started in FILM PHOTOGRAPHY? Let's Choose a Camera!

[@daveed4475]

Love your enthusiasm Eric. I’ve shot film for decades, own many cameras (but

[@FilmPhotographyChannel]

Thanks so much

[@JeffJasperVO]

I agree, going meterless can be an asset and an opportunity for growth using Sunny-16! It teaches you not to depend on batteries that are in some cases becoming more difficult to find AND can ruin your camera if forgotten for too long. Sunny-16 is easy to memorize and use, and then you can consciously make your *own decision* of action-stopping vs. depth-of-field and bokeh. Much of the joy of photography is learning to control the outcome yourself. With a little practice, going fully manual takes no more time than a good smart phone shot. Not to mention, smart phones don't have cranks! Cranks are fun! ;-) Thanks for the great vid, Eric!

[@FilmPhotographyChannel]

Yes, I agree cranks are fun! Thanks for your insights. Spot on.

[@dukenukem5768]

Don't agree meterless is an asset. Sunny 16 is only OK for emergencies and has nothing to do with playing aperture against shutter speed. In fact Sunny 16 implies a fixed speed. The better 1980s cameras had at least one speed that did not depend on batteries, and batteries are not hard to find unless you want mercury ones - just avoid cameras that require them.

[@JeffJasperVO]

@@dukenukem5768 A book you may really enjoy is "Mastering Aperture, Shutter Speed, ISO and Exposure: How They Interact and Affect Each Other" by Al Judge. Another good one is the camera collecting book by Jason Schneider, really entertaining! Good luck in your pursuits!

[@caldera878]

A great way to start film photography is picking a camera that has at least one (1) auto-exposure mode. It makes it easier, faster and relieve some first time anxiety.

[@FilmPhotographyChannel]

Great point. I like aperture priority in my SLRs but for some reason, prefer manual mode in my Leicas.

[@chrissoclone]

My advise would be getting a camera that speaks to you, regardless the price, specs and features. It must be 1. functioning and 2. so lovely you want to carry it around all the time and treat it like a pet or at least fashion accessory. Anything that makes you want to use it. Buying by specs or pro advise rarely gets you there, too many features are often confusing, most of my favorite cameras have always been cheap but lovely underdogs. Yet all produce great images. :)

[@dukenukem5768]

Oh, you mean a Minolta AF-S V : petapixel.com/2017/01/12/minolta-af-s-v-talker-80s-camera-spoke/

[@inevitablecraftslab]

i dont know, buy a camera that you can treat like fashion accessory? Isnt that a bit odd to buy a tool just for fashion purposes? A camera is a tool, to buy a tool "regardless of the price, specs and features" is a strange way of looking at tools. Choose the lenses/focal lengths you would most likely own Choose the format of the film you would love Choose the focus system (SLR,TLR, rangefinder) you would love And then buy the camera that fits all regardless of brand. But dont fall for the "fashion statement" when buying tools :)

[@jerryweisskohl8313]

Nice video! I have both digital and film cameras and I prefer film over digital. Film is more fun to use. You're involved in the entire picture creation process from loading the film to taking the shots, developing the film, scanning the negatives into your computer, and printing the images. For me, I find that very therapeutic. Digital is fun too but not in the same way. I'm glad you are back making videos!

[@FilmPhotographyChannel]

Thanks for sharing. I feel the same way but never realized that the whole process really is very therapeutic. Great point!

[@robertyoung1777]

Great down to earth explanation of camera types! I alway learn something new from your presentations.

[@FilmPhotographyChannel]

Thanks so much!

[@dukenukem5768]

The specialist cameras are interesting but not for beginners. I'd advise cameras with auto and manual modes. I usually use manual but leave it on auto between shots in case I happen to see a bridge falling down or a UFO, when you need to grab the shot fast and not frig about with Sunny 16 mental arithmetic.

[@FilmPhotographyChannel]

Lol, that’s a great point. When I made this video, besides just flat-out newbies, I also thought about experienced digital shooters who know photography very well but may be interested in trying out film photography. That’s why I mentioned that some folks may want to start with a 120 medium format camera for the increased resolution over their digital camera. It’s a pretty broad topic.

[@jacovanlith5082]

A Visoflex can make a Leica rangefinder into the perfect SLR for micro, macro, close-up, copy, and tlel photography. The ASTRO 2000 mm lens on a Leica M3 is very impressive.

[@FilmPhotographyChannel]

They’re pretty rare and probably expensive?

[@Cadwaladr]

I got started with my dad's old Pentax K1000, and since then I've amassed 10 or so cameras, and I only actually bought one, the rest were just given to me by older friends. My answer to what camera you should get is ask older friends and they'll usually give you them fore nothing. That's how I got my Nikon FE, and that thing is amazing. I've also got a Kodak Signet 35 from my grandma's cousin,, and that's probably my favourite.

[@nmd1211]

Years ago I bought a Canon A-1 and "tried" to do film photography. Total disaster despite money spent. It wasn't until I was loaned a friend's Nikon D70 - and then I got a lot better at film photography! Like the fact you went through different camera styles as well as sizes. Nothing like a collection to make choices more difficult.

[@FilmPhotographyChannel]

Lol, that’s so true. I tend to gravitate towards my Leica’s but it can be a pain to choose. I made a video on how to use the Canon A-1 if you’re interested. It might answer some lingering questions on usage. Thanks.

[@nmd1211]

@@FilmPhotographyChannel Thanks, Eric. I think I will. I'm a Nikon shooter for the most part with some of this and that thrown in. The poor A-1 is rather a mess, having been dropped and generally ignored. When I last took it out, it did a good job despite the abuse.

[@FilmPhotographyChannel]

I find that with cameras with lots of modes and options that aren’t necessarily relevant in this day and age can be used in a simple way. By that I mean just use it as aperture priority or shutter priority and ignore all the other bells and whistles. That’s my approach anyway. The simpler, the better. Take care!

[@nmd1211]

@@FilmPhotographyChannel I am in agreement about aperture priority. In manual mode with any camera, I always look at what DOF I want. With auto cameras, you got it - set to aperture priority! That is, unless I am shooting out a window at 65mph - then it's shutter priority.

[@Emma-zk6it]

I got started with an old maxxum 7000, less than 20 dollars a great camera!

[@jacovanlith5082]

My Olympus OM-2 is ignoring the SUNNY 16 rule and is making correct exposures with a different E.V. My AGFA carton two sliders exposure meter made in Berlin 1920 is doing well. The COLUMBUS lightcalculatot made in the Sixties had different aluminium disces with numbers. Just by adding numbers, the correct E.V. was found.

[@FilmPhotographyChannel]

Nice

[@BenjoC8632]

Hey I came across(and subbed to)your channel because I was looking at picking up a Mamiya 645 and you gave hands-down the BEST and most COMPLETE review I’ve seen on it! Fantastic job on your channel👍🏼

[@FilmPhotographyChannel]

Thanks so much.

[@raymondkilminster2194]

Nice to see you again Eric , really enjoyed this video and now here in the UK the lock down is being lifted i'll now be able to get out and start using some of my film cameras .

[@FilmPhotographyChannel]

That’s awesome but I’ll have to say I’m a little envious since we in the U.S. have managed to necessitate a second lockdown. We’ll be ok ultimately. Enjoy yourself my friend.

[@raymondkilminster2194]

sorry to hear that hopefully it wont be for long . stay safe in the mean time .

[@GONZOFAM7]

Another reference video Eric. Thanks

[@FilmPhotographyChannel]

Thanks for watching!

[@olafwDE]

Thank you for the nice roundup, Eric. You have been missed :) What Pedro said. And I'd like to add: 1) Don't fall for the prime products if it's your first camera. If you find that the form factor doesn't suit your style at all, the gear would be sitting on the shelf for ages, rotting away, unused. 2) Don't shy away from buying a camera that needs a CLA prior to proper usage. The repair shops are already dying out, and it's important that their skills won't be forgotten. Let's keep at least some of them alive.

[@FilmPhotographyChannel]

I agree completely. I just had a lens CLA’d for my recently purchased Barnack Leica iiif. Mr Youxin Ye is masterful at what he does. Like I mention near the end of this video, I really like simple cameras with great lenses, ie Canonet QL17 GIII or Minolta Himatic 7SII. I use them often.

[@olafwDE]

@@FilmPhotographyChannel Those would make for a good review as well. My all time favorite is the Voigtländer Vitoret DR, the fixed lens rangefinder I've been shooting with since I could hold it straight. It has gone through several CLAs and keeps paying back for 45+ years now.

[@FilmPhotographyChannel]

I just looked it up. I love Voigtlanders I’m general but never heard of this model. Right away I like the big bright viewfinder. So many cameras, such little time.

[@olafwDE]

@@FilmPhotographyChannel Yes the viewfinder is outstanding. The whole thing is a pebble. Shutters tend to get stuck, but they were mass production, so there should be no shortage of parts, and they're dirt cheap.

[@endnami]

Good to see you back sir! Thanks for the content.

[@FilmPhotographyChannel]

More to come! I'm trying to do a lot more moving forward.

[@endnami]

@@FilmPhotographyChannel great will be here to enjoy. Thanks you and stay safe

[@bblukkif]

Could you do a tutorial on the color correction/calibration process when you scan films in Silverfast? Thanks a lot!!!!!!

[@FilmPhotographyChannel]

Sure thing! It's on my list of videos. As they say, stay tuned!

[@filmniyom]

Good camera😊

[@jonathanma8115]

Hey, just stumbled upon your channel, love your stuff! If you wouldn't mind could you mix your audio a little louder? I have trouble hearing even with my phone all the way up. Also I know you talked about it in your camera updates video but could you do a proper review of the rolleiflex tlr? keep up the vids!!

[@FilmPhotographyChannel]

Thanks I plan to do a Rollie review. Hope you subscribed!

[@pedromeza2398]

I have been shooting film Photography since 1967 Junior High School, and will advise buy a camera that you can buy film for and it is easy to use, one advise do your best to.stay away from those cameras.that require batteries, so manual cameras is.the best way to go.

[@FilmPhotographyChannel]

Thanks for posting. Great advice for newbies.

[@pedromeza2398]

@@FilmPhotographyChanneljust becareful that you don't have too much fun, I now have 20 cameras, thanks to Stay home orders, my beer money has found a better high.

[@dukenukem5768]

Batteries are no problem unless you are staying on the moon, as long as your camera does not need an obsolete type like mercury. Most 1980s SLRs use SR44 button batteries which are everywhere. Manual cameras are not the opposite of battery cameras. There are manual cameras that won't work without a battery - there's one @9:14 . Manual means the way you control it, not how it works inside.

[@Lavi-Aemilia-Astori]

There is three factors for me to choose cameras and lenses,the sound (winding sound, shutter sound and any other sound the kamera makes) the workflow/feel and the colour(both exterior and colour of the image produced)

[@inevitablecraftslab]

Thats like selecting a car based on the color of the rims...

[@dukenukem5768]

Weird basis for the choice, but each to his own.

[@FilmPhotographyChannel]

Shutter sound and winding sound are a couple of the unique things that people tend to love about film cameras. The Leica "thop" shutter sound is legendary. Think of it as choosing one car over another similar car based on the exhaust note. It happens!

[@Lavi-Aemilia-Astori]

Inevitable Crafts Lab and the sound it makes

[@dukenukem5768]

@@FilmPhotographyChannel My Pentax K-1 DSLR makes a sound a bit like "thop", although I've never heard a Leica. My Pentax LX has a "ping" after-sound and my Pentax 6x7 is almost like a motorbike backfiring LoL! The OP must hate mirrorless.

[@johnjon1823]

Is there a good source for purchasing tested cameras? And what about repairs or light seals or CLA - any sources you recommend there?

[@FilmPhotographyChannel]

I have my Leicas CLA’d with Youxin Ye yye.com. For other cameras I search for “film test” or “no light leaks” etc on eBay mostly. Funny, I’ve never had a light leak on any of my SLRs. Maybe just lucky.

[@brettstewart1550]

KEH is your best bet for a fully functioning camera

[@robertknight4672]

@@FilmPhotographyChannel I recently got a Minolta Maxxum 5. With it being one of the more modern film is sellers the only has like two tiny pieces of foam in it don't go the entire length of the camera back. I guess the door is really well-designed on that one.

[@TheShanahg]

that Rollei looks small in your hand, how tall you are?

[@FilmPhotographyChannel]

I’m 6 ft 2 inches.

[@inevitablecraftslab]

i would start with a manual Nikon SLR with built in meter. Lenses are cheap, bodies are cheap..

[@FilmPhotographyChannel]

Yep. And Nikon has some really good lenses for cheap.

[@inevitablecraftslab]

@@FilmPhotographyChannel originally i wanted to say buy an ETRSi but i need a spare body before the prices go up haha

[@dukenukem5768]

Spotted the Nikon fan. But any of the big brand cameras from the 1980s are equally good, and bargains today. Pentax, Minolta, Canon, Fuji, Nikon, Olympus were the "First Division" of 35mm cameras. Pentax and Nikon both have the advantage that their old lenses still fit their DSLRs of today. Leica and Contax were and are prestige brands significantly more expensive and rare,

[@FilmPhotographyChannel]

Very true. I have to emphasize classic Minolta cameras. Fun Fact: Minolta is an acronym, “M echanism, In struments, O ptics, and L enses by Ta shima". They’re durable, intuitive cameras (most) with flawless metering and great glass. Minolta was an innovative company who developed the first auto-focus SLR and first TTL metering as well as evaluative multi-metering system in an SLR. I’m not sure why they’re as cheap as they are in the used market because I think they’re every bit as good as Nikon, Pentax Canon, etc.

[@dukenukem5768]

@@FilmPhotographyChannel I agree Minolta were great cameras at one time, although they, like Pentax, dropped out of the pro market and left it to Nikon and Canon towards the end of the film era. Pity Minolta were bought and destroyed by Sony. Minolta are cheaper in the used market because many people today have never heard of them.

[@VariTimo]

Man you’ve got to look into the lens of the camera.

[@FilmPhotographyChannel]

So I’ve heard. 😂

[@manfreddick-kreuzer8712]

The pronunciation of ROLLEI is like Roll-eye not Roll-ee. German ei sounds like eye, e.g. LEICA.

[@FilmPhotographyChannel]

You’re right. I actually lived in Germany for 15 years of my life. Kaiserslautern, Rhein-Main and Ludwisburg (not consecutively). I also hear the correct pronunciation all the time on one of my favorite YT channels, Analog Insights. I have no excuse!