Anyone use manual film cameras, still?

[zamalito]

Does anyone else here still use or collect manual cameras? I just got a great deal on a Leica IIIc from the 1940's. I can't wait to do some crazy adapter stuff to put my canon fd lenses from my ae-1 program on my new old leica and vice versa when I get a few more leica thread mount lenses. The great thing is all of this film stuff is so cheap compared to digital. In order to take a picture that looks just as good as my canon which I could probably get for $50 now I'd have to spend at least $1300 on a digital camera. Although I can only develop black an white at my house and I'm not about to drop of pictures of my grow at the 1 hr photo but still it's hard to compare and the leica doesn't even need a battery.

 

[GOT_BUD?]

Some pro's still use film. Picture quality is still way beyond what we can do digitally. I was told that digital cameras need to be 50 to 60 megapixel resolution in order to achieve film like qualities.

Now I know what you're thinking - "Bullshit. Every digital picture I take looks just as good as a film picture." Blow it up to the size of a billboard and tell me the same thing. (I think most guys who shoot for magazines use digital, simple because it costs so much less in the long run. No chemicals. No film. No paper. I would think that after the initial investment, one would spend very little on a digital camera. Except for maybe more toys for it.)

Oh, and I haven't owned a film camera in about 5 years or so.

 

[VictoryGardener]

of course! thats the only way to go if you are serious about it! I have an old old old Cannon AE-1 Program..

 

[kov]

My trusty canon eos5 with a couple of red stripe lenses is all I want to take photos with.
Only highest-end digitals are able to capture colour and nuance as well as the film cameras.


The digital for me is meant only to make documentation, those bazillion mj pics in all stages of growth for example.:wink:


rgds, kov

 

[Pipedream]

I have a IIIF that I haven't used in years, but I still shoot with a Rapid Omega onto on 4x5 Plate set up with a bellows so that I can tilt the lens to achieve a huge Depth of Field.

Although, I must admit that it's a Pentax Digital SLR that goes everywhere with me on a daily basis.

 

[Guest]

lol Zam...

I don't use those dinosaurs but the cannisters are great for pollen in the freezer!

Peace, hhf

 

[naga_sadu]

I got a Zorki 2000 (Dad's actually), which was made in the Soviet Union...I'm amaized the mechanicals still work. I don't believe this unit was mass produced. ANyone know of / have this brand?

 

[Elevator Man]

Zam - I use film cameras still - my Pentax 'Program A' is still working perfectly after 15 years, and it can still take pics that my digis can't. And for resolution - nothing to beat film - yet.

My favourite though is my large-format camera - it's an old Kodak 'Professional' flatbed camera from the early '50's I think. It's officially 'Half-plate' size - an old format long discontinued. However, it's almost the same size as 7" X 5" - I managed to buy up some new Fidelity sheet film holders a while ago, and bought a few boxes of 7" X 5" Tri-X from Calumet in LA last time I was there - they're in the freezer!

Whether we'll still be able to buy sheet film in odd sizes is an issue, but I have enough for a while. The resolution of those pics in unbeatable. I really want to photograph some buds with this, but if it's color, they'll have to go to a lab, and then we have problems. I can do B/W at home, but it's not quite the same where buds are concerned...

This isn't the same model, but it's damn close...

 

[dope_roor]

i still use my Leica M6, love that camera to death and i only got the 50mm lens too

 

[dope_roor]

that IIIc is a beautiful camera, i really love the classic Leicas. i had a Leica M3 for a little bit but the rangefinder started to seperate so i traded up to the M6. i'd go look for some used screwmount lenses tho, cuz you just can't beat the image quality of a leica lens no matter how old

 

[Deft]

I just bought a Canon A1 from the 70s, cool camera! Messed up my first roll developing it though, only got about 5 shots worth printing.

 

[NserUame]

I just bought a Canon A1 from the 70s, cool camera! Messed up my first roll developing it though, only got about 5 shots worth printing.

I have the same thing, almost, it's an A1-E I think? Manual focus and what not, just has an electric light meter. The thing takes awesome pictures, really was one of the best SLR's up until the 90's.

My question is does anyone still shoot in Black and White? Easily my favorite media to shoot in, I only use color photo's for things like party's and wedding's where other people will want the pictures as memento's not art.

Thank God for highschool photo, really gave me an interest in it.

 

[genkisan]

I have a Canon Photura...a wierd camera made for a short whle that takes awesome pics...

It will have to do me until I can afford a 10mgp+ digital SLR like the EOS Rebel or summat....

 

[Deft]

I have the same thing, almost, it's an A1-E I think? Manual focus and what not, just has an electric light meter. The thing takes awesome pictures, really was one of the best SLR's up until the 90's.

My question is does anyone still shoot in Black and White? Easily my favorite media to shoot in, I only use color photo's for things like party's and wedding's where other people will want the pictures as memento's not art.

Thank God for highschool photo, really gave me an interest in it.

Yea thats another common Canon, mine just has an auto mode and manual mode and a few extra features... sucks though because its so easy to leave it on auto and if you leave it that way it just eats the battery.. I've gone through several lol.

I want to get a macro lense and a zoom.





Ohh and a quick question, what is the difference between Av mode and Tv mode?

 

[NserUame]

Uh I don't think I have those options on my camera, but generally AV is aperature priority mode, and TV is shutter priority.

 

[Guest]

I have a couple old Chinon's somewhere in my closet... damnnnnnn I should see if they still work lol

 

[sow the seeds]

I still use film. Well digital if its convenient but usually anything artistic is film. I have a b&w course at school as well and actaully really enjoy developing the film as much as taking the pictures. Almost makes it feel like you put your whole effort into making every aspect of the picture perfect.

 

[Underground Man]

I was a highschool newspapaer photographer. We just used the standard pentax k1000.

My favorite thing was rolling your own film canisters. Buying that huge can of black and white film and putting it in the film winder was great.

Also operating the enlarger and watching the light meter in the camera really teaches you about light intensity and the inverse square rule.

I am pissed that my digi cam doesn't do any aperture smaller than f-8. If i could go smaller macros would be so much better

 

[zamalito]

That's a beautiful large format elevator man. I also have a canon ae-1 which also has an automatic mode. They're great because they're indestructable and good fd lenses are dirt cheap on ebay.

I've been thinking about getting a pinhole attachment for the leica also. Anyone done any cool pinhole camera projects?

If you look at all of mel frank's grow books all of the pics are taken with an m6 I think. Personally I really don't have any experience with a rangefinder. I'm also seriously considering a zorki or a fed soviet rangefinder simply because they're so hard to beat for $25.

 

[NserUame]

Meh, never had much use for a rangefinder. Just another piece of junk to lug around in my already over burdened case. However I have seen people use them to great success, and at $25 even if you don't like it your wallet is still intact. Not to mention you can always turn around and sell it for $30 on ebay.