Best film-based SLR camera for starting out?
Hi, i'm starting a photography class soon and need to purchase a film-based SLR camera. I have had a look and to be honest i'm not sure where to start, my budget is around £600 as I would like to keep using the camera for a while after my course.
What type of 35mm film for a SLR camera would be best for an outdoor vacation (beginner)?
Just bought my boyfriend a SLR camera for his birthday, to use on our upcoming vacation. I want to buy him film to use, but I don't know what kind. Suggestions? I'm looking for what type would likely be the best to cover all of our needs. It's a summer road trip, and I imagine the majority of pictures will be taken outside of nature/scenery, and the two of us - both candids & posed shots.
Tags: photography class, nature scenery, best film
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
I would buy a reconditioned Nikon SLR, and the lens on it will work on the digital Nikon since the newer lens are interchangeable. my first camera 35 years ago was a Nikon and today I run Nikon’s which are electronic. go on ebay and buy from a top rated seller, try to find on in England so it will be easier to get. Or go to your local camera store and see what they have available.
I have been a professional photographer for many years no and in my retirement i use my studio to sell collections of dolls for families here in the USA.
Have fun and enjoy the natural light.
See if you can find a good used camera and save some money. I like the Nikon SLR cameras. You want a good “old school” camera where you will have to do manual focus with basic controls then look for these Nikon models: FM, FM2,FM2n, FM10, FE, and FE2. You can do internet searches and find info on all of these, below the 1st link is to a review of the FM2n.
I added a 2nd link to photo.net. It is a website that has a large online photo coummunity with much information that includes discussion forums that you may find of assistance.
Then either get a 50mm lens (sometimes refered to as a standard lenss) or a good quality short zoom lens.
Feel free to contact me if you think I can be of help.
Mark
marksablow.com
If future lens compatibility is important then look for either a Pentax K1000 or a Nikon F or N series camera.
If you aren’t worried about using the lens on a DSLR in the future then a Minolta XE-7 would be a good alternative. The XE-7 offers either full metered manual or Aperture Priority operation. It also has a switch to allow double or multiple exposures. The XE-7 also features a shutter designed by Leitz-Copal and its arguably the quietest shutter found on a 35mm SLR of its day. The XE-7 was also used as the basis for the Leica R-3 SLR with a Leica lens mount and metering system. Note, however, that the XE-7 is a big, heavy camera – 27 ounces without a lens.
I’d go with a Nikon F3-HP, it can’t be beat. Some pros still shoot with this one.
I’d take a class that did not require purchasing a film camera. Waste of $ today, IMO, both for the camera and the film you’ll have to buy, and process.
I’ve kept my Nikon FM2 for some reason, and a couple of very nice manual lenses, since I went digital about 7 years ago, but never used any of them since.
I’m more familiar with the Canon line, so my advice is from that perspective.
You can purchase a pre-1987 film camera with the FD mount fairly inexpensively. FD mount lenses are much cheaper than the current EF line because they only work on older cameras.
On the other hand, you can buy a used Canon EOS film camera. Try something like a Rebel Ti, which used might run you $30-50 US. This uses the same lenses as current Canon digital DSLRs. It may cost more initially, because the lenses will run more, but you have cameras that can use the same lens.
If you can still find film, 200 speed is great for outdoor Photography.
I know some places still sell film, but they are getting pretty rare these days…
Best answer would be to ask at the store you bought the camera. Also aslo about filters. I used 200 ASA for outdoor shots with a skylight filter. The latter was more to protect the lens.
This question is deceptively easy. I say that because any film could be used, but its how you use it.
I’m gonna hope you made sure the light meter worked on this camera. The light meter measures the amount of available light and determines what combination of shutter speeds and apertures will work with the speed (ISO/ASA) of the film in the camera. Since you are both beginners, keep it simple – 100, 200 and 400 speeds for daytime, and faster films like 800 or 1600 for night (outdoors – yes you can do that!) If you’re inside you want a faster film as well – 400, 800, 1600.
So, what did that mean, you ask? Film speed is a measurement that is determined by how sensitive to light the film emulsion is. The higher the number, the less light needed. The film speed acts as a constant when the light meter figures out the exposure. If you are in bright daylight a 100 speed film will do nicely. In lower light, you might want to try a 400 speed film. In the dark, 1600 is great. The higher the ISO, the more grainy the film will appear (in fact is!) and you’ll want to consider that when taking pictures of people. Also be sure the film is negative (for prints) not Ektachrome (for slides.)
You may want to get him an inexpensive tripod-Ritz photo carries Slik tripods that cost around $30-$45. It will be a great help if he is doing a landscape shot or needs to slow the shutter speed to less than 1/125.
Also, a great little book for learning everything you need to know about photography which will fit in the camera bag is Kodak’s Pocket Guide to 35mm Photography. This book is sublime. It will tell you how to set your camera to get the picture you want. I’ve used it for a textbook.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Kodak+Pocket+Guide+to+35+mm+photography&x=17&y=16
you can get ASA 400 film that is ideal for what you want, you can buy Tesco own brand of 24 exposure films in packs of five for the very good price of £5. i have a pentax MZ50 SLR and these films work very well with this camera. if you are not near a tesco any ASA400 film should be ok
I suggest either Fujicolor PRO400H (ISO 400) or Kodak Portra 400VC (ISO 400, Vivid Color). Both are fine grain fast film and if your BF is a beginner it allows a higher shutter speed at a given f-stop. His success rate will be much higher.
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If you want great images outside in the sun, 100. If you want to have fun and not worry about haze and lower light early and late in the day, 200.
If you do not want to worry about much at all daylight and into a lot of places with a small flash or no flash, 400. If you want to carry a roll or two for very low light get two rolls of 800 film and remember to REWIND the film between rolls. No need to spoil the film by opening the back to soon.
My one roll choice for the wife and kids to use on the vacation they are going on next week… 400 as I will not be with them to change film for affect.
Hope that helps..
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