Advice on a 35mm film SLR for a beginner

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Advice on a 35mm film SLR for a beginner

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Thechemist

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Hello all,

I am currently shooting a D5000 with the 18-55mm, 55-200mm and 35mm f1.8 and enjoying that, but I would like to try out shooting with film. I know absolutely nothing about film SLR, but am looking to pick up a cheap second hand kit (ebay and the like) and would like to know your recommendations?

Budget is probably less than £50 all in, and the only film camera i've heard of is the olympus OM-10 which looks pretty good!

I'm also curious how easy it is to develop your own pictures. I am a chemistry student so should be able to handle that aspect of it, but is it easy enough to get hold of the developing agents?

I look forward to your replies

Posted 2 years ago #
NikoDoby

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I recommend you get a Nikon film camera that has auto focus. Such as the F65, F80, or F90 etc. If you ever upgrade to a D7000 or D90 then you can still use the older AF-D lenses. If you want something totally mechanical then you'll have to raise your budget. Nikon's mechanical film cameras have been going up recently and F3's, FM2's and F100's have been going up in price, not down.

Black & white film chemistry is very easy to do yourself. The hardest part is mixing the chemicals, but I have a feeling you'll do just fine :^) Color film is still being developed at most pharmacy photo labs. It just depends on where you live. Do-it-yourself color developing is a bit more critical then B&W but you can still find the chemicals. I wouldn't recommend you do color at home though. At least not until you are confident in developing your own B&W.

Some newer B&W films are C41 (Kodak BW400CN and Ilford XP2). Which means you can have them developed at any 1hour pharmacy film lab. You CAN NOT however develop regular B&W film in C41 chemistry. You'll get totally blank negatives if you do.

Posted 2 years ago #
TaoTeJared

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Cheapest is a good Nikon FG-20 or a FE2. Look for E-series lenses. You can usually get a 50mm 1.8 manual lens and one of those bodies for under $100 on e-bay. I picked up a N75 for $25 and it can use all Nikon VR, G, etc. lenses. AF film cameras go for really cheap these days.

There are a lot of MF film cameras with lenses selling for really cheap. The key is to get one with a working meter. I would suggest a 5o 1.8 and a 28mm or 35mm f2.8.

Posted 2 years ago #
bjrichus

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Thechemist said:
Hello all,

I would like to try out shooting with film.

Budget is probably less than £50 all in,

Hello and welcome. Despite all the debating that goes on here, we are all friends, really.

Film processing is (as you say) not going to give anyone with a chemistry background any kind of real problems. What you will do well to do is to read all about the process first and you'll find the usual stuff about dilution, keeping things spotlessly clean, temperatures even and consistent, and times accurate are all intrinsic in the film developing process. As you are in the UK (the reference to £50 is a dead give away), anyone able to get a GCSE in chemistry at high school, will know what is needed to make sense of it all.

NikoDoby, has said it exactly right about doing color ... don't do it first, its just that there is more to it is all and frankly its cheaper to send a C41 roll away to be done - at least that's what I found.

There are some outstanding bargains on eBay but by the time you add all the extras you'll find that fifty quid (about $75-ish US) is probably too low a budget if you are starting from scratch with film and find you really enjoy the old analog stuff. :-) You'll go through quite a few rolls of film and chemicals before you know if its really for you.

One tip I can give you is that as you are a student, get into using the facilities at your college. As a student, you'll usually get access to gear that you won't normally have access to. Once you graduate, if you do a part time or evening course you can often retain access to the darkroom and gear and teachers etc. Depending on the details, it can be a great bargain.

A good example; I work full time for a university and part of what I do is special event photography. While I have DX bodies and lenses of my own, at the uni, we have a collection of D3 bodies, accessories and lenses (some very battered and bruised HAHAHA), that I know I'd never be able to afford to use otherwise.

Anyway (from an ex-pat Londoner - I now live in the USA), good luck and enjoy.

Posted 2 years ago #
jerl

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Hmmm, for only 50 pounds it's difficult to make any specific recommendations- even the old film bodies and lenses I've gotten usually cost more than that each. However, I've occasionally been able to get good discounts on garage sales from people who either don't know how much their gear is worth (it often comes passed down from another family member) or don't want it as it is just taking up too much space. In this way, I've been able to get a complete Minolta set (2 bodies, 5 lenses from 28 to 200 and some macro accessories) for $80. Barring any lucky deals, my recommendation would be to pick out a system that you like- Minolta or Canon FD would be my choice if you're on a budget since they are less popular and the lenses can't be used on modern digital cameras so they are cheaper. If you're willing to save, I'd also say to go for Niko stuff (aim for around an FM or so) since the stuff is still compatible with today's bodies.

As far as developing your own film and making your own prints (which you absolutely must try at least once if you are going to do any BW film stuff), it is very easy to learn. You certainly don't need a degree in chemistry to figure it out. I'd suggest taking a course on it though- it's like learning to ride a bike or playing a musical instrument- while you can read few books and watch a few videos, you won't learn it as well as if you had someone with you showing you, and giving you tips on how to use your supplies effectively.

Oh, and as far as getting darkroom supplies goes, I find it is very easy. All around where I live, many of the real camera stores sell film and darkroom chemicals of all kinds (for B&W only). You can also get them from the usual online suppliers too.

Posted 2 years ago #
Mike Gunter

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Hi,

And as many will add, welcome.

I'm an old film shooter, but gave up on it some time ago (if I had any advice for you, it would be to forget it), but save for that, my favorite camera to use of the Nikon family was likely the FE2 (and I probably had nearly all of them from the F through the F4 [all new] with several of the exotics thrown in). It was a joy to use, lightweight and a terrific meter. The FM2 has the same meter, I think, and is pretty much the same camera, but with a mechanical shutter rather than an electronic shutter.

You might find an F2 with or without a Photomic meter. It was tough as hell. While I would like to think that the electronics would be nice, you might want to stay in mechanical cameras like the FM/FM2 series or the F/F2/F3 series without the meters or working meters. I just don't know if the Photomics work or not.

+ 1 on the meter, that's where you'll be challenged. You might go for a meter-less camera and use a hand held meter - if you are using film, why not go all the way and use a held meter?

Enjoy and my best,

Mike

Posted 2 years ago #
sevencrossing

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Welcombe

Before buying a camera

You might like try borrowing any old film camera you can lay your hands on,
Most photographers have several
Have a go at making some black and white prints ( forget color)
it will cetainly teach you how fantastic and fast digital cameas are

Posted 2 years ago #
nikkornut

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My recommendations: FM2/F3 for manual cams, F65/F100 for AF. If you own AF-D lenses, you can use these for your film cam. B/W film processing should not be a problem. I'm still shooting film side by side my digital cams. Goodluck & have fun!

Posted 2 years ago #
rbid

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I still have the N8008s (F-801s, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikon_F-801) that works fine.
It does autofocus, and its lens are usable with the D7000 :)

Note: All Nikon cameras will work fine if they were treated well.

Posted 2 years ago #
heartyfisher

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I had an OM-10 (got stolen sigh..) lovely little camera. Its got this nifty dynamic meter off the film sensor thing that even now we do not have! Ie if you open the shutter in total darkness it will stay open till it has enough light! so if some one turns on the light a second into the exposure the shutter will close immediately with perfect exposure!. our modern cameras will all over expose! :-) Sure had some fun with that! great for lightning or light painting!

I agree with the borrow an old film camera suggestion. I have several and would be happy to lend it to some one if they asked!

PS: Welcome!

Posted 2 years ago #
Thechemist

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Thank you all for the quick (and detailed) responses!

Are there any potential pitfalls with fx/dx sized film like there are with sensors? Or are all film slrs going to be of FX size?

Presumably my DX lenses will show some pretty horrendous vignetting?

I am bidding on a FM listed for spares for approximately £4 at the moment, as it comes with a Nikkor 50mm f1.8 and the person selling it says the winder mechanism has no tension?? I'm hoping they are just doing something wrong (no film?) and that it could actually be working.

In the mean time I think I am going to go and get a book out and try and learn something about all the various features of film SLRs!

Thanks

Posted 2 years ago #
TaoTeJared

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All film is FX. You might be surprised with DX lenses. The 35mm 1.8 actually fills the frame quite well. Things do get softer on the edges though. It can have a nice look to is as long as your subject is in the center half of the frame. I add Vignetting to almost everything I shoot, so it doesn't bother me. I have a friend that can get some great artistic shots by using DX lenses on AF film cameras. Takes a roll or two of testing.

If you want to use your DX lenses you will have to go with and AF N65, 75, 80 etc. since you do not have the aperture ring. They will have to be compatible with "G" lenses.

I have been shooting about 3 rolls a month lately with just one of either a 35, 50, or 85 lens when I go out. Makes me focus on composition and gets me engaged more as well. It also helps me to remember to stop b!*@#ing about how my camera can not do something and reminding me that "I make the image" not the camera by working within the constraints that I have given to me.

Posted 2 years ago #
bjrichus

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TaoTeJared said:
I have been shooting about 3 rolls a month lately with just one of either a 35, 50, or 85 lens when I go out. Makes me focus on composition and gets me engaged more as well. It also helps me to remember to stop b!*@#ing about how my camera can not do something and reminding me that "I make the image" not the camera by working within the constraints that I have given to me.

@TaoTeJared: I often see P&S people stab the shutter and then move on while when using film, I am still waiting for the car in the background to get into the 'right position' or for the branch to stop waving in the wind. I have been stopped several times by people asking me why I didn't "point and shoot, like the rest do." Mind you, I take my time with the DSLR too...

@Thechemist: When you realize you only have 3 shots left on the roll of film and you see 4 good shots in a row with the possible 5th shot being outstanding, you'll put the film camera away and get the digital camera out! Been there, done that!

That's why most photographers out there in the pre-digital age had an assistant re-loading a second (or third) camera, so a quick "exchange" was always possible. Of course, the REAL MANS solution today is to have a backup film body ready to go! LOL!

Posted 2 years ago #
Ade Barkah

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Don't forget that if you want to develop & print at home, then the camera is only 1/2 of the equation. You will also need to set aside some budget for a projector (enlarger) with at least one lens to expose the photographic paper.

As bjrichus mentioned, if you are a student, try to get access to a dark room at your school (and/or enroll in a B&W photography course, which I'd highly recommend).

Posted 2 years ago #
TaoTeJared

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"Budget is probably less than £50 all in"

Read the thread guys - before long, all of you will be having him buying a Ritz franchise!

Posted 2 years ago #
bhoveyga

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>> "Budget is probably less than £50 all in"

>> Read the thread guys - before long, all of you will be having him buying a Ritz franchise!

Absolutely. That money will probably just about cover film, chemicals and paper. Which means the only practical suggestions (already made in earlier posts) would be to find a friend who will loan you a film camera, and hunting down a free darkroom somewhere.

It sounds to me like the OP is a curious person who is just intrigued by the process. While one's first instinct might be to suggest that he forget it and stick to digital, honestly I wouldn't give up the memory of seeing my first print come up in the developer tray for anything in the world... I say go for it. Just stick to your budget... beg or borrow wherever possible, because once you shoot a few rolls of film and make some prints, I think you will find that digital is a far more pleasant way of working and you will likely want to concentrate your efforts and financial resources there.

Posted 2 years ago #
Thechemist

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Managed to get hold of an OM10 in working order from a friend so I'll have a try out with that. It looks like I should be able to get some good pictures with that and should be able to put a decent black and white development kit together within budget. Thanks for your help!

Posted 2 years ago #
NSXType-R

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Definitely ask around family for old gear. I've inherited a Mamiya DSX-1000 and a Canon Elan just by asking around. I've gotten nice shots from the Mamiya, I haven't had time to put batteries in the Elan yet.

The FM2 would be a nice camera, if it weren't so expensive to have.

Posted 2 years ago #