Beginner Thinking of trying out shooting film.

I've just bought an F80 and would definitely recommend it as a bridge from digital into film. I've shot with Leica M2 and Olympus OM1 & 2's but the F80 is definitely an easiest route to cross the divide between digital and film if you're already a Nikon user and as others have said can be found at great prices too.
 
Orangecroc said:
.. fascination with all things photographic, and particularly hard copies of my images, I am being drawn towards other mediums other than just digital.
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From a conventional film camera you'll get a negative or a positive, but am I right that by 'hard copies' you mean prints? Which is, of course, an extra step that can equally be provided from a digital original. So given that digital can provide a print, why film?

Maybe you're just curious about the experience of tangling with a different medium. But how are you going to control this medium? First, yes, with judgement of light and exposure - nothing different there - but what next? Are you going to have an enlarger and darkroom to really complete the cycle, or just digitise your film results to proceed to your 'hard copies'? So what's the advantage?

If you've looked around you'll have seen something of what's possible with film. A film image has a different texture to one from digital alone - a different ambience. With 35mm, grain is a significant influence. Given that grain to some extent is unavoidable though, it can be a meaningful part of the image in a way that digital noise can never be.

So to forget for now about the existing lenses argument, for 35mm and some economy I'd be inclined to experiment with a budget body having a fixed or changeable lens from 35mm to 50mm (your choice might differ) - slr or rangefinder. But I'd suggest that you will need to make prints at least 8" in one dimension to bring out any worthwhile distinctiveness of the medium. Good luck.
 
Mr Badger said:
I think this is perhaps where Canon scores over Nikon; I believe every Canon 'EF' lens is forwards or backwards compatible with the EOS range of digital or 35mm film SLRs (the EFS lenses don't fit 35mm SLRs though, or full frame digital.)
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When I bought my most recent Canon EF lens about three months ago, it came with a list of EOS film cameras that it was comparable with. It was only two or three models - and did not include my three EOS film cameras.
 
john.margetts said:
When I bought my most recent Canon EF lens about three months ago, it came with a list of EOS film cameras that it was comparable with. It was only two or three models - and did not include my three EOS film cameras.
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Which Canon EF lens is that?

As far as I'm aware, Canon say: "Even with continued development and evolution of focusing systems, Image Stabilizer technologies, specialist lens elements and weather sealing, the original EF mount design remains unchanged. All EF lenses are compatible with every EOS camera ever produced, including the new EOS M series when used with the EF to EOS M Mount adapter."

Check it out here: https://www.canon.co.uk/lenses/tech-guide/compatibility/

If in any doubt then perhaps email Canon and ask them, and let us know what they say?
 
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Shoot digital, save time and unleash your creativity! I used to shoot film, lots of film!
cheers
tony
 
Mr Badger said:
Which Canon EF lens is that?

As far as I'm aware, Canon say: "Even with continued development and evolution of focusing systems, Image Stabilizer technologies, specialist lens elements and weather sealing, the original EF mount design remains unchanged. All EF lenses are compatible with every EOS camera ever produced, including the new EOS M series when used with the EF to EOS M Mount adapter."

Check it out here: https://www.canon.co.uk/lenses/tech-guide/compatibility/

If in any doubt then perhaps email Canon and ask them, and let us know what they say?
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The lens is an EF 70-300 1:4-5.6 IS II USM.
 
excalibur2 said:
H'mm when are these digi idiots going to learn that many members on F&C have digi cameras and also shoot film because they like it and want to.
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... and get less pleasure out of shooting digital for a hobby as it makes things too easy, with the camera electronics doing most of the thinking and work, not the photographer! As a rule of thumb, If I want to take some photos of something I use digital, if I want to do some photography I use film.
 
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..and post like from Flavio is an insult to our intelligence in thinking we live in a time warp of 20 plus years ago and have no idea what digi cameras can do or what they can be used for :banghead:
 
Mr Badger said:
Which Canon EF lens is that?

As far as I'm aware, Canon say: "Even with continued development and evolution of focusing systems, Image Stabilizer technologies, specialist lens elements and weather sealing, the original EF mount design remains unchanged. All EF lenses are compatible with every EOS camera ever produced, including the new EOS M series when used with the EF to EOS M Mount adapter."

Check it out here: https://www.canon.co.uk/lenses/tech-guide/compatibility/

If in any doubt then perhaps email Canon and ask them, and let us know what they say?
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OK. I have an EOS 650 which was Canon's first EOS camera. I have tried my EF 70-300 IS II USM lens with it and it works fine. Perhaps I misread Canon's information that came with the lens, or perhaps Canon only referred to their most recent EOS film cameras - I no longer have the papers that came with the lens. Either way, the old cameras and new lenses are clearly compatible.
 
Glad you got it sorted John, looks like you have a nice new lens to play with on your old EOS film cameras now. (y)
 
EF-S wont fit eos film cameras as essentially eos film cameras are FF, probably new M lenses too, but otherwise everything FF Eos lens wise will fit Eos film.
 
excalibur2 said:
..and post like from Flavio is an insult to our intelligence in thinking we live in a time warp of 20 plus years ago and have no idea what digi cameras can do or what they can be used for :banghead:
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Chill, it was a tongue in cheek comment, nobody needs to get their knickers in a twist.
cheers
 
flavio said:
Chill, it was a tongue in cheek comment, nobody needs to get their knickers in a twist.
cheers
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Trouble is mate that we do get a bit defensive about our hobby and when you type up a comment like yours earlier we can't tell it's tongue in cheek, just sounds like your trying to wind us up. Anyway, I apologise for being so abrupt, it was early and I was a bit hungover. :D
 
Andysnap said:
Trouble is mate that we do get a bit defensive about our hobby and when you type up a comment like yours earlier we can't tell it's tongue in cheek, just sounds like your trying to wind us up. Anyway, I apologise for being so abrupt, it was early and I was a bit hungover. :D
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And for some, it's the only way to photograph things and not everyone owns a digital camera, but I don't frequent the digital parts of the forum slagging it off and saying it's stupid and pointless or whatever, or trying to get everyone to shoot film.
 
gazmorton2000 said:
And for some, it's the only way to photograph things and not everyone owns a digital camera, but I don't frequent the digital parts of the forum slagging it off and saying it's stupid and pointless or whatever, or trying to get everyone to shoot film.
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.....even though we know that they should. :D
 
gazmorton2000 said:
I don't frequent the digital parts of the forum slagging it off and saying it's stupid and pointless or whatever, or trying to get everyone to shoot film.
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That's the point.

I know some people think I'm an utter t*** for using film, and for a lot of my subject matter, but I really don't care 'cause I'm very happy doing my thing and for everyone else to do their thing.
 
Andysnap said:
Trouble is mate that we do get a bit defensive about our hobby and when you type up a comment like yours earlier we can't tell it's tongue in cheek, just sounds like your trying to wind us up. Anyway, I apologise for being so abrupt, it was early and I was a bit hungover. :D
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Andy,
Thanks for the response, I apologise too.
I genuinely didn't mean to be antagonistic or start any sort of argument, it was a throw away comment. I'll think in future!
I used to shoot film for many, many years and I'm not really suggesting there is anything wrong with film, far from it actually.
cheers
tony
 
flavio said:
Shoot digital, save time and unleash your creativity! I used to shoot film, lots of film!
cheers
tony
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You should learn to use smileys to avoid confusion.
It looks in bad taste otherwise, especially around these parts... :)
 
flavio said:
Andy,
Thanks for the response, I apologise too.
I genuinely didn't mean to be antagonistic or start any sort of argument, it was a throw away comment. I'll think in future!
I used to shoot film for many, many years and I'm not really suggesting there is anything wrong with film, far from it actually.
cheers
tony
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No worries mate.
 
flavio said:
Chill, it was a tongue in cheek comment, nobody needs to get their knickers in a twist.
cheers
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Come on it was a silly post admit it...maybe I should go over to the digi side and post "I have a Nex 3 and used a Canon 450D and find them boring..please help me" :D
 
excalibur2 said:
Come on it was a silly post admit it...maybe I should go over to the digi side and post "I have a Nex 3 and used a Canon 450D and find them boring..please help me" :D
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To be fair to Tony he has he has apologised in his last post. Its all sorted now... nothing to see here. :D
 
gazmorton2000 said:
not everyone owns a digital camera
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Don't they?

The proliferation of Smurfones with them incorporated as a feature, would, beg suggestion that; far more of the planets population, now both own a digital camera, and regularly carry a digital camera and are therefore likely to regularly take photo's with, it than was ever the case in the film only era, when for a large part cameras were less common than cars, spent most of their lives hidden in draws of on top of wardrobes, and at the height of their popularity, there were still only perhaps one to two cameras per house-hold, and the average household only had one to two films developed a year.... maybe 50 fames, mostly from the annual holiday!

The greatest contribution of Digital-Photo-Capture, if anything, has got to be that it has so hugely expanded the photo-taking majority, and from electronic easement and delivery, that make access to the photo's so widely available, so may are inspired to take photo's, and from that, desire 'better' photo's and investigate more dedicated photo equipment.... and even try FILM!!!!

Which is how this thread started.. curiously!

Its a shame that in the exponential expansion of the pursuit, the side effect has been the cult of the 'Selfie', photo's of the English Breakfast at whatever transport cafe some-one has visited, and an utter over load of daily baby-photo's rather than ONE annual christmas card studio shot.... but still! Guess we have to expect a proportional increase of Chaff with the extra Wheat! (just wish I didn't have to wade though it! Especially sister-in-laws daily updates of whatever darling niece has stuck her fingers in this-morning!... )

Oh WHY is the one 'filter' modern cameras lack, a 'Taste' filter!!!!! Now THAT would be an "App" wort having! Wouldn't instagram be GREAT if there was a user dialogue box that came up and said, "Do you wish to proceed with uploading this photo?" Y/N.... "are you sure Y/N"....... "you posted a picture almost exactly the same yesterday.... do you really want to upload this one?" Y/N....."Composition-Bot has counted [however many] compositional errors in this image. Are they deliberate, do you wish to proceed?" Y/N..... and finally... "The taste filter has detected unsavory elements to your picture, please try again!" Given military grade pattern recognition software developed for target-acquisition that has been re-purposed to suggest you add a name tag to a person in a face-book photo, it HAS to be possible! Why oh WHY is it all we get is an innumerable number of suggested 'effects' that make a Cokin prism filter seem 'subtle'!!!? But hey-ho!

I think the last person I know to shun a Digital Camera, was my Gran about a decade ago. My Aunt had been aghast that she had avoided a Smurfone, pointing to the un-opened box on the dresser containing a BT 'Pay As you Go' mobile from approximately 2001, she had never used, and being grumbled at by my Uncle who said "You should take it every where you go!" And being left confounded when she said "Oh, but I DO!" lol! Anyway Auntie bought her a Digital Compact circa 2005, after Gran had sent her to the village shop to buy a film, so she could 'take a few snaps of the grand kids whilst they are here'.. and the shop had none... so she went to Argos.... Gran was absolutely wowed by the 'vidio' capability, "Its like my Cine 8" she said, "But I don't have to wait six months to get it developed!.. Put it on the big screen for me then..." which was where it sort of came to a faltering halt! And I got the full story, when Auntie phoned me to find out of there was some sort of adapter you could get to plug a USB cable into a co-axial TV areal socket! Lol! I distinctly heard in the back-ground, "No, No! You don't need to buy me a computer, just ask Mike to drop me in a roll of film, when he's passing... sure he said he gets them from the Petrol-Station"lol!
 
Teflon-Mike said:
The greatest contribution of Digital-Photo-Capture, if anything, has got to be that it has so hugely expanded the photo-taking majority, and from electronic easement and delivery, that make access to the photo's so widely available, so may are inspired to take photo's, and from that, desire 'better' photo's and investigate more dedicated photo equipment.... and even try FILM!!!!
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Well I'd be surprised if many of the young generation using i-phones etc would take up using film in the future, come to think of it these new phones they are bringing out could "kill off" digi DSLRs, compacts etc and these users would be like filmies for just a select few....who knows the future.
 
That's the thing; wouldn't actually need a very high % of Smufone jockeys to be inspired to dabble, there's enough f them that even that minority would be enough.
Curiously, daughter has just started her Photography degree, and was muttering about a film camera for the course.... but did't elaborate...
When she was dong O & A level though, it was something she proposed to the course tutor to fulfill the 'Displaying appreciation of alternative medium' part of the syllabus.... that was supported with the enthusiasm of a large portion of the class apparently, and she picked up my old Zent, and then got very enthusiastic with one of the Olly XA, but frustratingly was told that she couldn't do anything the school dark room.. due to H&S audits!!!!!!
 
Teflon-Mike said:
Don't they?
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I meant actual, independent camera. Of course I have a camera on my phone, and it is used for the odd random snap of whatever, but I don't class it as owning a digital camera. I sold my two DSLR bodies a few months ago and currently have no desire to get another one.

excalibur2 said:
Well I'd be surprised if many of the young generation using i-phones etc would take up using film in the future
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I think. you are wrong here, Brian. I genuinely think some of the younger generation are getting bored with what mobile phone cameras offer and want something more real, more organic. Especially creative souls who want to discover other mediums. The argument for film vs digital is one that crops up a lot but it's only something that's happened since the 2000's. Yet some people still choose to shoot wet plate or tintype, processes that are from the 1800's. I haven't done so yet but it's something I will do in the future.
 
gazmorton2000 said:
I think. you are wrong here, Brian. I genuinely think some of the younger generation are getting bored with what mobile phone cameras offer and want something more real, more organic. Especially creative souls who want to discover other mediums.
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Well hope so, and you could be right for those interested in photography but IMO it needs an attitude change for Joe public young and something like "it's hip to use a film camera".
 
excalibur2 said:
Well hope so, and you could be right for those interested in photography but IMO it needs an attitude change for Joe public young and something like "it's hip to use a film camera".
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That's a great idea... perhaps they could call themselves 'Hipsters'? Hey... wait a minute! ;)
 
Teflon-Mike said:
But there in lies the dilemma. SO similar in handling and operation to a modern digi-SLR... will they actually recognize any big difference? Remember, for so many dabbling with film, it is that 'difference' in the doing that is what actually appeals to them. Picking up a late era AF film SLR, that handles almost exactly like their current DSLR, other than having to fit film, and listen to a clunk-chink-wirr of mechanical bits when they press the shutter, actually give them that 'experience' of something particularly 'different', they suggest they seek?
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*Shrugs* I have a Mamiya C330, Pentax ME Super, Praktica BX20 and Canon EOS 300x (and a few compacts). I enjoy shooting with them all, and yes, still get a 'film' experience with the EOS300x.
 
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