Quick question on film buying a film SLR

[parkus.]

I'm wanting to get into film photography, basically because I think the images have more 'personality' to them.

Anyway, can you fine people suggest a reliable, yet sturdy, film SLR and lens which won't ruin my paycheck too much?
Preferably less than £100, £150 at a push.


Thanks :thumb

[Oxygen Thief]

Get a secondhand EOS 300, great bit of kit really, for the money.

Example: http://www.carmarthencameras.co.uk/product.php?xProd=1817

[Bunk3r]

Save your pennies and buy a zenit 12xp (or TTL), I got change from £10 from ebay. depends what your wanting to do with it though i suppose.

[styru]

Or go a litttle bit retro and get an olympus OM1 (fully manual) or OM10 (auto, with manual adaptor) both beautiful cameras, that will teach you loads about photography.


(I own 36 cameras, and my OM10 is the one that feels most like a 'real' camera)

http://www.olympus-global.com/en/corc/history/camera/popup/image/pop26_om10.jpg

Edit:

There are some superb quality film stock out there - but start cheap and cheerful until you feel comfatable with the camera.

I've just bought 20 rolls of Kodak Gold 200ASA that expired in January (I've used film 5 years out of date with no probs) on ebay.

Came from a photographic company (so been well stored) and the price (including next day delivery) was £14.98! (so just under 75p per film)

https://www.allstar-wholesale.com/sess/utn154484152929330/shopdata/0095_Film/0010_Kodak+35MM/images/KodakGold-24_300x300.jpg

[maffhew!]

I agree with styru the OM10 is a great little film camera. Was the first SLR i ever used!

Also i have a Canon EOS 3000, which is a great little film camera, does everything you need from a film camera. I got mine for £20 off ebay. This included the camera, a canon lens (which isnt amazing but does the job), a case and a Hoya Red filter which is worth about £20 anyway! Bargain!

[vmlopes]

Or really retro not an SLR, but so much less bulky

http://www.german-cameras.com/aaa/0409vitomatic2cs/2855.jpg

Only got it this week and running a colour fuji film through it, 40yrs old and seems to work a charm, built in light meter pretty spot on when compared with my Sekonic exposure meter

[LiamCH]

I have a spare Minolta 700si with a 28-200mm Sigma zoom attatched that I might be willing to sell. They're really excellent cameras. Alternatively, I have a completely broken Pracktica PM3 if you're good at fixing things...

[Vivo]

I went and bought a Canon AE-1 because with Olympus OM cameras being popular the lenses can be quite expensive as they are so sought after. I got the AE-1, a 50mm f/1.8, a 28mm f/2.8, some filters, a bag, lens strap, and two rolls of film for £90. Could get it cheaper on eBay but I wanted it straight away.

[Dempsey]

You seem to have a lot of cash to spend. Few things to consider, do you want to buy anything else, or are you set on buying a really good film camera? urban exploration dosent neccecerally need good spec cameras.

My advice is to go with something eos, then you have a massive variety of lenses. You can pick up a damn good film cam, like a canon Eos 30 for around £50, with good FPS and eye controlled viewfinder (read more here http://www.canon-europe.com/for_home/product_finder/cameras/slr/EOS_30/index.asp?specs=1) Now, lets say you have £80 spare cash, lots of lenses avaliable, i started with a 28-80mm mk1 (not mk2, that has the shite plastic mount) for £40, although it did need slight repairs, it was a brilliant little lens, sharp for the price. Actually, i strongly advise on getting a Tokina 19-35mm, launched some time ago as a super wide angle, and they are reeeeeally good for the price. I bought one for around £100 in 2007, its flogged to brickman now, and im sure he thinks the same, get some film piccies up bricker.


Older series canon like AE-1 are good, but they are form the 70's and the compatibility, or ease of use is not like the eos series launched in the 80's.

At the moment, im using a eos 100 i picked up for 25 pound with a battery pack, and its perfect for UE and traveling shots. In future though im looking at a eos 3 or something. :)

[dangerous dave]

i feel safer taking my om 10 out than a digital digital is too sensitive to dust drops and crap where as the film cams can take a bit more abuse plus the glass is better on older lens because of the lack of environmental laws governing what that can use in it when thay make the glass

[The_Revolution]

Save your pennies and buy a zenit 12xp (or TTL), I got change from £10 from ebay. depends what your wanting to do with it though i suppose.


I'm with Bunk3r; get yourself a Zenit; the 12xp is my favourite (I have 6 Zenit's of various types; cost me less than your budget). They're cheap and pictures have loads of "personality." For £50 you can easily get yourself a camera and a load of extra lens.

I also have an EOS; but the film experience seems a bit sterile compared to the Zenits.

[Vivo]

Will EOS glass work with current Canon DSLRs, 40D/5D/1D?

[Dempsey]

Yeah they are all on the EF mount, if you already have more up to date canon stuff. Its all compitble, unles its the modern EF-s of which a few lenses are, designed for the cropepd sesnors, i.e 10-22 17-85 (iirc)

[styru]

i.... plus the glass is better on older lens because of the lack of environmental laws governing what that can use in it when thay make the glass

So true, my old Olympus has glass made from ground Asbestos, giant pander bone, and the icky bit of a whale - they just don't make 'em like that any more!:p

But seriously, get into film, there are so many decent cheap camera, lenses etc out there - it's just such fun (without breaking the bank)

And once youv'e cracked the basic SLR set-up there are plenty of interesting film cameras out there!

Here's a few of my recent buys:


http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:kvL4CI-S3TE5WM:http://www.kameramuseum.de/0-fotokameras/russisch/zenit/photosniper/zenith-sniper-action.jpg http://tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:yXpBrE_b7x4pEM:http://k43.pbase.com/o4/87/331787/1/60722935.37018958.35mmcamBaldinette003.jpg http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:GuBsB8YT3tlvLM:http://www.thecamerasite.net/06_TLR_Cameras/Images/Ljubit.jpg http://tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:gjweX2K1ZlqZjM:http://n00.be/images/posts/zorki-4k.jpg http://tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:D8g_hJgvwK9pzM:http://www.glowbox.demon.co.uk/images/list7/large/5088oALL.jpg

(L to R: Zenit Photosniper, Balda Baldinette, Lubitel 2, Zorki 4, Agilux Agiflash)

(They all work well, the Lubitel is a 120 roll film, the Agilux a 127 film, others 35mm)

[Vivo]

Yeah they are all on the EF mount, if you already have more up to date canon stuff. Its all compitble, unles its the modern EF-s of which a few lenses are, designed for the cropepd sesnors, i.e 10-22 17-85 (iirc)

So if I buy modern EF glass not designed for cropped sensors, the lenses people use with 5Ds etc. it will work fine?

I might be switching systems in that case...

[dangerous dave]

im bidding on a sold as seen om2 at the mo

[dangerous dave]

and i won it

[Speed]

ive use my 10-20 (EF-s) on a EOS (EF) body!? its WIDE!

[Dempsey]

So if I buy modern EF glass not designed for cropped sensors, the lenses people use with 5Ds etc. it will work fine?

I might be switching systems in that case...

yeah mate, its definately worth it.

Speed i've seen those shots, they are mental, do you need a special mounting?

[djskive]

Nikon F3 with 50mm f1.8 AI?

[parkus.]

Okay I've went for the Olympus OM10; £30 off fleabay inc. delivery and the 50mm lens + Hoya skylight filter, which I gather is basically the same as a UV filter?

Cheers for the advice, really appreciate it :thumb



One last question; is it possible to buy expired film online?

I've seen some amazing results on flickr. I don't really want to buy some and wait for years for it to expire !
(although, to be fair, I'm also going to do that)

[snappel]

My advice would be the Olympus OM-2n. The OM-1 is a lovely piece of kit (I have both) but the 2 is a great development of the 1, notably for the exposure comp dial and auto exposure as an alternative to manual control. You can find them for around £50 s/hand with a lens. A 24mm OM, Vivitar or Sigma lens will be great for most explorations.

If you buy the OM-2n and it doesnt work, then the probable cause is flat batteries. Unlike the OM-1 the OM-2 will not operate without batteries.

[Speed]

yeah mate, its definately worth it.

Speed i've seen those shots, they are mental, do you need a special mounting?

nope, as far as i remeber it just went on and worked? can someone confirm?

[snappel]

I tried a 10-20 Sigma on my Nikon 35mm body and there was major vignetting in the corners of the frame. Monster wide though...

[loops]

I second the OM2n :)

It will just about work without batteries, but only on 1/60th manual or bulb... as I found out when I gave my batteries to dsankt :o

I'm interested in the older Nikons in the built-for-a-war-zone stakes though.

[AndyM]

I've got to recommend the Nikon FM - reasonably priced, works without batteries, and built like a bunker. I don't use mine much now, but I've done quite a few explores with this and a Sigma 24mm lens and got some good stuff out of it. :)

[Dempsey]

Ah im using a canon 10-22 and not a sigma, mybe they are different ins ize, as my rear element protrudes into the camera and make sit impossible.

[styru]

Okay I've went for the Olympus OM10; £30 off fleabay inc. delivery and the 50mm lens + Hoya skylight filter, which [/I]

Most important question is does it have a manual adaptor with it, if not you might want to try and get one off fleabay - otherwaise you can only use it in auto.

Looks like this:

http://tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:sA-W4z7x6g3zEM:http://www.olympus-global.com/en/corc/history/camera/image/pop63.jpg

Fits here:

http://tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:H2CzbeVnmFrQMM:http://www.thecamerasite.net/01_SLR_Cameras/Images/Olyadapt.jpg

Essential bit of kit IMO :thumb

[dangerous dave]

my om has a timing issue looks like it needs a service again or a new battery

[parkus.]

Most important question is does it have a manual adaptor with it, if not you might want to try and get one off fleabay - otherwaise you can only use it in auto.



Essential bit of kit IMO :thumb


Thanks for that, no it doesn't but they're only about £10.
:thumb

How do I install it, does it just plug in?

[styru]

Thanks for that, no it doesn't but they're only about 10.
:thumb

How do I install it, does it just plug in?

yep. it has a prong on the back that looks like a headphone plug - just push it in.

(put mine in place 18 years ago and it's been there ever since)

You can use the camera in auto or manual with it In place.Well worth getting!

[RickTammenaars]

One last question; is it possible to buy expired film online?


you're not really going to BUY expired film are you?

[Alias]

you're not really going to BUY expired film are you?

why not? not only is it fun to use as the color shifts can often create interesting results it is also good for practicing.

[styru]

you're not really going to BUY expired film are you?

I often buy expired film, I got 20 rolls of Kodak Gold 200 from a photo company (so properly stored) just this week. Expired Jan 09

Ebay: £14.99 including the next day delivery (= 75p per film delivered)

I've used films that are years out of date with no problems.

[RickTammenaars]

why not?
Why pay for something you might as well get for free?
If it is to safe some time, you can better shoot digital!
Think about it, probably every family has got one or more films laying around, 99 percent of wich are never going to be used. Many of these people would be happy to see someone using their old rubbish and making beautiful pictures with it!

[SaltGeorge]

Here's a few of my recent buys:


http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:kvL4CI-S3TE5WM:http://www.kameramuseum.de/0-fotokameras/russisch/zenit/photosniper/zenith-sniper-action.jpg


Styru.. you know you want this FS-2 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KMZ-Photographic-gan-FS-2-Pricelle-book-/350478954137?pt=US_Vintage_Cameras&hash=item519a2c6e99) to go with that FS-3.. ..

[Brick_Man]

MTL's are OK, very basic, only just better than a Zenit, and simple match needle meter usually works with a fresh battery.
If you get an M42 mount variant then there are tonnes of cheap but decent lenses about for it.

[MJS]

Just use a stella can

http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad343/emjayess/IMG_9211.jpg

http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad343/emjayess/Inthevan.jpg