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estHer wants a film (OMG) camera for Christmas. Can anyone recommend one, either used or new, and not too expensive since once she tries it she may decide to satay with digital? She loves to shoot in black and white if that helps in the decision making.

Hey, Grandma Moses started late!

by LEP on Fri Oct 31st, 2008 at 12:49:55 PM EST
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Um. That's a pretty wide ranging question. Can you give us a budget, at least!

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Fri Oct 31st, 2008 at 01:11:04 PM EST
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Re: Ask the Expert (4.00 / 3)

More questions:

Does she want fully manual or does she want automation?
What does she want it to look like? Classic? New? Chrome? Black metal? Plastic?
How big should it be? Pocket? Handbag? Backpack?
What sort of shooting does she want to do with it? Special projects?
Why does she want to shoot film? What does she want to learn?

I mean, I have six or seven different film cameras and they're all different in all these dimensions and I could easily own several more if I wanted to cover more options.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Fri Oct 31st, 2008 at 01:46:27 PM EST
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Re: Ask the Expert (4.00 / 2)

Yay for estHer! There are lots of good ones and they've never been cheaper.

For my money (not necessarily in order of preference):

(1) One of the 35mm Voightlander rangefinders like Colman sports. Not exactly cheap, but the interchangeable lens options are top notch and there are several varieties of the camera with different mounts. Cons: a bit slow when compared to modern styled cameras with manual everything - but highly flexible for creativity. Some of the best remembered street photographers used this type of camera/lenses (Leicas).

(2) A good, used modern 35mm SLR like a Nikon F100 or F90. (a used F100 goes for about $329 at B&H). Others like the F70/80 can be found for much less. A brand new F75 goes for under $170 w/o lens. (Maybe she could borrow dad's lenses!)

(3) A manual 35mm SLR like the Nikon FM10. ($249 new at B&H with a 35-70mm AIS lens). Advantage is that it is all manual and there are lots of used lens options for manual focus Nikons. This camera also has multiple exposure, mirror lockup and depth of field preview. Many higher end cameras don't have this anymore.

(4) If you want better B&W images, also think about medium format. Used SLR kits are even more competitively priced now than 35mms. I saw a used Mamiya 645 Pro on e-Bay the other day that went for about $600 and included a metered prism viewer, 80mm lens, case and film back. This was Mamiya's top of the line manual focus 645 format camera for years and the same kit purchased new was about $3K. Today, the manual focus lenses for this camera are widely available for good prices. I believe the new AF versions (camera body) can also use digital backs (not inexpensive) and can be found used.

Hope this helps.

I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell. _ Blood Sweat & Tears

by Gringo (stargazing camel at aoldotcom) on Fri Oct 31st, 2008 at 01:39:58 PM EST
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The three pictures below are with the Voightlander R3A and a 50mm lens on C41 process B&W film - the type you can take to a lab to get developed.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Fri Oct 31st, 2008 at 01:42:26 PM EST
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Were those shot wide open? Nice shallow depth of field, and in doors.

I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell. _ Blood Sweat & Tears

by Gringo (stargazing camel at aoldotcom) on Fri Oct 31st, 2008 at 01:48:29 PM EST
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Yup. Hexanon 50/2 (or CV40/1.4 for the first two, maybe??) on something rated at ISO800 - don't remember if it was the Neopan or the Kodak BW400CN, and the film is filed away now.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Fri Oct 31st, 2008 at 01:50:40 PM EST
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Very nice!

I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell. _ Blood Sweat & Tears

by Gringo (stargazing camel at aoldotcom) on Fri Oct 31st, 2008 at 01:56:35 PM EST
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For esther, there's a pile of other options - I'm thinking some of the 50s or 60s fixed lens RFs or maybe even a folding 6x6 like my Zeiss Mess Ikonta. Fully manual, good lenses, small, fun to use, cute in a retro sort of way.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Fri Oct 31st, 2008 at 01:53:50 PM EST
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Oh, and pretty cheap.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Fri Oct 31st, 2008 at 01:54:28 PM EST
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Maybe even a TLR!

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Fri Oct 31st, 2008 at 01:54:55 PM EST
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I was going to mention Rolleiflex's TLRs, but seems they are getting a bit pricey. I've been following e-bay bids for several weeks. However, Yashica's and Mamiyas are pretty reasonable.

I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell. _ Blood Sweat & Tears

by Gringo (stargazing camel at aoldotcom) on Fri Oct 31st, 2008 at 02:36:57 PM EST
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Re: Ask the Expert (none / 1)

In Wales likes her Yashica, I think.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Fri Oct 31st, 2008 at 02:43:47 PM EST
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Indeed I do!

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Fri Oct 31st, 2008 at 03:23:18 PM EST
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I love my Chinese made Seagull 109, but I've heard complaints about build quality. Mine has been perfect for 6 years but I'm hesitant about recommending the brand.

I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell. _ Blood Sweat & Tears

by Gringo (stargazing camel at aoldotcom) on Fri Oct 31st, 2008 at 03:42:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ask the Expert (none / 1)

I would go to a camera store and get a used Nikon or Canon SLR. An older one would be pretty cheap and also more or less compatible with a digital camera of the same brand...

by asdf on Fri Oct 31st, 2008 at 10:30:21 PM EST
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Thanks for the replies. I'll show them to estHer tomorrow-she's partying tonight.

Hey, Grandma Moses started late!

by LEP on Fri Oct 31st, 2008 at 02:23:07 PM EST
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Photos as usual (none / 0)

"Photos As Usual"

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Thu Oct 30th, 2008 at 05:28:19 PM EST

Siena (4.00 / 8)

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Thu Oct 30th, 2008 at 05:29:34 PM EST
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Re: Siena (4.00 / 5)

Siena cathedral and pagan symbol :-)

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice.

by Ted Welch (tedwelch-at-mac-dot-com) on Fri Oct 31st, 2008 at 12:29:49 PM EST
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I had to stalk this poor girl all weekend to get some decent shots. Black fur needs special trix to catch. We had a slight mishap where in my attempt to remove a blade of grass that got in one of the shots, I ended up chucking a load of dry soil in her face. I haven't ever felt so terrible about anything before - miaooooooooOOOOOOw.

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Thu Oct 30th, 2008 at 05:41:13 PM EST
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Re: Kasper the Cat (4.00 / 8)

In Wales,
I can`t believe how your cat reminds me so much of Kasper.
He has the ghost`s name because I couldn`t see him at night.

The difference between theists and atheists is that the atheists don't set the theists on fire for refusing to agree with them.

by Knucklehead on Thu Oct 30th, 2008 at 10:35:05 PM EST
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Re: Photos as usual (4.00 / 9)

Witches good or which is bad.
This one happens to be a very bad good little witch.
My grand-daughter did the post processing on this image of her doll.

The difference between theists and atheists is that the atheists don't set the theists on fire for refusing to agree with them.

by Knucklehead on Thu Oct 30th, 2008 at 10:44:32 PM EST
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The tip is for your grand-daughter. :-)

by Fran on Fri Oct 31st, 2008 at 07:15:52 AM EST
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Re: Photos as usual (none / 0)

Thank you Fran,
I shall be sure to put it in her piggy bank.

The difference between theists and atheists is that the atheists don't set the theists on fire for refusing to agree with them.

by Knucklehead on Sun Nov 2nd, 2008 at 02:25:03 AM EST
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by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Fri Oct 31st, 2008 at 08:35:41 AM EST
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by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Fri Oct 31st, 2008 at 08:40:00 AM EST
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by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Fri Oct 31st, 2008 at 08:46:20 AM EST
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Growing fast! Was he drooling at your camera?

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Fri Oct 31st, 2008 at 09:23:55 AM EST
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Re: Photos as usual (4.00 / 5)

Villefranche 26th October

"My turn!"

Photos not quite as usual:

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice.

by Ted Welch (tedwelch-at-mac-dot-com) on Fri Oct 31st, 2008 at 12:21:21 PM EST
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Playing with glass & it`s transparent & refractive qualities, can play havoc.
A picture of a glass is opaque, so one has to create the appearance of transparency, to retain the glass.
This wine glass was shot with an ivy wall as a background. (I have no clue why I even took that shot)
I saw the image later & had to play with it.

The difference between theists and atheists is that the atheists don't set the theists on fire for refusing to agree with them.

by Knucklehead on Fri Oct 31st, 2008 at 06:03:08 PM EST
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Photos as usual (4.00 / 7)

"open"

click image to enlarge

by town on Fri Oct 31st, 2008 at 02:42:49 PM EST
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Re: Photos as usual (4.00 / 9)

Some of my Halloween images & artwork.
The "LITTLE WITCH" is my grand daughter`s doll, & she directed me in post production.

Field of dreams

Blue Plate Scare

Leaves & Let Die

Death Row
( check the original size, please)

Sultan of Neewollah

The Little Witch of Ubilam

Sacked Monk

I`ll have you, my pretty.

What`s good with children? I`m still hungry.

A few bad apples.

The difference between theists and atheists is that the atheists don't set the theists on fire for refusing to agree with them.

by Knucklehead on Fri Oct 31st, 2008 at 02:57:20 PM EST
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Wow, just wow.

(Is that your signature? You might want to put in in between <em></em>)

A vivid image of what should exist acts as a surrogate for reality. Pursuit of the image then prevents pursuit of the reality -- John K. Galbraith

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Fri Oct 31st, 2008 at 03:17:57 PM EST
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Re: Photos as usual (4.00 / 3)

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Sat Nov 1st, 2008 at 07:25:37 PM EST
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