FILM PHOTOGRAPHY / DARKROOM TIP AND TRICKS THREAD

Hey! I thought I'd join in on this thread. I've been shooting film for about 30 years and have more cameras than I can count. I predominantly shoot B&W nowadays, but I also carry color film with me when I'm out shooting.

Anyway, I still have my very first film camera, a Minolta X-370. I recently broke it out and found it non-functional. After a bit of research, I replaced a capacitor, and it works like a charm.


And here's an image from this camera that I took about a year ago.


Aside from this, I shoot with a Hasselblad 501CM.


An interesting camera I use on occasion is a Fuji GX-617 panoramic camera. It's a bit of a challenge to use and not very back-packable with all of the lenses, but I love the aspect ratio.


One of my favorite cameras is a Toyo 4x5 camera.


And finally, I also shoot with a Toyo 8x10. This is a huge, bulky camera, but I love the large negatives and crazy quality. It's just a pain in the ass to setup and use, so I limit the number of shots with it.

 

getting ready to buy one of the srt idk which one to get and I have X-370 I heard the X-700 had a lot of plastic but was still a good camera.

 

Welcome the X-370 was my first film camera I received it form a family member from Maryland who saw my digital shots and mailed it to me. I'v only been shooting film for about a year and I love it. I'm lucky because the guy I work with just got back into shooting filmand has all kinds of gear Like hasselblad 500 CM Nikon yashica mat 124g and we put together a new darkroom setup.

 

awesome shots

 

It's a great simple camera. And for me, it's like an old friend. I like how solid it feels yet light-weight at the same time. In addition to the film cameras I listed above, I have several digital cameras such as a Canon. They're great and all, but big and heavy. So sometimes I feel like if I'm going to haul around a large camera, it might as well be a Hasselblad or 4x5.

Thank you!!!

 

I grew up with photography nuts for parents. When my dad built the house a darkroom was part of the plan. I've spent countless hours in that dark room and even more out making photographs. Film was the only option because there was no such thing as a digital camera. Basically, I grew up back in the day, so forgive me when I say are you all freaking crazy?! Don't get me wrong, I just don't understand why people would want to use film. It's like choosing to walk behind a smelly horse pulling a single plow, when for less money you could use a modern tractor with AC and a stereo. (and if you've spent anytime in a darkroom you understand the smelly reference.)

I do miss my film cameras' ease of use. Learning to use a new digital camera is an investment of time. Feature-itis certainly can get in the way of making pictures. My photo hobby has evolved completely into the digital world, nothing wrong with folks wanting to go the other way. Enjoy!

 

I still use film for several reasons. Obviously, money isn't one of them. Now the thing is, I don't have a darkroom. So my workflow is shoot film, process at lab, drum scan myself, work on image in Photoshop, and print with an Ink Jet. I like this workflow a lot. It's kind of the best of both worlds.

As for why film vs digital...well, there's a look that I can't get with digital. Not only does film compress the shadows and highlights differently, there's perspective control that view cameras offer that I can't get with a digital camera. (Unless I'm using a digital back on a view camera.) Anyway, I also do long exposure photography, which simply doesn't meet my standards on a digital camera. In fact, I sometimes let reciprocity failure work to my advantage.

In the end, I have the philosophy that you have to have the right tool for the job. There are times where I use a digital camera, because that's the right tool. Other times, it's one of my film cameras, because of what it has to offer.

 

Do not use film anymore, but still have some rolls laying around. Still have an old Canon Elan, thinking of kicking it up a bit soon, see how it pans out.
Right now enjoying my 5d Miii
Costco still developing??

 

welcome I do it for the experience and it slows me down and I like what @tacozord said about the look that you get from film.

 

welcome looking forward to see the outcome

 

Going from memory here (oh so long ago...)

The 200 series replaced the 100 series. Minor difference/change/upgrade. The 202 allows you to see the aperture setting in the viewfinder, and has a different focusing screen - split and prisms if I remember correctly.

Here is a great page/site for Minolta cameras - http://www.rokkorfiles.com/SRT Series.htm (I will add this my memory is fading...) If you haven't visited this site, I suggest you do. I think you will enjoy it.

 

Thanks for the information

 

https://fstoppers.com/film/canon-finally-closes-door-film-cameras-253622

Has anybody bought a new film camera recently?

 

hello everyone

 

There is still a massive amount of used film cameras available through various sources. That's the rub for any company building cameras.

The first version of the Canon EOS 1, referred to in your link, was introduced, nearly 30 years ago in 1989. Canon ended production of the EOS 1v, it latest version, eight years ago in 2010. It's taken 8 years to sell of the remaining inventory, mainly in the Japanese market.

- It was a good run. -

 

Sometimes when I’m photographing, I follow a self-imposed set of restrictions. I find this a good exercise that allows me to practice and find limitations. It also forces me to see and photograph in a restrained way.

On a recent trip, I did this by using one camera, one lens, and one film. Although challenging, I found it liberating. I can’t wait to see the results.

 

can't wait to see your photos

 

I just picked up 10 rolls of this "budget" black and white film to experiment with and check quality of images made. 10 rolls for under 40 bucks ain't half bad.

 

Can't wait to see what you get.