Is it worth loading a roll of film into them?

Geoffc

Senior Member
I'm hoping to get a Fuji X100T next month, which gave me cause to look in my old camera bag for one of those screw in cable releases which I knew I had in there. This resulted in me also taking out my Pentax ME Super and Nikon F601 (N6006) which I have not used in a long time (Well over ten years). First of all I was surprised how tiny the Pentax is with the 50mm 1.7 lens fitted. This is obviously full frame and it's not that much bigger than the X100 will be. Equally the Nikon is not huge by modern standards, although I used to think it was compared to the Pentax. Apart from them being virtually worthless on the used market nowadays, I kept them as the Pentax was a 21st birthday present back in 1986 and the Nikon was bought by my father around 1991 and he passed away in 1993 when it came into my possession.

So my real question is, apart from nostalgia, why would I bother to put film into them rather than use my DSLRs? I know some folks on here do still use film, but what does it give you that warrants the cost and reduced feature set? I was never as involved in photography in the film days as I am now, so I don't have any particular memories of a certain something that film had over digital.
 

Blade Canyon

Senior Member
It would be a good experiment to set up the most focused shot you can possibly create, then see how the sharpness compares to your D800.

There's only one shop in Raleigh that develops B&W film anymore, but at least they are willing to scan the negatives and email them to me, which is cheaper than prints. This only happens when I find an old camera that still has some film in it.
 

Eyelight

Senior Member
Yes. Film is a medium of expression that digital will never replace entirely. Just as the typewriter, word processor and computer can't really replace hand writing.

May not be something that will be life changing, but definitely worth a roll of film.
 

480sparky

Senior Member
Why shoot film? Easy.


Film slows you down.

You will make mistakes. But you will learn from them.

It has a look and feel that digital does not.

You end up learning photography all over again.

You end up with actual, physical photos.

You'll learn to 'get it right' in the camera.

You stay focused on taking pictures.

It will transport you back in time.

Old cameras are beautiful cameras.

It will help you stand out.

It makes you look cool.

The smaller size & weight is amazing.

For better tonal / dynamic range.

You’ll learn where your hobby came from.

You'll love it when you 'get it' and it all comes together.

You'll be a part of an experience few people understand.
 

oldsalt

Senior Member
I must admit - I miss the old days... film made you "stop and think" ... and I loved all the hours I spent in my darkroom at home and then years later for the Police force... BUT now that we are in the digital age I love the ability to just shoot to my hearts content and try new things out at a moments notice and not have to wait hours or days to "see" the result... I consider myself lucky to have seen both sides of the coin... I love my D800E but I also miss my old Nikon F... I still have a few film camera bodies... they are lovely things and I just can't part with them, I also have a few sextants which I keep just to remind myself of the "good old days" at sea... GPS is great (and very handy) but I still know how to do it the old fashioned way... time marches on and we have to learn to keep in step or we'll get left behind...

cheers
 

Whiskeyman

Senior Member
There's only one shop in Raleigh that develops B&W film anymore, but at least they are willing to scan the negatives and email them to me, which is cheaper than prints.

If there are any photography or art programs in your local schools, you might try there. I met a fellow about three months ago who works in the photo program at the local Community College, and he is more than willing to get me involved in their lab. I've put away the 4x5 Wista a long time ago, but it may be making appearances in the not-too-distant future.

And Sparky, every reason you put forth is entirely valid, and there have to be many more besides those.

WM
 

coolbus18

Senior Member
Why shoot film? Easy.


Film slows you down.

You will make mistakes. But you will learn from them.

It has a look and feel that digital does not.

You end up learning photography all over again.

You end up with actual, physical photos.

You'll learn to 'get it right' in the camera.

You stay focused on taking pictures.

It will transport you back in time.

Old cameras are beautiful cameras.

It will help you stand out.

It makes you look cool.

The smaller size & weight is amazing.

For better tonal / dynamic range.

You’ll learn where your hobby came from.

You'll love it when you 'get it' and it all comes together.

You'll be a part of an experience few people understand.

a fine answer. it's why I use film.I dig digital mind you but film is satisfying to me. I dig the process, the mystery of not seeing the shot until developed and looking at a shot on Velvia 50 was what really hooked me. So I went from a N90s to the Mighty F4 to the even superer F5. Yes it's back to basics,makes one concentrate. So after a couple of rolls with a few mishaps I'm happy as can be. The F4s alone is worth the price of everything.

Yes they are cool. A F4 with a 180 f/2.8 has a high cool factor to me.The sound of the F5 on high speed mode is music to my ears. And ultimately the pics you have. Very satisfying to my eyes. And at today's prices(used) one can get pro cameras for dirt cheap! I highly recommend it!
 

Wolfeye

Senior Member
My father died when I was but five, and one of the things he left behind were Kodachrome (and lesser, crappier) slides. At about 8 years old I started to look at the slides, wonder about them and the people and places, and gradually became interested in photography myself. I took the photography class in high school and learned to develop and print B&W film around 1978. To me, the early 1980's are the golden age of 35mm cameras. I spent many many hours looking at the glass-cased beauties at K-mart, or sometimes down at Linn Photo, our real camera store downtown. I occasionally picked up a copy of Modern Photography and drooled over the Canon A-1, Nikon's F3 and EM, and Minolta's X-700. I had no money for any of them, so drooling was the closest I got. When I joined the Navy I had the income, and bought a 35mm SLR and had fun with it. I didn't photograph avidly because film and developing were costly enough to restrict it to once in a while.

Around the year 2000 it occurred to me that these digital cameras were getting pretty good. I got one. It was crap, but hey, it was digital. I did get better and better digital cameras and eventually the film SLR sat pretty much unused. I was headed down the path of "going all digital" because I didn't want film's expense again. I didn't stop to think that I might want to keep shooting film... but I discovered a web site (APUG.org) devoted to traditional film photography and I also realized people were dumping their little-used film cameras for next to nothing. Soon I was acquiring great gear; all those lusted-for cameras from the early 80's were going for a song. Film was still around, still being sold, and still is, to this day. I love, love, LOVE shooting film, right along with my digital gear. I don't need to justify it or wonder if I should, I just do it. If you want to get back into film, it's there, and it's still good. For me it's part nostalgia and part fun and part secret glee at having all the cameras I could never afford back in the day. If none of those apply, in your situation, then I'd say don't bother, but, and it's an important but, if you enjoyed shooting film and getting prints and looking at them, the old joy will come back with your first roll.

You see, there's no mandate for anyone to shoot film, there's no rationale; you only need the desire to do it because you enjoy(ed) it.

Case in point, here's a shot from yesterday's outing with the F6 and an expired roll of Kodak Gold 200, home-developed and scanned.

Roll1517_25.jpg
 
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RocketCowboy

Senior Member
I'm having a hard time finding batteries for my old N6006, but it also wouldn't hurt my feelings much if I found a nice F4 or F5 somewhere that I could pick up for a steal. I'm curious to see how some of my digital shots would turn out on film.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

skater

New member
It's worth loading a roll of film and going to town. See how many shots it takes before you stop looking at the back of the camera to review your shot. ;)
 

carguy

Senior Member
I'm hoping to get a Fuji X100T next month, which gave me cause to look in my old camera bag for one of those screw in cable releases which I knew I had in there. This resulted in me also taking out my Pentax ME Super and Nikon F601 (N6006) which I have not used in a long time (Well over ten years). First of all I was surprised how tiny the Pentax is with the 50mm 1.7 lens fitted. This is obviously full frame and it's not that much bigger than the X100 will be. Equally the Nikon is not huge by modern standards, although I used to think it was compared to the Pentax. Apart from them being virtually worthless on the used market nowadays, I kept them as the Pentax was a 21st birthday present back in 1986 and the Nikon was bought by my father around 1991 and he passed away in 1993 when it came into my possession.

So my real question is, apart from nostalgia, why would I bother to put film into them rather than use my DSLRs? I know some folks on here do still use film, but what does it give you that warrants the cost and reduced feature set? I was never as involved in photography in the film days as I am now, so I don't have any particular memories of a certain something that film had over digital.


Did you end up shooting a roll through either body?
 

carguy

Senior Member
I'm hoping to get a Fuji X100T next month, which gave me cause to look in my old camera bag for one of those screw in cable releases which I knew I had in there. This resulted in me also taking out my Pentax ME Super and Nikon F601 (N6006) which I have not used in a long time (Well over ten years). First of all I was surprised how tiny the Pentax is with the 50mm 1.7 lens fitted. This is obviously full frame and it's not that much bigger than the X100 will be. Equally the Nikon is not huge by modern standards, although I used to think it was compared to the Pentax. Apart from them being virtually worthless on the used market nowadays, I kept them as the Pentax was a 21st birthday present back in 1986 and the Nikon was bought by my father around 1991 and he passed away in 1993 when it came into my possession.

So my real question is, apart from nostalgia, why would I bother to put film into them rather than use my DSLRs? I know some folks on here do still use film, but what does it give you that warrants the cost and reduced feature set? I was never as involved in photography in the film days as I am now, so I don't have any particular memories of a certain something that film had over digital.
Earlier this year I dug my original owner Minolta XG1 out of the bag in the closet. I a few lenses, but used the 50mm f1.7 most of the time. I've since thrown a few rolls through it and bought a few other film cameras this summer.

I enjoy shooting them, the look, feel, even the smell. The images produced are unique as well.

I say go for it :)

My 35mm thread: http://nikonites.com/project-365-and-daily-photos/30554-carguys-35mm-film-erudition.html
 

coolbus18

Senior Member
Yes it is. Yep I dig the look feel and yes the smell also.I purchased a N90s to feel out my inclination towards film. Next thing came an F4s and bingo a F5. In 2 weeks I'll be taking a development, print class at Newspace Center for Photography. I love my D7100 and it has been a great teacher for me. I dig the process of film. It makes me take time, it slows the whole process down and ultimately some truly neat photos. The beauty of the different grains, the tonal qualities and the impact of the photo are just beautiful.Tri x400, HP5, Tmax, Velvia 50, Bergger 400 are just something that must be seen. I dig the mystery of waiting to see the negative. Now I'm contemplating medium format(but nothing will replace my beloved Nikons) as I go exploring the marvelous world of photography. Yup, it's very much worth it.
 
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