Old time film (hobby) photographer

taylorkh

Senior Member
Hello

I have been running a Nikon FG since about 1985. Honestly, I have not done much with it in recent years. When I took a premature early retirement in 2005 my company offered me a choice of retirement trinkets. I selected a Point and Shoot camera (who's manufacturer will remain unnamed). While it would take some rather amazing pictures for a PAS camera it turned out to be a POS. It was designed for alkaline batteries which are nominally 1.5 volts. Rechargeable batteries are nominally 1.2 volts and thus the camera thought that a fully recharged charged battery was almost dead. I did take a lot of snap shots with it until it recently died. After threatening for many years to purchase a DSLR I took the plunge.

Following several days of reading reviews I deciphered Nikon's numbering scheme and decided to start with the current camera in the entry level family - the D3400. Comparing its specs to the original D1 pro camera... amazing what the march of technology has done. My old FG could take as good a picture as any other film camera - limited by the quality of the lens to which it was attached. I suspect that the D3400 will be able to take a better picture than I can - at least for a while.

My first subject (victim) is of course my dog :) and my first photo project is to document collectibles etc. for insurance purposes. I think that will give me a good opportunity to exercise the camera from long range to macro. And then... who knows. I have looked at a number of the fantastic photos posted on this site and I am challenged.

That said, I have a couple of "green" questions which I will post to the appropriate forum as soon as I figure out which one to use.

Ken
 

todd7500

Senior Member
Hi and welcome from another new member.

"Old Time"?

I feel that if you understand film, and you understand the darkroom, then you know the principals of making an image.

Moving around in the digital is NOT than big a leap. Much smaller learning curve if you have a background in film.

All the best

Todd
 

taylorkh

Senior Member
Thanks Todd.

I never did get into the darkroom part of it. My dad had a Bush Pressman 4x5 sheet film camera and all the developing equipment. I need to check with my sister. It is probably still in the old family home where she resides. I wonder if it still works?

I understand what I want a photo to show so I guess I just need to learn how to leverage the abilities of the digital camera to make it happen. What I really miss, and one of the reasons I resisted for so long, is the split screen focus capability on a film camera. The main complaint about the D3400 in the reviews I read (other than about remote connectivity and movie capability - both of which I could care less) was that the manual focus ring on the factory kit lens was a little crappy. It is but I just took a manual shot of some stuff on my book shelf across the room and then tried the same shot using the portrait program setting. I do think my picture looks better :)

Being somewhat nostalgic, the Df brought tears to my eyes. It LOOKS like a camera instead of a blob of buttons attached to the back of the lens. But for the better part of $3 grand for a generation or two out of date internals - I still liked it. But when I read that the body was PLASTIC :( I am enjoying my D3400.

Thanks again,

Ken
 

Bikerbrent

Senior Member
Welcome aboard. Enjoy the ride.
We look forward to seeing more posts and samples of your work.

Hey, from your film days you know the principles of exposure and focus, so you are a large step ahead of a rank beginner.
 

Texas

Senior Member
One habit of an old film shooter is one I still have: failure to shoot enough frames. Do it, its free !

The cameras offer so many bracketing features (exposure/white balance/etc) that it is crazy not to use them in iffy situations.

And you can bet that lots of good pictures of fast dogs and kids were made with a bit of click-spray and pray.
 
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taylorkh

Senior Member
Thanks Bikerbrent,

I used to know all that stuff. Having used the POS point and shoot camera for several years my skills with ISO and f-stop etc. are a little rusty. Still, like riding a bicycle I guess it is still there.

Ken
 

Iansky

Senior Member
Thanks Todd.

I never did get into the darkroom part of it. My dad had a Bush Pressman 4x5 sheet film camera and all the developing equipment. I need to check with my sister. It is probably still in the old family home where she resides. I wonder if it still works?

I understand what I want a photo to show so I guess I just need to learn how to leverage the abilities of the digital camera to make it happen. What I really miss, and one of the reasons I resisted for so long, is the split screen focus capability on a film camera. The main complaint about the D3400 in the reviews I read (other than about remote connectivity and movie capability - both of which I could care less) was that the manual focus ring on the factory kit lens was a little crappy. It is but I just took a manual shot of some stuff on my book shelf across the room and then tried the same shot using the portrait program setting. I do think my picture looks better :)

Being somewhat nostalgic, the Df brought tears to my eyes. It LOOKS like a camera instead of a blob of buttons attached to the back of the lens. But for the better part of $3 grand for a generation or two out of date internals - I still liked it. But when I read that the body was PLASTIC :( I am enjoying my D3400.

Thanks again,

Ken

Hi Ken,

Like you I also love the DF and here in the UK they are fairly rare but if found can be purchased for a good price used (I purchased mine in mint condition black with 13K actuations for £1300.00).

The body top,rear and bottom plates are magnesium alloy and the rest is a rugged "plastic" the same as that used in all other Nikons made today - it is weather sealed and the dials / controls are all metal - It is a solid camera not a plastic feeling machine.

I do personally feel that the silver version can look more plastic that the black version and it certainly is a better built camera than the D610 ( no offence made to any D610 owners)

It is worth hunting around for a good quality used one after handling one ( the perception of a plastic camera will quickly fade).

It is a dream to use if you enjoyed the old Nikon with manual dials and also tactile feedback and instant checking of settings even with the camera off and that D4/D4s sensor.............stunning! The gripes about the AF are not valid and 39 focus points work fine (I tend to use the 9 point setting) for street / documentary work and I know some use it for weddings - I have not tried it for sport as that is the domain of my D500 but it is certainly a sturdy camera well worth trying - beware as trying leads to buying;)
 

taylorkh

Senior Member
Thanks Iansky,

I agree with you about silver colored plastic. I recall several years ago I test drove one of the first convertible "new" Minis. Other than being HUGE compared to the original, it was covered from end to end, inside and out with chrome plated plastic. Absolutely revolting.

I think I will work on mastering the D3400 first. And then perhaps a good telephoto lens. I need to save my toy money for a Caterham 7/Lotus 7. I am starting into week 4 of a battle with Toyota regarding my wife's new radar guided Corolla. It has a neat in concept "pre-collision " system which slows the car before a crash. However, it will also brake test a following vehicle when the radar detects something ahead - even when it is not in the travel lane or even on the road. The owner's manual has several pages describing what may cause the system to trigger inadvertently. I think all cars are moving in this direction. I want a car which goes where I tell it to go, not where IT thinks it should go. Of course my 1980 MGB goes where I tell it to go IF it wants to go :unconscious:

Ken
 

Yan Lauzon

Senior Member
Welcome Taylor.

I too was used to manual film camera and am now using Nikon's entry level. You'll get used to it. I have the D3200, yours is a couple model younger.

I've read 3/4 times the M, A, S & P settings in the manual prior to starting to take shots, and did great. It's not complex and some of what you used to do manually is now automated; you'll get used to it.

I have two lens, for a wider range of usage. I think it's a good start. But in the end, it's you behind the camera that makes great pictures, not how good the camera can be. As long as you have good optics, that is.

Something cool with digital, particularly if you shoot in raw, is that you can change a few things after the picture is taken... A bit like people would have done in the dark room years ago, but there's more range and more possibilities.

I hope you get used to your D3400 as quick as I got used to my D3200.

Post some pics! We want to see :)
 
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taylorkh

Senior Member
Thanks Lan Yauzon,

I have just installed darktable (I run Linux, not Windoze). Now I need to generate some raw files to play with and figure out what it can do. I have a couple of lenses from my FG but I do not know if they are compatible. I think they may work in manual mode. A lot to learn.

Ken
 

Yan Lauzon

Senior Member
Thanks Yan,

I have just installed darktable (I run Linux, not Windoze). Now I need to generate some raw files to play with and figure out what it can do. I have a couple of lenses from my FG but I do not know if they are compatible. I think they may work in manual mode. A lot to learn.

Ken
Lens are generally compatible, it's what they can do that varies. Manual mode is generally working.

I found this site that describes what works on what.

Nikon Lens Compatibility
 

Needa

Senior Member
Challenge Team
Thanks Lan Yauzon,

I have just installed darktable (I run Linux, not Windoze). Now I need to generate some raw files to play with and figure out what it can do. I have a couple of lenses from my FG but I do not know if they are compatible. I think they may work in manual mode. A lot to learn.

Ken

There are some resources on utube for Darktable and the manual on their site. Let me know what you think of it.
 
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