Film body anyone?

[LuzArt]

Just wanted to canvass some ideas on a film body.

I know I’ve banged on in the past about shooting film for comparisons with a digital camera, but this query is more about features in a film body and why.

So:

1) What features do you think you’d have to have in a film body?
2) Or is it a good opportunity to go totally manual, something like a K1000?
3) Who likes the ME Super?
4) Whats’s your film of choice these days? (Colour and B&W)

Interested in your thoughts.

Cheers
Ben

--



http://www.luzartphotography.com
http://luzart.blogspot.com

 

[TwoUptons]

I will keep my K1000 forever. It is truly awesome in its simplicity.

That being said, it won't work with any of the newer lenses without aperture rings, and that would be a killer for a camera I wasn't sentimental about...

I would only buy something that can talk to the electronic lenses, otherwise all I need is a meter, shutter speed, and aperture...

I like the MESuper – it has a fantastic form factor, but it doesn't do electronic lenses again. I think the relatively recent MZ5 is sort of its spiritual descendant, but it's far closer to a K100 Super than a MESuper... If you want the fully manual route, I prefer the MX – the smoothest camera I have ever used that wasn't a Leica.

As to film, I shoot the cheap Fuji print film for that and the Kodak 400CN for B&W because the local drug store can develop and scan it cheap. Anything really nice I take to a pro lab that still scans film.

-Eric

1) What features do you think you’d have to have in a film body?
2) Or is it a good opportunity to go totally manual, something like
a K1000?
3) Who likes the ME Super?
4) Whats’s your film of choice these days? (Colour and B&W)

 

[CacheValleyBranch]

I use only manual lenses on my digitals so cross-over is not a problem. The K1000 would be a natural.

But, because the K1000 is not the camera the old Spottie was, I maintain a Spotmatic with a couple of my favorite M42 lenses (28mm and 105mm). The older Pentaxes have a more solid "feel" to them although the differences in the build are hard to quantify. Of course, the M42 lenses can find their way onto my digital body if I want.

I shoot only B&W with my film cameras, usually Plus-X Pan, although I do like Tri-X. Heck, I have even used the Royal-X Pan for its incredible speed..

I usually do not take both camera systems with me at the same time. I prefer "focusing" on one style of photography at a time. But I have to admit my kids are always disappointed to get black and white prints.

--
'Sacramento' Bruce Conklin

 

[Seamus Kelly]

I've a K1000 which really gets very little use but is brilliant and easy to use manual camera. It usually goes in my bag as an ultimmate bacckup on jobs. Even if it has no battery for its meter I can still ecpect quite good shots and if I use a hand held meter like wy Weston which doesn't need batteries then I can expect really good reults.

I also use a couple of Z1s which are superb. Over the K1000 their main advantage is speed with 3.5fps drive and a decent AF system. The exposure metering has been extremely reliable and consistent.

I don't need these to work with the newer lenses because the old ones are both cheap and deliver very good results.

Even the worst of films will generally deliver acceptable results and there is so much information on the negative that could be extracted by professioanl scanning or by traditional printing.

As for lenses I use a range including Pentax standard zooms, a Tamron 105mm macro and sone of the newer ones like 10-17 fisheye, Pentax 18-55, Pentax DA* 50-135. With the lenses designed for digital you cann still get a decent result but will have to accept some vignetting.

Finally I don't have an ME Super anymore but that camera is the reason I fist tarted using Pentax euipment - in typical Pentax style they put in an innovation making the first camera with push button control for the shutter speeds. Shaysart - Capturing your Dreams

 

[jthommo]

I love me old spottie and put the occasional film through it; like most spotmatics, the light meter gave up the ghost so I use an old weston master. Everything is manual and simple.



--
Thommo
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jthommo101/

 

[Sean Nelson]

I just don't shoot film any more, so take these answers with a large grain of salt...

1) What features do you think you’d have to have in a film body?

A viewfinder. I started out on Rolleicords, and with that kind of background even a manual-but-builtin exposure meter seems like a luxury...

2) Or is it a good opportunity to go totally manual, something like a K1000?

I have two of them, they're great cameras and they have the luxury of a built-in exposure meter! With today's pace of technological change I don't think there will ever be a digital camera made that lasts as long as the K1000. With most digital SLRs it will probably be next to impossible just to get batteries in 25 years.

3) Who likes the ME Super?

I have two of them, too, and they're terrific. It beats me why they can't make a digital SLR in the same form factor.

4) Whats’s your film of choice these days? (Colour and B&W)

Well I mentioned that I don't shoot film anymore, so my answer to this question (for both Colour and B/W) has to be "Sandisk" ;^D

 

[Godfrey]

1) What features do you think you’d have to have in a film body?
2) Or is it a good opportunity to go totally manual, something like
a K1000?

Simple: match needle/diode, manual focus. I had a lovely black MX for a year but never actually used it, sold it to someone who would. Actually, I'd probably buy a Nikon FM2n or Leica M4-P with a good 35mm to 75mm lens, be done with it ... I loved my Nikon FMs and Leica Ms and don't have much in way of Pentax lenses suitable for an MX anymore.

(The only one of my Pentax lenses that would work on the MX is the FA43, though, and an MX fitted with the FA43 would be all I wanted.)

People often mistake me for being a lover of automation and gizmos because I worked in high tech for many years... I really prefer simple cameras that let me do the job the way I want to easily. I can make a Nikon FM or Leica M do exactly what I want and need without even thinking. Ninety percent of the work happens out of the camera anyway.

Digital cameras are complex things compared to film cameras ... if I'm going to have a complex thing anyway, I'll take whatever is offered and find a way to use it that reduces the complexity or allows me to exploit the complexity to my advantage.

My remaining film cameras are a Contax Tix, Pentax 645, a Rollei 35S, and an assortment of Minox subminiatures. The only film camera I've used in the past year is the P645, five rolls of film total.

4) Whats’s your film of choice these days? (Colour and B&W)

I haven't shot any 35mm film since 2002, but if I did I'd either shoot Ilford XP2 Super (saves me having to soup the film ... just let the photofinisher on the corner run it through the C41 machine) or one of APX25 (70 rolls in the freezer...), Kodak TMax 100 or 400.

I have no interest in working with color film... digital capture is much better at that IMO.

Sorry if I ramble... ;-)

Godfrey

 

[546xatnep]

Well ...

For 35mm format I still love my first camera the best ... the K1000. Next to that is the Spotmatic, then the ME Super.

Having said that ... I have rarely used them since going to medium format about 8 years ago. The Pentax 645N is AWESOME.

 

[Vinsant]

1) What features do you think you’d have to have in a film body?

Having shot with a P30 for the better part of the year, I'd have to say Aperture Priority, which also indicates it must have a light meter. I haven't gotten around to eye-balling exposures yet (although I hope to eventually since I've now got a Mamiya RZ67 as well, which doesn't have Av ). I pretty much grew up with Av, and it's served me well in most circumstances.

2) Or is it a good opportunity to go totally manual, something like
a K1000?

Again, as manual as manual goes, the only thing I'd really want on it is a decent metering system, and the opportunity to go Av. I'd take the LX in a heartbeat, or the...

3) Who likes the ME Super?

yea, the ME Super. Although I've only really contemplated it on paper.

4) Whats’s your film of choice these days? (Colour and B&W)

Been shooting Sensia because it's cheaper than most Transparency Film (love transparency film), but I'm also going to try Velvia over the weekend for some landscapes at Wilson's Prom. I also shoot Ilford Delta 100 for BW.

Delta and Portra for 120 film, just because.

Cheers

--
Vinsant

Different Shades of a Different Colour Ellicit Different Behaviours to a Different Photographer

http://www.differentshades.org

 

[RPulley]

Just wanted to canvass some ideas on a film body.

I know I’ve banged on in the past about shooting film for comparisons
with a digital camera, but this query is more about features in a
film body and why.

So:

1) What features do you think you’d have to have in a film body?
2) Or is it a good opportunity to go totally manual, something like
a K1000?
3) Who likes the ME Super?
4) Whats’s your film of choice these days? (Colour and B&W)

Interested in your thoughts.

Cheers
Ben

The ZX-5N is a solid choice, but I sold mine and kept my ZX-L because it is the closest in operation to my DS and K100D. It has a higher max shutter speed than the ZX-5N.

That being said, the MZ-S bodies I own are one of the best of the Pentax designs in most ways (not all). The control layout and operation take some getting used to, however. For example, AV is only available by using the aperture ring.

I do not shoot much 35mm slide film these days as the digitals cover that ground just fine. I shoot Fuji and Kodak pro portrait film, which has amazing highlight headroom.

I have been playing with efke B&W emulsions, which is an old school formula with that traditional silvery B&W look.

Velvia still finds it's way into the 645 bodies now and again.

Ray

 

[pb908]

Just wanted to canvass some ideas on a film body.

I know I’ve banged on in the past about shooting film for comparisons
with a digital camera, but this query is more about features in a
film body and why.

So:

1) What features do you think you’d have to have in a film body?

DOF Preview is a must, Mirror lock up will be nice value, timer is a must, small &
light weight, metal body, manual speed still available with no baterry at all..

2) Or is it a good opportunity to go totally manual, something like
a K1000?

yup, I like manual, that's why I grab MX, KX, LX from e*ay

but to have some thing with AF + program/Tv/Av mode is also usefull for fast action, that's why I still keep my Z-1

but overall, if I need to travel, I'll take MX, if I need to take picture in hard condition, i'll take LX, but I use KX for daily taking picture..love them all

3) Who likes the ME Super?

I had this once, but I don't like the manual speed selector button,

but it small, lighweight, has a big viewfinder and has at least 1 manual speed + Bulb, something that you can count on when you have battery failure

4) Whatss your film of choice these days? (Colour and B&W)

Colour

the best thing on pentax :

• grab a MX + 40mm SMC M f2.8, and it will be the lightest smallest travelling camera

--
Long Live Pentax !!
Regards
---
BK
---
..MX is Beauty, KX is Reliability..

 

[mrxdimension]

If you'd like to have fun shooting in film, a different style, try a twin lens reflex. I like my old Mamiya C330 but there are many others that can be found for a low price.

Take your tripod, you'll almost certainly need it. The large 56x56 cm viewfinder is a joy. It's a different experience when thinking about your shots and composing. It forces you to slow down. Twelve shots in an outing is about it. When I use the C330 I carry my old Pentax one degree spot meter. For film I like Plus X Pan and an assortment of filters.

Enjoy,

PS: People call the old Argus C3 35mm rangefinder the black brick with a lens. The C330 is a cinder block with a lens. It's not small nor light, but it produces amazing results, especially for it's price.

Here's a few links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamiya_C330
http://www.geocities.com/heidoscop/mam_c330.htm

 

[JeffJS]

Just wanted to canvass some ideas on a film body.

I know I’ve banged on in the past about shooting film for comparisons
with a digital camera, but this query is more about features in a
film body and why.

So:

1) What features do you think you’d have to have in a film body?
2) Or is it a good opportunity to go totally manual, something like
a K1000?

Keeping it Pentax related, K1000SE. The K1000 is a nice camera but the added feature of the split screen is a plus with me. For as much film as I actually shoot these days, it's about as far as I'd go in a second film camera (My other is an Olympus OM-4).

3) Who likes the ME Super?

Not me, though used, I've owned several of them in the past months and a Lot of them suffered from a known problem where the film advance mechanism breaks due to a weak part. Resulting in stuck shutters, inabilty to advance film, etc. Good idea, bad execution.

4) Whats’s your film of choice these days? (Colour and B&W)

Fuji NPC 160 for prints, Velvia 100 or Provia 100f for slides, Agfa APX25 for b&w (still have a supply of it)..

Interested in your thoughts.

Cheers
Ben

--



http://www.luzartphotography.com
http://luzart.blogspot.com

--
http://photobucket.com/albums/v285/jjmel FZ20
http://s134.photobucket.com/albums/q109/jjkyle/ K10D
Still happy with the K10d (in spite of the pixel peepers)
Someone in Poland is enjoying my FZ20 now.

 

[lownine]

My ME Super was stolen in 1983. That was unpleasant, but it resulted in my purchase of the MX which I've loved for the last 23 years. I dare say I won't have my K10D for 23 years.

The MZ-S was the first auto-anything body I ever owned. Therefore, I became quite used to trying to evaluate light, light ratios, and making concious decisions about how to shoot certain parts of a non-average scene. It's almost as if they made a variation of that currently popular game/reality show and called it, "Are you smarter than a camera?""

Stu

 

[Sean Nelson]

The large 56x56 cm viewfinder is a joy.

Waist-level finders take some getting used to. I'd always get a chuckle after handing someone my Rolleicord and then watching them get totally confused over which way to turn when they try to follow a moving object. But the tables were turned when I got my first eyelevel viewfinder and made the same mistakes in reverse :-D

BTW, unless you've got a really HUGE view camera that I've never heard about, the viewfinder is closer to 6x6cm... ;-)

 

[mrxdimension]

The large 56x56 cm viewfinder is a joy.

Waist-level finders take some getting used to. I'd always get a
chuckle after handing someone my Rolleicord and then watching them
get totally confused over which way to turn when they try to follow a
moving object. But the tables were turned when I got my first
eyelevel viewfinder and made the same mistakes in reverse :-D

BTW, unless you've got a really HUGE view camera that I've never
heard about, the viewfinder is closer to 6x6cm... ;-)

LOL twice. Yes 56x56 mm.

 

[D TONG]

Just wanted to canvass some ideas on a film body.

I know I’ve banged on in the past about shooting film for comparisons
with a digital camera, but this query is more about features in a
film body and why.

So:

1) What features do you think you’d have to have in a film body?

Because of the crop factor . a 16mm has only a FoV of only 24mm. I bought a film camera only for that and here is/was the result

http://forums.steves-digicams.com/forums/view_topic.php?id=120672&forum_id=80&jump_to=718238#p718238

2) Or is it a good opportunity to go totally manual, something like
a K1000?

I have manual lens . So manual does not intimidate me

3) Who likes the ME Super?
4) Whats’s your film of choice these days? (Colour and B&W)

No expertise

Interested in your thoughts.

Cheers
Ben

--



http://www.luzartphotography.com
http://luzart.blogspot.com

--
Daniel, Toronto
http://www.pbase.com/danieltong

 

[Sean Nelson]

Because of the crop factor . a 16mm has only a FoV of only 24mm. I
bought a film camera only for that...

I can really empathize. The only times I've even considered shooting film the last 10 years or so has been when I've thought using it with my SMC Pentax 15mm f/3.5 lens. I can use it on my K100, but that reduces it to the status of a mere 22mm-equivalent...

 

[distudio]

I can really empathize. The only times I've even considered
shooting film the last 10 years or so has been when I've thought
using it with my SMC Pentax 15mm f/3.5 lens. I can use it on my
K100, but that reduces it to the status of a mere 22mm-equivalent...

Ah, but just remember your 200 is like a 300 ;-)

--
Rob

 

[takumarcrazylance]

Pentax Spotmatic! So simple and the meter is still accurate. My grandfather used it for 30 years, when he was publishing his botany field guides.