Anyone still using film?

408 Views 28 Replies 11 Participants Last post by mbodell, Sep 2, 2009

ridinhome

Discussion Starter · Aug 31, 2009 (Edited)

There's been some good discussion about DSLRs on this forum but I was wondering whether people on here are still using film. My brother recently gave me his EOS 350D, which I've been using with a Canon 50mm F1.8. Maybe I just don't get digital SLR photography but I haven't been too happy with the results. A little too soft for my liking (see an example below). Could be the lens - I heard that the 50mm Canon is a bit hit or miss (what do you expect for $100?)

Anyways, I dusted off an old Canon A1 kit which I've had in my cupboard but never really used. I have the standard Canon 50mm F1.8 FD lens, a 70-210 f4 and a 35mm f2.8. Also using the Motordrive MA and have a Canon 199A Speedlite, but haven't taken any indoor shots yet. I love the feel of the camera. My dad has one and as a kid I used to sneak it out of his cupboard when he was out of the house so I could play with it. Thank god I didn't break it!

I took the A1 out yesterday and took some shots in a local park, without the Motordrive and with just the 50mm + a Hoya Skylight 1B. Gotta, say - great camera for photojournalism. Unobtrusive, lets you blend into the background.

Since I have a decent set of FD lenses, I'm tempted to pick up a used T90 body. B&H has one for about $180, in 8+ condition. Still have a long way to go towards refamiliarizing myself with film, but I'm thinking about using the A1 for black and white (am currently using some Ilford Delta 100) and using the T90 for color. Thoughts? I don't really care about the 1/4000 shutter speed, though having something faster than the 1/1000 on the A1 would be nice. Am taken with the idea of the 1/250 flash sync, though, and I've heard good things about the multi-spot metering, but would love to hear how anyone else found it.

Also, any comments on film choices would be great. I've always used Kodak Gold 100 / 200 in the past, with mixed results.

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mbodell

· #4 · Aug 31, 2009

I use a nikon F3 HP with a 20 f2.8, 28 f2 50 f1.2, 105 f2.5. I think the camera is as old as me. I have had many high end cameras and this is the only camera that I have kept through them all and all I have left, aside from some old collectibles.

The last digital I had was the D100 and it sucked. I always lost details in the whites no matter how careful I was with the lights and exposure.

Once you learn to print color by hand and develop your own film you realize how little reward there is from the instant gratification. Digital took away my enjoyment of it and I slowly gave up photography.

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mbodell

· #6 · Aug 31, 2009

FUJICOLOR PRO 160C | Fujifilm Global

Fuji pro C and their 400/800 film is awesome. It gives great color/contrast results and converts to digital well if you have to.

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mbodell

· #8 · Aug 31, 2009

I actually have a large format view camera with a Polaroid attachment. Too expensive to shoot now though.

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mbodell

· #13 · Sep 1, 2009

Not sure if you can get it anymore, but Agfa Rodinal with ilford Hp5 is a great combo that I love. Rodinal is/was the best, especially if you ever needed to push the film. Rodinal however doesn't look so hot with some kodak films.

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mbodell

· #23 · Sep 2, 2009

Most 50mm lens will be sharp be design since they are a 1:1 ratio to 35 mm and they are the easiest to manufacture/design.

The best place to spend the money on the pro series is when you get to the tele or wide angle. (or zoom lenses) You will notice the difference immediately. Also the contrast/clarity of the lenses is noticeably better.

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mbodell

· #26 · Sep 2, 2009 (Edited)

Well optically non full frame digital cameras don't use the full width of the lens. Basically the sensor area is smaller than 35mm film. So you don't get the vignetting and the image is cropped. I still think it will technically be a 1:1 ratio optically, but I would think the cropping effect is what makes it look like 80mm and changes the ratios.

I don't think they have ever made a new fixed 50 equiv. for the cropped sensor size.

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mbodell

· #29 · Sep 2, 2009

Well I guess I could have worded that better, but a 50mm is supposed to be a 1:1 ratio relative to the human eye. (I know mathmatically it works out to 1 to 1 being the prime lens for that medium) And I meant relative to 35 mm, like my 150mm lens for a 4x5 is that same coverage ratio.

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