Advice on buying.

[Jonni Allen]

Hi all 🙂
I am in need of help on choosing a camera. I am wanting to buy a MF like the Mamiya M645J with 80mm. I Just wondered if you guys could help me make the right choice as I want to go back to film (but learn it properly this time round) and don't want to buy something i will regret and also would a 35mm be better?

Also does anyone know of any courses in the Manchester (UK) area that I can learn film developing. I work shifts so collage/night school is not possible 🙁

The reason I want to get back to film Is that I prefer the look and also want to understand photography better as when i was using film, I just hoped for the best 🙂 and never really understood it. I also always sent my film off to be developed and would now like to learn how to do it myself. I am self taught and digital has helped me improve but as i said I now really want to understand photography fully.


Thanks in advance.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

Perhaps a Bronica ETRSi would be a good choice if you want a MF slr. The old Mamiya m645 series had good lenses. I had a 1000s for a while back when they first came out. But these are 30 year old cameras, now. I finally got rid of my 1000s after several repairs involving the winding gears.

I love the Bronicas. They are newer cameras than the M645's and were very popular among MF shooting pros (wedding photographers, etc.). The lenses are great and cheap, and the cameras robust in my experience.

 

[Jonni Allen]

Thanks Pickett.

 

[zozio32]

First, I'll get a quality 35mm kit. They can be very cheap, and you'll learn if you really want to get into film.
Then a MF if you want to get better quality.

What I mean by a quality 35mm kit: probably a good SLR with a meter and a 50mm lens. I am thinking Pentax MEsuper + smc 50mm f1.7, or Olympus OM..., but you'll find equivalent kits in most brands.

That should give the possibility to try film without investing much, get the film look you're looking for with excellent quality, and basics of photography are quick to learn with such equipment.

At least that was my path and I am glad I took it 😉