Whateverist
Well-known
Hello all - I'm new here.
Lately I've been thinking of buying a 35mm camera to go alongside my digital compact. Partly it's because I'd like to try taking photos with something that takes a bit more thought than "set to Auto, point, shoot", partly it's because "older" technology has always fascinated me. Since my budget is limited and I have very little experience with non-digital photographs, I figured I'd try a relatively inexpensive camera, and the FSU ones seem to fit the bill.
More specifically, I'm interested in buying a Kiev 4, mainly because of the looks; from what I gather, the '60s models have somewhat better quality control, so that's what I'm after.
Now, being new to this, I've got a handful of questions and I would very much appreciate it if any of you would be kind enough to answer them, and perhaps correct any misconceptions I have. Some of them are probably no-brainers, but, well, better to ask...
- Is a Kiev a valid choice for a beginner? I am not looking to make gorgeous pictures, but I would like to get decent ones with some practice, and ideally I'd like the camera to last a while.
- Is http://www.sovietcamera.com.ua/ a reliable seller? I have seen it mentioned as being reliable, but I'm always weary about stores I'm not familiar with. They seem to have good prices and cameras come CLA'd (which is, I gather, shorthand for serviced and lubricated) with warranty. Are there better sellers out there?
- Perhaps a stupid question, but I was hoping to use the camera on trips, so will it take modern, off-the-shelf 35mm cartridges or does the film need to be loaded in a special cartridge of some kind?
- From what I understand after googling, the shutter curtains of the Kiev wear out over time. Would a CLA'd camera have new curtains? Are they expensive to replace?
- How difficult is it to maintain the camera? What sort of tools or materials would I need for regular maintenance? Are there websites or other resources explaining the process?
Finally, is there anything else I should know before I take the plunge? If this whole endeavour goes pear-shaped, all's not lost, as I'll still have a good-looking camera as a display piece; but I would really like to do this right.
Lately I've been thinking of buying a 35mm camera to go alongside my digital compact. Partly it's because I'd like to try taking photos with something that takes a bit more thought than "set to Auto, point, shoot", partly it's because "older" technology has always fascinated me. Since my budget is limited and I have very little experience with non-digital photographs, I figured I'd try a relatively inexpensive camera, and the FSU ones seem to fit the bill.
More specifically, I'm interested in buying a Kiev 4, mainly because of the looks; from what I gather, the '60s models have somewhat better quality control, so that's what I'm after.
Now, being new to this, I've got a handful of questions and I would very much appreciate it if any of you would be kind enough to answer them, and perhaps correct any misconceptions I have. Some of them are probably no-brainers, but, well, better to ask...
- Is a Kiev a valid choice for a beginner? I am not looking to make gorgeous pictures, but I would like to get decent ones with some practice, and ideally I'd like the camera to last a while.
- Is http://www.sovietcamera.com.ua/ a reliable seller? I have seen it mentioned as being reliable, but I'm always weary about stores I'm not familiar with. They seem to have good prices and cameras come CLA'd (which is, I gather, shorthand for serviced and lubricated) with warranty. Are there better sellers out there?
- Perhaps a stupid question, but I was hoping to use the camera on trips, so will it take modern, off-the-shelf 35mm cartridges or does the film need to be loaded in a special cartridge of some kind?
- From what I understand after googling, the shutter curtains of the Kiev wear out over time. Would a CLA'd camera have new curtains? Are they expensive to replace?
- How difficult is it to maintain the camera? What sort of tools or materials would I need for regular maintenance? Are there websites or other resources explaining the process?
Finally, is there anything else I should know before I take the plunge? If this whole endeavour goes pear-shaped, all's not lost, as I'll still have a good-looking camera as a display piece; but I would really like to do this right.