Fell in love with film, what should i do?

[chris00nj]

Another option is to pick up a fixed lens rangefinder, such as Olympus RC or the Canonet QL17. You can get a feel for how rangefinders operate without spending a lot of dough.

 

[sojournerphoto]

Another option is to pick up a fixed lens rangefinder, such as Olympus RC or the Canonet QL17. You can get a feel for how rangefinders operate without spending a lot of dough.

Yep, I started out with a Zorki 4K that led to a ZI and 50 C-sonnar...

 

[elshaneo]

Get the Nikon F100 second hand, and use your Nikon lenses, I'm sure that You'll be very happy with the results. Use your Hexar AF also for Back up ;-)

 

[katgut@earthlink.net]

Someone suggested an Olympus RC. I would stay away from them. I had one, and it was a well-built camera with a decent lens, but the shutter failed twice. The second time I didn't repair it. Also uses a funky 40.5 filter.

 

[gb hill]

Welcome to the forum. You ought to go ahead & buy a nice RF kit. You will never be satisified until you do.😉 Don't hurry the process, spend some time doing research, maybe find a rff'er that lives nearby who will let you checkout their gear. Get a feel for it to see if it's your cup of tea. Thats what you should do I think!

 

[fixbones]

Thanks for all the reply. I have since bought a used FE2 from Ebay...... *eagerly awaiting*

i reckon with the smallish SLR, i can still take advantage of my nikon primes and with the Konica Hexar AF, i think they make a pretty nice film kit. Will DEFINITELY continue to read on rangefinders.... in the mean time, i shall keep on shooting 😀

Photography is fascinating...so many new things to learn and discover. Coming back to film is certainly a breath of fresh air for me.

 

[bidnez]

I don´t know if this counts as a proper answer, but I´m in London for a short easter holiday right now, bringing my new Fuji S5 Pro with Nikkors AF 20/2,8 and MF 55/1,2 along with my M4-P, Tri-X and Zeiss 35/2 and CV 15/4,5. Guess what combo´s getting to be used! 5 rolls so far. 🙂 And; I bought a Bronica 645 on the first day here ... 🙂

 

[fixbones]

bidnez: Good to know that film is working well for you!!

For my next trip, i am kinda tempted to bring a film only kit. The bag is going to be soooo much lighter and mobile without my D700 ..... if only i have enough guts 😕

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Okay- so you have results using a Black and White film, which could not have come with your present setup.

What camera/lens combo did you use for shooting the Black and White?

I prefer the older, single-coated/less contrast lenses for black and white. The lens does make a difference in the results. That might guide the selection.

You have a lot of choices. Older, single-coated Nikkor lenses that have been AI converted will work with your D700 and any older Film Nikon. A Nikon FE or FM will use existing lenses, and older ones.

Or just get the Rangefinder with some Classic Glass.

 

[Al Kaplan]

With film you have the option to buy used quality equipment that still has decades worth of useful life left. It doesn't require you to constantly buy the latest. Some of us are still shooting with cameras and lenses we bought used back in the 1960's, gave them years of hard professional use and they're still chugging along. The negatives are all still there too.

 

[BillBingham2]

I am new here.

Welcome to perhaps one of the best places on the net to learn, share and grow.

Should i invest in a RF system with interchangeable lens (Zeiss Ikon and the 50mm sonnar looks terribly sweet) OR perhaps get an FE2 and i can use my other nikkor lenses.

Which way to go depends a lot on what you like about RF and Film. Getting a FSLR (Film SLR) is easy as Nikon has made so many great ones until only just recently. The F6 might handle almost the same as your D700 , it's a bit smaller and takes the same lenses.

When I shoot film the vast majority of the time I carry both RF and SLR. I started out life with Nikon SLRs and have never changed. It's the base upon which I judge other camera for fit and feel. I have owned and used several Leica Ms and Bessas but have settled upon a Nikon RF because the aperture and focus move the same way as my SLR lenses, they are built every bit as strong as my Nikon SLRs (FTn, F2 and others over the years) and they feel the same in the my hands.

Pick up a good S2 with a 50/1.4. Drop Stephen a note and get a new CV 25/4 (with finder) for your S2. If you want a film SLR for anything longer than the 50 you can get an F6 or F100. Stephen might have a used S2 and 50 combo you might look at. I have come to trust him 110% over the years after many transactions.

If you are really flush with cash pick up a S3-2000 and the new 50/1.4 Millennium Nikkor, it is as good or better than the ZI 50. Add to it the 35/1.8 Nikkor and you are set. Now if you really have cash change the S3-2000 for an SP-2005 and keep the same lenses. You will have perhaps one of the best RF film systems ever. I myself have the S3-2000 with those lenses as well as a CV 25/4 and Nikkor 105/2.5 and am VERY HAPPY.

B2 (;->

 

[kywong]

Congratulations on the camera. A friend of mine wanted to try his hand at photography and asked me to help him pick a camera, so I bought him a FE2 on Ebay. I was so excited when it arrived at the post, only to remember it's not mine! I can't say I wasn't tempted to keep it for myself...

 

[aaron.tam]

I am jealous of the Hexar AF, that is such a nice and quiet camera you have there. Can't go wrong with an F100, and it doesn't cost that much now to get one in great condition.

 

[mpve]

I won't comment on the D700. However, in deciding between an RF and an SLR, consider these factors:

1) No practical zoom on RF's. Need to swap lenses (if you have more than one).
2) No practical way to do macro on RF's. With SLR's, you can use tubes.
3) SLR's are bigger and heavier and louder than RF's.
4) RF lens lines include fast, compact, and sharp wide-angle options.
5) RF lens lines don't have long lenses like SLR lines do.
6) RF's allow you to keep one eye on the surroundings while composing/focusing with the other, meaning you see what is outside of the frame, meaning better for street.

RF vs. SLR depends what you want to accomplish. If any of the points above leans you in the direction of RF's, then check out the Bessa line. Similar but cheaper than Zeiss Ikon. Secret weapon for street: the Bessa R3a has a 1:1 viewfinder, which is friggen amazing to shoot with: Both eyes open, panning, you have all your peripheral vision, and the focus patch & frame lines just hang there in space. Totally natural. A year after I got mine, I'm still in love.

One addition to this list:
RF is far more expensive then SLR. Unless you go for VOigtlander that have a limited range of lenses (e.g. no WA with high aperture)

 

[mrlowlight]

I agree with getting a film Nikon. It's obscene how low prices have gotten on f100's and f5's.

 

[brachal]

Funny, I was going to suggest a Fed2. Of course it's always a crap shoot when you buy off of ebay, but a good Fed2 is a sweet little camera. I especially like the collapsible 50mm lens (Industar-10) that came with the early models ... a real gem.