Fell in love with film, what should i do?

[fixbones]

Hi,

I am new here.

Been taking photography rather seriously over the past year and was shooting digital exclusively until a few weeks ago when i rediscovered B & W film photography. To me there is a certain 'feel, atmosphere, soul' in film photography that is lacking in digital photos (imho).

Currently shooting with a D700 with primes (28, 40, 50 and 100mm). Also got myself a used Hexar AF one month ago.

I would really like to pursue film further so thus the question

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.

Would like to be able to travel with a film only kit in the future. Might be going to egypt later this year =D

 

[35mmdelux]

Take the D700 and your 28/50mms -- something that you know works and have familiarity. Hexar RF as back up and switch them out every other day..

 

[neelin]

buy a film nikon to use your lenses for starters.
robert

 

[Bassism]

I see no reason not to pick up a film Nikon. They can be found pretty cheaply, and you've got a pretty nice stable of lenses for it.

Beyond that, if you fall for the allure of an RF, then you can go for it, and still have a range of focal lengths when you need it.

 

[rpsawin]

Are your nikkor lenses af? If so I would look at an F100, F5 or F6. It would make for a nice combo if you wanted to shoot both analog & digital at the same time...one set of lenses and two bodies.

Good luck.

Bob

 

[David William White]

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.

 

[fixbones]

Yeah... i think the most reasonable thing for me to do is to pick up a film Nikon. My lenses are all manual and i am happy with the set that i have....... though i am looking to add a 20mm sometime....

The allure of RF is definitely there....i think GAS played a big part too. That and the rendition of B & W imagery that some of the RF lenses produce - very pretty (my main motivation to purchase a RF)

David: I am fine with primes....i have no zooms in my kit anyways. With a RF, i like the smaller size and also the better wide angles. The quiet operation is a bonus too but i am well aware that even with the mirror slap of the SLRs...its really not such a big issue in street photography. Also 100mm is about as far as i would go and i don't shoot macro.

 

[mfogiel]

An FM3A or a FE2 will give you a great film body for your lenses. There is something you haven't said - are your shooting B&W film? In B&W film is really king, in colour the difference with digital is more subtle, so it depends on your personal need or preference. A rangefinder will change your style of shooting and framing, so it is a completely different pair of shoes yet, however generally I would stick with the Nikon for lenses beyond 50mm and makro, and with a rangefinder for anything wider. Just beware: the rangefinders are addictive and expenive.

 

[fixbones]

Black and White is THE reason why i am back to film.

I'll spend hours tweaking my digital B & W and they are not even close to what u get with film. (Different case with colour though)

I do agree that RF are addictive and expensive. I think you either start and do it well or stay out until ur ready ha ha🙂

 

[Photosynthetech]

Why not pick up a cheap nikon body and a cheap rangefinder, it may have to be fixed lens? Then if you like the rangefinder you can justify buying into system.

 

[fixbones]

I already have a Hexar AF......... been using it for only a month and liking it !!

 

[35mmdelux]

The Hexar AF is a pretty sweet little camera. It has a lens close to the quality of a Summicron. Heck, just take it and a Nikon FM back up.

 

[AgentX]

The question hinges on whether you like your SLR setup or prefer the handling characteristics of your Hexar.

If you could see yourself using only the Hexar for film in the future, if only it had interchangeable lenses, obviously an interchangeable-lens RF system makes real sense.

But from a practical standpoint, I'd get a solid old Nikon film body (F4 for AF, F3 or FM series for MF) and use the lenses you have; then you still have the Hexar as a companion camera, which is a great tool when used in its element and should complement your SLR setup nicely.

(Assuming an F4 will AF with your current lenses; I'm a little behind on all the tech.)

 

[dfoo]

I have an two Nikon MF SLR's, a Leica and a 5D. My favorite, by far, is the Leica. The lack of mirror slap makes a huge difference for existing light photography. I get consistently better low light/low shutter speed pictures with the Leica than either the Nikon or the 5D (although you cannot really compare the 5D with the film cameras, because my particular 5D lacks a place to load the film). The size of the lenses for the Leica is also great. They are all _tiny_ when compared with the SLR behemoths. Even the Nikon MF lenses are giants compared with the Leica lenses.

 

[Alex Krasotkin]

I would recommend you to buy Konica Hexar AF, which is unexpensive and shoot with BW film! You will like it. It is a great camera. You can taste the beauty of rangefinder photography from it, and later to decide if you need a bigger investment in rangefinders.

 

[newspaperguy]

For a cheap Nikon film body, consider a N70 (small, light), or even a N8008 (F801). The latter has the most excellent F-5 type viewfinder.

 

[Photon42]

Fell in love with film, what should i do?

Buy a decent film scanner. If in doubt, get a Nikon Coolscan V, 4000 or 5000. As for the gear you mention: Pragmatic answer: you've already got the Hexar AF. Go play with it for a while and see if you like going with film again. You can also then rework the form factor question.

Cheers
Ivo

 

[sojournerphoto]

Just beware: the rangefinders are addictive and expenive.

Oh how true....

Mike

 

[marke]

fixbones, I returned to (B&W) film for the same reason you did, I didn't want to spend so much time in post, trying to get the same look I could with film. Yes, you can get new software that will do the same to your digital images, but not after spending even MORE money on that never ending road to software upgrades/changes.

But I eventually took it even further, I'm processing my own film again (after 30 years), and making my own wetprints. That was another thing that became too expensive and time consuming for me - trying to get a B&W injet to look at good as a good wetprint.

Maybe I'm splitting hairs here, because it's quite possible I could eventually learn how to do better digital B&W conversions, and learn how to produce better B&W inkjet prints. Maybe even ones where I couldn't tell the difference between those and a traditional wetprint. But there is still the tactile experience of film, from loading the camera, to working a print under the enlarger. I know that I'm not the only one who has found a joy in that experience that they just can't get from digital.

So let me warn you. You might be heading for a slippery slope that you can't back out of. But at least there will be a lot of fine people to keep you company.

As far as RF photography goes, I had an old Yashica Lynx 5000 that I started using again about 3 years ago. I realised I wanted to once again apply the challenge/experience to my shooting that a RF brings, but I also realised that I needed a better camera to do that, something with a better viewfinder and interchangable lenses. I now have 3 Leica rangefinders and 5 lenses, including a 50/1.4 Summilux (which has proven to be my favorite lens). Yes, and that's where the slippery slope gets dangerous. 😉

Black and White is THE reason why i am back to film.

I'll spend hours tweaking my digital B & W and they are not even close to what u get with film. (Different case with colour though)

I do agree that RF are addictive and expensive. I think you either start and do it well or stay out until ur ready ha ha🙂

 

[pesphoto]

They dont have to be that expensive if you look around carefully and are willing to buy used gear.