LeicaFoReVer
Addicted to Rangefinders
ok now the thread turns into something useful 
It is nice to hear people's experiences of seeing film cameras on the streets. Now some UK cities added to the list, whereelse?
It is nice to hear people's experiences of seeing film cameras on the streets. Now some UK cities added to the list, whereelse? 
ebino
Well-known
Don't you think its sort of unsportsmanlike like to talk like that behind your flicker friend?
I'm not from China, but I'm working on a Chinese-related project right now and as a history buff i know a thing or two about Chinese history. So, for you to call China an up and coming country shows to me clearly your lack of historical perspective. In fact china is going through just another period of prosperity and growth as it has many times over the last five thousand years.
Photographers are supposed to be "better" people, more informed, more tolerant and more compassionate.
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maclaine
Well-known
I work with at least one other film shooter, and we talk gear pretty frequently.. He has a Leica IIIf he recently fixed up and shot with for the first time this past weekend.
I was also out this past weekend wandering a bit and burning a ton of film, and ran into another fellow with a Canon EOS-1v. He was approximately my age (late 20s) and had a dark room set up in his basement. I did my best to convert him to the Church of Rangefinders with my M2 and Jupiter-3.
I was also out this past weekend wandering a bit and burning a ton of film, and ran into another fellow with a Canon EOS-1v. He was approximately my age (late 20s) and had a dark room set up in his basement. I did my best to convert him to the Church of Rangefinders with my M2 and Jupiter-3.
icemendicant
Established
Quite a few film cameras out and about in Canterbury, UK. We're a small city and not really an 'arts capital' but Canterbury does have a lot of historic buildings, two universities and a number of language schools. There's a large contingent of tourists most of the year.
I suppose these factors increase the likelihood of film camera usage amongst the demographic...
I suppose these factors increase the likelihood of film camera usage amongst the demographic...
Darkhorse
pointed and shot
Perhaps you're right, but he's one of those people on flickr that has thousands of 'friends' and adds you as a contact for no apparent reason other than to build their contacts. I don't find the photos interesting, but I do find the growing prosperity I see in them interesting, and can't feel a bit jealous of it considering the lack thereof here.
I don't really think this is true in general. I think it's true of this forum, which is why I like it.
Photosynthetech
Established
I am a Louisiana State University student (Baton Rouge, LA), and first photo course requires that you shoot BW film. I took basic photo, although I am a civil engineering major, and I gathered that it was, for most in the class, his/her first time shooting film. Their cameras were found on craigslist the week before or gathered from relatives, and most went back to shooting only digital after the required film courses. I was only able to talk film gear with the teacher. The rest of the class had never heard of a rangefinder.
I have also been working for the school newspaper for 5 semesters. I have worked with a wide range of talent and technical knowledge. Most shoot with DSLR. Less than half of these have used film or still use film very rarely. Few have never shot film and think SLRs, P&Ss, and Holgas (Holgas aren't ranmgefinders. they are just Holgas in their minds) are the only types of still cameras. I am one of 4 who I have met in my time at the newspaper (total probably around 30 photographers) who shoot mostly with film. I think I am the only one who uses a rangefinder.
I have never seen a film camera owned by a non-student walking around campus taking picture, but I have seen a flood of DSLRs especially before football games.
To sum this up: I see very few people with film cameras unless they are forced to use them or they are Holgas that they bought while shopping for clothes. Craigslist in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, my hometown, has a decent amount of film equipment for sale, and I recently saw an M8 and an M9 for sale, which were the first Leicas I've seen in 3 years.
I have also been working for the school newspaper for 5 semesters. I have worked with a wide range of talent and technical knowledge. Most shoot with DSLR. Less than half of these have used film or still use film very rarely. Few have never shot film and think SLRs, P&Ss, and Holgas (Holgas aren't ranmgefinders. they are just Holgas in their minds) are the only types of still cameras. I am one of 4 who I have met in my time at the newspaper (total probably around 30 photographers) who shoot mostly with film. I think I am the only one who uses a rangefinder.
I have never seen a film camera owned by a non-student walking around campus taking picture, but I have seen a flood of DSLRs especially before football games.
To sum this up: I see very few people with film cameras unless they are forced to use them or they are Holgas that they bought while shopping for clothes. Craigslist in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, my hometown, has a decent amount of film equipment for sale, and I recently saw an M8 and an M9 for sale, which were the first Leicas I've seen in 3 years.
DNG
Film Friendly
No cheaper than buying PhotoShop every 2 years and dividing "that" cost by 24. (32.00 a month -- 1/full @ $600.00, + 1/upgrade @ $170.00).
Oh, don't forget the new(er) Mac/PC every 3 years divided by 36 to get your per month expense.
($1000.00 for a new unit = $27.00 per month expense)So, that's $59.00 per month expense NOT to use film, but DSLR only.
Ummmmmm I shoot 8-10 rolls a month
(8x$4.00 = $32.00 per M)
And and $5.00 on chemicals every 2 months tops. ($5 per M)
New PC every 3 years @ $1000.00 ($27.00 Per M0
New Software @ 3 years $170 (I don't buy PS) ($5.00 Per M)
I say Film is not much more than digital on the per month costs.(No camera expences are listed)
Digital = $59.00 per Month cost over 3 years (unlimited images)
Film = $69.00 per Month cost over 3 years (4,320 images a year)
I know your response was in jest....
But, I just HAD to run some numbers.... I shoot 10 rolls a month, many shoot much more.
RF are alive in my home....
dacookieman
Cookie Monster
In Singapore (a city state in Asia, not a province in China;p), there is an increasing trend of photographers ditching their digital gear in favour of rangefinders or other film gear(SLRs, MF, LF). Also, they are those who shoot both digital and film rangefinders as well.
Of late, I realised that the was a following for film photography from people who have never experience what's it like shooting film, or were sick and tired of digital or just folks who wanted to try another medium in photography.
Of course, just like any other city, there is also a following for Lomography here, I know.. I know... but they help keep the photo labs running and film stock coming, so I wouldn't dismiss this group altogether
Of late, I realised that the was a following for film photography from people who have never experience what's it like shooting film, or were sick and tired of digital or just folks who wanted to try another medium in photography.
Of course, just like any other city, there is also a following for Lomography here, I know.. I know... but they help keep the photo labs running and film stock coming, so I wouldn't dismiss this group altogether
DNG
Film Friendly
erik
Established
If you are in an area with an art school or a University with an art program it's a good bet you will see film cameras getting some use, even some 16mm MP cameras. Film has become an art medium. You won't see stone lithography being done at Kinko's, but it still has a place in this world. Hopefully film will continue as well.
Fraser
Well-known
No cheaper than buying PhotoShop every 2 years and dividing "that" cost by 24. (32.00 a month -- 1/full @ $600.00, + 1/upgrade @ $170.00).
Oh, don't forget the new(er) Mac/PC every 3 years divided by 36 to get your per month expense.
So, that's $59.00 per month expense NOT to use film, but DSLR only.
Ummmmmm I shoot 8-10 rolls a month
(8x$4.00 = $32.00 per M)
And and $5.00 on chemicals every 2 months tops. ($5 per M)
New PC every 3 years @ $1000.00 ($27.00 Per M0
New Software @ 3 years $170 (I don't buy PS) ($5.00 Per M)
I say Film is not much more than digital on the per month costs.(No camera expences are listed)
Digital = $59.00 per Month cost over 3 years (unlimited images)
Film = $69.00 per Month cost over 3 years (4,320 images a year)
I know your response was in jest....
But, I just HAD to run some numbers.... I shoot 10 rolls a month, many shoot much more.
RF are alive in my home....
You don't need photoshop and a computer is used for more than photography, as i said if you don't shoot a lot of film film cameras are cheap. Myself as a freelance photographer I would be shooting maybe 20-30 rolls of film a week. When I last shot film when I was a staff photographer the film bill a year was £3000-£5000 for one photographer.
If you are not scanning then what about darkroom costs.
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DNG
Film Friendly
You don't need photoshop and a computer is used for more than photography, as i said if you don't shoot a lot of film film cameras are cheap. Myself as a freelance photographer I would be shooting maybe 20-30 rolls of film a week. When I last shot film when I was a staff photographer the film bill a year was £3000-£5000 for one photographer.
If you are not scanning then what about darkroom costs.
It's been awhile since I wet printed....
But the Paper would be the largest on a per month cost...
I'd use 2 8x10s per image I wanted to make 8x10.. One Sheet got cut into 4 4x5 as test strips. Then, I'd make an 8x10 after I had the Exposure/Contrast filter correct from the 1-4 test strips.
I paid $35.00 a box 100 8x10's in the 70's (Ilford Multi-Grade Resin coated)
. Today that's $80.00 per 100 box.I had an Omaga B8-XL with a 3rd party color head I used for contrast filtering
I guess add $100.00 per month for printing through a 100 sheet box per month + chemicals....
$38.00 for film = Total per month for a totally wet darkroom (film/paper) = $138.00 per month for 10 rolls and 100 sheets includes chemicals.... not bad for hobby expense per month. If you have the disposable income for both Develop and print.
Goda love the process.....