Going Film, Leaving Digital

Over the past 60 posts to this thread, I have learned so much, but at the same time, have been left with so many more questions.

I heard learned that if I am going to buy a RF, I am much better off doing two things: 1. Trying one out first, because it is much different than anything I have used before and 2. Make sure I buy something, that if I end up not being as into it, I can sell back with little to no money loss.

I have also learned that buying this repackaged film is going to save me a lot of money, in addition to doing my own processing!

Shooting with film is going to cost me a lot of money, I now realize that. It will especially be so when learning about metering, and everything else.

But with this said, I am brought back to my original problem.

I am looking for a nice, small camera that which I can take out with me on the streets. I do not see myself shooting above 50mm, and not below 28. Something
with a quiet shutter speed would be helpful as well. As it is, that I already have a small Point and Shoot Canon Powershot, I would have something to bring
to events, or parties without having to waste money on film, or anything else. While I am pretty hyped on getting a RF, a suggestion about a possible old 35mm
SLR, or a more modern, small digital would be helpful as well. I have been recommended the Canon G10 by other street photographers, but in testing one for a week
I found that while its power was impressive, it was very heavy, bulky, and lacked a manual focus ring, forcing you to use the cameras LCD screen to see its manual
focus.

I first became interested in an RF in not only reading about Bresson and Robert Frank using one, but in watching a Chris Weeks video, I really got hyped on the way
in which it was described.
 
I arrive a bit late to the thread but...is there any reason why in order to shot film you think giving up digital?

When I started one of the best suggestion I received was this: "Do food, you learn to be quick, it is easy to judge whether it looks delicious or plastic and you have no excuse when the second thing happens". This was one of the best advise I got but I never thought "Well, I shall start with food, let's give up taking pictures of people and anything else...".

Film and small camera are great but digital and whatever else are also useful, I would try as many things as you can to learn as much as you can. Also, giving up digital these days is more or less condemning oneself to unemployment...

GLF
 
giellaleafapmu said:
I arrive a bit late to the thread but...is there any reason why in order to shot film you think giving up digital?

Film and small camera are great but digital and whatever else are also useful, I would try as many things as you can to learn as much as you can. Also, giving up digital these days is more or less condemning oneself to unemployment...

GLF
Click to expand...

I retracted my statement and corrected my wording later on in the thread, because i realized just this. I am not giving it up, but rather keeping a small P&S digital and looking for something to replace my Nikon D60 in my street photography...
 
bmattock said:
Oh man. What a bunch of hoo-hah. I congratulate you on roping in a bunch of normally intelligent RFF folks.

Let me get this straight. You know what your style is, but you know next to nothing about rangefinder cameras. You don't even know what an external light meter is. You're unclear on just about every aspect of rangefinder photography, but you're ready to go.

Since no one has asked, what is your new-found style, exactly?

Rangefinder cameras are great and all, but they don't suit every style of photography, and I frankly am not sure that there is any niche that rangefinders are best at that cannot also be addressed with digital equivalents.

Presuming you are not simply jerking everyone's chain (and what a fine job you've done of it if you are), then I would add to the comments of the wiser heads in this thread who have suggested you might want to buy a less-expensive fixed-lens rangefinder camera and explore what it is you want to do with it to see if it really does suit your needs. At the moment, though, you haven't really said what your needs - or your 'style' happen to be.

Funny thread, though. 😀
Click to expand...

...emotions aside bmattock has a great points.
 
To be helpful, i also suggest you get a fixed lens cheap rangefinder.
I went for a yashica electro35 gsn years ago, as my first rf ever.
I still have the camera. It still takes great images (as long as i don't fcuk it up, which i often do).

Just make sure ABSOLUTELY sure that it's working fine, by e.g. buying it from this forum from some reputable guy who worked on it sells it as such.

Better get an expensive good working yashica than a busted "cheap" (but still 3-4 times more $) leica with a "should work but no way to test it" type of description.

Unless, of course, you are one of that strange breed that also enjoys rebuilding a camera. I did it sometimes, it's rewarding but you can never sell the result😀
 
bmattock said:
I'm trying to be!

You asked questions and the answers you got assumed you said things you had not said. I'm just asking the questions everyone else neglected to ask. Can't give good advice unless I know what it is you're actually after.

Usually the typical response to any 'what kind of camera should I buy' question on RFF is nothing more than a rote recitation of whatever camera each person likes the most. It's more of a popularity contest than an attempt to fit your actual needs. Since you haven't stated your needs, recommendations are a bit on the absurd side.

I'm actually the most helpful respondent so far. You're welcome!
Click to expand...

...once again (and again emotions aside!) bmattock has a great points!

My 2 cents: whatever it's you're after try not spend to much $$ especially in the beginning: get less expensive RF camera you can, work it inside-out and make sure you comfy with RF's conception and workflow. 'Hold your horses' until you reached the barrier and absolutely must upgrade.

I hope it helps and all the best!


 
Last edited:
Derek_Teixeira said:
Do you still live in NJ? The only Mayor I've ever known here is Anzaldi, but then again, I'm only 23, so I don't know much history of the city 😉

I'm not sure what you mean by Colonial or Continental? If it answers the question, my dad was born there, but I was born here in the US...
Click to expand...


I've never lived in Jersey. My parents and family are all from Jersey, but my parents moved to New Orleans in the 70's. I usually go to LBI or Old Bridge when I'm in Jersey anyways.

And by Colonial/Continental I was wondering if you were Brazilian Portuguese or Portugal Portuguese, since my girlfriend and I speak Brazilian which is a little different, and she speaks it far better than I anyways.
 
Derek_Teixeira said:
O

I first became interested in an RF ......... but in watching a Chris Weeks video, I really got hyped on the way
in which it was described.
Click to expand...

I've been thinking about this for the last several hours and marveling at the marketing buzz that video has created, for RFs in general and Leica in particular. Please recognize that it is marketing and effective marketing at that!

It's no accident that Mr Weeks came to have an M9 as a pre-production test model. I'm sure Leica expected him to create a buzz about it on his blog. And generate interest. And sales. As long as you recognize this, you're safe.

I too found my way to those videos and thought "Wow, this is cool, a small and discrete camera for walking around!" I rented an M6 many years ago and passed on buying, but after watching those videos my interest is once again stirred. I know the glass is top quality and that's one of the reasons I'll be re-exploring RFs. But, truth be told, I probably would not have thought about RFs had I not seen Weeks' videos. Effective marketing at work.

RFs are great tools for certain things, as many have pointed out here. But make sure your picking the tool for the job it can do and not in reaction to a viral advertisement. Just because he makes it look cool and interesting doesn't mean you (or I !) need it to make quality images.

Having said all that, Photovillage in NYC does indeed rent Leica M bodies and lenses and they'll credit part of the rental toward purchase of a used body, according to a salesman I spoke to about an hour ago. I don't know if they do Bessa, but it's worth calling them.
 
Last edited:
Derek, I've been following this thread and I'm not sure if I could outline specific reasons you want a rangefinder. Are you sure that you aren't being seduced by the romance of it all? That's a near relative of an ailment quite common in these parts: Gear Acquisition Syndrome, something most of us have suffered from.

Romance aside, rangefinders give you smaller size, smaller and very good lenses, and a nice focusing method. Those attributes are important to me, and if you feel the same way, come join the fun at a price level that works for you.

But, if you have any doubts, why not consider one of the very good non-RF (yet RF-like) cameras others have suggested here? E.g., the Hexar AF, which I've owned. It's a fine camera.

The downside, of course, of that latter approach is that you might decide you should have jumped into an RF at the start.

In the end, no one here can decide for you. It's a bit of a gamble either way you go, 'cause you can't really know if you will like something until you've tried it. (Along those lines, suggestions to rent an RF for a day are really good. Failing that, try to put a roll of film in a prospective purchase and shoot it. You don't even need to leave the shop. And, if someone has so little confidence in their hardware that they fear it won't survive running through 36 frames, you probably don't want to buy it.)
 
Many, many years ago I was "seduced" by the romance of Leica and RF. I succumbed, and discovered something wonderful. Not the answer to life, not even the answer to all things photographic. But there is nothing wrong with pursuing something romantic as long as you keep you wits about you and don't get all religious about it.
 
Hey, I'm not knocking the romance thing.🙂 Most of my choices are backed up by reason only after the event. Just don't want to see the OP sign the pre-nup before he's sure he's fallen in love.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom