ThePictoralist
Newbie
Hey guys,
I am new=) But I just bought my first film camera (konica Hexar af) I have been shooting street photography for 3 years now on my Canon 500D but I could not be more excited to switch to a film/rangefinder camera. What are some tips and suggestions you guys suggest for my journey into film!
I am new=) But I just bought my first film camera (konica Hexar af) I have been shooting street photography for 3 years now on my Canon 500D but I could not be more excited to switch to a film/rangefinder camera. What are some tips and suggestions you guys suggest for my journey into film!
Richard G
Veteran
Congratulations. Most here use black and white. I have had lovely results with Tri-X HP5 plus and Kodak's 3200 film (can't remember the name) rated at 1600. But Ektar and Fuji Superia 200 have been great too.
I have the two page short instructions in a folder in my Photos on the iPhone which is invaluable for rediscovering how to manually set ISO and how to reset minimum shutter speed etc. You can download it from somewhere on the net and Johann (Buzzardkid) here has a great site for the Hexar including that short instruction sheet as I remember.
Setting the camera in P mode is the usual. It thinks for you. Set to f2 in bright sun it will flash f8 on the top deck LCD and take that shot at f8 and maximum shutter speed. Set to f16 in low light it will flash f2 and take the shot wide open at your minimum set shutter speed, even if that is not low enough. If you have it in A mode it will make the optimum exposure, even if you cannot hand hold the automatically selected speed.
If you press MF it will flash 999 and that sets the focus to infinity. This is good for shortening the time to take the shot and is essential for shooting reflected buildings when the IR AF can be fooled by reflecting surfaces. If you want to change a roll half way through, turn off the camera at --- on the LCD and when you open the back the leader is still sticking out of the cannister.
Silent mode, turning on the camera to P while pressing MF and signified by L before the frame number, is scary quiet.
If you are getting focus noises with shutter button depression but the shutter is not being tripped then you may have the well known shutter button issue. This may be a feature of recently acquired Hexar AFs.... There is a clear description here on fixing this yourself, with excellent illustrations. It is more difficult than those instructions indicate, but most have succeeded with this.
Don't sell the camera after a lull in your interest. Many have sold and rebought more than once.
I have the two page short instructions in a folder in my Photos on the iPhone which is invaluable for rediscovering how to manually set ISO and how to reset minimum shutter speed etc. You can download it from somewhere on the net and Johann (Buzzardkid) here has a great site for the Hexar including that short instruction sheet as I remember.
Setting the camera in P mode is the usual. It thinks for you. Set to f2 in bright sun it will flash f8 on the top deck LCD and take that shot at f8 and maximum shutter speed. Set to f16 in low light it will flash f2 and take the shot wide open at your minimum set shutter speed, even if that is not low enough. If you have it in A mode it will make the optimum exposure, even if you cannot hand hold the automatically selected speed.
If you press MF it will flash 999 and that sets the focus to infinity. This is good for shortening the time to take the shot and is essential for shooting reflected buildings when the IR AF can be fooled by reflecting surfaces. If you want to change a roll half way through, turn off the camera at --- on the LCD and when you open the back the leader is still sticking out of the cannister.
Silent mode, turning on the camera to P while pressing MF and signified by L before the frame number, is scary quiet.
If you are getting focus noises with shutter button depression but the shutter is not being tripped then you may have the well known shutter button issue. This may be a feature of recently acquired Hexar AFs.... There is a clear description here on fixing this yourself, with excellent illustrations. It is more difficult than those instructions indicate, but most have succeeded with this.
Don't sell the camera after a lull in your interest. Many have sold and rebought more than once.
mfogiel
Veteran
1) Buy a good dedicated film scanner
2) Buy a 4 reel steel developing tank (with a rod)
3) Buy 4 Hewes steel reels
4) Buy some 4 gallon D76 packs
5) Buy 5 bricks of Tri X
6) Buy comfortable shoes
7) Go out to shoot and be happy !
BTW, you did not say if you have a lens! In case, buy a 35mm Summicron, any version...
2) Buy a 4 reel steel developing tank (with a rod)
3) Buy 4 Hewes steel reels
4) Buy some 4 gallon D76 packs
5) Buy 5 bricks of Tri X
6) Buy comfortable shoes
7) Go out to shoot and be happy !
BTW, you did not say if you have a lens! In case, buy a 35mm Summicron, any version...
maddoc
... likes film again.
1) Buy a good dedicated film scanner
2) Buy a 4 reel steel developing tank (with a rod)
3) Buy 4 Hewes steel reels
4) Buy some 4 gallon D76 packs
5) Buy 5 bricks of Tri X
6) Buy comfortable shoes
7) Go out to shoot and be happy !
BTW, you did not say if you have a lens! In case, buy a 35mm Summicron, any version...
I completely agree with points 1) to 7) and about the lens ... Hexar AF has 35/2.0 lens.
fixbones
.......sometimes i thinks
Hexar AF is a great camera. It was the camera I started with when I fell down the slippery slope of Digital to film.
No TriX? fret not. I was very happy for awhile with Ilford's XP2!
No TriX? fret not. I was very happy for awhile with Ilford's XP2!
taskoni
Well-known
Hi and welcome to the RFF!
Congratulations and have fun with your new film camera!!!
The only think I would recommend you is to skip the scanner for now, go out, shoot and learn how to process your films. Learn how to read negatives and how to make contact sheets and you will understand what the film photography is all about. If you are going mainly to scan your pictures (many people here do it) you might better use your digital Canon and don't waste film
Regards,
Boris
Congratulations and have fun with your new film camera!!!
The only think I would recommend you is to skip the scanner for now, go out, shoot and learn how to process your films. Learn how to read negatives and how to make contact sheets and you will understand what the film photography is all about. If you are going mainly to scan your pictures (many people here do it) you might better use your digital Canon and don't waste film
Regards,
Boris
nikon_sam
Shooter of Film...
My suggestion would be to try different films and developers (if you plan on developing it yourself) to find what works with your vision of the final print (or look) that you'll get from your camera and lens...in other words...experiment and have fun...
Dana B.
Well-known
Keep it simple, reducing variables. Learn hyperfocal distance for maximum DOF, for the street. Pick one film and one developer and stick to it (for me, Tri-X is dope). Scanning allows sharing photos good and bad. As others have said, have fun.
cosmonaut
Well-known
Don't fool with a flatbed scanner. The cost difference in the Plustec compared to a flatbed is pennies on the dollar compared to the results. I suffered with bad 35mm scans for years until I swung for a new Plustec.