Need help diversify my camera usage

[DFigueira]

Hi guys,

I'm into a problem. So, I got into film photography. I love it but there are a few problems in its way - mostly costs. Considering I can spend 2-3 rolls each day, each roll value around 3€ to 5€ and development going around 5€ to 10€ each roll (depends if at home or local lab), it's getting way expensive. I can't even go up to medium format since it's even more expensive.

So, I've came to an agreement with myself. I'm selling my main camera and leaving the rest for decoration/niche use. I won't leave them to death but I will resort them to have fun sometimes. That will pocket me from 200 to 250€.

So my thing is, what options would I have going from SLR/RF to digital RF considering I already have a cheap DSLR (1300d)?

Thanks!

PS: Hope I've written this in the right section!

 

[Ko.Fe.]

2-3 rolls each day is your problem indeed. It was always very expensive for this volume. And I can't recall anyone I knew to consume it like this.

Consider bw, four roll per month and developing at home only. Learn how to shot on film, not how to waste it.

Cheapest digital RF is Epson RD1. If you are lucky, you might find one for 750 USD. Your Canon will floor it by IQ, DR and resolution.

 

[sepiareverb]

Switch to B&W and buy a 400' bulk roll of something. Dev yourself. Shoot a little less.

 

[narsuitus]

Find some paying customers.

 

[BillBingham2]

Hi guys,

I'm into a problem..... Considering I can spend 2-3 rolls each day...

Welcome......

How many pictures do you share with others from the frames you shoot each day?

How many pictures from the frames you shoot each day are your proud of?

How many frames to you take of the same scene? (e.g. different angles, lenses, lighting)

If you could track each of these numbers over the past months, are the numbers going up for each question?

What do you do with the pictures you are proud of?

What draws you to deciding that digital RF is your answer?

Your answers will help me form an informed opinion.

Purchasing either an iPhone 7Plus or an iPad Pro 10.5" and a couple of good apps might fit your needs better.

B2 (;->

 

[zuiko85]

You could cut per negative cost in half by going 35mm half frame. A Olympus Pen F* with 3 or 4 Pen F Zuiko's would run in the range of $1000 to $1500 depending on condition and what focal lengths you obtained.

*Not to be confused with the ill named Pen F digital. There is only one true Pen F, the film version of 1963

 

[x-ray]

Find some paying customers.

Sure, all you need is a camera and a will to make money, right. No talent needed right? He's an amateur, come on.

Edit: just bulk load or use an inexpensive film like Foma pan 100 and run it yourself.

 

[tunalegs]

Hi guys,

I'm into a problem. So, I got into film photography. I love it but there are a few problems in its way - mostly costs. Considering I can spend 2-3 rolls each day, each roll value around 3€ to 5€ and development going around 5€ to 10€ each roll (depends if at home or local lab), it's getting way expensive. I can't even go up to medium format since it's even more expensive.

Not intending to sound snide, but maybe try taking better pictures? Film is finite. If you understand this, you will think a little more about whether the shot you're thinking of is good enough to warrant spending film on.

 

[ptpdprinter]

Hi guys,

I'm into a problem. So, I got into film photography. I love it but there are a few problems in its way - mostly costs. Considering I can spend 2-3 rolls each day, each roll value around 3€ to 5€ and development going around 5€ to 10€ each roll (depends if at home or local lab), it's getting way expensive. I can't even go up to medium format since it's even more expensive.

So, I've came to an agreement with myself. I'm selling my main camera and leaving the rest for decoration/niche use. I won't leave them to death but I will resort them to have fun sometimes. That will pocket me from 200 to 250€.

So my thing is, what options would I have going from SLR/RF to digital RF considering I already have a cheap DSLR (1300d)?

If you are concerned about costs, going to a digital rangefinder (Leica) isn't exactly an economy solution, so I'd just shoot your Canon 1300D. Are you really shooting 60-90 rolls/month? As others have asked, how many shots are keepers, and what are you doing with them?

 

[Doug]

...So my thing is, what options would I have going from SLR/RF to digital RF considering I already have a cheap DSLR (1300d)?...

On a limited budget, how is your dSLR 1300d not meeting your needs? What is lacking?

 

[Steve Bellayr]

Although I use a digital camera with my film cameras I do not trust the storage on the images. Once the film is processed glassine envelopes is all you need to store the negatives. With digital I need a second storage for safeguarding the images. Recently, my second computer had a problem and guess what all the images were lost on the backup and I had to spend days transferring images. Leica M10 for 7k or Leica M6 for $1200 + film. And, I would love an M10. All in all PHOTOGRAPY IS AN EXPENSIVE HOBBY. IMHO: Neither one is inexpensive.

 

[x-ray]

I'll load as I mentioned or use a less expensive film like Kentmere and process your own. Be much more selective in what you shoot and limit yourself to one or two rolls a week. Learn to use your eyes and develops some discipline in your shooting.

Plan B just use your digital camera that you already have.

 

[Ronald M]

You must learn to visualize the image before snapping shutter.

Unless you are doing sports, 36 quality images is more than anyone can produce.

I once made a camera club outing from near Chicago for 50 miles. One member brought a 4x5 and one film holder, i.e. 2 sheets of film. This is the other extreme.

Ansel Adams climbed a mountain in Yosemite with 6 sheets of film.

I guess the answer is to think first, then expose.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Sure, all you need is a camera and a will to make money, right. No talent needed right? He's an amateur, come on.

Edit: just bulk load or use an inexpensive film like Foma pan 100 and run it yourself.

The air from Canada is sold in China for big money these days. Just canned, not pressurized air. I think, suggestion was to sell raw negatives, since OP is willing to produce it on higher rate.
You never know what could be sold these days. 😀

 

[x-ray]

The air from Canada is sold in China for big money these days. Just canned, not pressurized air. I think, suggestion was to sell raw negatives, since OP is willing to produce it on higher rate.
You never know what could be sold these days. 😀

Admittedly I just skimmed the posts but didn't see anything about selling his work. Did I miss something?

The OP isn't a pro he's an amateur ( no disgrace ) trying to figure out how to keep his hobby going. It's obvious from his post he's not experienced if he's asking this question. I'm not slamming him I'm just stating an observation.

Too many people think all they need is a camera and they're ready for the pro world. This is one of the big reasons the "professional" world has gone to hell. Picture quality is the lowest I've seen in the fifty years of my career. How many enthusiasts do you read about trying to support their hobby and justify equipment who are out there dumping garbage in the market?

Canned air? Well I would have never guessed people would buy bottles of water for ridiculous prices and there would be an entire aisle of different water in the grocery store. Shaking my head!

 

[BillBingham2]

.....Canned air? Well I would have never guessed people would buy bottles of water for ridiculous prices and there would be an entire aisle of different water in the grocery store. Shaking my head!

Lots of us here in the US are spoiled by have great tasting water from our tap for drinking. Across the pond on the continent not everyone is so lucky. Where my Father-In-Law lives (Lincolnwood, IL) he's lucky enough to have the worst tasting water I've ever had. On the way in to visit we stop at walmart and pick up a case of water.

I have to agree, but then I think that of coffee drinkers.....😉

Water I'd pay for, coffee, nope. I have other bad habits.

B2 (;->

 

[x-ray]

Lots of us here in the US as spoiled by have great tasting water from our tap for drinking. Across the pond on the continent not everyone is so lucky. Where my Father-In-Law lives (Lincolnwood, IL) he's lucky enough to have the worst tasting water I've ever had. On the way in to visit we stop at walmart and pick up a case of water.

I have to agree, but then I think that of coffee drinkers.....😉

Water I'd pay for, coffee, nope. I have other bad habits.

B2 (;->

I had relatives that had to get their water from a well. It was the hardest water I've ever seen and it had sulfur in it. Not only did it taste bad it smelled bad. Unfortunate for them when they lived in that location there wasn't any bottled water.

Still I never thought I'd see bottled water when I was a kid.

 

[Timmyjoe]

Bulk load and process yourself. And as Bill says, some of us in Illinois have to use bottled water cause what comes out of the tap is awful. But we have a water machine at our local supermarket, so once a week I fill 4 three gallon bottles (@ $0.49 per gallon) and that gets us through the week.

Been bulk loading Kodak 5222 motion picture camera film (buy it in 400ft rolls) and processing it in HC-110 at 1:64 reduction. That way the film, and the developer, lasts a long time.

Best,
-Tim

 

[x-ray]

Bulk load and process yourself. And as Bill says, some of us in Illinois have to use bottled water cause what comes out of the tap is awful. But we have a water machine at our local supermarket, so once a week I fill 4 three gallon bottles (@ $0.49 per gallon) and that gets us through the week.

Been bulk loading Kodak 5222 motion picture camera film (buy it in 400ft rolls) and processing it in HC-110 at 1:64 reduction. That way the film, and the developer, lasts a long time.

Best,
-Tim

What do you figure a roll of 5222 with processing in HC110 costs?

 

[farlymac]

Getting back to what the OP asked, I would think something in the Fuji X-Pro line would work. Lenses are sort of expensive though.

PF