So you’re getting into film photography for the first time, and you’re just about to pull the trigger on your first purchase. But you’re scared of buying a 40-year old camera that could potentially not work. How do you ensure that you’re buying a film camera that functions properly? You’re in luck because after buying a bunch of used cameras in the last couple of months (thanks, quarantine), I’ve more or less caught onto what to look out for. And I’ve made a lot of mistakes to get to this point. For the most part, this guide pertains well to 35mm cameras as well as entry-level medium format cameras.
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Why Every Experienced Photographer Should Try Shooting on Film /
Everyone starts off in a pretty similar manner. You pick up a camera for the first time. You fall in love. It becomes your hobby. You buy more and more gear. Eventually, you even start doing some paid work, and photography becomes either your main form or a form of income for you. But in this standard kind of journey, the magic of photography usually gets lost in the shuffle. Photography was once a fun hobby, but now it’s become work with clients and deadlines and pulling endless nights to finish edits.
Read MoreFilm Photography: What I Learned on my First Rolls of Film /
About two weeks ago, I went out and bought my very first film camera, the coveted Canon AE-1. This was probably the most typical choice I could have made when choosing a film camera. But I was already buying FD lenses for adapting on mirrorless, and so buying the AE-1 or the A-1, which only the former was present at the open market, made a lot of sense to me.
Read MoreThe Value in Replicating the "Film Look" on a Digital Camera /
I’ve been obsessed with making a digital photo look like film for the longest time. Trying to replicate the “Film Look” has been something of a secondary photography goal for me during my four year career. Really, what I mean by this is replicating vintage film by observing the traits and characteristics of stocks like Portra 400, Kodak Gold 200, and Ektar 100. But every time I think I got it just right, I look at the photos later and say to myself, “I’m still not quite there yet.”
Read MoreA New Lease on Life: Why You Should be Buying Vintage Film Lenses Today /
I had it all at this point, or at least I had it all for the work I needed to do. I could comfortably cover the entire focal range from 16–200mm, which was more than enough for the portraits, street photography, performance, events, and indoor sports coverage I do. I personally love gear, but every photographer probably comes to the point in their career where they say, “I think I have enough, for now.” I still planned to upgrade my camera body, but I was already shooting on mirrorless. What else could I possibly want? I shot work dacontent and freelance constantly, but I wanted to make shooting photos for myself fun, not just work to make sure I could buy new clothes, keep my refrigerator stacked, and pay my tuition. I needed some new gear, but what do I buy?
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