Film Cameras

Hey guys!

I have been wanting to buy a film camera to take on my trips. Does anyone have any recommendations?

Looking for something affordable but still good quality.

Thank you!!

May I ask why specifically you'd want to opt for film? (And just to make certain there's no translation troubles involved here: you mean a non-digital camera with that, right?) Have you thought about the logistics of bringing film rolls and having them developed?

I personally have very little knowledge about film cameras, and even less about which ones you could still find for sale, but knowing what's the appeal might still help point you in the right direction. Also, what type of photos are you expecting to take? (landscape? street photography? snapshots? ...?)

When looking for any photo gear much depends on what you are photographing, how, etc. Eg prime or zoom and if zoom what range and or super-zoom and what speed (considering where you are taking photos)

These days it's a specialist area, in many areas what is "best" depends on what is available providing what user is after.

Certainly choice with film cameras is far more restricted than with digital. Even ignoring the recording sensor (film vs digital) when I was using film I never had the option of eg 24mm to 240mm zooms or 100-400. Modern digital sensors have far better range of ISO than film even pushing film.

Have you sorted getting your film processed? How long are you travelling for which might impact the bulk of film you will need to carry. etc

Ian

Many years ago when I was a much younger, I did a lot of photography, connected with my government job.. All sorts of cameras, in the beginning even 4X5 Speed Graphics, view cameras and big copy cameras. Gradually moving up to roll film.

I still have a couple Nikon Nikkormat 35mm film cameras with power drives and various lenses. I have NOT used it in around 20 years. I even have a B&W film darkroom in my cellar with enlargers - unused for a long time!

So, unless you are in to old techniques as a hobby, I think digital is the way to go now. You immediately see if you got the shot right. With film photography someone has to develop the film, make enlargements and you pay for it! (You won't know if you have the photo or not until the film is developed!) With digital you know right away that you got everything right almost immediately.

Without knowing your price range, start with something simple and not expensive. My digital camera loaded images onto a SD Card. Any mistakes or bad images can be deleted. With film, once you expose the frame - you got it bad or good!

• Easy to file digital images. I have hundreds of negatives and 35 mm color slides in storage. (I know I can convert some images to digital if I want.) But not as easy as shooting everything in digital first time!

You must have some kind of chain electronics retailer in your country. Stop in a look around. If you have a smart phone many of them come with a built in camera. Even my cheap flip-phone has built in camera.

My first digital was a small, mostly point and shoot, camera bought in a pharmacy just for the heck of it. It worked pretty good but it ate up batteries. Gave it away and moved up to something more professional. (Store digital shots on a computer.)

Up to you.

Maybe OP has to ask themselves why they want to use film. Only real reason I can think of (from my film days) is the nature of the result (the tones rendered, etc.) and if OP knows that is what they want they will already be very familiar with different film stock, gear, etc. to not need advice about it on a travel forum.

Film does create a different character in the image but digital effects can do a good approximation and if that's not close enough you are into beyond professional.

For things like studio portraits B&W film can be great but that's a very different environment from travel.

So a strange question as only a real expert who would be well aware of the different results would be asking the question except with that expertise they would more than know the answer.

Ian

On a trip back in 2003, my SLR camera died in the first few days of the trip. I popped into a camera shop in Barcelona and bought a vintage Kodak Retinette camera. A fully manual camera - no light meter or auto focusing abilities. I had to manually set the focus by guessing the distance, correct aperture, shutter speed. I used Fuji Velvia film stock. I think I shot 3 rolls worth. I was really happy with the results when they finally came back.

It was in fairness a lot easier to get film developed back then, but even so I'd probably still consider busting out that old camera for a bit of fun one day. There's just something really fun about retro photography.

So yeah, if you're into it as a hobby, by all means get an old vintage camera and give it a shot Maybe take a digital camera with you as well though.

My dad gave me a Kodak Retina Reflex for my 20th birthday (1957). It had a tiny exposure meter on the front which I could set for film speed, but I had to manually set the camera to what it showed. No flash, but it had a focusing option. I used this camera until it basically wore out - the shutter wouldn't reliably trip anymore. I had some Canon cameras after that, and I took a class in developing and printing my own black and white phtotos - I even loaded my own film. I still have my enlarger. Don't know what to do with it.

It took me awhile to get used to digital. A film camera does what you tell it too - even if there isn't enough light, it still takes the photo at the shutter speed you set it for. It doesn't add time or refuse to take a photo at all. I wasn't used to that. I don't miss waiting for the film to be developed or carrying rolls of film on trips.

"Looking for something affordable but still good quality."

-

Any comments so far? Do you have a reason to ask for a film camera?

*Affordable

Not everyone has the same meaning for what "affordable"is.

It is okay to come on back.

Check out a major electronics store in your city (wherever it is) and look over what they have.

Up to you.

[ Edit: Edited on 8 Nov 2024, 23:50 GMT by karazyal ]