Ah...first time shooting film!

[merelyok]

I just got a Minolta X700 from my uncle. It was equipped with a Sigma 28-70mm 3.5 lens that seemed fun enough to use. I just got hold of a used Rokkor 50mm 1.4 today ( which is just FANTASTIC to hold and shoot with).

I can see why digital isn't as additive to use as film cameras. The clunk of the shutter is like a drug (:

I've got a problematic motor drive though, it seems to fire off shots by itself!

Finished my first roll of Sensia 400 and now on my 2nd roll of Kodak Gold 200.

fun times ahead! (:

[Katastrofo]

Congrats, merelyok! Post some when you get 'em!

Bill

[peterqd]

[LucisPictor]

Here in Germany we have a forum called "Verein für Digitalkameraverweigerer".
(= Club of people who refuse to use digital cameras)

They are pretty dogmatic and do not accept DSLR-shooters.

I am grateful that we here have another policy: everybody can shoot with whatever it's fun (as long as a manual lens is used ).

Nice that you have experienced the special feeling of shooting on film, merelyok.

[poilu]

Congrats, merelyok!

[Farside]

That's you gripped now - there's no escape.
Congrats on your new-found addiction

[Attila]

[merelyok]

Finally! got the positives for my slides back!

Here are some samples.









All shots Sensia 400.

[Katastrofo]

They all look great, with amazing colors! Can you post a larger file?

[poilu]

nice shots! superb colors with the Sensia 400!

[merelyok]

Thanks!

here's something bigger.



(reverted to smaller size! too large)

[Katastrofo]

Wow, very nice indeed, but try to keep it 900 pixels on the long side, thanks.

I'll have to try some Sensia 400!

[glockman99]

Those are very nice photos...Very sharp with good color saturation.

But I'm curious how this could be your first time shooting film?...Are you something like 8 years old?

[merelyok]

Im actually 23 lol.

Started photography 3 months back on a Canon digital body, and slowly moved on to film!

[Nesster]

Nice results! I really like the sky shots. Welcome to film...

I've been sharing with my 16 year old daughter, she likes the vintage cameras. only this past week she announced she's taking the Spotmatic with the Auto-Tak 55/1.8, this is now her camera. Of course part of me is proud of her, but I can't help but try to get her to swap for another camera. I mean, the Spotmatic SP1000 is one beautiful camera.

[merelyok]

[peterqd]

Merelyok, thanks for observing the width problem. If you want to show a large image you can easily make a link to it by clicking on the smaller version, and it will open in a new window. Try clicking on the little colour image in my signature to see how it works. This is the code to use:

[url=URL of the large image][img]URL of the small image[/img][/url]

Don't forget the instruction to click on the picture.

Great film pics, by the way. Very cool colours, I've never been able to achieve as good as that, you didn't use a filter did you? The Coke machine is great! Where is this?

[merelyok]

Thanks for the tip Peter!

I'm surprised the colors came out so deep myself. Slide film is something else! No filter was used.

The drink machines you see are at my university, the National University of Singapore. Boring, boring place!

[peterqd]

[glockman99]

[merelyok]

While i was looking at the Spotmatic for purely aesthetic purposes, i'm kind of leaning towards the Praktica MTL50 now because of its more reliable meter and easier to find batteries.

Anyone have any opinions on this?

( I have super takumars, Pancolars, Flektogons to use with the body! fun times ahead! )

[Nesster]

While I don't know the Praktica model you mention, I did use one (different mode) very briefly (it was a gift to brother in law). They are interesting cameras for a good price.

I do have a Fuji ST605 as my second screw mount body, it is smaller and lighter than the Spottie, not as well made. I like the meter/stopdown switch on the Fuji better - on the front right of the body, and it is a push button. The ST605 has a split prism, though between slower lenses and not the brightest viewfinder it does start to go half dark pretty quickly.

There are a lot of good screw mount cameras out there - so to narrow it down a bit I've started with the battery: if they are still available or not.

[peterqd]

Spotmatic is head and shoulders above the rest of the M42 cameras in terms of build quality. The batteries aren't a problem, a little while ago Jes and I posted a guide showing how to convert them to use 1.5v batteries, a very simple job. I have come across one or two with dodgy meters but I don't think they're any more unreliable than other cameras of similar age.

Prakticas are bigger and chunkier, especially the gigantic cases. The build quality of my PLC2 is disappointing compared to earlier models. Attila will tell you he likes his.

You should also take a look at the various Zenit SLRs, very solid and reliable, fun to use and dirt cheap. Often they come with interesting lenses. I lost track of the various models years ago, but I think one or two of the later ones have auto-exposure. You could also look for a Pentax ESII for auto-exposure, although they're quite rare.

Nesster, am I right in saying some of the Fujica cameras have issues with the auto pin of some M42 lenses, or is the problem with their lenses on other cameras? I've heard the Fuji viewfinders are quite big and bright, but I've never tried one.

Another camera worth thinking about is the Chinons, particularly the CE-3 (later models used K mount). In auto mode it has an electronic stepless shutter and you can use any M42 lens. The shutter release button switches on the meter and closes the aperture before the shutter fires, so you can meter and get a depth of field preview before you take the shot. It has a big split image screen, a viewfinder blind and a button that memorises and locks the exposure. I've just bought a power winder for mine.

[merelyok]

Ah! Nesster and Peter. Very informative indeed. Thank you very much. I shall let you guys know when i get the body!

[Nesster]