📷 The Photography Thread

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This is something I used to love too. The joy of developing film is hard to beat. But as you say, expensive hobby, and one I’ve had to relegate for the time being. I did a couple of long trips when I was younger using only film and getting it all developed in one go at the end was such a lovely experience.

Got given a Penti II for Christmas which I’m constantly putting off trying out due to the expense and also having to manually load 35mm film into two rapid cassettes. Maybe one day I’ll have my own darkroom…

Did a trip to the States a couple of years ago and didn’t realise I’d accidentally been given film that was intended for projector slides in it but some of the colours it produced were amazing:

[LilWoodyToodelly]

I think the phone / ‘proper’ camera thing depends a bit on the kind of photos you want to take? The new iPhones have 50mm lenses inside them? which is alright but most camera phones are about 28mm or something?

[NotEvenDreams]

A few odd shots from earlier in the year:

![DSCF5414-2|690x460]
(upload://bt5B2ezGg1QuJjZh5bLrmzkYz8e.jpeg)

[rob.orch]

You can call it an expensive hobby, but a roll of film is a fiver if you buy online, and my developing is only a fiver because I scan at home. That’s a couple of pints. Yeah, it’s a tenner more than you’d have spent with digital, but it’s a lot cheaper than some hobbies.

[rob.orch]

I got lucky with the weather and did a shoot at golden hour with epic clouds:

(Looks a lot better bigger)

[rob.orch]

I don’t take my flash to most gigs, because shooting flash onto a stage is a real no-no, but the previous time I saw the band who I went to see last night the singer had gone out into the audience, so I packed my Canon 270EX. The guitarist of the support band went off stage too, and I got this, which is one of my favourite gig shots I’ve taken right now (I also packed my Sigma 24mm 1.8 too, which doesn’t normally come out with me either)

[rob.orch]

@stickboy made me do it

[rob.orch]

So, from the first roll of film, the metering isn’t working (but I’m guessing that could be remedied with a new battery), and the focussing is consistently just behind where I thought it was. It doesn’t look like this is a massive deal, and I’m glad I didn’t take anything too precious with the first roll of film I ran through it.

[rob.orch]

ta - I had a little google last night and saw it could be done, so I’m not heartbroken that I’ve bought a broken camera. I’ll have a try opening it up tonight once there isn’t a four year old bombing around the house leaving a trail of destruction.

I’ve just opened up that battery door and there’s no battery in there, so that explains that!

[rob.orch]

Bright enough for a 1970s camera - I didn’t have any trouble focussing (not that the focus was actually right).

A replacement battery has cost me a whole £1.69. Good old eBay!

[rob.orch]

OK - looking back at the scans I did last night, they’re out of focus, but they’re giving me the same feel of photo as my old Olympus Pen EE-S (which died on me a few years ago). Here’s a shot from that old camera that I love the feel of: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rob_orchard/7385139054/in/album-72157627022655855/

Anyway, I think it’s the combination of expired Kodak Colorplus 200 and whatever lenses Olympus were making back then is going to give me what I want. It came with a little flash too, so it could more use than some of my other little compacts (although that said my XA2 has a flash and I don’t use that much).

Here’s one of the shots which is both terribly out of focus, but also fantastically retro (of the Pen EE I bought to replace the broken one)

[tilty]

Got another roll of film developed.

[rob.orch]

Nice. You’ve got some good grain going on - what film are you using?

[rob.orch]

Awesome work!

[rob.orch]

Expired film won’t have as much latitude as fresh stuff, and Portra isn’t quite as flexible as cheaper film, weirdly enough. But they look great.

[LilWoodyToodelly]

as of this morning I’m really into the super functional pictures from geograph.co.uk

[ghosthalo]

think i’m ready to buy a “starter camera”. realised i really like taking photos but i’ve pushed my trusty little samsung as far as i can. what’s good for a camera novice?

[rob.orch]

What do you want to do? How far do want to take your photography?

Also, the biggie - how much do you want to spend?

If I was starting out now as a novice, I’d probably go for a small mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. Go to Jessops or Currys and have a play with ones by Fuji or Olympus or Sony and see which you like best (you can probably get Canon and Nikon ones, but they seem to be a bit behind the curve in terms of mirrorless)

[LilWoodyToodelly]

I know someone who uses one of those Sony mirrorless ones (a7 maybe? probs super expensive though) and everything looks cool and the live view on it makes me want one.

[ghosthalo]

actually went to currys pc world after work last night and tried to have a look at cameras, ended up setting off 3 alarms went to check out the toasters instead

so i would be looking to buy in autumn when money is a bit better, i could maybe go to 300, possibly higher if the mrs still wants to club in. am aware most are pretty expensive tho.