Help convincing parents to let me do film photography

[compur]

Just to make things more confusing:

The Pentax K did not have a K-mount. It had an M42 screw-mount. The first Pentax with a "K-mount" was the K2.

 

[vintagesnaps]

Have we convinced the parents yet?? That film photography would be worth doing, that is, not that we're a bunch of nuts.


I would suggest learning and developing skills in using a film camera so as to not be wasting lots of film to help it be more cost effective. You can always practice 'seeing' - learn to see what you're looking at. Learn and practice focusing, framing, seeing everything in the frame, changing vantage point, etc. You can do that without film in a camera. Figure out how to get proper exposures. Think about what's going to make for a good photograph.

 

[cgw115 140]

Have we convinced the parents yet?? That film photography would be worth doing, that is, not that we're a bunch of nuts.


I would suggest learning and developing skills in using a film camera so as to not be wasting lots of film to help it be more cost effective. You can always practice 'seeing' - learn to see what you're looking at. Learn and practice focusing, framing, seeing everything in the frame, changing vantage point, etc. You can do that without film in a camera. Figure out how to get proper exposures. Think about what's going to make for a good photograph.

Agree. Composition, background. exposure are the key criteria.I had the benefit of dirt cheap film and OK+ Costco processing 20+ years ago when I got into photography. B&W liberates you from scarce, pricey and often crappy C-41 dev-print service. It's really about seeing shots with awareness that what the camera+film "sees" won't necessarily be the same. Just be willing to consider whatever $$$ you blow on film and processing as "tuition."

 

[TarterTurtle]

Yep, parents are now ok with it, I got a camera thanks to RowdyRay and ordered some Fujifilm Xtra off of Amazon because it was the cheapest. Thanks for all your help,
Nathan

 

[Derrel]

I am glad to hear that you accepted the offer of a 35 mm camera, and that you have ordered yourself some color negative film.

 

[Derrel]

You really should buy yourself a used how to Photography book preferably one from the 1980s, since that book will have all sorts of information that applies to color film photography and to your new camera. I am a big believer in the many photography books written by John Hedgecoe...

 

[TWX]

I would add, accept that you're going to take a lot of bad photos in learning to take good photos. If you accept this up front, it may make it easier to keep the hobby when you're not so happy with the results as you gain experience.

When I was a high school student we developed contact-sheets of our rolls before we developed pictures. This let us avoid unnecessarily developing especially bad pictures. Not sure if this is a thing anymore or not, but if it is and if it's cheap, might be a good solution for at least avoiding reams of entirely unusable pictures being paid for.

EDIT: can a modern film lab scan the newly-developed negatives straight into digital prints inexpensively and of sufficient quality to make that worthwhile?

 

[TarterTurtle]

EDIT: can a modern film lab scan the newly-developed negatives straight into digital prints inexpensively and of sufficient quality to make that worthwhile?

Thanks for the advice, and yes, Process One, a place that was recommended to me by a teacher at my school, does do digital uploads and I think that they are good quality.

 

[dxqcanada1]

... so now you can read this: The "How I Develop Film" thread

 

[vintagesnaps]

Now do something nice for your parents...! Good that you got a suggestion from a teacher about where to get film developed (and keep asking questions of your teachers, etc.). Most places will scan film along with developing it so I'm glad you found a place to try.

Hope you enjoy using the camera and shooting film.

 

[Derrel]

Process One has a nice website. I looked at the services they offer, and it looks like they have everything you would ever need, including scanning for a very reasonable $7.99 per roll when you don't buy any prints, and for digital uploading to Dropbox.

 

[IanG]

Maybe someone has a spare copy of "The Pentax Way" they sell for $4 on Amazon (US) needs to be a later edition covering the K series cameras.

Ian

 

[TarterTurtle]

I looked on Amazon and I found many different versions, I am not sure which one you are talking about. Thanks
Nathan

 

[dxqcanada1]

As the K1000 was released in 1976 ... not sure if the 9th edition covers this camera and K-mount, but I assume the 10th would.
The Asahi Pentax Way, 1978 Focal Press; 10th edition

 

[webestang6410]

EDIT: can a modern film lab scan the newly-developed negatives straight into digital prints inexpensively and of sufficient quality to make that worthwhile?

Yep, where I work we do that all day long. For $10.95 (per roll) we develop C-41 and scan using a Noritsu HS 1800 series scanner. The scan is at 2000 res and can make prints up to 16x24 and in most cases up to 20x30.

www.schillers.com