New to Film and Quickly Falling in Love

[bpantell]

I've been shooting DSLR for quite some time but I am relatively new to film photography. I just developed my first roll of Ilford XP2 Super 400 and I think I am in love . I'm still working on best practices for scanning but I'm finding much enjoyment in the anticipation of seeing the prints after waiting for the roll to be developed. I've gotten so accustomed to the instant gratification of my MKII and shooting away that it's nice to slow down and give much more thought to each shot. Oddly enough, I don't feel like I 'miss the moment' too often. Anyways, just thought I'd share my new found love with fellow analog enthusiasts...

Here are some of my latest roll of my daughters...

 

[tirediron]

There's something magical about film! Welcome to the club.

 

[Proteus617]

I'm still working on best practices for scanning

How do you scan now?

 

[ghache]

what camera do you shoot with?

 

[bpantell]

I'm still working on best practices for scanning

How do you scan now?

Right now, I've gotten better results from scanning the actual print (usually 4x6 or 5x7) rather than the negative as a 600dpi tif. My scanner has a light in the cover and ships with negative scanning software/options; however, I've found the results are less than desirable.

Really, what I mean by 'working on best practices' means saving my money for a special negative scanner.

 

[bpantell]

what camera do you shoot with?

Pentax K1000 point and shoot right now, dreaming of a medium format hasselblat.

 

[ghache]

what camera do you shoot with?

Pentax K1000 point and shoot right now, dreaming of a medium format hasselblat.

Cool, i shoot with something similar, the nikon FE

 

[Proteus617]

Right now, I've gotten better results from scanning the actual print (usually 4x6 or 5x7) rather than the negative as a 600dpi tif. My scanner has a light in the cover and ships with negative scanning software/options; however, I've found the results are less than desirable.

What scanner do you have now? Scanning is a bit of an art and takes a while to get the hang of. No matter what your user manual tells you, it's a time consuming manual process. Also, scanning a 35mm neg @600 dpi is a bit crazy. Scan as TIFF @ 2400 dpi, then reduce the size after you are done with post. Things will look much better.

 

[VortexOne]

There is something about film I love so much more than digital. I kinda think its sad the photography class I'm taking is all digital, but I still love using my Canon for anything else. Just a throw out there comment: I find it funny that you bpantell and ghache use Nikon and Pentax, and I use a Canon. Almost all sides represented. Well, cept Hasslebad, but whatever.

Did you take these with b&w film or did you convert after scanning? I really like the last one, it shows the innocence of children.

 

[djacobox372]

what camera do you shoot with?

Pentax K1000 point and shoot right now, dreaming of a medium format hasselblat.

I wouldn't call a K1000 a "point and shoot."

You should give medium format a try. You don't need a fancy hasselblad, there are a lot of inexpensive options. The only thing you have to get used to is the fact that most older medium format cameras, including hassleblads, don't have a light meter, and if they do (like the yashica mat 124g) it can be unreliable.

A 6x6 yashica tlr cost less then $150 on ebay, and produces negatives more then 4 times bigger then 35mm. It's like going from a 10 megapixel camera to a 40 megapixel!

If you want a kit "hassleblad-like," look into a mamiya RB67--less then $200 on ebay!

If you want something more portable and with meter, a mamiya 645 pro with AE prism would be a good choice, only shoots 6x4.5cm negs (still three times the area as 35mm), around $300-500 on ebay:

 

[timor]

what camera do you shoot with?

Pentax K1000 point and shoot right now, dreaming of a medium format hasselblat.

Hi,
K1000 is a solid "workhorse" with plenty of good glass to choose.If You are sold to the magic of B&W photography maybe is time to move to a real B&W film like TX of FP4+ and start to develop by yourself before You decide to put money in a Hassy. (that will cost a lot more then K1000).

 

[dxqcanada]

Used medium format cameras are cheap now ... even the Blads (they will always be overpriced) ... but you are better off with Bronica or Mamiya for value.

 

[photocist]

I got a rolleicord the other day and love it. the amount of detail is staggering.

 

[Sw1tchFX]

You should pick up an EOS 1V w/o the grip. It's like your 5D but with the AF and build of a 1D.