Which cameras (and lenses) are you using these days?

<p>just shot 3 rolls of velvia 50 and 1 roll of Fortia in my F5 with my 50mm 1.8D, 35-70 2.8D and the 14-25. up and down highway 1, the nor cal coast from santa cruz to san fran. also 3 rolls of Ilford PanF+ 50 B&W in the FE2. developed all 7 today and scanned. man I love film</p>

<p>Mark, I understand the appeal of digital, and don't shy away from it either. Have you wondered why you are drawn to manual focus if you are going to shoot film? Is it nostalgia? Or the appeal of a certain vintage of camera (which happens to therefore dictate manual focus?)</p>

<p>I find myself drawn to cameras for a couple of different reasons. One of them is tactile, where it's really about the camera itself. When I am feeling moved in that direction, I will often choose to shoot with an older camera, by definition manual focus. I love the feeling and ritual of shooting with marvelous cameras like the Spotmatic F, Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta, or a Yashica Mat.</p>

<p>Sometimes the primary motivation is the photography itself. That's when I am likely to choose a modern film camera. I appreciate digital, but I am always happiest with the pictures I take on film. So I will choose to shoot a film camera when shooting for myself. The modern cameras benefit from the previous 150 years of photographic evolution. They tend to "get out of the way" of the photographic process in useful ways. A good example -- I really loved the pictures from a Zeiss Contaflex I. But it had no rapid-return on the mirror. As a very early SLR,when you fired the camera, the mirror flipped up and the shutter opened and closed. That's it. You are left with a black viewfinder. You have to wind the camera to drop the mirror back into place. It's quirky and fun, sure, but it doesn't "get out of the way" like a modern camera.</p>

<p>In that vein, I choose to shoot a few modern film cameras that fulfill very specific needs for me.</p>

<ul>

<li>The ability to use top-quality modern lenses with good coatings</li>

<li>Reliable electronics, mechanicals and shutters that I never have to worry about</li>

<li>Specific advantages like a high sync speed for flash, or a high top shutter speed, allowing me to use larger apertures in daylight or to use daylight fill flash</li>

<li>Good viewfinders to help with composition and focus</li>

</ul>

<p>My favourite modern film cameras are these:</p>

<ul>

<li>Pentax MZ-S. A complete re-think on what a professional camera interface should work like, with huge electronic dials surrounding the LCD displays, and continued use of aperture rings. It looks like a crazy camera at first but I find the interface to be very intuitive. It mostly gets out of my way but I can make adjustments easily. Of course, the MZ-S gives access to some of the finest 35mm lenses ever made, the Pentax FA Limiteds. I think of the MZ-S as a tiny electronic jewel, sharing the zeitgeist of the Contax G2 more than the Nikon F5.</li>

<li>Pentax LX. This camera is the high point of the traditional manual focus SLR (along with the Nikon F3.) The LX is renowned to have the best meter ever put into an SLR. (It's a simple centreweight, but is amazingly accurate and operates over a huge range of shutter speeds.) The viewfinder is perfectly tuned for manual focus, and is interchangeable. When I want to use my favourite manual focus Pentax and Takumar lenses, the LX gets the call.</li>

<li>Bronica ETRsi. Medium format moves this camera's IQ into a new league, and the Zenzanon lenses are sparkling performers. Every lens gets its own electronically controlled leaf shutter, removing a big source of vibration and permitting 1/500 flash sync on every lens. I can clip on a metered prism if I want the convenience, but I normally love shooting with the waist level finder. If I'm shooting portraits, I'm shooting the Bronica.</li>

<li>Nikon FM2n. As much as I LOVE the Nikon F3HP, I was frustrated by it's poor 1/80 flash sync speed and non-standard flash shoe. The Nikon FM2n is a flimsier camera, but has an amazing shutter and feels great in the hands. The FM2n hits 1/250 flash sync speed, which is still better than many digital SLRs. 1/250 means you can do real daylight fill flash. The FM2n is well sized and proportioned too; smaller than the F3 and more in the Spotmatic size range. The FM2n only gets better when you attach the MD-12 motor drive. I normally don't like motor drives, and I find the MD-4 on the F3 is too big and heavy. The MD-12 on the FM2n is a combination that makes the FM2n feel sturdier, makes the camera easier to handle with one hand thanks to the protruding grip, and of course automates winding the camera ("get out of my way"!)</li>

</ul>

<p>In these modern cameras I prefer to shoot modern films too. I am not nostalgic for ancient grainy emulsion. I like the look of fresh Kodak Portra, Ektar, and BW400CN, or Fuji Acros.</p>

<p>Most recently, lots of B&W through the Bronica ETRs. I tend not to use many "modern"35mm film cameras with colour material, preferring to keep modifying my techniques for processing and scanning B&W, but I'll have to admit that digital capture has severely curtailed my 35mm camera usage, overall. Using full-frame DSLR's gives me the opportunity of spending lots of time with many of those lovely old lenses...But, as Mark has noted, it's great to shoot the occasional film with a favourite 35mm camera, though mine are mainly back in the CMC class.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>Mark, I understand the appeal of digital, and don't shy away from it either. Have you wondered why you are drawn to manual focus if you are going to shoot film? Is it nostalgia? Or the appeal of a certain vintage of camera (which happens to therefore dictate manual focus?)</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Good questions, David. I think that the primary reason I'm drawn to manual focus bodies is that I feel more connected with the process of image making than I do with more electronic bodies. And this feeling is partly tactile: being able to turn the aperture dial on the lens and manually advancing the film, for example.</p>

<p>Having said all that, I use my DSLRs <em>much, much more</em> than I use my film cameras these days, so I guess it does come down to nostalgia with the latter.</p>

<p>A new-to-me Canon T90 with the new-FD 50/1.4, BL Kiron 24/2 and a no-name but surprisingly decent BL 135/2.8. I'm not a fan of the Colani melting-black-blob aesthetics but have to admit the camera feels pretty good in the hand. Don't like how the T90 keeps track of how many exposures you're "supposed" to have and automatically rewinds after 24 (or I presume 36), but otherwise no real complaints and I can see why people like it. Recently got a very nice example of a (used) new-FD 24/2.8 from a local store, and found an unused-appearing Tokina 150-500/5.6 ATX on Craigslist. Looking forward to trying those two out. I don't have high hopes for the latter, but we'll see.<br>

<br />It's certainly not as convenient to get my C41 developed as it was a decade ago, and no more loss-leader prices at the local drugstore or supermarket for those unimportant rolls, but there are still a few local places that do a good job at reasonable prices. E6 is a different story, but I haven't shot any 'chromes in several years.</p>

 

<p>I'm on the verge of getting back into film shooting - to do so I am putting together a Mamiya RB67 kit and am very much looking forward to putting it through its paces. As one of the responses indicated, my inclination if I want to shoot film is to do something 'different' than I would do with my digital gear; I had considered picking up a camera like an F100 but decided this wasn't enough different from using my dslr to make that an interesting endeavor. I've been thinking if I want to do 35mm in film, I may go towards a rangefinder since that is completely outside my photographic experience at this point so would be interesting.</p>

<ul>

<li>Bronica SQ-A with 50mm, 80mm and 150mm lenses</li>

<li>Canon AE-1P with 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 135mm and 200mm lenses</li>

<li>Nikon FE-2 with 35mm lens</li>

<li>Canon EOS 3 with 28mm f/1.8, Sigma 50mm f/1.4, Sigma 12-24mm, 24-105mm f/4L IS, 85mm f/1.8, 200mm f/2.8L II, 300mm f/4.0L IS, Vivitar 100mm Macro</li>

<li>Canon EOS 50E with above lenses</li>

<li>Yashica Electro 35 GT</li>

<li>Olympus MjuII</li>

</ul>

<p>From the dark side...</p>

<ul>

<li>Canon EOS 5D MkII with the above lenses</li>

<li>Olympus EP-3 with 20mm f/1.7, 14-42mm and 50-150mm lenses.</li>

</ul>

<p>...and yet I still yearn for more cameras. It's a disease I tell ya!</p>

<p>I've been using my Nikon F5 and F100 with the 24-120 VR lens. </p>

<blockquote> "It's a disease I tell ya!"</blockquote>

<blockquote>You can say that again, Jamie. How true it is!</blockquote>

<p>Though I use several Nikon and Pentax MF slr's my favorite go to is a Canon Elan 7e with Canon's new 40mm 2.8 SLT lens. It's not the body as much as I love that lens. Fine at f2.8 and sharp into the extreme corners by f5.6. The 40 2.8 is a small light pancake with silent, near instant focus. Built reasonably well and in case someone hasn't told you 40 is the perfect all around focal length. <br>

I use it with Tri-x or Cheap Fuji color 200 both of which I develop here at home.</p>

<p>sorry dup.</p>

 

<blockquote>

<p>Fine at f2.8 and sharp into the extreme corners by f5.6. The 40 2.8 is a small light pancake with silent, near instant focus. Built reasonably well and in case someone hasn't told you 40 is the perfect all around focal length.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>I agree, Michael. When I recently got a new standard zoom, I contemplating selling my 40/2.8. I'm sure glad I didn't. The lens is superb optically, and just <em>so</em> handy.</p>

<p>Canon New F-1, A-1 and T-90 with an assortment of FD lenses, or a Pentax 67. I sold all my Canon DSLR gear, but I still have an EOS-1 film body that I use on occasion. The only film I shoot is Fujichrome Provia 100, of which I have a good stock in my freezer.</p>

<p>(Guilty pleasure: using the Canon FD lenses on a Panasonic Lumix GF1.)</p>

I use my Nikon F6 and occasionally the F4.

The F6 has ergonomics that are simply

unmatched. I like my D3, but the F6 still

feels better in the hand.

 

Anthony

<p>I've been intoxicated by my illness (no, I won't say disease) and continue to find it too easy to sit on my aperture and find some vintage minty Canons on line or hunt them down at convenient flea markets / garage sales. Recently I came across a Canon Rebel EOS 2000. Compared to the Canon G, which I also have (I may be addicted to plastic, not sure), it's a bit more upscale in appearance in it's swoopy silver and black. Added the plaid comfort strap for a little extra brightness. It may seem like a lot of plastic but there's a lot of tech beneath! Metering is nice. The camera was discovered boxed with it's Battery Pack, which adds necessary balance and weight, and makes the whole package more "grip-able" and solid. I could not imagine using this camera without the battery pack. Only needs 4 alkalines, can't argue with that, right ? Mated with my languishing 20 year old 90mm Sigma macro lens my new Canon "Ode de Plasticville" has given me an unexpected lease on fun for the upcoming season, all at a bargain price. Next stop, a nursery, greenhouse and orchid exhibit.</p><div></div>

<p>Nikon FM2N, 18-35/3.5-4.5, 80-200/4-5.6, Fuji ProS 160. My digital is just a Nikon D70, lol ... I don't even want a newer one if I had to maybe a D600 once it is 4yr used minimum. </p>

<p>Ray: the 4 yr used minimum seems right. I have 2 digital Canons, one XSi and T1i and I wouldn't consider trading them as I'd get nothing. No heavy use, the T needs cleaning, but in today's world digital SLRs and cell phones become obsolete market wise real fast. I would like a new one however ... new tech causes that I think.</p>

<p>Choice of my Nikon FE2, F3HP, F4 or F100... either one would be nice!<br />And one or a few out of these: 28/3.5, 50/2, 55/3.5 or 85/2.0 Ai<br>

10-pack Agfaphoto APX100 for 25 euro's... small bottle of Rodinal from 1985... lovin' it! ;-)<br /><br />The Fuji HD-M is a great cam too, but that would be the 'oh no...!' camera on a wedding :-)</p>

<p>I shoot mainly with 3 Canon F1N-AE bodys and an assortment of mainly Canon FD lenses andmy Medium format gear consists of 2 Mamiya C330F bodys and 55, 80,135,and 180mm lens pairs, I've had all my equipment more than twenty years, and I don't do digital because I prefer film.</p>

<p>Konica TC and T3n. Like the weight of TC. Hexanon 40/1.8 and 50/1.7. As a fan of wide and super wide angle, learning to work with these. Kodak Gold 200 (great colours indoors), Fuji Superia 400 (exquisite results when shooting walls, trees, grass), Konica VX100 (shot last roll). Bought Ektar 100. Waiting to load it. Nikon coolscan IV ed for scans.</p>

<p><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/5786350-md.jpg" alt="" width="680" height="503" /></p>

<p>Lately, with the summer heat, I've been playing around with assorted 'oddball' cameras, such as the Olympus IS-3, Fuji Discovery 3000, Olympus AZ-4, Samsung ECX-1 and Chinon Genesis, in addition to less-used but not so oddball cameras such as YashicaMat 124G and RB67. Film is either Portra 160 or Ektar, though at the moment I have some Kodak E100GX loaded in something, if only I could remember what.</p>

<p>I'm still using the cameras that I was using 25 years ago, 3 Canon F1N AE bodys, a Canon EF, a Canon T90 and a Mamiya C330F, and I'm still happy with them.</p>