Smena 35 for street photography?

[daniel_h_gberg]

<p>Hi all analogue street photographers! :)<br>

I shoot street with a Nikon FM2 and a 35mm lens today.. But people feel so harassed when shot with a big loud clunky slr.. I want to go for a more simple way of shooting..<br>

I was thinking about the Smena 35.. How high is the shutter volume? Would it be lower volume then shutter of my FM2?<br>

How reliable is the shutter on a smena? Will the 1/250 always be 1/250 or will it get slower with time?<br>

I use iso 400 b&w film pushed to 800 and do my own processing.<br>

<br />Thankyou!</p>

[dgoakill]

<p>I'm not familiar with that camera, but any film camera will have a somewhat louder shutter. If it's really an issue, digital shutters are usually quieter.</p>

[lachaine]

<p>Almost silent in comparison to an FM2, but keep in mind, it's a much more limited camera.... best thought of as a toy camera, really (not that there's anything wrong with that).</p>

[daniel_h_gberg]

<p>Thankyou, Pierre, I just pressed buy now on ebay... it was so cheap that I´ll give it a try :) Exciting!</p>

[starvy]

<p>Hi Daniel,<br>

I have an alternative suggestion if you take your street work seriously. The Smena leaves a lot to chance so why not take a chance with something that would give you pictures slightly better than your FM2? Buy a used Zeiss Ikon Nettar with a f/4.5 Novar lens taking 6x4.5 shots on 120 film. The post war versions using the Vario or Kilo shutters are remarkably quiet. It would put a smile on the faces of those you are shooting when they see a folder with bellows pointing at them. The quality from f/8 to f/11 when properly exposed and focuses is astounding with black and white film. They are not expensive either.</p>

[m_stephens]

<p>I very much like small rangefinders over large clunky SLRs for street shooting. The smaller camera is less intimidating, and the rangefinder gives a constant view around you that is superior to the tunnel vision of an SLR. The camera you mentioned is a LOMO, which means all your photographs will have a LOMO look. This runs the danger of becoming a cliche very fast. An alternative would be a nice 1960s RF like the Canon QL series. They can be had for about $50 dollars.</p>

<p>I think people obsess too much over shutter noise. I think the more pressing issue is the size and intimidation factor visually.</p>

[craigd]

<blockquote>

<p>... any film camera will have a somewhat louder shutter.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Nonsense. Leaf shutters are often almost silent, and you're more likely to find a leaf shutter on a small-format film camera than a small-format digital camera. Some focal plane shutters are more quiet than others, but they're all pretty noisy compared to a leaf shutter.</p>

<p>Daniel, you might consider a fixed-lens rangefinder with a leaf shutter and a fast lens. The Japanese made a number of nice ones from the late 1950s through the 1970s, including the Konica Auto S2, Canon Canonet QL17 GIII, Minolta Hi-Matic 7S, and the extremely compact Olympus XA.</p>

[daniel_h_gberg]

<p>m stephens: I think alot of the lomo-look is created by a self-fullfilling prophecy.. People buy it because its a lomo and expects nothing else than that the images is going to look "lomo" so they make them look lomo, because thats what they want.<br>

Its a little bit like pushing superia 800 to 1600.. Almost all examples I´ve seen have been crazy grainy.. But when I push superia 800 to 1600 theres almost no grain at all..<br>

Its mostly about what your expecatations are I think.. If I dont make my images look Lomo, they wont look lomo :)</p>

[daniel_h_gberg]

<p>Craig: Yes, I´ve looked at the XA.. but all that electric stuff will hang or brake sooner than later.. So thats why I went for the Smena.. if it brakes, I can try to fix it to :) The XA´s are also EXTREMELY overpriced, and then its no fun when it brakes down a week later..</p>

[StuartMoxham]

<p>The FM2 is not is not really a big camera but slr lenses are usually quite large in diameter. The Canonet QL III 17 is a bit smaller but I don't find mine really feels much smaller than my FM2. It's smaller than a DSLR or an AF film SLR. What about a Leica III with a collapsible 50mm lens. If the Leica is too expensive then you could alwalys look at a Zorki 1 with collapsible 50mm Industar 22 the FSU FEDs and Zorkis can be a bit quirky but once sorted can be very good.</p>

[Brad_]

>>> But people feel so harassed when shot with a big loud clunky slr..

 

Shooting on the street a lot, I'm puzzled. That's essentially what I shoot with, a 5DII + 35/1.4, and have

never encountered anyone who felt harassed.

[spanky]

<p>With all due respect Daniel, it's probably not the camera, it's you. I shoot with a Nikon F2 with a 35mm lens which is fairly large for a wide angle. I also us a Mamiya RZ67. You don't get much larger and louder then this beast. I've using it in the street and subways for six years now. Rarely have I gotten any bad vibes from people. So I think it's something in how you are shooting if people are feeling this way. Have a friend follow from a short distance behind you for a couple hours while you shoot as you normally would. Perhaps this friend can find out why people are reacting this way. Good luck!</p>

[yog_sothoth]

<p>Mechanical cameras break as easily as electronic ones. It depends on quality and treatment. My Yashica D's have died with mild use but my much older Rolleiflex chugs on. A lot of electric cameras will likely work fine in 30 years if they are treated well.</p>

[daniel_h_gberg]

<p>Marc Todd, I think your right, but no matter how much I try to relax and just "wander about" people like STARE at my camera and follow me with there eyes until i disapear around a corner or something.. its really sick! Dont know why.. I think I look like any guy.. short hair, no tatoos, no piercing, no strange clothes..<br>

But I guess its something else.. I have no idea what to say when people ask me why I took there picture.. What can you say really? That scares me very much..<br>

And thats why I want a small, plastic simple quiet camera, that I dont have to care about when I get beaten down by some guy on the street, so I can relax without having to worry about a $5000 camera. I can heal for free, the camera cant be healed for free..</p>

[Brad_]

>>> But I guess its something else.. I have no idea what to say when people ask me why I took there

picture.. What can you say really? That scares me very much..

 

I get asked from time to time - I'm used to it and don't mind. I usually say something like, "I'm

documenting the city." Or I have and take pictures for a San Francisco-based photoblog.

 

Both honest answers - which people respect. If you project that you belong there (on the street), by blending in shooting openly, then people will usually accept you and what you're doing.

 

If, on the other hand, you try and act stealthy, using tactics to take photos without being seen, then that raises suspicion and distrust (people are more aware than you know). And sometimes creates problems.

[daniel_h_gberg]

<p>Brad, I try to photograph openly.. but its hard to blend in.. but I guess its something you get used to.. I only been trying to do good street photography for about a year now, my "blending" is getting better, but I guess I just have to let myself take the time I need to adjust to "the street flow". I could of course say "Im documenting the city" sometimes, but when I shoot a closeup of someone with a 35mm lens, what should I say then? "Oops, sorry, I was leaning to get a picture of that building behind you, but just when I tripped the shutter I fell forward"? :D<br>

Thankyou everyone for your responses, It has got me into thinking more about how I "feel" when Im taking pictures in the street.<br /> Is it good to give curios/angry people a business card or should I avoid that when shooting street?</p>

[Brad_]

>>> I could of course say "Im documenting the city" sometimes, but when I shoot a closeup of someone with a 35mm lens,

what should I say then?<P>

 

I shoot with a 35 exclusively. For candids sometimes I'll take the shot, then look the subject in they eye, smile, and say thank

you. That's kind of going on the offense and reaching out before someone can object. I think that sort of defuses any

complaint people might have. But really, most people (from my experiences) don't care. If someone says no while in the process of lining up, I say "No problem, have a good day." And move on.<P>

 

<img src= "http://pages.sbcglobal.net/b-evans/Images54/Guys.jpg"<P>

 

If you don't want a candid shot then it's easy. Just ask them if you can take a portrait. They'll ask why, and the two answers

above work fine. Find a suitable background nearby, pose them, and take a few shots while you engage them in conversation.<P>

 

<center><img src= "http://pages.sbcglobal.net/b-evans/Images54/Marcos.jpg"></center><P><P>

 

>>> Is it good to give curios/angry people a business card or should I avoid that when shooting street?<P>

 

Absolutely! They're a good ice-breaker. I like Moo Minicards. Each has a different photo on the back - it's like a little photo

portfolio. I also always carry a bunch of 4x6" prints, usually to give to people I expect to see again. But also to show others I meet.

[daniel_h_gberg]

<p>Wow!Youre a great photographer! Love the street portrait, but I´ve done years of commercial portraits and really got tired of people posing. I want the opposite now :) Unposed.<br>

Smile, and say thankyou sounds a little akward to me.. Im not look to do "nice" street photos, raw and pure, real street photos... But, I´ll sure try that one to. Many great tips from you Brad! Thankyou!</p>