what (still) camera do you use?

[rollemfilm]

i also use fm2's. and i have a 24mm f2.8 nikkor. it's one of my favorite lenses. sorry, won't sell. try shutterbug or: www.cameta.com
they always have these things float through.

[roxics]

I know I'm coming in here from nowhere, but I have to ask, what is everyones obsession with getting more basic? At some point you have to embrace new technology and just make art. What does it matter if it's a new camera or or an old K1000? The new caemras will still go all manual. Why spend $150 on an Nikon FM when you can have a Nikon FE. Same camera except with the addition of electronic shutter control for when you get sick of shooting in all manual. Which some people do. But at the same time some people don't so it's all up to you. But at least you can give yourself the option with an FE, FE2 or FA whereas your stuck with all manual with a FM or K1000.

Can I make a somewhat outlandish suggestion? If you are looking for a still camera that is just like a super 8 camera then why don't you just shoot a roll or super 8 in single frame mode? It will take you forever and you'll have to do your own printing but it will give you the exact feel, DOF, lenses, etc.

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www.TheFilmmakersForum.com

[Alex]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Courier, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by roxics:
I know I'm coming in here from nowhere, but I have to ask, what is everyones obsession with getting more basic? At some point you have to embrace new technology and just make art. What does it matter if it's a new camera or or an old K1000? The new caemras will still go all manual. Why spend $150 on an Nikon FM when you can have a Nikon FE. Same camera except with the addition of electronic shutter control for when you get sick of shooting in all manual. Which some people do. But at the same time some people don't so it's all up to you. But at least you can give yourself the option with an FE, FE2 or FA whereas your stuck with all manual with a FM or K1000.

Can I make a somewhat outlandish suggestion? If you are looking for a still camera that is just like a super 8 camera then why don't you just shoot a roll or super 8 in single frame mode? It will take you forever and you'll have to do your own printing but it will give you the exact feel, DOF, lenses, etc.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I don't believe the new cameras all go all manual...

...the idea that you can shoot even without battery power is very important.

I also think your idea of shooting Super-8 instead of a roll of 35mm for a beginning filmmaker is somewhat off the mark.

Super-8 Kodachrome is more like a slide film.

The concept of an actual film print is it can be studied virtually anywhere, and not just through A slide projection / magnification device, which you would need with the super-8 film.

The initial motivation is to not shoot with a super-8 camera until you understand BASIC filming strategies that can be learned from one or two rolls of 35mm.

A small price to pay if it helps increase the awareness of how a super-8 camera works.

-Alex

[redrice]

thanks for all the discussion! that's been very interesting to follow.

FWIW -

i thought of the 'single frame' solution using my S8 camera, but there are two things rule it out for me:

1. weight of the camera;
2. size of the resulting image, and difficulty viewing/inspecting it in isolation.

the nearest equivalent to S8, i now discover, would be a half-frame 35mm camera: designed to be lightweight, carry-anywhere equipment, and using the standard cine 35mm frame size (4:3).

however, i bought an ancient contaflex SLR last week, which is cheap enough that i don't mind if i drop it or have it stolen, and light enough to be carried around on a strap without my thinking about it. it is fully manual, and despite being 50 years old, the light meter seems to work, well enough at least for neg film.

just got back my first enlargements, and the sharpness of the lens just blows me away!

so now, i only have to decide what film to shoot: is there a thread in the archive discussing similarities/differences between still/cine versions of kodachrome/tri-/plus-x?

the BW films in particular confuse me: negative, higher-rated versions, of our positive ASA200 stock. that's quite a difference! what would you recommened? would i learn more about how to expose and light super 8 tri-x from a BW positive film like agfa's scala? or is it the family resemblance in the emulsion that really counts?

TIA:

peter

[rollemfilm]

here is a great site for learning anything you might want to about black & white photography: www.photogs.com/bwworld/index.html
it's called Black and White World. they have great forums too.

[AlexGfromUK]

b+w reversal films are seen as quite an unusual format in still photography, because all the films have thier own characteristics and problems, so that none of them are as good for all round work as the excellent black and white neg films available. I love kodaks t-max 100, tri X still film is still available but it is a negative film, and doe'snt use the T-grain technology introduced in T-max.

[rollemfilm]

yes, i remember tech pan. asa 25! their selling point was "4X5 quality from a 35mm negative", well, almost. agfa has or had a 25 asa film. you can also "pull" plus X or t-max 100 for superfine enlargements. i would love to see a t-max super8 stock like the 100. you could push or pull the process with out much loss. the t-max 400 can be shot at 400 or 800 without increased processing. altough personally, i would add a little extra. as a super8 film stock with that latitude would be a very useful tool.

[AlexGfromUK]

Ahhh, pulling tmax 100 for superfine enlargements, now thats an idea I have to experiment with!! Thanks.

[Alex]

Any one remember a BW print stock call "technical pan" from the mid 80's. Amazing clarity and fine detail....naturally, Kodak dropped it

-Alex




[This message has been edited by Alex (edited August 17, 2001).]

[redrice]

try this link for what you can do with agfa 25 b/w/ film and a half-frame olympus pen (cf. my post above)...

peter
http://www.bayarea.net/~ramarren/pho.../peneepix.html

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