[andy5452]

Hello

I’ve just enrolled on a good old Adult education course in Photography, doing things the traditional way. I hope to understand the fundamentals behind the art, rather than my current take 50 shots get 1 good shot I hope to get.. Well a few more. However I need to do a bit of darkroom stuff. Therefore need a manual camera for that bit. EBay beckons, does anybody recommend a half decent camera to look out for?? Or if anybody wants to sell a manual send me a PM??

Any advice would be most welcome

Andy

[Dabhand16]

All of the main players made good cameras. I think that the sort of cameras you are going to be looking at will not be totally manual, inasmuch as they will almost certainly have a metering system. Of course, you will be able to switch it off, but unless you have a hand-held meter, you might be getting through a lot of film with not many good results. If the camera does not have +- EV exposure adjustment, you can fool the meter by setting the film speed on a higher or lower setting. A lower setting will give more exposure. the amount you offset will determine the f stop of the adjustment. Setting asa 50 when using a 100 asa film will result in overexposure. Setting the film speed to give a third of a stop underexposure was my defaut setting for transparency film, to give more saturation.

Bear in mind that any old camera might have problems. The springs used in the shutters will get softer with use, and without use the blinds could be a bit sticky. This can/will lead to inaccurate exposures or inconsistant exposures. At least you can open the back and select 'B' or 'T' and see if the shutter actually opens and closes. Also with the shutter open see if the apature stops down smoothly and to its correct range. This applies to all of the lenses on offer. Take the lens off and check that the mirror is clean and not scratched. The shutter curtain should be clean and have no holes in it.

Lens bayonet fittings can become loose. Make sure the lens locks and stays put. If it has a zoom, check that the zoom is smooth and does not stick, or is excessively loose. This is usually somewhere in the middle of the range. Chances are it will be manual focus, so check that this is smooth and the viewfinder focus aids work. Check for corrosion in the battery compartment/terminals. Make sure the film rewind works. Try loading a film and winding it on for a number of shots and removing it. You might want to try a flashgun in the hotshoe/sync socket.

The back should click shut positively. Close the back without shutting completely to see if it is closing evenly and is not twisted at the hinge end. Try all of the shutter speeds with the back open. You will not know if the exposure is right, but you will see if there is any sticking or malfunction. As you take the shot, the mirror will drop out of the way and them return, so you will loose the image in the viewfinder for the length of the exposure. This is normal in an SLR.

Be wary of cameras with wear showing on the colour on the body or lens barrel grips. This is an indicator of heavy use.

For the use you are putting it to, if there are any faults, you might be able to live with them for the length of the course. You might find that a compact film camera with a zoom will be quite cheap and do what you want. Minolta used to do a good range. i can't remember the model numbers, but thety ended in 115/130/150 as the models went up the range. Mostly they had better zooms ranges

[Angela]

Andy, it sounds like the course you have signed up for is very similar to the one that I'm about to start....we shall have to compare notes! Fortunately I've still got my old AE1....which isn't realy much help to you is it!!?

[andy5452]

I`ve still got my old Zenit ..... though thats seen at least 18 years cupboard action and isn`t looking it`s best. I`ve gone for City and Guilds, Is that the same as you???

[Dabhand16]

Yes, I started City and guilds, but as my job gives mr irregular hours with short/no notice, I began missing lessons. It got worse and worse, until I had to pack it in as I'd missed so much.

Also, I had decided to do the course with my Rollicord. No meter, no lenses. The darkroom we used ony had two enlargers that took 6x6 negs. The best one was always hogged by someone who used a 35mm camera. He turned up an hour early so always got in first.

For this course I suggest you will need a camera with reasonable capabilities. You could always start of with the Zenith if you can't get another camera before you start. Maybe the tutor will be able to give you a contact.

[andy5452]

Hooray.. An old Uni friend has a Minolta somthing or other and a bag of lens`s .... Yup, I usually start these courses (everyyear) and drop out because of work I`ll try and stay the distance this time ...

[Dave]

Well the only manual cameras I have used in the past are the Olympus OM1-N & OM2. Could easily recommmend an OM1, as purely manual, very weel made & so small

[LadyStardust]

Hi Andy,

Angela pointed me in your direction. I had sent her a note as I thought she was doing the same C&G course as me but it transpires she's not, something similar but not the same. Are you doing the C&G 6923 Foundation in Photography Level 2? That's the one I started last week.

I have also had to dust down my old film camera. It's 15 years old and is a Minolta Dynax 7xi with a 28to 105mm AF lens. That's it. Oh, and 2 cards that can be used for sports and fantasy effect - a bit of a gimmick at the time I think. I never knew how to use it other than point and shoot. Funnily enough, reading the manual now (my first bit of homework) it does seem to be a decent camera with a fair bit of functionality.

The test roll of film I shot the other week also produced some nice results. It's strange seeing printed photos again - I very rarely print images now - rather nice in fact.

So, let me know if it's the same course and we can share the pain!

Good luck! And thanks, Angela, for the link to this thread.

Lucy

[andy5452]

Originally Posted by LadyStardust

Hi Andy,

Angela pointed me in your direction. I had sent her a note as I thought she was doing the same C&G course as me but it transpires she's not, something similar but not the same. Are you doing the C&G 6923 Foundation in Photography Level 2? That's the one I started last week.

I have also had to dust down my old film camera. It's 15 years old and is a Minolta Dynax 7xi with a 28to 105mm AF lens. That's it. Oh, and 2 cards that can be used for sports and fantasy effect - a bit of a gimmick at the time I think. I never knew how to use it other than point and shoot. Funnily enough, reading the manual now (my first bit of homework) it does seem to be a decent camera with a fair bit of functionality.

The test roll of film I shot the other week also produced some nice results. It's strange seeing printed photos again - I very rarely print images now - rather nice in fact.

So, let me know if it's the same course and we can share the pain!

Good luck! And thanks, Angela, for the link to this thread.

Lucy

Hi, sorry about the delay in replying! Yes it would have been the same course .. but only 4 yes 4 people turned up, So it has been cancelled :o( I`m gutted. But, I would love to keep in touch and find out what the course is all about .. may be then, I can learn some tips and be top of the class next year !!!! If not I hope it goes well for you.

Best of Luck Andy.

[stepheno]

Tough about your course, Andy. Thanks for feeding back

[LadyStardust]

Hi Andy,

Oh no, that's such a shame. I bet you were hugely disappointed. I know I would have been.

Well, there's no class this week but we have been given a million more times homework to make up for it. I am enjoying it so far - two classes in - and have been prodded into finding out more about film and film types, digital sensors, the "digital vs film" debate and many other things. I've also had to think long and hard about producing a portfolio of images, and need to start on my essay soon. It's all go, I tell you!

Oh, and by the way, I ditched the idea of using my old Minolta. I really didn't like it - way too heavy, and I'm so used to the Canon menus. So, I asked for help on Pixalo and got it! See here for the story -> Compatability question...

I'll let you know how I get on.

Next year, Andy!

Cheers.