Frustration is...

[magid]

...picking up a roll of film to find that there's nothing there. Zip. Zilch. Nada.

No, they didn't lose the roll. Nothing was on the film, except a slight haze on one or two exposures.

It looks like I'm in the market for a new (or new-to-me, as long as it works) SLR camera. No, I haven't had the old camera checked out yet, but everyone I've talked to has said that maintainence on a camera is frequently as expensive as a new one. Even if it's 'just' the shutter, there's still the question of parts, since it's half a century old, after all.

So. Any ideas or suggestions about (fully manual capable, film) cameras? Particular features you like or aren't worth having? Particular models or manufacturers that are good/suck?

And so I don't have my homework done for class tonight (playing with panning). And it's raining. Which makes it harder to motivate myself to leave the house. Phooey.

Comments

[ruthling.livejournal.com]

I *think* I still have a Monolta X570, which was a very nice camera back in the 80's and still has a lot of utility. Presuming I haven't lost, sold or broken it, I can lend it to you long term, because I've been meaning to sell it. If you like it, we can work out a deal. The newer Minoltas are also quite good from what I've seen.

[magid.livejournal.com]

Ooh, that would be excellent! Let me know once you know whether it's still intact and in your possession?

[ruthling.livejournal.com]

I *found* it and I think it's still in working order. I even have a roll of unused film you can use to try it out. I'm home tonight, will be at Boskone this weekend, and will be home for much of Monday. Give me a call and we can arrange for you to get it. You can even borrow the flash (needs at least batteries) and the zoom lense if you like. Everything needs a bit of dust removal, but that shouldn't be too hard.

[magid.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm home much of the weekend, so Monday looks good. Er, I'm not sure where/whether I have your phone number, though.

[magid.livejournal.com]

(Being lazy, and lame, and already online)
I have gaming tonight, and don't really want to dig out my car yet... Is it ok if I pick it up later this week or next weekend?

[ruthling.livejournal.com]

we're away this next weekend, but should be home tomorrow and wednesday night. call ahead and see.

[aliza250.livejournal.com]

Even if the body of the camera is durable, look at the tripod mount to see whether it is made of a cheap plastic that will wear and get wobbly.

When I first checked out my current model camera, I decided that it was a no-go because it didn't fit well into my hand, and the non-rounded lower edge dug painfully into the crease of my pinky. I'm glad I changed my mind about that, because I now automatically hold it in a very comfortable way.

(All my real experience is digital, except for taking a photography class with an old Yashica, but the above items should be universal.)

[magid.livejournal.com]

Check for durability and ergonomics. Thanks.

I'm not sure why I'm so fixated on working in film rather than digital. I want to say it's something about art forms or something else that sounds nice and thought out, but I wonder if it's just me resisting technology....

[zzbottom.livejournal.com]

I would shoot a test roll on the current camera cycling through all the aperture and exposure time settings.

[magid.livejournal.com]

Out of curiousity, why? I already know that the shutter isn't working properly most of of the time.

Which is to say, I know I've tried a range of aperture and exposure time settings, though not all. The first roll of film, 5 of 24 appeared on the film, and this roll, none.

[zzbottom.livejournal.com]

Mostly as a science experiment. If you shoot a twin camera that you know to be functioning properly along side the broken one, you can get a sense of how consistently and in what direction the camera is out of whack.