I Still Shoot Film

They may be a little late, but good things come to those who wait because I have found some super delicious film camera deals for this week. Anyone who asked me about a good film camera for beginners or for a photography class, any of these would be a good choice:

• Praktica PL Nova I35: starting bid $9.99, ends in 6 days, comes with 50mm lens and case http://tinyurl.com/32jyc5w

• Pentax ME Super: starting bid $19 or buy it now for $49, ends in 6 days, comes with 50mm lens http://tinyurl.com/32qpmcg

• Pentax K1000 (KIT): starting bid $29, ends in 6 days, comes with 50mm, 28mm, and 35-105mm lenses http://tinyurl.com/2vb8uvp

• Mamiya Sekor 1000DTL (KIT): starting bid $49.99, ends in 6 days, comes with 55mm Mamiya/Sekor lens, Vivitar 52mm polarizing lens, tele-converter, filters, table clamp, and bag http://tinyurl.com/2w59mw4

• Mamiya Sekor 500TL: starting bid $14.95, ends in 5 days, comes with 50mm Mamiya Sekor lens http://tinyurl.com/2887u3g

• Mamiya Sekor 500DTL: buy it now for $24.99 or best offer, ends in 28 days, comes with 50mm Mamiya Sekor lens http://tinyurl.com/35jvvkt

• Nikon FG-20: starting bid $49.99, ends in 6 days, comes with 50mm lens http://tinyurl.com/2uuhp7r

It’s time for Sunday Ebay Deals! This week is strictly fully manual 35mm SLR, so any of you who asked me about a good camera for beginners (or a good film camera in general), any of these would be a good investment:

• Canon FX: starting bid $9.99 or buy it now for $89.99, ends in 4 days, comes with 50mm lens http://tinyurl.com/3xss57b

• Mamiya NC-1000S: starting bid $20, ends in 6 days, comes with 50mm and 200mm lenseshttp://tinyurl.com/29fmptc

• Pentax K-1000: buy it now for $73, comes with 50mm lens http://tinyurl.com/2e9zob4

• Praktica Super-TL (UK): starting bid 4 pounds, ends in 4 days, comes with 50mm Zeiss lens http://tinyurl.com/23rda5m

• Olympus OM-G (KIT): starting bid $35.99, ends in 6 days, comes with flash and 50mm, 28mm, 135mm, and 70-210mm lenses http://tinyurl.com/29d3owv

• Pentax K-1000: starting bid $24.96, ends in 6 days, comes with 50mm lens, flash, and bag http://tinyurl.com/267cvuq

• Pentax K-1000: starting bid $19.99, ends in 4 days, comes with 50mm lens and flash http://tinyurl.com/2w8blfp

It’s time for Sunday eBay Deals! Yay! This week is an exclusively 35mm SLR edition; all of you who have asked me about a good camera for beginners, this is where you want to look:

• Asahi Pentax ES II: starting bid $75, ends in 6 days, comes with 50mm lens and instruction manual http://tinyurl.com/2vqmvnr

• Mamiya Sekor MSX 500: buy it now for $7 (seriously), comes with what appears to be a 135mm lens http://tinyurl.com/3y4c8eo

• Nikon FG-20: current bid 99 cents, ends in 6 days, comes with 50mm lens and instruction manual http://tinyurl.com/3yrrje7

• Nikon EM (UK): starting bid 10 pounds, ends in 9 days, comes with 80-200mm lens and flash unit http://tinyurl.com/3872545

• Pentak K1000 (Kit): starting bid $42, ends in 4 days, comes with 135mm, 28mm, and 50mm lenses, plus flash, 2 straps, and camera bag http://tinyurl.com/3xv95lt

• Canon AE-1 Program (Kit): starting bid $9.99, ends in 6 days, comes with 135mm & 28mm lenses, flash unit, and instruction manual http://tinyurl.com/33p72bf

• Mamiya XE-2 (Kit): starting bid $25, ends in 6 days, comes with 50mm & 200mm Mamiya Sekor lenses, 28-80 Macro Quantaray lens, Mamiyalite ZE and Vivitar 283 flash units. This is an incredible kit for and if someone doesn’t buy it, I will die. http://tinyurl.com/34sg9gm

Yay it’s Sunday, so let’s get to the Ebay film camera deals. For anyone who asked me to recommend a good film camera for a beginner, all of these have fully manual functions (and many come with instruction books) and would be a good place to start:

• Pentax K1000: starting bid $49.99, ends in 6 days, comes with 50mm lens, Vivitar 1900 flash, and instruction manual http://tinyurl.com/37ygrew

• Minolta XG-M: starting bid $8.95, ends in 6 days, comes with 50mm lens, 80-200mm lens, camera bag, and filters http://tinyurl.com/35holcz

• Nikon AS: starting bid $75, ends in 6 days, comes with 50mm lens http://tinyurl.com/2wjx5bv

• Yashica TL Electro X: buy it now for $35, or best offer, comes with 50mm lens http://tinyurl.com/2vvng4p

• Canon EX QL: starting bid $9.99 or buy it now for $29.99, ends in 2 days, comes with what appears to be a 50mm lens http://tinyurl.com/38xcas7

• Canon AE-1 Program: starting bid 99 cents, ends in 6 days, comes with 50mm lens http://tinyurl.com/28zj3b7

• Mamiya ZE: starting bid 99 cents, ends in 4 days, comes with 50mm lens http://tinyurl.com/262fbhf

• Minolta SRT 202: buy it now for $44.99 or best offer, ends in 6 days, comes with 50mm lens http://tinyurl.com/359w793

• Olympus OM-1: starting bid $9.99, ends in 6 days, comes with what appears to be (maybe?) a wide angle lens http://tinyurl.com/25e687q

• Pentax K-1000: starting bid $20, ends in 4 days, comes with 50mm lens and instruction manual http://tinyurl.com/2dlyqdo

Paris Plage

Shot with my grandfather’s Mamiya

Recently, a lot of people having been asking me which digital camera I would recommend and what’s my favorite camera… as I have said before I am not an expert on digital SLRs but I figured it would be nice to do a quick rundown of some of the options out there for all who are interested.

• As per many of your questions, my “dream camera” is a Mamiya RZ67. I would also theoretically purchase a digital back to go with said dream camera. The whole package is about $21,000, so maybe not right away…
• My favorite camera that I own is my Nikon FM 2. I have had it since I was 10 years old and it has never failed me. EVER.
• My 2nd favorite camera is my Kiev 88 (a Russian copy of a Hasselblad). It’s super heavy but takes amazing photos. I use it for work a lot.
• I do not recommend buying automatic and/or new film SLRs. The body and lenses are made from plastic instead of metal, and there’s a big difference in the resulting images.

Moving on…

• The digital camera I work with is a Canon EOS 20D. I bought it because it’s cheap and takes studio lights. To be honest it’s served me well, but I’ve been wanting to get rid of it for a long time. I would recommend it (well the equivalent, they don’t make it anymore) to someone looking for a mid-level SLR that’s not too expensive.  I have upgraded to a Nikon D300s, it takes all of the old lenses I had for my FM2 and I am very happy with it so far. 

But…

• The digital camera I want (besides forementioned dream camera) is a Nikon D700.  I need lower noise, it’s out of control and an editor even mentioned something about it the other day (ahhh). In fact, I think I might sell my Canon and buy the Nikon. Obviously, I did not end up getting this model as previously stated.

Which leads us to: Stats

Nikon (under $1000)

• D60: 10.2 megapixels, no price listed on website
• D40: 6.1 megapixels, $499.99 (this is really really small for resolution)
• D3000: 10.2 megapixels, $549.95. This is definitely a good option for a starter
• D5000: 12.3 megapixels, movie mode, $629.95. Also a good choice to start with.
• D90: 12.3 megapixels, $899. I know professionals who use this.

Canon (under $1000)

• EOS Rebel XS: 10.1 megapixels, $569.99 (kit)
• EOS Rebel T2i EF-S: 18.1 megapixels, movie mode, $899.99. This guy gives super high quality images for the price. In fact, as I am writing this I am wondering if I should buy it.
• EOS Rebel T1i EF-S: 15.1 megapixels, HD video, $799. This also seems like a pretty great deal for the quality level.

Fuji

• S Series: I have never actually tried a Fuji digital product, but I love Fuji for film products (especially since they still manufacture EVERYTHING). While you can’t change the lenses on the Fuji S Series, they seem like they would definitely be a good option for beginners.

Pentax and Olympus might also be good places to look, although to be honest I don’t know anyone who works with either so I can’t say much about quality. Another thing some people might be interested to know: a lot of professional photographers (myself included) rent expensive camera equipment just for the day of the shoot. Same goes for lights, studio, and sometimes even assistants. Which means theoretically if you wanted to test a camera, you could rent it for a day and see how you feel. Or if you have a super limited budget, you can rent when you need to shoot. Hope this helps!

Since lacelinedlung asked about where to buy a cheap 35mm film camera, I got inspired to list some of the best Ebay finds for people who are interested. Generally speaking, I think everybody gets a better deal at flea markets, but there are still deals to be had on ebay. So, without furthur ado, today’s list:

• Yashica FX-3 (circa 1979): $50, ends in 7 hours, comes w/ lens, case, and flash:http://tinyurl.com/yatj56f

• Pentax K1000 (circa 1980): $76, ends in 8 hours, comes with full kit: http://tinyurl.com/yzrnzuw

• Mamiya Sekor 500 DTL (circa 1960’s): $19.99, ends in 10 hours, comes w/ lens [Personally, I have this camera and it is amazing! At $19 someone better buy it): http://tinyurl.com/yhs35n8

• Canon T-5 (circa 1982): $26, ends in 12 hours, comes with lens: http://tinyurl.com/ylntau3

• Kowa SER: 99 cents. I’ve never heard of it, but at working at 99 cents means I might buy it if someone else doesn’t: http://tinyurl.com/ygcq2sw

• Minolta XG-1(circa 1981): $75, ends in 12 hours, comes with lens: http://tinyurl.com/yb85eex

• Argus STL 1000: $29.98, ends in 16 hours, comes with 50mm lens [this is another one that I might buy if someone doesn’t jump on it] http://tinyurl.com/yc4r9xw

• Asahi Pentax K1000 (circa 1976): $40, ends in 17 hours, comes with 50.. 1.2 lens [let me just say that lenses this fast are hard to come by, I have one for my Nikon that has saved my life many a dark day] http://tinyurl.com/yd8nz5h

I’ll check again in a couple of days and post any good deals I find. Long live film!