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Fractals, deja vu, groundhog day, Fibonacci circles, fashion styles, the wheel of Samsara, the cycle of history, the theory of cyclicality, economic cycles… everything in this world goes and develops in a circle! Photography included. You might not have noticed, although it is unlikely: film photography is again popular. On the other hand, it did not go anywhere: adherents filmed, connoisseurs bought, analog fans continued to film. All this was, but not as massive as recently.
Film photography. Definitely. Has returned. So this text is simply necessary! Perhaps you have long wanted to try, but did not know which side to approach. Then this text is for you! We understand what types of film cameras are in order to choose the one that suits your request.
Photo: dpreview.comBriefly about the main
First of all, answers to the most embarrassing questions that are important to clarify. 35mm film holds 36 standard 24×36mm frames (sometimes less, for example 24 frames). After you have loaded it into the camera and shot it, the film needs to be developed. For negative film, this is the C‑41 process, which is done in all (!) Photo labs, even in small towns. If it is a positive, slide film, then it is developed according to E‑6. Less common, but also made in good photo labs. Black and white requires D‑76.
In all the cameras mentioned in the text, it is necessary to load exactly 35mm film. There are also wider film and photo paper, but in this text we are talking about standard 35mm film.
Film differs not only in ISO (sensitivity to light), but also in colors, which affect the output image. It is difficult to give a specific recommendation: this topic deserves a separate text. It is best to consult with the seller when buying, who will help you choose the right one for your purposes.
Image: redbubble.comSoap dishes
The simplest, most understandable and portable film camera format. They can be found everywhere: from the mezzanines of your grandfathers to standard photo stores, ads on Avito, and so on. They are cheap, they work simply.
Advantages: this is an extremely understandable technique. A great choice if you don’t need much at all: to shoot friends, some daily moments, trips, walks. For such purposes, this is ideal. Management is extremely simple and clear, the camera will do almost everything for you with built-in electronics. There is nothing to go wrong here. In addition, they are small in size and can easily fit in your pocket, bag and anywhere.
If this is a more or less serious soap box, then you already have a small screen with a frame counter, information about settings, the selected mode, flash position, etc.
Disadvantages: soap dishes are easy to use, but just as simple in functionality. If you want something more than just automatic photos of friends, then you need more — a different type of camera. You should not expect the greatest shots from the soap box, as well as the ability to control the process of setting the settings, because this is not in it. Shoot wide open, get beautiful bokeh, or set to a slow shutter speed in the dark? With this to more serious equipment.
Photo: casualphotophile.comRepresentatives:
- The simplest are automatic soap dishes from the department of photographic goods of a hypermarket. They cost, as a rule, from 500 to 1000 rubles. Easier nowhere. They have a fixed aperture, built-in flash and do everything for you.
Cameras are more difficult. They already have the ability to at least take control of something and set it manually. Yes, and the optics in them is clearly a level higher. Canon, Olympus, Pentax, Minolta. Lots of options. The price range is from 1000 to several thousand rubles.
Photo on Olympus mju-II: lomography.com, user @djmusician- Reference soap dishes. Most often, their functionality is not much better than the second group, or even at the same level. Some of them are simply rare, some have become cult (like Olympus mju II), and some are considered the highest quality representatives of this class due to the strongest optics. Such, for example, Contax T3. Luxury film compact. The camera is made of titanium, has a strong lens and high-quality output images. The cost of such a camera in the secondary market today sometimes reaches hundreds of thousands of rubles.
Photo: 35mmc.com*Not listed. LCA or Lomo Compact-Automatic, which cannot be attributed to either soap dishes or mechanical cameras. He does not have an interchangeable lens, but there is a native one with fairly good glasses. It is possible to control some settings, but from the usual, only the aperture. Camera dropping out of the list, but definitely deserving of a separate line. A plastic soap dish with a fast lens and a serious approach is quite a competitor to many cameras in this category.
Photo: nahshaus.ruMechanical cameras
This is already a more advanced level compared to automatic soap dishes. But it’s also not difficult to find them: open Avito, climb to the top shelves of the mezzanines, ask your parents or go to specialized commission offices — there will definitely be such cameras!
Advantages: a springboard for more conscious photography. There is already interchangeable optics, and the ability to fully control the process of setting shutter speed with aperture. In addition, electronics break easier, and mechanics are reliability. Even in cases where some kind of repair may be required, it is much easier to find the necessary part than to bring the chip back to life. Surviving cameras are a living example of this: you can still find Leica IIIs from the 30s of the last century that work great in 2021. It’s like a new Renault just from the factory and an old Mercedes from the last century that is still a Mercedes. This is the representative class.
Mechanics = reliability. Recently I had a shoot for a brand, intentionally on a soap dish, albeit a high-quality one. These were the kind of pictures that were needed. Everything would be fine, but some of the focus shots generally ran away in the wrong direction at all and the shots ended up in the trash. With good lighting and the subject in the foreground. With mechanics, this would not happen, because the focus is set manually and the whole process is controlled.
Disadvantages: yes, mechanics allows you to take control of all settings, but for this you need to be higher level. If you plan to shoot with a mechanical camera, you need to understand the whole process. You need to know the theory of shutter speed and aperture, understand how they are interconnected. Unlike electronics, the slightest crap here is everything! The frame is corrupted. The film does not forgive inept settings.
Photo: lensbeam.comThe second, less important point is optics. Most likely, you will buy a camera with a standard (kit) lens. If you want a larger aperture or a second one in the kit, this is already an additional investment. It is better to think in advance if you can afford it.
Photo by Zenith ET with Helios 44–2 lens. Lomography.com by @woodymusicRepresentatives:
— Change 8m. The camera of a whole generation, iconic, but with many pitfalls. You will have to look for a fully functional one. At the same time, Change is quite budgetary and can give a good picture!
— Zenith ET. Perhaps the most popular of the Zeniths, which can really be found both in the far corner of your grandfather’s closet and at the nearest flea market. Although it is a reflex camera, according to a number of criteria, the camera belongs to the group of mechanical ones. It is also quite budgetary, with already quite good optics available (one Helios is worthy of mention) and even a built-in exposure meter.
If this is simple enough for you, finances allow more, and your heart asks for it — you need a very serious device! About them, in ascending order, will be in the second part of the text!
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