Comments on: The SLR Camera: Then and Now http://blog.epicedits.com/2008/04/04/the-slr-camera-then-and-now/ A Resource and Community for Photography Enthusiasts Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:52:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Seth Hancock http://blog.epicedits.com/2008/04/04/the-slr-camera-then-and-now/comment-page-1/#comment-153796 Seth Hancock Mon, 17 May 2010 21:53:31 +0000 http://blog.epicedits.com/?p=1879#comment-153796 Brian, After spending some time with my mentor (who ONLY shoots medium format film), I decided to expand my range and knowledge by purchasing a Mamiya RZ67. It is the best purchase I have made regarding my photographic career. While I still use my high end digital and (expensive) lenses I find the film process to be better, richer and more interesting. It forces me to be a better photographer by focusing on the image and composition and EVERY detail in the viewfinder. I started on 35mm film with a Pentax K1000 and made my way to 35mm digital but even exploring more elements of film (meaning the Medium Format) makes me a better photographer. Actually, what did it for me was when I first composed an image by looking through the Mamiya Viewfinder and thinking to myself that this "just makes sense." Keep shooting film people... it makes you a better photographer. Seth Brian,

After spending some time with my mentor (who ONLY shoots medium format film), I decided to expand my range and knowledge by purchasing a Mamiya RZ67. It is the best purchase I have made regarding my photographic career. While I still use my high end digital and (expensive) lenses I find the film process to be better, richer and more interesting. It forces me to be a better photographer by focusing on the image and composition and EVERY detail in the viewfinder.

I started on 35mm film with a Pentax K1000 and made my way to 35mm digital but even exploring more elements of film (meaning the Medium Format) makes me a better photographer. Actually, what did it for me was when I first composed an image by looking through the Mamiya Viewfinder and thinking to myself that this “just makes sense.”

Keep shooting film people… it makes you a better photographer.

Seth

]]> By: the_wolf_brigade http://blog.epicedits.com/2008/04/04/the-slr-camera-then-and-now/comment-page-1/#comment-141618 the_wolf_brigade Tue, 23 Feb 2010 04:28:26 +0000 http://blog.epicedits.com/?p=1879#comment-141618 @Jeyan: It might be helpful to do a bit of research on how to develop your own black and white film too. You can do it without a darkroom and it will help keep the costs down for you. @Jeyan: It might be helpful to do a bit of research on how to develop your own black and white film too. You can do it without a darkroom and it will help keep the costs down for you.

]]> By: Brian Auer http://blog.epicedits.com/2008/04/04/the-slr-camera-then-and-now/comment-page-1/#comment-141614 Brian Auer Tue, 23 Feb 2010 01:59:02 +0000 http://blog.epicedits.com/?p=1879#comment-141614 Actually, this is a great idea. It's cheap to get into, and you won't be stuck with an expensive piece of equipment if you end up not liking it in the long run. Plus, you'll probably learn the technical side of things a bit quicker with film (depending on what type of film slr you have). Regardless of what you're shooting with, you're making photos... and that's the important thing here. Actually, this is a great idea. It’s cheap to get into, and you won’t be stuck with an expensive piece of equipment if you end up not liking it in the long run. Plus, you’ll probably learn the technical side of things a bit quicker with film (depending on what type of film slr you have). Regardless of what you’re shooting with, you’re making photos… and that’s the important thing here.

]]> By: Jeyan http://blog.epicedits.com/2008/04/04/the-slr-camera-then-and-now/comment-page-1/#comment-141612 Jeyan Tue, 23 Feb 2010 01:24:16 +0000 http://blog.epicedits.com/?p=1879#comment-141612 I am an photography enthusiast. but i don't have enough money to shell out for an dslr (I'm only in grade 10) but i'd really like to explore photography more in depth. so recently I've started think of buying a cheap old fiml slr to learn with. is this a good idea? Any answers are deeply appreciated. I am an photography enthusiast. but i don’t have enough money to shell out for an dslr (I’m only in grade 10) but i’d really like to explore photography more in depth. so recently I’ve started think of buying a cheap old fiml slr to learn with. is this a good idea? Any answers are deeply appreciated.

]]> By: Ben http://blog.epicedits.com/2008/04/04/the-slr-camera-then-and-now/comment-page-1/#comment-115066 Ben Wed, 21 Jan 2009 02:12:56 +0000 http://blog.epicedits.com/?p=1879#comment-115066 I have both - a Canon AE-1 from 1977 and a Fujifilm S5 Pro. They're both lovely cameras, but I'm certain that in 10 or 20 years I will have replaced the S5 and kept the AE-1. Simply because film SLRs peaked back then - all that has happened since has been the addition of features that make you work easier and faster. I too love the metering needle, I find it far more intuitive and use it just as you describe above. dSLRs are not by any means worse than film SLRs, but they have not reached a technical peak yet and so are doomed to be made obsolete. I don't mind - my only regret is that I can't use my beautiful 50mm and 35 - 105mm FD lenses on new Canons - if I could do that I would have stuck with Canon but as it was there was no downside to changing. I have both – a Canon AE-1 from 1977 and a Fujifilm S5 Pro. They’re both lovely cameras, but I’m certain that in 10 or 20 years I will have replaced the S5 and kept the AE-1. Simply because film SLRs peaked back then – all that has happened since has been the addition of features that make you work easier and faster. I too love the metering needle, I find it far more intuitive and use it just as you describe above. dSLRs are not by any means worse than film SLRs, but they have not reached a technical peak yet and so are doomed to be made obsolete. I don’t mind – my only regret is that I can’t use my beautiful 50mm and 35 – 105mm FD lenses on new Canons – if I could do that I would have stuck with Canon but as it was there was no downside to changing.

]]> By: Lighting http://blog.epicedits.com/2008/04/04/the-slr-camera-then-and-now/comment-page-1/#comment-95048 Lighting Sat, 13 Sep 2008 14:17:54 +0000 http://blog.epicedits.com/?p=1879#comment-95048 It is amazing how things have changed. I used to carry film camera and bought first digital 5years ago. Upgraded to canon recently. It is amazing how things have changed. I used to carry film camera and bought first digital 5years ago. Upgraded to canon recently.

]]> By: 10 Things I Hate About Film http://blog.epicedits.com/2008/04/04/the-slr-camera-then-and-now/comment-page-1/#comment-94131 10 Things I Hate About Film Mon, 08 Sep 2008 03:42:47 +0000 http://blog.epicedits.com/?p=1879#comment-94131 [...] you ever seen one of those old film cameras? They’re like metal bricks. Those things will probably be around after the cockroaches go [...] [...] you ever seen one of those old film cameras? They’re like metal bricks. Those things will probably be around after the cockroaches go [...]

]]> By: san francisco photography http://blog.epicedits.com/2008/04/04/the-slr-camera-then-and-now/comment-page-1/#comment-86905 san francisco photography Tue, 22 Jul 2008 07:19:39 +0000 http://blog.epicedits.com/?p=1879#comment-86905 1 - we're all slaves to electricity. we're using computer for chrissakes. 2 - slowing down is great for some types of photography, awful for others. put your digital in manual exposure and manual focus modes if you want to slow down. 3 - i'll give you that one - the bigger viewfinders on film cameras are nice. 4 - you want a constant light meter, built into your camera? isn't that a convenience that makes you work faster? you should be using a handheld meter if you want to be consistent... otherwise, i'd prefer to go with the half-depressed shutter, then an instant histogram to see if i blew a highlight. 5 - there are aftermarket split-screen focusing screens available online for like $25. 1 – we’re all slaves to electricity. we’re using computer for chrissakes.

2 – slowing down is great for some types of photography, awful for others. put your digital in manual exposure and manual focus modes if you want to slow down.

3 – i’ll give you that one – the bigger viewfinders on film cameras are nice.

4 – you want a constant light meter, built into your camera? isn’t that a convenience that makes you work faster? you should be using a handheld meter if you want to be consistent… otherwise, i’d prefer to go with the half-depressed shutter, then an instant histogram to see if i blew a highlight.

5 – there are aftermarket split-screen focusing screens available online for like $25.

]]> By: 10 Things I Love About Film http://blog.epicedits.com/2008/04/04/the-slr-camera-then-and-now/comment-page-1/#comment-86050 10 Things I Love About Film Fri, 18 Jul 2008 08:31:46 +0000 http://blog.epicedits.com/?p=1879#comment-86050 [...] OLD CAMERAS Have you ever seen one of those old film cameras? They’re like metal bricks. Those things will probably be around after the cockroaches go [...] [...] OLD CAMERAS Have you ever seen one of those old film cameras? They’re like metal bricks. Those things will probably be around after the cockroaches go [...]

]]> By: Alvaro MAM http://blog.epicedits.com/2008/04/04/the-slr-camera-then-and-now/comment-page-1/#comment-83943 Alvaro MAM Mon, 07 Jul 2008 09:54:34 +0000 http://blog.epicedits.com/?p=1879#comment-83943 Nice article, I did my little own take at the same issue some days ago: http://alvaro.aycuens.com/post/40547704/creative-rut Funny how we have "focused" on almost the same points and of course our digitals of today, will be really hard to operate in the future, if they survive of course. Nice article, I did my little own take at the same issue some days ago:

http://alvaro.aycuens.com/post/40547704/creative-rut

Funny how we have “focused” on almost the same points and of course our digitals of today, will be really hard to operate in the future, if they survive of course.

]]>