How to Evaluate and Test a Legacy Camera
Closing Thoughts and Resources
Legacy cameras are a blast to use. They will get you noticed and strangers will approach you and ask about them, so be prepared to tell people about your camera and listen to their reminiscences about their own film cameras.
If you've only ever shot a digital camera, using a film camera will change your photographic style, approach, and results. You will slow down when you take photos. You will take fewer photos. You will give more thought to your photos before you take them. In short order, you will notice that your photography is improving faster than it did with your digital gear. Your film photography habits will influence and improve your digital photography, too.
If you want to venture into film and legacy cameras to move into full frame, medium-, large-format photography, you will be stunned at how much the image quality improves over digital when the photo is taken well.
In any case, you will be exhilarated by your successful images and devastated when a missed setting or other accident ruins a shot. You may, for the first time, actually hold in your hands an image that you took -- something that you have never done if you've only shot digital.
Most surprisingly, you will be amazed at how much life your images have -- how static, in comparison, the digital photos look. And, in time, you will realize how much of what you learned taking film photos makes your digital work substantially better.
Additional Resources
Here are some useful links that will help you with your film journey. Some of these appeared in the article; they're gathered here in one place for easy reference.
Pentax Forums' User Camera Reviews
B&H Photo B&H is a great supporter of Pentax users. They can provide some legacy materials such as film but do not, on their website, have a used section.
B&H on eBay B&H has a GREAT photo closeout shop on eBay.
Adorma Adorama is one of my favorite online retailers for photographic equipment. I buy almost all of my new Pentax gear from them
Adorama on eBay Adorama has a pretty good eBay site, too.
KEH KEH has, I think, the best selection of used Pentax gear for any online retailer. I've bought lenses for my Pentax 6X7 from KEH and found that their lenses are always better, in my view, than their rating system states.
KEH on eBay KEH runs one of the best two or three legacy photography equipment stores on eBay.
Yodobashi Along with Adorama, this is the other store I use for new Pentax equipment purchases. If you're in Japan, this is the best Pentax source
Henry's For readers in Canda, Henry's has a nice online selection of Pentax gear including legacy equipment.
Once you have your film camera, here are some great resources for film:
Freestyle Photo This is the best resource in the U.S. for film and analog photography supplies, bar none.
Ultrafine Film Ultrafine is controversial. I like it but it performs best with a yellow filter on the lens. A lot of people don't like it. If you like Arista, Foma, or Kentmere, you will probably like Ultrafine as they have similar characteristics.
Film Emporium After you've shot for a while, Film Emporium is a good place to look for motion picture stocks. They're sold in large bulk quantities (400- and 1,000-foot spools) and are cheaper by the frame than still film. THey do require some special development and are best suited for people who spool and develop their film at home. That said, if you're looking for unmatched black and white character, check out Kodak Double-X 5222 some day.
There are other great Pentax retailers out there. If you know of one, feel free to link to them in the comments.
Also, for more camera-specific information, here are some of my YouTube channel's links:
- various lens defects
- basic camera maintenance and upkeep
- neat and inexpensive DIY ideas for film and digital photography
- all the Pentax camera video manuals that I've recorded. (As a note, I have a number of them scripted and pending recording soon, including the MX, original Asahi Pentax and K, and others.)
Video Guide
The video below covers most parts of this article. Visit David's youtube channel for more helpful details.
