Howdy!
The last roll of film I had developed cost me ten bucks, single prints with a CD. That was from my local guy who uses a lab here in town not like Walmart, Walgreens. The cost I've seen from those is close. Obviously, I do most of my shooting with my DSLR to keep costs down however, I'm relearning photography from the ground up and like you, I've found MANUAL and film cameras to be not only a learning experience that enhances my digital but it's FUN!!!
Once upon a time I was deep, deep DEEP into photography. Life led me into other directions and my photography turned into snapshots and then I went to the Powershot/cell phone cameras for a long while.
Getting back into it. Bought a nice used K1000 with the DLSR I chose to learn on, an older D50. I wanted something simple so I could learn digital and I've found the film camera (s) are forcing me to remember the basics.
Then I found a Mamiya 500TL, the almost-twin of the camera I learned on almost 40 years ago. Then I found a ME Super and with that came a poor Spotmatic II that needed a good home and lenses and... LOL, you get the idea.
Needless to say, I've been having WAY more fun with my film cameras! I've found the lack of 'auto' forces me to remember exposures, DOF and so on because the camera doesn't do it for you.
Now, don't get me wrong; I just bought a flash for my D50, I chose a Sunpak (didn't see spending $300 on a Speedlight) with minimal controls. In other words, the flash/camera does it all and wow, I am impressed with how easy it is with that setup to do properly exposed photos...99% of the time.
Odd though, I'm finding it easier to run my D50 on manual than auto and using the film cameras like I said, forces me to remember things that now, cameras do and I think, it will make me a better photographer...someday.
Here's an example; landscape, some water, sky, pretty clouds trees....on auto the D50 was HORRIBLY over-exposed...dummy, of course it was! With a DSLR you just fiddle and take another and another until the screen shot says you got it right...can't do that with a film camera...better remember all that 'stuff' and get it right or...
My K1000 is full manual like the 500TL but has a split prism. I like that. Both are super simple to use; set the shutter about where you want it for the light then use aperture to set the exposure. Of course, don't forget DOF, action shots...
My ME Super can be full manual or aperture/shutter priority and I just leave it on auto which is you pick the aperture, the camera picks the shutter and is the camera in the bag with my D50 currently (Soon as I finish the roll in it, I have a 'special roll of Ilford B&W to try in my 500TL) unless I'm up to something and then I play manual.
Give film a try! It's fun and I think you'll find it not only helps you to focus on the basics its just a JOY to use some of these older cameras which would otherwise be collecting dust somewhere!
Originally posted by alamo5000 I am an avid K-5 user but I see these older film bodies and for some strange reason it interests me a lot...
I have some manual lenses (and I can get more)... but I also have some F series auto focus lenses.
I don't know if I will be able to do it 'right now'... but I am interested in hearing opinions about having the capability to 'go film'...
First, I have no idea about the supposed cost to 'go film'... as in how much does a roll of film cost and how much is it to develop said roll (assuming I take it to some place and let them do it)...
As far as camera bodies go I think a couple of options exist...
To be honest it looks kind of interesting to me to go 'full manual'...So something like an Pentax MX looks kind of cool. I don't know if it needs batteries or anything like that... I would prefer something that is all out manual or capable of it... but there are so many choices...I kind of prefer I guess something K mount vs a screw mount option...
I think it's kind of interesting to go with 3 lenses only... 28mm, 35mm, and 50mm... and do it manual.
Likewise I could get a body that will let me use my F series lenses... I have two lenses... F28 and F50 1.7...but I don't know which bodies are those bodies that will allow me to use those lenses with autofocus capability.
In the end it's just an investment in a camera body (or two) and some more manual lenses....
But in the end I am wondering what exactly it is that I am 'really getting into'...
Please shed light on this by sharing your opinions