p.2 #1 · Your thoughts on qualtiy+compact film camera vs x100vi/Fuji apsc digital
Yogifi wrote:
It's been a bit difficult to find some of the recommended ones in reasonable condition + light meter.
So I've been looking at Canon AE1-P since I might be able to get it with the nfd 50mm f1.4 which I wanted to test out anyway a while back but moved on without doing so. Otherwise I see an Olympus OM10 that looks in okay condition with a lens.
Always depends if you can get them in good working condition and at a good price.
The Canon is quite popular so might be on the higher side in terms of price. The OM10 is a pretty simple aperture-priority camera (it can do manual shutter speeds with an adapter) - I wouldn't pay more than €50-80 for one tbh, but sometimes there are good deals when it comes with a 50mm f1.8.
You could also look for some Minoltas. They're often less popular / better value-for-money because the brand isn't around anymore: X700, XG-M, XG-1 are some options.
p.2 #2 · Your thoughts on qualtiy+compact film camera vs x100vi/Fuji apsc digital
Thank you all, I think I will go with either the FM2n or the x700 as I have lenses for both and I'm seeing a few where the seller states the light meter still works well.
I held onto my first lens, nikon 50mm f1.4 AFD but manual focus on it isn't great.
I also have the 50mm f1.4 MC rokkor PG, which I prefer. But I think I prefer the nikon body.
Will try and make a decision tonight as ebay have a small discount.
The Yashica electro 35 GX also looks awesome, just worried about the light meter. It looks really good though
For scanning I'll get the store to do it for now, otherwise maybe the VALOI easy35 as I have the a7cii and an old sigma 105mm macro I used to use with the x-e3 that I already have the adaptor for.
Thanks so much all, much appreciated!
-- grabbed the nikon, batteries and some kodak gold 200 and portra 400. Gold 200 seems to be the popular one here due to the price (about 60% of the portra 400 price ... which is around $23.50 per 36 exposure roll when you buy in a pack of 5, yeesh). Ultramax is similar to the gold.
I also doubly appreciate keeping me away from an expensive purchase like the MP. I realised it might not actually quite work out the way I was expecting when I put my eye to the viewfinder on the A7Cii and was manually focussing the nikon and saw myself zoom-in twice out of habit .... and then I was thinking hold on, im supposed to focus this without zooming in on a film camera. And this is when 50mm covers the whole viewfinder!!
When at first I was thinking about lenses wide open etc. No wonder people use sunny 16.
And I was watching videos about people scanning their film and they're still having to tweak the RGB curves in lightroom, maybe even more than I usually do to get more accurate colours.
Anyway I'm still very much looking forward to shooting analogue and giving it ago, glad I didn't get something too expensive right away (wtf was I thinking) but still something that I think should be a decent one as that might be the one I stick with ... other than maybe that new point and shoot that was brought up from lomo down the line maybe.
Let me just work on getting things in focus while keeping some bokeh.
I feel like they could release a new compact and reasonably priced rangefinder/slr today with working lightmeters to keep film alive - though I think lomo probably has the right idea with basically p&s. Maybe Kodak should be doing it with the popularity of portra and leica taking things too far being basically the only show in town.
p.2 #3 · Your thoughts on qualtiy+compact film camera vs x100vi/Fuji apsc digital
So you went with the FM2n? Congrats!
I've got its cousin (aunt?), an FE. Love mine. Having 2 M bodies does not make it redundant. Matter of fact, I've had 3 issues with Ms while the humble FE has been absolutely reliable the whole time.
Regarding scanning. Since you've already got the macro setup. There is a handy phone app (don't remember the name sorry) you could use as a makeshift light source. It does surprisingly decent job. Cut a makeshift negative holder from 2 straight pieces of cardboard. I did that before upgrading to a proper setup, and got better results than the average lab scans.
p.2 #4 · Your thoughts on qualtiy+compact film camera vs x100vi/Fuji apsc digital
burchyk wrote:
So you went with the FM2n? Congrats!
I've got its cousin (aunt?), an FE. Love mine. Having 2 M bodies does not make it redundant. Matter of fact, I've had 3 issues with Ms while the humble FE has been absolutely reliable the whole time.
Regarding scanning. Since you've already got the macro setup. There is a handy phone app (don't remember the name sorry) you could use as a makeshift light source. It does surprisingly decent job. Cut a makeshift negative holder from 2 straight pieces of cardboard. I did that before upgrading to a proper setup, and got better results than the average lab scans.
And nice tip, thank you. I didn't get a good look at the light source shown in the easy35 thing I mentioned earlier but the brief clip I saw of it it didn't look the absolute cleanest but people seemed to like the results with it. I bet the phone is quite a bit cleaner, not sure if that matters. I'll give that a go, thanks!
p.2 #6 · Your thoughts on qualtiy+compact film camera vs x100vi/Fuji apsc digital
Good choice of cameras. I’ll toss in my opinions regarding various ‘M’ cameras should the topic arise, but right now, just a mention regarding film choice. First, you are in a major center for creating images, developing film and brick and mortar camera stores.
You might research shooting Kodak Vision 3 cinema films respooled for your new camera. Kodak is transitioning these from old stock which includes a black anti-halation layer which must be removed prior to development to an AHU technology that provides anti-halation, but like other film stocks, can be processed in normal C41 chemicals vs the cinema film specific ECN2 process. Plenty of YouTube content to cover every aspect of these films. Have fun with your new camera and process.
p.2 #8 · Your thoughts on qualtiy+compact film camera vs x100vi/Fuji apsc digital
bwcolor wrote:
Good choice of cameras. I’ll toss in my opinions regarding various ‘M’ cameras should the topic arise, but right now, just a mention regarding film choice. First, you are in a major center for creating images, developing film and brick and mortar camera stores.
You might research shooting Kodak Vision 3 cinema films respooled for your new camera. Kodak is transitioning these from old stock which includes a black anti-halation layer which must be removed prior to development to an AHU technology that provides anti-halation, but like other film stocks, can be processed in normal C41 chemicals vs the cinema film specific ECN2 process. Plenty of YouTube content to cover every aspect of these films. Have fun with your new camera and process....Show more →
Appreciate the info it's the first I've heard of it and will keep it in mind. A little much for me at the moment but I will refer back to your post if I run into the topic again.
It's funny, there's so much talk on the digital side of adding halation to images.
RoamingScott wrote:
Now grab a Voigt 28/2.8 Color Skopar, Nikon 35/2, or Voigt 40/2 Ultron for F mount and blast away =)
Appreciate the suggestions and I'll come back to this if I want to add wider lenses.
I've been trying to plan ahead for a 50mm to replace the 1.4 AF-D as the focus turning is so bad. I know the AI/s ones are supposed to be much better at manual focus...
Then I picked up a whiff of Voigtlander F mount lenses - the 58mm f1.4 and 55mm f1.2.
I was leaning towards the 58mm f1.4 but unsure. I'm thinking about them purely for the purpose of photos with people in them, and I'm not looking for 50mm f2 AI sharpness for those, just enough, and with a bit of character that isn't distracting and gives a nice feel, like the nokton 50mm/40mm f1.2 - but perhaps a little (little) bit more vintage but not boring.
But I thought let's just see if I can even focus anything at f1.4-f2 with the afd first, see how the roll turns out, how I like film etc. Just planning ahead.
I'll probably end up using whatever I get close to f2 and not at their widest, but appreciate how large aperture lenses can still look better in various ways than one with a max aperture at f2 for example, or even the same aperture.
I know the 58mm f1.4 has less vintage bokeh, just there isn't that much talk on them here, and had read up as many reviews and comparisons and videos online - but it's not like there are big groups on flickr for them. The one thread I found on it here, the OP returned the lens but I also know most of the people commenting are using it on digital.
I heard of the over-exposure with the 58mm f1.4 but not sure if that's going to affect me with the fm2n and setting the aperture with the lens.
p.2 #9 · Your thoughts on qualtiy+compact film camera vs x100vi/Fuji apsc digital
Having owned a lot of Nikon lenses over the years, in 50mm the best combination of performance and handling is the 50 2.0. Its smaller size is a perfect fit for the FN2n and the rendering has been compared to the Summicron. Since Nikon made so many of them, they’re quite affordable. Look for either a AI or AI-s version.
p.2 #10 · Your thoughts on qualtiy+compact film camera vs x100vi/Fuji apsc digital
I own the 50 1.4 D AF, rhe 50 1.8g AF and the manual focus is terrible because the focus throw is so short, and frankly the very loose feel because they are meant to be used in AF. Also on the D lenses, the aperture rings are nasty to use with a plasticky stiction feeling.
For my manual focus Nikon cameras I use the superb Voigtlander 40mm f2, the Nikon 45mm 2.8 AI-P, the Zeiss ZF 50 1.4 (great feel, results and size), the ZF 50 f2 MakroPlanar and the old 55 1.2.
As madNbad mentioned, the nikkor 50 f2 is a superb choice w the bonus of being cheap. I also like the 50 1.8 ‘long nose’ as the design recesses the front element giving it more protection and acting as a de facto lens hood.
The funny thing about this is if you went the Leica route, a Summicron 50 f2 is about $1k give or take, while a Nikon 50 f2 is under $100. And your pics will look the same.
p.2 #11 · Your thoughts on qualtiy+compact film camera vs x100vi/Fuji apsc digital
Yogifi wrote:
Appreciate the info it's the first I've heard of it and will keep it in mind. A little much for me at the moment but I will refer back to your post if I run into the topic again.
It's funny, there's so much talk on the digital side of adding halation to images.
Appreciate the suggestions and I'll come back to this if I want to add wider lenses.
I've been trying to plan ahead for a 50mm to replace the 1.4 AF-D as the focus turning is so bad. I know the AI/s ones are supposed to be much better at manual focus...
Then I picked up a whiff of Voigtlander F mount lenses - the 58mm f1.4 and 55mm f1.2.
I was leaning towards the 58mm f1.4 but unsure. I'm thinking about them purely for the purpose of photos with people in them, and I'm not looking for 50mm f2 AI sharpness for those, just enough, and with a bit of character that isn't distracting and gives a nice feel, like the nokton 50mm/40mm f1.2 - but perhaps a little (little) bit more vintage but not boring.
But I thought let's just see if I can even focus anything at f1.4-f2 with the afd first, see how the roll turns out, how I like film etc. Just planning ahead.
I'll probably end up using whatever I get close to f2 and not at their widest, but appreciate how large aperture lenses can still look better in various ways than one with a max aperture at f2 for example, or even the same aperture.
I know the 58mm f1.4 has less vintage bokeh, just there isn't that much talk on them here, and had read up as many reviews and comparisons and videos online - but it's not like there are big groups on flickr for them. The one thread I found on it here, the OP returned the lens but I also know most of the people commenting are using it on digital.
I heard of the over-exposure with the 58mm f1.4 but not sure if that's going to affect me with the fm2n and setting the aperture with the lens....Show more →
The Voigtländer lenses are 100% compatible with the Nikon FM2n. They behave just like Nikon Ai-S glass (technically Ai-P because of the CPU contacts).
I own the 55mm f1.2 as well as the Nikon 50mm f1.4 Ai-S (and also have a 50mm f1.4 AF-D - same lens optically). The Voigtländer is beautifully made, but the Nikon is sharper and signficantly lighter, so I end up using it more often than the Voigtländer. Both are significantly better at f2 than wide-open, both in terms of sharpness but also bokeh quality imo.
The Nikon 50mm f2 is also a really nice lens and one of my favorites. I have a single-coated Nikkor-H variant that was made Ai-compatible, but easier to go for an Ai-version straight away. This is btw something you need to watch out for with legacy Nikon lenses in general - using a Non-Ai lens on the FM2n can damage the lens mount.
p.2 #12 · Your thoughts on qualtiy+compact film camera vs x100vi/Fuji apsc digital
I had the CV 58 and sold it pretty fast. It's HEAVY on a small Nikon film body and I didn't really like the rendering (but it's a Nokton and I've hated every Nokton I've tried).
p.2 #13 · Your thoughts on qualtiy+compact film camera vs x100vi/Fuji apsc digital
I did see comparisons on the 50mm f2 ai and the summicron and I'm with you guys, if I was looking for a 50 general purpose, that would be the one I get.
It's just I'm specifically looking for people shots and the sharpness isn't the main thing for me there typically with digital. I understand on film it's a little more important so it gets through. But I was hoping for something with a bit more flare (figuratively speaking).
Nikon 58mm f1.2 is extremely expensive to pick up used but does look good.
CV 55mm f1.2 is most similar to the 55mm f1.2 from Nikon but a bit less to worry about in terms of picking up a clean one.
Want to avoid the rabbit hole I went into with the 50mms on Sony where I just got everything to test out and that will be harder to do with film. I dunno. It's okay will give it a go with the 50f1.4 afd for now. Thanks again.
p.2 #14 · Your thoughts on qualtiy+compact film camera vs x100vi/Fuji apsc digital
fjablo wrote:
The Voigtländer lenses are 100% compatible with the Nikon FM2n. They behave just like Nikon Ai-S glass (technically Ai-P because of the CPU contacts).
I own the 55mm f1.2 as well as the Nikon 50mm f1.4 Ai-S (and also have a 50mm f1.4 AF-D - same lens optically). The Voigtländer is beautifully made, but the Nikon is sharper and signficantly lighter, so I end up using it more often than the Voigtländer. Both are significantly better at f2 than wide-open, both in terms of sharpness but also bokeh quality imo.
The Nikon 50mm f2 is also a really nice lens and one of my favorites. I have a single-coated Nikkor-H variant that was made Ai-compatible, but easier to go for an Ai-version straight away. This is btw something you need to watch out for with legacy Nikon lenses in general - using a Non-Ai lens on the FM2n can damage the lens mount. ...Show more →
I missed this post when I wrote my previous response. Thank you very much for the trouble of going to get those links - I've actually been through all of bastian's work on this and I'm still not sure after reading them twice!
I will definitely remember that about non-aiS lenses and will hold off on the voigtlander for now. Let's see what my 50mm f1.4 AFd can do at f2 first, thank you kindly.
RoamingScott wrote:
I had the CV 58 and sold it pretty fast. It's HEAVY on a small Nikon film body and I didn't really like the rendering (but it's a Nokton and I've hated every Nokton I've tried).
I absolutely love the nokton 40 and 50mm f1.2 at around f1.6 - f2. This is why it's so hard to get an idea of some of these lenses from comments. Appreciate it's a different preference.
Even with reviews, I know what I don't want from reviews, but I don't know if it's what I want. I just want portrait portraits portraits but know from personal experience how hard it is to get someone to sit for those, let alone regular reviews. Bastian usually has a portrait in the same image, he had one of the 55mm f1.2 @ f1.2 that was lovely.
I know most prefer tighter focal lengths for those but I'm shooting family and friends not models and the modern digital is just too much.
Really... I want something that will perform and render similar to this at that distance:
< removed to not ruin peoples fun with their stuff (trust me) >
