tgray Posted February 22, 2010 Share #21 Posted February 22, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) I made the jump about 4 years ago. Went from DSLR -> SLR -> M6. Now I shoot mostly with an M7 and some different lenses (got rid of the 50/2) and am very happy. If you don't mind developing and scanning, or want to set up a darkroom, its a great way to go. If I were you, I'd do this: First, keep the 5D and lens for a little bit and pick up a used Canon Elan 7. Should be able to get one around $100. Use your current lens. See if you even like film. If you do, sell it all (or keep it) and try an RF. You might really NOT like RF. Also, since you have a DSLR and a zoom lens, look through your photos and see what focal lengths you use the most. If you end up at 35mm or 24mm more than 50, maybe get a 35mm lens. If you are always at 100mm, maybe RF isn't the right thing for you. Of if you do a bunch of macro, etc. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 22, 2010 Posted February 22, 2010 Hi tgray, Take a look here Making The Jump To Film.... I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
smb Posted February 22, 2010 Share #22 Posted February 22, 2010 The first thing that you will experience is a slow down in your shooting style. You will need to decide which film to use and under what conditions will I be shooting. You will be more cautious with each shot as there are only 24/36 per roll. You will be manually focusing on the subject. Instead of a vf lens you will have one focal length and that will necessitate you moving forward or backward. You will also consider the workmanship of the lab developing your film & making your prints. The camera is lighter which is a great benefit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted February 22, 2010 Share #23 Posted February 22, 2010 Whatever M (or other film camera) you get, you have to buy a film open the cardboard box and the inner container. Then you need to be sitting down comfortable cause there is a (steep) learning curve to loading the film successfully, initially the first time and then 100% of the time subsequently, chewing gum and walking is easy loading an M and walking more difficult. The instruction booklet is simple and thin unlike a dig cam but it is still difficult... they are available on the web. When you have finished the 36, you then need to rewind, this takes a while, before opening the camera, it is easy to forget this, e.g. you can reload the same film and get 72 exposures on top of one another, unless you are disciplined. Seen this done. If you have bought the correct film (i.e. C41) drop it at mini lab and request CDROM scan no prints. When you are happy you will want to process your own for the better quality, perhaps print your own on silver gelatine paper, a scanner is only needed for web pub. Lots of the processing kit can be got for taking away, cause previous owners are going digital. Film is not like a memory card it can be as annoying as a Diamond back rattle snake. If you want you can use the same (model of) camera, lens, film and technique, HCB or Winograd used, but you gotta learn the basics above first, (and to be an artist like Nikkor AIS, or HCB). Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTM Posted February 25, 2010 Author Share #24 Posted February 25, 2010 Well I'm making the jump...sod it I've earned it this year! Trading in my SLR and heading over to Aperture in London to see what kind of deal/advice they can give me. Hoping the mint M6 is still there and now weighing up between the 50mm and 24mm lens... Price may determine that for me though hehe... Then to load up on 100 rolls of film as trash shoots to work out how to use the sucka. If the excitement is anything to go by the actual handling of it should give me wood. Ahem. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted February 25, 2010 Share #25 Posted February 25, 2010 Don't forget their carrot and ginger juice. They have several M6 but their M2 are cheaper, they also have a CV 40 f1.4, nice compromise if you are not planning on 2x3 foot murals in the Tate modern Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FiZZ Posted February 28, 2010 Share #26 Posted February 28, 2010 I have an M2 I bought last June/July. I used to shoot film since college (a few years now) and never liked digital cameras. The RF jump will change the way you view the world. Here are a few links I think I picked up from this forum. The Online Photographer: Why It Has To Be a Leica The Online Photographer: What Can't Digital Do for Me? And my personal favorite: The Online Photographer: The Leica as Teacher I find the M2 incredible. It has no light meter, so a lot of my exposures are incorrect, but outdoors I just use sunny 16 or the meter from another camera. Its fairly accurate. You can find it cheaper with an external meter like the Voightlander VC. Not too sure whether you should sell your 5D. I still have a dSLR and I use that mostly for snaps or quick results. As for a lens, ask what you'll be doing mostly with it. I shoot mostly street, so I have a 35mm and a 50mm that I'm very happy with. Frankly, if you're going to be shooting anything other than street or journalism, then I don't recommend the switch. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTM Posted February 28, 2010 Author Share #27 Posted February 28, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Thanks for the links I made the jump on Friday - M6 with 50mm Leica lens. *wipes away tears* It's beautful! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest maddoc2003jp Posted February 28, 2010 Share #28 Posted February 28, 2010 Taken with Leica M7 and 28 Voitglander 1.8 ASPH on XP2 film Great shot ! Cheers, Gabor Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
antistatic Posted March 1, 2010 Share #29 Posted March 1, 2010 Thanks for the links I made the jump on Friday - M6 with 50mm Leica lens. *wipes away tears* It's beautful! As we say in Australia, "Goodonya Mate". Looking forward to seeing your results in the photo section. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTM Posted March 1, 2010 Author Share #30 Posted March 1, 2010 I just shot my first round of 36 on the Leica. *cries manically* I don't know what I'm doing! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
3rdtrick Posted March 1, 2010 Share #31 Posted March 1, 2010 Another cheap alternative... Buy an old RF camera like a Canonet or Yaschica Minister. I often find these at flea markets and pawn shops for $5 - $20. Just make sure that the light seals are good and shoot some film. I have done the scanning thing and it is a drag so try to find a good lab that will develop and scan for you. Pete Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
3rdtrick Posted March 1, 2010 Share #32 Posted March 1, 2010 I just shot my first round of 36 on the Leica. ! All in the time I took to write my post... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ducttape Posted March 3, 2010 Share #33 Posted March 3, 2010 I just shot my first round of 36 on the Leica. *cries manically* I don't know what I'm doing! Years with M6 ttl, M7, and then M8. I swapped out the M8 for an MP about 6 rolls ago. In my heart, I LOVE it. In my mind, I echo you " what am I doing'? Why aren't these pictures coming out like I saw them in the viewfinder? In my mind? Color? Density? Drats, forgot the framing lines, again. Still, the curve is shortening and I am confident I will get it again. You will too. Reading the thread, NO one above said it was a cake walk, but everyone said it was worth the effort. I agree 100% Post some work d Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTM Posted March 3, 2010 Author Share #34 Posted March 3, 2010 I've booked myself in for a cheeky little 1-1 with a pro so I can get some advice. I'm so out of my depth it's unreal. I wasted about 7 rolls of films working out how to load the bastard! Not exactly rocket science!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdozier Posted March 4, 2010 Share #35 Posted March 4, 2010 Congrats, my 1st Leica was an M6 and 50 'cron as well. I can tell you want to love it, so with a bit of patience I suspect you'll be comfortable with it in no time. You'll see that a 50 'cron with b+w films can be a pretty forgiving tool for a wide range of conditions. My advice, concentrate on composure and exposure and take a few notes as you shoot so you can learn from what you get vs. what you thought you would get. I hope you have many years of enjoyment, I know I have. A bit of help on loading: Ignore the rapid winder base he uses; the loading however is the same. all the best. m Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew748 Posted March 5, 2010 Share #36 Posted March 5, 2010 I've booked myself in for a cheeky little 1-1 with a pro so I can get some advice. I'm so out of my depth it's unreal. I wasted about 7 rolls of films working out how to load the bastard! Not exactly rocket science!! been there, done it have, a rather nice t-shirt to commemorate the event Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTM Posted March 5, 2010 Author Share #37 Posted March 5, 2010 Have to say I love the feel of it, can instantly see what people are saying about the joy of shooting with it. Even winding the film on feels good. Don't ask me why. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted March 5, 2010 Share #38 Posted March 5, 2010 Have to say I love the feel of it, can instantly see what people are saying about the joy of shooting with it. Even winding the film on feels good. Don't ask me why. I hope you tried the carrot and ginger in Aperture as well? The use manual is available via Google and M6 + user ..., for an M6 it is necessary, an M2 you might do without one. On photo outings we normally wait until one of the digital people is alone and hand over an M2 and ask for it to be wound on, digital person has curious expression, eventually he or she winds on, now take my photo, ah ok they say and go click. At that point their expression is a picture but they are holding your M2... So they ask how much is this and you say 400 GBP, and it takes your current lenses, oh they say. True story... Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTM Posted March 5, 2010 Author Share #39 Posted March 5, 2010 I'll be honest Xmas, you baffle me sir. I like you, but you baffle me. It's a digital vs film thing I think. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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