Leica Film Odyssey for a beginner

[Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS]

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You can't change the ISO on film mid roll, if you decide to shoot it at 400 you must keep it at 400. 

 

I agree with others in that you should just stick to the films rated ISO and don't even bother yourself thinking about all the other stuff it will just confuse you even more. 

 

Get the camera, load it with the film, set the ISO and shoot away. Do read the manual about how your meter works though, it's not like the meter in your other cameras, it's more like a fat spot meter. 

Cheers James.

I've read the manual half a dozen times already mate, and plan to keep reading it again and again until I pick the camera up on Saturday :)

The large fat spot meter is locked in already

[rpavich]

Thanks Keith but unfortunately I don't do books, I think in my lifetime I have read about 3 books and I can't even remember what they were. I know I have missed out by not reading books but it is what it is.

 

As others have said, this is where photographs belong, in print, in books, a physical medium. Photos online just aren't the same...trust me.

 

 

I am going to stick with the Tri X400 and not worry about it. I would be lying if I said I was going to take notes, that ain't going to happen either. I'm just going to go out and shoot and take it from there.

 

I know just how you feel...you are anxious to get going and taking notes seems like a lot of hassle, but trust me, after you've shot 20 rolls with results that are all over the map, light, dark, underexposed, overexposed, underdeveloped, overdeveloped, etc...you will come to a point where you realize that you have two choices; to get a bit organized and remember what you've done to each roll, or keep doing what you are doing and not making any real forward progress. I think (based on what happened to me) that you'll choose to take notes.

 

I will do like everyone says, I will shoot ISO 400 and get the film developed at 400. Like I mentioned earlier in the thread I am not a complete plonker when it comes to photography, but I am new to Film...........I think I am going to surprise not only me, but all of you with the results............

Well good...that's good that you are doing that, and I hope you get good results! Please post what you get, we're anxious to see them.

 

The proof is in the pudding they say, so stay posted and I should have either a bunch of crap or some nice pictures to post on here and on my website by the middle of April

 

I'll keep an eye out

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[earleygallery]

If you really need to change ISO midway through a roll it's better to just take out the film (noting how many frames you've shot) and load up a new roll. Or have a second camera body….

[Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS]

 

 

Well good...that's good that you are doing that, and I hope you get good results! Please post what you get, we're anxious to see them.

 

 

I'll keep an eye out

 

In the mean time you can check out my other stuff here

[Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS]

If you really need to change ISO midway through a roll it's better to just take out the film (noting how many frames you've shot) and load up a new roll. Or have a second camera body….

James I was going to ask that question.

If say I am out shooting in town with my 400 ISO film and a really colourful parade or something that needs color comes along and I just happen to have a roll of color film in my pocket (I promise I won't do that) but just say in 6 months time I did decide to have that roll of color film with me, whats the process of changing rolls mid stroke, and what happens with the unused frames??

[earleygallery]

Just rewind the film (being careful not to wind it fully into the cassette) and then load the new film. When you want to use the rest of the first film, load it in the camera, and shoot off however many frames you had already taken - with the lens cap on!! (and and extra frame or two just to be sure you don't overlap with the exposed part). 

Edited March 27, 2016 by earleygallery

[hepcat]

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Thanks Keith but unfortunately I don't do books, I think in my lifetime I have read about 3 books and I can't even remember what they were. I know I have missed out by not reading books but it is what it is.

 

I am going to stick with the Tri X400 and not worry about it. I would be lying if I said I was going to take notes, that ain't going to happen either. I'm just going to go out and shoot and take it from there.

 

The proof is in the pudding they say, so stay posted and I should have either a bunch of crap or some nice pictures to post on here and on my website by the middle of April

Neil,  it is entirely possible that you are a prodigy and intuitively will figure out what to do; however,  it seems to me that you are at a crossroads.  You said you really thought your friend's Leica photos were "fantastic" and you want to do that too.

 

Since the early 1900s people have been taking bad snapshots with film cameras...  the early Kodaks, the early '70s Instamatics and Polaroids...  and buying expensive 35mm cameras to take snapshots with, most of them automated to some degree... and still over-and-under exposing, missing focus, having too much or too little DOF, and then trusting their snapshots to photo labs, and later, crappy one-hour labs.

 

Meanwhile photographers learned and perfected their craft.  Fortunately, you'll be able to take snapshots with a Leica flim camera.  They may not be any better, however, than those millions of snapshots taken be folks with cameras for over a hundred years, unless you are willing to do your homework and learn your craft.  It's the nuances in producing images with film that distinguish a snapshot from a work of art... and being able to nuance the photo requires that you completely understand a number of disciplines.  

 

There are ways to do that...  I myself went to photo school nearly a half-century ago, and then apprenticed for a couple of years, and then continued to learn what I was doing for the next ten or so on my own.    To blow my own horn, I excel in technical and forensic photography; macro. and large-scene lighting.  Give me a difficult fingerprint on a low-contrast surface, or a blown 12v bulb element from a boating accident, or hair and fiber evidence, and I'll give you a perfect court exhibit. I'm a pretty good photo-journalist and have worked for a couple of publications.   I can do passable portraiture, weddings, large groups, architecture, and advertising work.  I'm absolutely a hack when it comes to fine arts work... but I'm enjoying playing at it in my semi-retirement.

 

There are other folks who have learned the craft in various other ways...  it's not rocket science, but it IS chemistry and the physics of the properties of light; particularly when you're working with silver halide black and white emulsions.  If you don't understand how filters work to block various frequencies of light, and their nuances, you're severely limiting yourself.  If you don't understand exposure and how it affects silver halide emulsions, you're limiting yourself.   If you don't understand the chemical properties of film emulsion and the various developers, you're severely limiting yourself.  You'll get images, certainly.  But they'll be snapshot-quality and likely nothing more... not because your eye isn't good, or your gear isn't up to it, but because you just don't know what's required to expose an image to make it look like you think it ought to look.

 

So, your crossroads is this... you find someone with whom to apprentice who can guide you on your journey, or you read about it in depth.  In books.  And then you experiment until you understand the material   Internet memes just don't have the quality or depth of material you need.   Making 'fantastic' images isn't done in soundbites and ten second videos...  it's the long-term acquisition of knowledge and the ability to apply that knowledge to your shooting in the field that will give you those 'fantastic' images.  

 

Whatever you choose, I wish you well!  I'm looking forward to seeing your 'fantastic' images. 

[rpavich]

...

 

So, your crossroads is this... you find someone with whom to apprentice who can guide you on your journey, or you read about it in depth.  In books.  And then you experiment until you understand the material   Internet memes just don't have the quality or depth of material you need.   Making 'fantastic' images isn't done in soundbites and ten second videos...  it's the long-term acquisition of knowledge and the ability to apply that knowledge to your shooting in the field that will give you those 'fantastic' images.

FWIW: I WISH I had someone who had a lot of film experience and lived within reasonable driving distance so I could do just that, learn from them in person.

 

Hepcat is 100% correct here.

[@McLeica]

Mate I dont do books...........I enjoy reading articles on the web about photography, I enjoy chatting on forums about photography, but most of all I like looking at photos on the web 1000's of them, paying attention to competition, lighting, camera settings (if the show them) etc etc............. I just don't do books

 

Tried a Kindle? 

[Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS]

Hepcat. I agree I am at a crossroads, turn left and if you get a fantastic picture great, if you don't NO BIG DEAL. Turn right and if you get a fantastic picture great, and if you don't NO BIG DEAL

I do this for FUN, thats all it is to me fun, I work my ass of on an Oil rig and have done for the last 36 years. When I come home I want to relax and have fun.

 

ABSOLUTELY I want to learn how to take pictures with a film camera but only if its fun, not reading books not going to school just go out and shoot film and if I get crappy pictures my wife and kids still have dinner, if I get some snap shots I will post them on FB and if I get some (to me ) fantastic pictures I will post them on my website and on here.

 

I really appreciate all the help everyone has given me in this thread and for the last 3 years that I have been coming to this forum, I just don't need stuff shoved down the back of my throat, you have to do this you have to do that...............I just want to go out and take some pictures and have fun

Thanks

Neil 

[@McLeica]

Just rewind the film (being careful not to wind it fully into the cassette) and then load the new film. When you want to use the rest of the first film, load it in the camera, and shoot off however many frames you had already taken - with the lens cap on!! (and and extra frame or two just to be sure you don't overlap with the exposed part). 

 

Arrrggghhhh! I'd fail miserably at that, but great suggestion.

[rpavich]

I really appreciate all the help everyone has given me in this thread and for the last 3 years that I have been coming to this forum, I just don't need stuff shoved down the back of my throat, you have to do this you have to do that...............I just want to go out and take some pictures and have fun

Thanks

Neil

Not a problem, everyone does what makes them happy.

 

FWIW: you asked, we were just giving you the benefit of having already been where you are now, that's all. We weren't shoving anything down your throat, sorry if it came off that way.

 

Have fun and good luck.

Edited March 27, 2016 by rpavich

[spydrxx]

Neil - just do it and have fun...if you get frustrated come back here...lots of helpful folks who can guide you, and you don't need books if you don't want.

 

Rapierwitman - the process sounds difficult. In practice it is pretty easy. The trick, I've found, is to mark on the leader how many shots you have exposed so that you know how many to run off before taking a new shot on the roll.

[Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS]

Tried a Kindle? 

 

Mate I bought a kindle when they first came out, loaded up about 200 bucks or porn (only kidding just books) and gave it to a roughneck at the end of the hitch     

[Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS]

 

FWIW: you asked, we were just giving you the benefit of having already been where you are now, that's all. We weren't shoving anything down your throat, sorry if it came off that way.

 

 

I know and my spouting off didn't come over the way it was meant to either; but anyway I'm not going away, I've bought a M6 so I need to know how to use it...........well after 155 posts I had better know how to use it (which I think I do). I just wish that frigging helicopter would hurry up and take me home so that I can get my hands on it

[Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS]

Any problems leaving film in a camera unused for 28 days at a time, or should I plan to use it up before I head back to the rig?

[Matlock]

Any problems leaving film in a camera unused for 28 days at a time, or should I plan to use it up before I head back to the rig?

 

It is probably not advisable to leave the film in the camera too long. However I came across a camera that I don't use that often and remembered that the film (part exposed) had been in the camera for over 18 months. I shot off the remaining frames and, when processed, there was no discernible difference between the frames. Film is very forgiving.

[hepcat]

Hepcat. I agree I am at a crossroads, turn left and if you get a fantastic picture great, if you don't NO BIG DEAL. Turn right and if you get a fantastic picture great, and if you don't NO BIG DEAL

I do this for FUN, thats all it is to me fun, I work my ass of on an Oil rig and have done for the last 36 years. When I come home I want to relax and have fun.

 

ABSOLUTELY I want to learn how to take pictures with a film camera but only if its fun, not reading books not going to school just go out and shoot film and if I get crappy pictures my wife and kids still have dinner, if I get some snap shots I will post them on FB and if I get some (to me ) fantastic pictures I will post them on my website and on here.

 

I really appreciate all the help everyone has given me in this thread and for the last 3 years that I have been coming to this forum, I just don't need stuff shoved down the back of my throat, you have to do this you have to do that...............I just want to go out and take some pictures and have fun

Thanks

Neil 

 

Neil, you're right, photography SHOULD be fun.  in the 45 years I've been practicing the craft, I've been able to go places and photograph events that other "mere mortals" can only speculate about and every terror-and-exhaustion-filled minute has been the ride of my life.  You're absolutely right that it's the experiences you have while you're making images is THE important thing.

 

That said, your original post said that your acquaintance made 'fantastic' photos with a film Leica, and so you were going to go and buy one.   That indicates that you thought that the camera and recording medium had at least something to do with the 'fantastic' images.  I've made some absolutely dreadful images with a Leica over the years as well...  all I'm trying to get across to you is that the camera and medium are the LEAST important part of making an image...  it's the eye and brain behind the camera that causes an image to be either stunning, or crap.   Nobody is shoving anything down your throat...  we're just trying to cushion the blow a little after you spend $6k or $7k for a camera and lens and still have 'crappy' pictures.

 

Think of it this way...  you had a very forgiving and totally automated DSLR that did ALL of the work, with which you made 3,000 exposures a day and had almost no good images to show for your efforts.  When you slowed down to 200 images a day with your totally automated DSLR, you had a few keepers.  What do you suppose your keeper rate is going to be when the camera does NOTHING for you but make the shutter go 'click.?'

 

Since you're a roughneck, I'll give you another example...   I was in the Navy, and I still sail, so I'm familiar with large vessels and heavy machinery. I know that during a fire, it's up and forward on the starboard side, down and aft, port.   I toured part of the Alaska Pipeline 10 years ago.  I know Neil D. and he makes his job look easy.   I've watched a couple of five minute videos on YouTube,  so that makes me eminently qualified to walk onto your oil rig and start working with you, right?  

 

Now I recognize that nobody is going to be hurt or killed because of a poorly focused and exposed image as I'd likely be a safety hazard on your oil rig.  But the two do draw a parallel in that there is a body of knowledge that you have about your oil rig that cannot be imparted by reading a few posts online, visiting some other heavy machinery plant, or seeing an oil pipeline can't impart.   And you need to learn that knowledge in order to be safe and effective at what you do, and so your work product will be of sufficient quality.

 

Photography has that same kind of body of knowledge that needs to be mastered before you can be proficient.   MY career depended on that body of knowledge, and all any of us here are trying to do is to help you acquire enough of it so you can be as successful as you want to be in the endeavor you're embarking upon. 

 

So as long as you're ok spending $7k for a snapshot camera to have fun with, and you're not going to be disappointed that your images may not be the equal of those you called 'fantastic,' then more power to you!  I applaud your spirit.

[hepcat]

Any problems leaving film in a camera unused for 28 days at a time, or should I plan to use it up before I head back to the rig?

 

Film used to sit in people's cameras for three or four Christmases before it was all shot up.  No worries for a month at a time.  I'm shooting expired T-Max 400 b&w I probably spooled ten years ago.  I'm halving the ISO for exposure, and there's a little more fog (less contrast) but it's still very usable.  

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[Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS]

 

 

So as long as you're ok spending $7k for a snapshot camera to have fun with, and you're not going to be disappointed that your images may not be the equal of those you called 'fantastic,' then more power to you!  I applaud your spirit.

 

I spent over 30K on a Leica S with 3 lenses and still take crappy pictures with that.............. Every now and then I get a keeper and I put it on my website "happy days"

 

Hepcat. You did photography for a living so you took that seriously, I've no idea what you do for fun but hopefully you do it for fun. Its the same as me I work on Oil Rigs and I take my job seriously, what I like to do for fun is take picture.........same same