My daily driver is the Praktica MTL-5B. It is reliable and cheap, takes standard batteries, has good ergonomics, and every feature a manual SLR needs. One thing to note, though, is that the steel blade shutter seems to vibrate the camera more than a Leica style cloth shutter, as well as being louder. I haven't noticed it affecting the image quality, but it is worth bearing in mind. I bought the MTL-5B with a M-O G Domiplan, a non-working L-3 body and a non-working PLC-3 body together all for £25. Since all three are very similar in design, I have donors for spare parts, if needed.

@museum1401

Жыл бұрын

I'm glad to hear this, I bought an MTL-5B for the Pentacon lens that came with it, not knowing a thing about film cameras. The lens did have fungus, though, so I've quarantined it. Do you think the camera would be safe to try out, or is it likely to spread fungus to my other lenses?

@slartibartfast2649

Жыл бұрын

@@museum1401 I'm not an expert, but if you keep your gear out of damp places and keep mouldy lenses away, then it should be fine. I just got this from wikipedia: "The lens fungus does not feed on the glass itself, but on materials that were used in the manufacture of the optics and/or that adhere to it (leather, paint, wood, putty, adhesives, fibers). Lens surfaces can be attacked if organic material has deposited on them, such as fingerprints, vapors from plastics or grease. The fungus can also eat its way from the edge of the lens into a layer of cement between cemented lenses." As for the lens, I assume you mean the 50mm Pentacon f/1.8. It is a good lens and quite sharp from what I remember. As for the film camera, M42 is great. It opens up lots of Soviet, German and Japanese lenses.

@museum1401

Жыл бұрын

@@slartibartfast2649 Thanks for the info - perhaps I'll try it out with another cheap vintage lens and see how it goes. I've been trying other vintage lenses (Helios, CZJ, Zuiko etc.) with my mirrorless camera and loving the results. The Pentacon 50mm f/1.8 is among my favourites so far (I've got a second, fungus-free one) - it seems to have a dreamy character wide open and stopped down it's plenty sharp enough for me. Thanks again 👍

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

A great strategy, a stock of spares will be invaluable for the future!

You have a great site. You have a great collection. I started with my parents Argus C3. Went to Vietnam an Southeast Asia in the '60's and '70's and picked up a Yashica electro 35 G (great camera) . I then picked up a Yashica eletro AX slr. Another great camera. In since I have picked up Kiev 4, Pracktica etc. I have been greatly gratified I haven't strayed to much from what you have come up with. Thanks.

Thank you very much for your tips! I'm trying to get into film photography and I just love your videos! You just radiate love for those machines and it just makes me happy to see somebody so passionate :) Greetings from Germany!

My vote for a beginner that wants the full manual experience is a Nikkormat FtN with a Nikkor 50mm 2.0 lens. Cheap, rugged, easy to use, reliable and with a modern battery the meter works fine. I’ve been shooting Nikon for 50 years and still throw one of my two Nikkormat bodies into my go-bag as a backup or for situations where I want the Nikon system but don’t want to worry about loss or damage. Non-Ai lenses are readily available and cheap. I also agree with the Konica rangefinder choice. I have a Konica II that I love to shoot and it still holds its own quite well. Keep up the great videos.

Shout out for the Fujica ST605n. Can find them £20-30 on ebay even with a fantastic EBC Fujinon lens. Simple all manual M42 mount camera with a nice little button operated through-aperture metering needle. Limits you to 1/700 sec fastest shutter speed, which I think is kind of a good thing if you're not trying to do wildlife or sport photography with a telephoto, or shooting with a ridiculously fast lens or something. For street, portraits, artistic and everyday shooting it's fine. Classy looking camera, smaller and handier than most M42 SLRs. I often get buyers remorse with film cameras and most of them end up back on ebay when they don't get used. The Fuji is a keeper and I shoot with it a couple times a month.

@honestpat7789

Жыл бұрын

Shout out to a photographic reference to the Beatles 😂

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

They sound like nice cameras, thanks for the tip!

Another splendid session, and thank you for sharing that wonderful collection. My first camera, at the age of 10, was an Agfa Click III, and I was delighted to find one last year, at the age of 65, in a local camera shop. But I'm seriously in love with my Kodak Brownie Flash II. The richness of its black and white images is quite amazing.

I love the non-American pronounciation of Nikon and Canon, BTW. I think the poor reputation of P&S cameras comes from the automation, so they were regarded as "Mum" cameras. While Dad's poorly exposed slides from his all manual SLR made it into boring slide shows and ended up in plastic trays never to be looked at again, mum's pics went into lovely made albums with inscription explaining who everyone was and they were actually looked at and they had to be nice and sharp and well exposed and that's what you got from P&S cameras. Technical wonders of camera manufacuring, technically even a bit ahead of SLRs sometime. The Rollei A110, BTW, has a 23 mm Rollei Tessar lens (equals a 50mm on 135 film), just to have it mentioned.

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

It sounds like mum knew what she was doing! Thanks for the info on the 110 lens - it's actually printed on the lens cover and appears when the camera is closed, as I discovered when I reviewed the footage!

@davidellinsworth22

Жыл бұрын

Apparently both the British and Americans are wrong with their pronunciation of Nikon..... the Japanese say N-"ee"-kon

Just to confirm the Canon 110 Rangefinder was indeed the 110ED. It had a 26mm lens which went from a lovely wide f/2 to f/16 (although via pictograms, not F/ number settings.) My neighbour had one and lent it to me a couple of times and I remember being slightly in love with it.

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

It's a really nice camera, for sure!

@Zenography The focal length of that "revolver view finder" (13:42) is it similar to digital camera's APSC or Full Frame? Thank you for the nice video!

My vote for best film cameras for photographers new to film, or people like me who are revisiting film after a detour to digital; there are two basic categories: 1. aperture priority SLR cameras from the late 70's to early 80's such as Olympus OM-10, Nikon FG, Canon AE1, etc. I have found all of these cameras for sale in local thrift stores in California, usually with a nice Vivitar zoom lens and some other accessories for $100 or less. They are mechanically robust, light weight, and user friendly. My favorite is the OM-10. I carry these thrift store SLRs around on my bike and to other spots where I would be hesitant to take more valuable cameras. 2. 1990's auto focus/auto exposure point and shoot cameras. My favorite is the Olympus MJU1 (stylus fixed 35mm focal length, auto focus). This camera takes truly gorgeous pictures, fits in a shirt pocket, and I found a serviceable one at a thrift store for $49.

@arcanics1971

Жыл бұрын

I will second the OM-10. It's my main 35mm camera. I use it with the manual adapter (not for any pretentious reasons about being manual being better, just that I'm used to manual now and other modes just feel strange.) Brilliant little camera, and the lenses are fantastic.

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

Some fantastic cameras in this category, and usually pretty cheap too!

Thank you for this video ! Super convenient as I am in the market for a film camera.

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

Thanks, very glad it was useful!

Thank you for this sir. It’s a nice introduction to film cameras. Really enjoyed the video. I’m going to look for a zorki 4k 🙏

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

Find a good one and you won't be disappointed!

Wonderful episode!! All in a nutshell… I'll put it on my FB for learning and entertainment!! Thanks!!

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

Many thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

Please consider giving your views on which vintage lenses you'd select to film a cinematic movie. I am a film student who can't afford cine lenses, and I'm looking to delve into action movies. I have already acquired the Helios 44-2 58mm. I'm trying to find other lenses to go with it.

I recently bought canon eos 500n and canon fx both are great and cheap cameras i like the all mechanical slr and a more digital slr

Nice, thank you :)

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

Thanks, glad you liked it!

I want a Yashica Electro 35! Such a beautiful looking camera. I saw some minters on eBay recently but couldn't afford them at the time. I shoot a Minolta SRT101..... an absolute tank. It's as heavy as my Nikon Z6 with a 25-85 VR lens. Takes bloody nice images too. I'm curious as to what is your favourite film stock?

Very nice video again, Nigel! Personally, I would only recomend 135 film cameras to beginners, they're best price/quality wise, and you can buy and develop them in any city with some self respect, and maybe try out 120 film (medium format) later. A cheap and easy alternative are zone focusing cameras, typically with a symbol of a mountain, a symbol with a group of people, and a symbol with one singel person, Agfa Optima Sensor, for instance, that has a very nice lens too.

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

I really should try some 120 photography - stay tuned!

I think you should have mentioned roll film cameras anything from a box camera to the folding type it was this format that 35mm took over from

What matters is the ART , and that is why i have 1000 cameras :)

Just don't buy any random camera, unless very cheap. It may not work. If you get one in you hands, does the shutter fire at various speeds, does film advance move, are light seal foam falling apart? Next is stuff like light sensors are nice if they work but not always a deal breaker. Newer cameras have much more to break, but also they are newer, so stuff like sensors still might work. Old electronic stuff wasn't always the best and now it's advanced age. But you can use an external sensor or maybe even a phone app if it doesn't work.

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

Most of the older cameras I've bought online have worked well - but a certain amount of caution is always advisable!

@Photovintageguy

Жыл бұрын

@@zenography7923 I was more speaking of people just selling attic finds, it might be a grandfather that died. The people selling don’t know anything about condition. If you buy of a collector or user they know the condition. The baby boom people are hitting 90+ a lot of camera stuff might end up in the trash in the next few years. I’m very happy this generation is saving it.

The 110 is kinda like shooting on a 2007 digital camera. I notice there is some new interest in those old point and shoot digital cameras. They do have that old look, especially with the small flash. The color science is different as well, some companies are defunct, so there is no modern counterpart. The dynamic ranges are not great but with the right light the picture can look very good. kzread.info/dash/bejne/nKdsrKmtcpmyd7g.html Fyi the camera mentioned in thus video is no longer cheap on ebay😂 get one a few Models later just before they removed the viewfinder.

@crazygeorgelincoln

Жыл бұрын

I was a kid in 87 using 110 ,I'm not going back! And I still have my first digital camera somewhere a 2003 trust 0.3 megapixel and a flash capacitor that crashed the processor with voltage drop as it was writing the jpeg file matter how fresh the batteries are.

@Photovintageguy

Жыл бұрын

@@crazygeorgelincoln some are way better than that. Just like 110 they have limitations, but sometimes limitations give pictures a familiar retro look, period correct. In that case a limitation becomes a feature. Smart phone cameras for example are better in many ways, but they look much different. 5 to 8mp are perfectly ok for small prints and instagram. .3 2003 point and shoot there are probably not classic cameras, just kinda junky.

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

Cheers, thanks for the info!

I've had loads of these. The Zorki 4K is great when it works, but they fail often (viewfinder and wind-on lever). I've still got a Yashica 35 GTN which won't focus to infinity. The Yashicas are also known to have problems with what's called the 'pad of death' (Google it). I've also had many Practica cameras and they are by far the best for this kind of money. Save up and get a decent Olympus OM 1/2, Pentax etc (with a lens) that's been CLA'd (cleaned, lubricated, adjusted).

Great video. I hope that this encourages a few more film photographers. I don't bother with the 110 format but I believe that Analogue Wonderland sell and develop it.

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the info!

@davidellinsworth22

Жыл бұрын

@@zenography7923 by the way if you need a lab to buy and develop motion picture film (ECN-2) I can highly recommend Nik and Trick Photo Services in Folkestone. Their rolls of Kodak Vision 3 film (50D, 200T, 250D, 500T) have approximately 30 exposures each and sell for about £6.25

Konica c35, great camera

Thank you Nigel, great video! My question is about 120 format cameras. Why were they left out? I have a very basic roll film camera of that medium format but have usually had problems getting good quality photos. Would like to learn more about this, if possible.

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

I really should review some 120 cameras, stay tuned!

@heimatliebe116

Жыл бұрын

@@zenography7923 Thank you!

F5.6? That's good to know! (Couple of thoughts,then a ramble and a grumble) Great thing about instax mini is it's not a ferociously expensive as the bigger instant pics ,you still get 10 shots in a cartridge, Curry's still sell the stuff,which is more than half the hassle evaporated, it's a shame the cameras could be more inspiring,not handled the high end one to be sure. I've used the Diana adapter fun to use however a native instax blows it's socks off. Later canons with their spacious eos mount will accommodate adapters for loads of random SLR lenses, only trumped by mirrorless systems,a dull looking plastic Canon slr will gets results , but buying something that looks pleasing and inspiring may increase effort points in going out and having to learn stuff. Whatever happened to the new generation of holga and Diana cameras ,very liberating in shooting, not so much in the scanning and since poundlamd stopped my film supply and boots slowly forgot how to use the 1 hour developing machine, the money and time involved kept going up ,and then my Flickr account decided to get expensive else they delete 75% of my work. I miss multiple exposures and film abnormalities on digital, I even built a lens with a shutter in it for my Sony but the camera didn't understand what it's supposed to do.

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

It's a shame that lens didn't work out, would have been interesting to see the results! Cheers George!

Minolta made two 110 SLR cameras. I had one in 1980s. The Rokkor lens was of decent quality. 4" x 6" prints were good; I didn't get larger prints made back. It was a fun little camera.

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

Nice little cameras, for sure!

@Martin_Siegel

Жыл бұрын

I have both version, the Mark II is said to have the sharpest lens of all 110 cameras. And it is really sharp.

@MichaelScheele

Жыл бұрын

@@Martin_Siegel, I had the first model. An even sharper lens? Wow.

@Martin_Siegel

Жыл бұрын

@@MichaelScheele Maybe just easier to focus than the "hamburger" 😁

Could I ask your suggestion what is a reasonably priced vintage 35mm camera that is very easy to focus? I have Zenit TTL, Praktica, Zenit E... and all of them have very dark, dim, blurry viewfinders, so I can only guess what's in focus. I would like to find something which is has a very clear viewfinder with very obvious focus. What are your suggestions? Thanks a lot! :)

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

The Olympus OM1 (all manual) and om2 (manual plus aperture priority auto) I find have excellent finders, and a fantastic range of lenses too.

@danielfulop

Жыл бұрын

@@zenography7923 thank you! :) and maybe something more of a budget option? the OM's seem to be very expensive in the EU

Would be interesting to see you do a series on the Sony G Master lenses. Most people on here have mirrorless, so would be interested. Would love to see your take on those lenses - they will be vintage in the future!!!!!

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the suggestion - I'll investigate those lenses!

I had lens light leak on a muju, fixed it with a heat gun beautifully. I've just got a muju 105, I'm not telling you how little I paid, up on ebay when I've tested it and developed the film.

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

Sounds like you got a bargain!

@aidanhowgate5437

Жыл бұрын

@@zenography7923 £4

@aidanhowgate5437

Жыл бұрын

@@zenography7923 I love house clearance auctions where you're in with the staff and they put things in a dark corner for you. I took it out this morning, it's brilliant. Just hoping no light leaks.

My beginners advice: 1. Don't trust the name of the Zorki 4K. It is a good and capeable rangefinder. But it doesn't shoot in 4k. As good as it is for the money, the marketing is misleading. 2. If you want to get started with film photography, or photography at all, and don't know which camera to pick, don't go on ebay. Just go to your local second hand shop, see what they have and just go with the first one that works. Brand names don't mean shit. If the camera works, it's always the right one. SLR, rangefinder or point and shoot. It doesn't matter. You could ofcourse do it on ebay and co. too. Yet that might lead to over thinking everything and bit. And you might miss out on even better deals. Most shops don't know the value of what they're selling. I resently had a look at the cameras at our local second hand shop. They had a Zeiss Ikon Contaflex from the 50s for 25 Euros. Those usually go for 30 to 70 Euros these days. Needless to say, the look through the viewfinder was an experience. I've never ever seen a crystal clear viewfinder like that. No joke. 3. The russian cameras may not have the best reputation, but fuck it. They may not be technically impressive. But a max shutter speed of 1/500 is quick enough to get most jobs doen quiet well. The M39 and the M42 mount offer you the largest range of lenses in camera history (no joke). They're built like tanks. You could cave in a guys head with a Zenit 12XP and not even damage the paintjob (no joke). They don't cost you a lick. They're easy to get. Fixing them isn't too complicated. And if you get one that works, it will work until you drop dead. Trust me. Those cameras will out live us all.

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

The FSU cameras are great machines for sure, and 'if it works, use it' is an approach I like!

@RudiW1510

Жыл бұрын

@@zenography7923 Today, one year ago, I bought me my beloved Zenit 12xp with the standard 44M-4 and the Pentagon 29mm f2.8. I remember that day like it was yesterday. It was a stormy, rainy day. Traffic was a bitch. But I just had to get that camera that day. I saw it on eBay, contacted the seller and told him I'll be there in an hour. He called me crazy for driving through a storm for an old camera. I called him crazy for selling an old camera. From the moment on I loaded the first film in that camera (Ilford SFX 200) until this day, there's nothing that feels as good in my hands than this camera. I even got a tattoo of that camera on my focussing arm. Just recently I ditched the ugly camera case for a strap that does this work of beauty justice. Now it feels complete. :)

I would recommend a newer slr like the Canon EOS 300 series, its got all the manual settings you need or could be used fully automatic like a point and shoot. Lots of cheap quality glass and better quality than the Nikon's of the same age/price. Can be bought for less than $30 with lens.

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

Those are great little cameras - reviewed one about a year ago, a nice little machine!

what vintage lens from fast normal is sharpest wide open without glow? i have super takumar 8element 1.4/50, smc takumar 1.4/50,carl zeiss jena 1.8/50 pancolar, helios 44m-7,industar 50-2,zenitar 50/2 and every must stop down 1stop to get contrast sharp picture.only helios44m and zenitar 50/2 is usable wide open from my set.

@arcanics1971

Жыл бұрын

Try the Super Takumar 55mm 1.8, I find I can get a lot of use out of it wide open- though obviously, stopping down improves sharpness. Or a CZJ Tessar 2.8. I know that may sound slow in comparison, but the images look as though they are faster and are much more in focus than actual faster lenses.

@crazygeorgelincoln

Жыл бұрын

First I'd ask how clean is your glass, second I'd suggest ttartisans 50 f.95 how wafer thin do you need your focal plane. You might like a pentagon auto multicoating 50 1.8

@leonasj9633

Жыл бұрын

@@arcanics1971 tessar 50/2.8? takumar 55/1.8 sharp and contrasty from f1.8 or need stop to f2.8?

@leonasj9633

Жыл бұрын

@@crazygeorgelincoln my czj pancolar 1.8/50 need stop to f2 to get no hazy and sharp picture.i think pentagon not sharper

Analogue Wonderland sell 110 film and they can develop it too, in their Analogue Wonderlab.

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

Good to know, thanks!

Cool thing about old film cameras, you probably already own the vintage glass. Get one in a mount that you own a lot of glass in. Ie nikkor, Canon FD, Konica etc.

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

Great suggestion, thanks!

At first o thought they where modern mirrorless cameras

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

My apologies - I'll try to make it even more clear next time! Thanks for looking in.

Nikon FE. Best camera for the money.

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

A fantastic camera indeed!

why do you call FEDs FSU's ???

I can't believe how expensive those plastic point and shoots are, especially the Olympus Mju!! I don't understand the appeal of them these days, either to use them or just as collectors cameras.

@crazygeorgelincoln

Жыл бұрын

They make crispy images getting everything effortlessly, like a hand grenade.

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

I think they're wonderful - everything's so easy, and if you pick the right one, the lenses are fantastic too. I honestly don't get what's not to like - but they're not everyone's cup of tea I don't suppose.

@standandeliver8376

Жыл бұрын

@@zenography7923 On reflection, I suppose they are appealing to people who like the look of film (grain) but don't want the hassle of setting everything themselves. Personally, I like the look of slightly older, metal cameras and I like the manual interactivity, but obviously (luckily) we're all different.

@slr7075

Жыл бұрын

Social media/Influencer tax.

Olympus OM2n. Contax G1. Minolta Hi Matic 7Sii. Fuck Leica and anything M-mount related. Great stuff, overpriced. Medium format? Basically choose almost anything that's a name brand. Mamiya, Pentax, Fujifilm, etc. Done.

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the tips!

Although I THINK my film days are over, I always enjoy hanging out with the Zen meister. I'm a bit late, due to my yacht sinking off the Italian coast with the 90 million I stole from the republican party. La de da, la de da.

@sclogse1

Жыл бұрын

I should add that Polaroid images are almost grain free, as they really are a liquid emulsion. I see no reason why they can't be copied simply by a digital camera with 26 megapixels to produce a very large image to be further worked on with your favorite retouching app. My extinct lab in San Francisco had a 4x5 copy camera that allowed us to make 20"x20" images off a polaroid. The natural thing is to view these enlargements from a few feet away, and they're perfectly presentable. I still have one of those prints. (I just watched a two year old Zenography with an "Intermission." "They are happy because..."

If this is supposed to be a video recommending cameras to first time film users and he starts out with 110 and Polaroid cameras, for which almost no film is available and what is there is hugely over-priced and low quality, I just turn it off. Either he's having the newbees on with a sick joke, or he's lost an perspective.

@alexblaze8878

Жыл бұрын

Relax Mate. Nigel is a good guy and does a lot to help amateur photographers find their way through the maze of many vintage lenses and cameras. Us devoted followers would give him a pass for a one-off video. You can just “turn it off” if you like. Your call but you’re missing out on one of the most underrated vintage camera gear channels on YT.

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