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I see some really nice photos here, so thought someone might help? I have a Nikon F3 High Point camera and a ton of lenses. My Nikon FTN was stolen and this replaced it. I literally have only burned a handful of rolls through it. Is there any market for film cameras?
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film cameras don't go for much tho, unless they're some kind of special like old Leica, etc. Typically a couple hundred or less. The F3 HP is a nice film body though. And there is a new, growing demand for older lenses because for almost every old lens, there is an adapter that will allow them to be used on a modern digital camera, albeit without all the auto focus capability. I'm shooting old Leica and Pentax glass on an Oly mirrorless body with excellent results. High quality old glass beats new, kit lenses even though it's not as convenient, so it sorta depends on what you want to shoot.
Yes, you make some very good points.
Just a quick reply to your initial question: Yes, there's a market. But it falls into about three categories: Folks who are collectors, folks who do their own developing, and folks who send their film to one of a handful of pro places which develop film (for example, BWC in Dallas). None of these involve "the average Joe" customer.
The pro place where I used to take all my important film (Master Photo USA) hasn't touched film in at least 8 years - only digital.
So, "someone" might buy your film bodies, but it's an increasingly niche market in an ocean of available "for sale" cameras. You do the math.
:)
Thank you. Remind me to not ask another question here if I forget. Hehe
The responses make it sound like finding someone who could use it could be difficult. I will start with the U of O and local Community College.
look in Amazon to see what particular used models are offered at. That, of course, does not mean they are actually sold.
simply telling you what to get or recommending a 'best' setup is nearly futile.
Are you interested in doing anything in a studio? Macro? Action? is Available light performance important? or video performance?
Do you know or even CARE if the camera has a full-size or APS 'C' sensor? Canon, for example makes a series of glass which is APS C only. Won't work on full-sized sensors.
Who ever suggested taking a class had it right. I'll be even MORE specific and say to ALSO go to the ART DEPARTMENT (you know, PAINTING) and take a 2-D design course. Learn the elements of composition. The photography department will teach darkroom, perhaps, still AND camera system with a dose of physics tossed in for good measure. The relationship / limits of Aperature, Shutter speed and ISO Sensitivity. The difference between film grain and digitial noise. Contrast and how to manipulate it. What is shadow detail? Blown highlights? Why is the ONLY filter you really NEED is a circular polarizer? (besides a UVhaze/skylight for protection)
Go to some photo exhibitions. See what people like. And why. Take away those things YOU value in a photo. Color saturation? Composition?
ME? I'd recommend starting with a USED / inexpensive DSLR of a generation or 2 off the pace. Start to learn the difference between 'good' and 'lots'. My sis in law just handed me a memory card with OVER 430 images of which I would IMMEDIATELY delete about 1/3. Some of the keepers are NOT good art, but rather of sentimental value.
ANY camera you like and keep should be ergonomically compatible with your and your developing style. Buy a NORMAL LENS and use JUST THAT for at least 6 months. Zooms just add a layer of unnecessary complexity to the mix. For now. Some cameras have Very Small buttons. I don't like those, personally. Go thru the menu system and as you learn more, you'll be able to apply customization TO the camera and learn where IN the menu system those things you most frequently use are located.
Don't just rush out and get 1200$ worth of Nikon, Canon or whatever. And as for GLass? Are you going to make wall prints? Enlargements beyond say, 8x10? You might not NEED premium or even mid-level glass. My old Canon 50mm 1.8 was the CHEAPEST lens Canon makes. Plastic EVERYWHERE. But, it was the same formula as old and was easily enlargable with minimal crop and from f4 to say f11. For THAT cheap a lens? A Wonder.
Even my SONY can make huge enlargements that are razor sharp. The 14x60 on my wall is crazy sharp from edge to edge and corner to corner. Color saturation is good. The file was OVER 40 meg from an in-camera Panorama, after my processing.
If you get really hung up on this, you'll learn about Camera Raw and leave the JPG stuff for watching the 'rushes' on TV or making prints up at Costco.
Too much is never enough
Well that was quite a desertion. Thanks for the effort. My main question was if people are still shooting film? A bit of background. I did photography as part of my job several decades back. So, I had a full Nikon 35mm setup. It was stolen in the mid 1980's. The insurance company replaced it with the F3 and similar lenses and accessories. I used it sparingly and then it went into my safe. I moved on to digital and own both a SLR and pocket size digital camera. I recently went into the safe and saw the camera and that prompted my question.
The Simple answer?
Fil'm is a goner. But enough film is still available to make shooting your F3 both possible and in some cases desireable.
Just look at how much is still available and how many different KINDS of emulsion. Many old school films are simply GONE.
If you can do with what is available AND have local or otherwise reliable processing, I don't see why you can't still shoot film.
I'm surprised to see you can still get Provia (transparency) and some of the Kodak T-max (B&W).
Kodak is STILL heavily into MOVIE film and you can even get B&W Reversal Film (Transparency)
What are your needs in the film line? I still have an OLD 120 Twin Lens which is an excellent picture taker. Maybe I'll drag it out?
Too much is never enough
At least, you can keep your lenses. I have a bunch of Minolta lenses here collecting dust. I almost sold them, but my wife is a hoarder it appears and she told me not to. Who knew that she even cared about photography. At least, when I sell audio equipment, I don't even ask her, and she doesn't expect me to ;-)
So, what exactly is your question? Is it literally "Is there any market for film cameras?"
There's a market for pretty much anything. I'm sure you could sell the F3, although you may not be thrilled with the price you can get.
I was curious if people are still shooting film.
It's been a long time since I popped down to the Film Developer's Shop. Must be almost 10 years. Wonder if Deer Studios is still in business?
when taking film pix grew to cost a dollar a photo plus film's own cost and probably half the pix were throw aways I sold the film cameras at low cost to a teacher of photography for his class to use as needed.
Then I bought digital cameras, newer lenses and began the upward learning curve. Never looked back and all photography costs nothing these days, except my new addiction to metal prints which are to photo prints what 4K TeeVee is to B&W 1950's sets.
Digital cameras come in many price points and even the lesser ones still can give amazing results. I advice getting the most expensive one you can afford and growing into it rather than getting a lesser one and running into creative road blocks and lack of certain possibilities. I find that mid price Nikons serve me very well and see no need to go over 1000-1200 bucks. Spend the rest on good lenses and do not get the cheap kit lenses that are offered with cameras these days.
And your lenses will work with newer digital Nikons...
Edits: 10/13/14
Are you SURE that older Nikon lenses, with the TABS will work with newer Nikons?
Too much is never enough
but I have read that Nikon makes them backwards compatible. Of course things like auto focus and auto zoom would not be available....and a quick query nets this
Old Nikon (tabbed) glass is not compatible with EITHER of the 2 methods of driving auto focus.
Canon went with ALL in-lens motors. Different motor types were used, depending on speed, cost of lens, and noise level. The Ultrasonic was tops. Micromotor? Slower and noisier.
The OTHER system involved a mechanical coupling to the lens and the autofocus motor IN the camera. I think Nikon tried this?
Autozoom adds complexity, another motor, a way to switch direction of zoom and SPEED of zoom, if you really want creative control. For me? If I had a motor zoom lens, it would HAVE to be capable of zooming during exposure.
I'm glad to see the Nikon link to 'what works with what' page.
Canon went from FL / FD to EOS mounts and had a transition series of Camaeras, the 'T' Series.
The T-90 still has a following. These were early EOS bodies with FD glass.
Too much is never enough
Yes, I went digital a number of years back. I have a SLR and a pocket camera I shot our feet with. I still have a pile of prepaid Kodak mailers. Those will probably be collector's items in 20 years.
If you wish to sharpen your skills the local community college probably has photo courses....
How did you make the leap from me asking about film camera relevance to taking a Community college course?
LWR is 'free associating'.
A trip to the local community college would be a nice idea. The last class I took in the photograph department was on 'Photography as a Business'.
Too much is never enough
No, LWR is having a LSD flashback. Happens quite frequently.
free ain't it?
(I know I know) that you wanted to make the leap, not realizing that you had. I was not really sure what you were heading for...
About used film cameras, I was offered 10 bucks for a Nikon.
It is against the rules to sell things here. What are you trying to do? Get us in trouble?
what am I going to do with all that underwear I commissioned?
Underware? Does your wife know about this? Never mind.
...that $25 for an AE-1 with an extra lens was brutal.
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