I have a camera...now what?

[biggin]

Ok, I got a Nikon F "Apollo"...and a 50mm...

Reading the manual and everything. I can load the film, understand the camera....

I know squat about film.

What is the best place to get film, is there a good source online? Is stuff at Walgreens ok to learn with (I assume so...that is what I am going with, taking pictures gets me started)...

Is there a good book (for example, Understanding Exposure was great to learn the basics...) to start with...

Are there like 3 things that new people always do that I should look out for? Is there already a thread that talks about this stuff that I just did not see?

[chris00nj]

Film at Walgreens is expensive to learn on, but you can get much cheaper film elsewhere.
Tips

• After you've partially loaded the film, take the slack out of the film canister by rewinding a little on the rewind knob. Then as you finish loading, make sure the takeup spool is turning. Then, you will know that your film is advancing.
• Learn exposure and your meter. Read this first. The book understanding exposure is good. If in doubt, with negative film, overexpose. Overexposing by 1-2 stops is no issue with negative film.
• Learn depth of field. Read this

It's not that hard. As long as you measure exposure and focus, you'll get a decent photo.

[biggin]

Had I not read #1 in the manual I would still be sitting here trying to figure that one out.... I am guessing since it was in the manual and you are saying it that it is a common mis-step.

I am not totally sure I like the meter on the camera, it seems to be off, while my 7d seems to under expose a bit for my taste the meter on this I think is well off... I guess I will see when I get the images back.

I like both of the links.... I am not 100% sure on DOF... but I am going to learn.

[wclavey]

There are certainly good online places to get film - - someone posted a link to Freestyle in a thread a week or 2 ago... To be honest, if you get the store brand color film (avoid 800 or faster, in my opinion) it probably will not cost much per roll - - I frequently go into Walgreens or CVS and look through their sale bins and pick up film for a few dollars for a box of 4 or 5 rolls of 24exp. Development will cost you a bit, but unless you are ready to start developing your own right away, it might be best to remove that variable from the first few rolls and have it machine processed.

If you enjoy shooting film, then you can order some B&W from Freestyle and some chemicals or spend a few $$ more supporting your local photo store and start down the processing road. But I think that spending the money to have your first roll or 2 processed is not a bad choice - - especially for learning how to use the camera. That way, you will know that at least the processing was right.

Just go for it. Look at the links Chris provided. Think about the shutter speed and the f/stop in relationship to each other and don't set one without thinking about the other and you should be OK. It probably would not even hurt to write down a few notes on the things you did for the first roll or 2.

And ask questions...

[biggin]

I started notes... read it in a book that it was a good idea, and since it is not digital and I can not go look at the EXIF and see what I did wrong, I figured it was a good way to keep track. Not to mention, I learn from writing... once I see it, it goes into memory.

I do want to play with developing my own, but figured I would roll through a few rolls of film and get them developed before I did that. It is on the future plans.

Originally Posted by wclavey

There are certainly good online places to get film - - someone posted a link to Freestyle in a thread a week or 2 ago... To be honest, if you get the store brand color film (avoid 800 or faster, in my opinion) it probably will not cost much per roll - - I frequently go into Walgreens or CVS and look through their sale bins and pick up film for a few dollars for a box of 4 or 5 rolls of 24exp. Development will cost you a bit, but unless you are ready to start developing your own right away, it might be best to remove that variable from the first few rolls and have it machine processed.

If you enjoy shooting film, then you can order some B&W from Freestyle and some chemicals or spend a few $$ more supporting your local photo store and start down the processing road. But I think that spending the money to have your first roll or 2 processed is not a bad choice - - especially for learning how to use the camera. That way, you will know that at least the processing was right.

Just go for it. Look at the links Chris provided. Think about the shutter speed and the f/stop in relationship to each other and don't set one without thinking about the other and you should be OK. It probably would not even hurt to write down a few notes on the things you did for the first roll or 2.

And ask questions...

[Valerie]

Amazon.com: Black and White Photography: A Basic Manual (9780316373142): Henry Horenstein, Carol Keller: Books
There's also a 3rd edition....

This is the textbook I use. The second edition is pre- digital and much cheaper than 3 rd. You can find it at almost any used book store.

[wclavey]

Thanks for the reference, Valerie... it has actually been since the 60s that I looked at any B&W darkroom reference texts...

[biggin]

I was re-reading this and this caught my eye... what do you mean store brand? Are you referring to where it is bought the the film? (IE. Kodak vs. Generic?)

Originally Posted by wclavey

There are certainly good online places to get film - - someone posted a link to Freestyle in a thread a week or 2 ago... To be honest, if you get the store brand color film (avoid 800 or faster, in my opinion) it probably will not cost much per roll - - I frequently go into Walgreens or CVS and look through their sale bins and pick up film for a few dollars for a box of 4 or 5 rolls of 24exp. Development will cost you a bit, but unless you are ready to start developing your own right away, it might be best to remove that variable from the first few rolls and have it machine processed.

If you enjoy shooting film, then you can order some B&W from Freestyle and some chemicals or spend a few $$ more supporting your local photo store and start down the processing road. But I think that spending the money to have your first roll or 2 processed is not a bad choice - - especially for learning how to use the camera. That way, you will know that at least the processing was right.

Just go for it. Look at the links Chris provided. Think about the shutter speed and the f/stop in relationship to each other and don't set one without thinking about the other and you should be OK. It probably would not even hurt to write down a few notes on the things you did for the first roll or 2.

And ask questions...

Thank you for the reference, I will stop by the book store today when I am running around.

Originally Posted by Valerie

Amazon.com: Black and White Photography: A Basic Manual (9780316373142): Henry Horenstein, Carol Keller: Books
There's also a 3rd edition....

This is the textbook I use. The second edition is pre- digital and much cheaper than 3 rd. You can find it at almost any used book store.

[KJ Smith]

Originally Posted by biggin

I was re-reading this and this caught my eye... what do you mean store brand? Are you referring to where it is bought the the film? (IE. Kodak vs. Generic?)

He is referring to re-branded film.

Places like Walgreen's will sometimes sell film under their own name.

They don't make it, they just sell it.

Sometimes it is good quality film, sometimes not.

His recommendation to stay away from faster films is generally a good idea no matter where the film comes from.

But with the store brands being of unknown origin it is even more important.

When he says Generic, he is referring to "unknown" store brands.

[biggin]

Makes sense, thank you.

[studiocygnet]

Besides making sure the film is advancing, which was mentioned above, a couple other things.
Every camera meters a little different, and once you run a couple rolls through at the meter setting your camera tells you, you can adjust whether it's under or over by changing the ISO/ASA setting for the film on your camera. For example, on my old Olympus OM-1 I always set Tri-X at ASA 320 on the camera, instead of the 400 it's supposed to be rated at. Thus I would be overexposing slightly according to the meter on the camera, which I liked the look of best.
You can also go the other way, by pushing the film to 800, or even 1600, and it can be compensated for in the development process. However, the more you push over the ISO/ASA rating of the film, the more grain and contrast you get. Which looks good in some cases. Grainy black and white stage shots of bands as one example.
So you can basically compensate for your meter by changing the speed of the film on your camera.

[wclavey]

Thanks, Kevin... yes, "store branded" film... it is made by someone else and sold with the store's brand on it rather than the manufacturer's brand...

There are probably a lot of helpful hints that we would have to offer... and they will probably make a lot more sense after you have shot a few rolls - - perhaps even wasted some shots...

[biggin]

just a few pictures left on my first roll. Just kind of ran through them to get the feel...

Can not explain how many times I chimped to only to see the back of the camera.

[venchka]

Walgreen's film is made by Fuji. CVS sells a house brand and they also sell Kodak Tri-X. Walmart stocks Fuji and a bit of Kodak. Houston Camera Co-op stocks film!
Freestyle has several house brands and familiar name brands. They are online.
It's been a hundred years since I last owned a Nikon F Photomic. As I recall, the meter needed a 625 mercury battery. If so, most replacements will make the meter wonky. Wein cell zinc-air batteries worked well in my Gossen Luna-Pro. I assume they will work well in the Nikon F.
Or buy the F3 at the Rangefinder Forum. It uses a current battery without issues.
Good luck. Enjoy.

[biggin]

I got the book, I could only find the 3rd edition but it was ~$10 so nothing to cry about. I have 2 rolls of film done... I am going to drop them off tomorrow... shall see how I did.