Going from Analog to Digital for the first time. Looking for Recs?

Ko.Fe. said:

If you like to spend your time on focusing it is not difficult for sure. Even not old, but just manual focusing with EVF is not something I'm finding simple.

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Autofocus is very often focused on wrong things. Or you are in wrong focus mode or the spot focus is at wrong place (so you have to remove camera from your face and start to fiddle which slows down). I've assigned the AF / AE lock buttons to other functions too on my X-T30.

Manual focusing with the edge focus assistant is pretty fast way in my opinion and I am then focused at chosen place. Also I like to play around with the focus area when composing, sometimes focus can be used as a composition tool too. One day I was street shooting with digital and I used prefocusing with something like 1.5m-infinity hyperfocal area. No need to focus there, just fast reactions for shutter. Pretty liberating to use small apertures and still get 1/250 or 1/500 shutter times!

For family photos I prefer of course the fast autofocus Fujinon lens because getting a good photograph of the little ones is absolutely a ninja skill without all the help from the camera

vedostuu said:

Autofocus is very often focused on wrong things. Or you are in wrong focus mode or the spot focus is at wrong place (so you have to remove camera from your face and start to fiddle which slows down). I've assigned the AF / AE lock buttons to other functions too on my X-T30.

Manual focusing with the edge focus assistant is pretty fast way in my opinion and I am then focused at chosen place. Also I like to play around with the focus area when composing, sometimes focus can be used as a composition tool too. One day I was street shooting with digital and I used prefocusing with something like 1.5m-infinity hyperfocal area. No need to focus there, just fast reactions for shutter. Pretty liberating to use small apertures and still get 1/250 or 1/500 shutter times!

For family photos I prefer of course the fast autofocus Fujinon lens because getting a good photograph of the little ones is absolutely a ninja skill without all the help from the camera

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I don'thave FujiNoFilm latest cameras. My AF cameras focus just fine for sports, BIF and moving people. I prefer working AF for family pictures. Some of my camera do have face recognition.
I also have digital, film rangefinder camera for focusing manually and finding them easier to focus comparing to EVF.

The focusing difficulty some experience is (imo) almost entirely due to refusal to learn how their cameras operate.

The best reason for APS format, other than price and physical bulk/weight is the ease (except fo some Fuji) adapting all sorts of lenses, especially tiny/fast ones...such as old LTM primes and various Pentax non-digital primes (such as 50/1.4 and 85/2) manual focus ultra-fast and offer bokeh unaffordable to may who restrict themselves to FF.

ANVIL_OG said:

Since I mostly shoot analog, I'd love to get quality images for around less than $500, preferably, @Adrian Bacon

@GRHazelton I shoot with a Nikon F2, Nikomat FT2, and a Mamiya 645e. My Nikon and Nikomat use Nikon F-Mount Lenses (1959-1976, "non-AI") that index to the aperture pin with a prong. I'm not sure, but would those old school lenses fit on a Nikon DSLR?

@TheFlyingCamera I do love FUJI's films. I've never owned a fuji camera. I'll look into it.

I will also look into all the other recommendations you all have posted. Thank you.

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You can buy a refurbished camera with a full 1-year warranty direct from Canon; they have several available for around $500. I've bought two of their refurbs, the first one 10 years ago, the second 5 years ago, and both are still working perfectly.

https://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/...id&minPrice:249.99&maxPrice:605.99&pageSize:&

6MP will produce a 10x8 equivalent print at around 300dpi. 6MP SLRs seem to be pretty cheap on eBay and elsewhere.Personally I use older 4MP digital compacts as they have proper view finders. They can be found very cheap and you might be surprised at the results.

ANVIL_OG said:

BUT, plot twist! So, my mom recently gave me a sony alpha NEX-5n that she dug out of her house.

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If it works, your NEX-5n is more than capable. It has a 16mp APS-C sensor and you won't have spent a penny. It may be lacking in low light, so use an LED panel or get a flash like the professionals. You can buy 2 x NP-FW50 batteries and a charger for under £17 on eBay - a lot cheaper than a new camera.

ANVIL_OG said:

Hi there, I am considering getting my first digital camera. I love the simplicity of analog cameras, where all I'm working with is ISO, aperature, and shutter speed. I never shoot on aperture priority on any analog camera. I would like that same work environment when I pick up and work with a digital camera, where it's easy to set those three things. I've looked into the Canon 5D Classic and that seems up my alley, but they can get pretty expensive on Ebay.

Here are some things I'd want, but I'm open to other ideas:

Full-frame sensor
12 or more megapixels
A camera that allows for an easy installation of MANY compatible lenses
I don't care much for continuous shooting
I want some NICE colors in my shots
I could deal with the ISO max being 1600, but 3200 would be great

I'm looking for a digital camera that is essentially very similar to my workflow with my analog cameras just without loading and unloading film in and out of the camera.

Any advice or recommendations?
Thank you

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At this point I don't know if you need any more input, but i purchased a very clean original sony a7 for around 450$
- I ultimately traded it for a Fujifilm since i have no need of full frame, but the original intent was to use all my manual lenses at their intended FOV.
The only thing with full frame sony is that you will probably need to shoot raw and color grade yourself, i was never a fan of their color science.

I will say that you are likely to be disappointed with digital just as I am.

Furthermore, your pre-AI lenses are only compatible with a handful of bodies, most of which will not meter, and have lousy finders for manual focussing.

Your best bet is to purchase a body+lense kit, or stick with film.

UPDATE:

Hello everyone, thank you so much for all your input.

A few months ago, after deliberating between an A7 and a camera from the Fujifilm X series, I decided to purchase a sony a7. Here are some of my thoughts thus far:

• I like the full-frame capability and how there's basically an adaptor for all my F-mount bayonet pre-AI nikon lenses and a great focal reducer for my mamiya sekkor lens that I would like to eventually purchase
• The already heavy, old film lenses plus the adaptor ends up making quite a bulky, heavy set-up.
• I have discovered that I absolutely dislike the color science that sony goes with. If I shoot raw, I am typically never happy with the colors until I go into post.
• I realized that if I'm doing any studio shoots, I only ever use my sony as a light meter by taking a variety of test shots with a variety of F.stop and flash power until I get what I like. Then I just switch over to shooting with my medium format for the rest of the shoot. But if I had an external light meter, I wouldn't do this.
• I also use to it to "scan" all my negatives, color and B&W.

All in all, my conclusion is that I'm moderately happy. I could see myself using it more if I actually purchased some lighter modern lenses for it. Also, I'm very pleased that I can use it to scan all my negatives. All I needed to do was purchase another old Nikon macro lens to do so, which I got for like $50. I never enjoy having my local film processing store scan my negatives, so being able to have a nice camera to do so is quite a plus!

I also still love film. It has my heart and always will. Typically, when I shoot film I am very intentional with the shots I want to take, and my film cameras are already bulky enough. From this process I have learned that if I'm not taking the painstaking but enjoyable time to shoot film, I want an extremely light and portable camera that I can use to just go out anytime and HAVE FUN. That is why I am now saving for a RICOH GR III.

Thank you everyone again!

You'll need a lot of people and tight places to have fun with GR.