Here's another vote for the Nikon D700.
Going from Analog to Digital for the first time. Looking for Recs?
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Andrew O'Neill
Moderator
Did you get the D850 to make digital negatives for your alt. process work?
OP
OP
Everyone, here is an update: I'm fine with a APS-C sensor. The FUJIFILM X cameras you all have brought up seem to be the type of digital I would go with. The Fuji X-T1 seems like it's in my price range.
@jtk I develop and scan my own photos. I haven't gotten into printing myself yet. I'm not a professional, just an enthusiast. Would printing be a big endeavor to take on? I really don't know much at all about darkroom printing vs. inkjet stuff
@TheFlyingCamera Would you recommend getting rid of the NEX-5N for something like the XT-1 then?
Thank you.
@jtk I develop and scan my own photos. I haven't gotten into printing myself yet. I'm not a professional, just an enthusiast. Would printing be a big endeavor to take on? I really don't know much at all about darkroom printing vs. inkjet stuff
@TheFlyingCamera Would you recommend getting rid of the NEX-5N for something like the XT-1 then?
Thank you.
I recently bought a used Nikon D750, and have been reasonably happy. Plays nicely with F mount Nikon glass, so that gave me glass for both film and digital in one eco system, and I'm pondering letting go of some other film cameras to feed the cross-over film / digital angle in the Nikon space.
Mirrorless is kind of nicer in many ways, and I'll look at a Z when they come out with their next gen so that there are more choices. But if you can afford it, mirrorless is sweet if you can get in-body stabilization (Sony was great for adapted lenses like your Nikon glass), and focus zoom (Sony had 12X). DSLR's seem a little dated in this way, So did feeding my film obsession cost me some digital features? Yes. some are sorely missed with a Nikon at this point, but I'm getting by. But I will definitely second the idea that FUJI APC cameras are as good as any full frame I've seen. Print those photos and no one will ever know (so this is a 2nd for the idea of buying an inkjet printer, too!). Beautiful. Just about any Fuji would work out nicely. What you see and how you see it should dominate the equipment you choose.
Oh... just saw your new note: BTW, as friend once pushed me, "Printing will push your understanding of what you're shooting and make you a better photographer."
Mirrorless is kind of nicer in many ways, and I'll look at a Z when they come out with their next gen so that there are more choices. But if you can afford it, mirrorless is sweet if you can get in-body stabilization (Sony was great for adapted lenses like your Nikon glass), and focus zoom (Sony had 12X). DSLR's seem a little dated in this way, So did feeding my film obsession cost me some digital features? Yes. some are sorely missed with a Nikon at this point, but I'm getting by. But I will definitely second the idea that FUJI APC cameras are as good as any full frame I've seen. Print those photos and no one will ever know (so this is a 2nd for the idea of buying an inkjet printer, too!). Beautiful. Just about any Fuji would work out nicely. What you see and how you see it should dominate the equipment you choose.
Oh... just saw your new note: BTW, as friend once pushed me, "Printing will push your understanding of what you're shooting and make you a better photographer."
My first thoughts might be that you might prefer to make a 'selection' of digital exposures of to "make sure' you have recorded that which you feel you might "need' as opposed to taking the time to 'seek' the best spot from which to make the best image, go 'through the steps' required to record to film the chosen 'scene'.
Yes... I do make use of a small digital camera.. but only as a "reminder" to think about 'returning" to the same spot with my film camera... when the "light direction/quality is just 'right'.
I'm somewhat too old...and probably 'too poor' to go all digital.. I enjoy the look/see/thinking/choosing' time when out with either of my LF cameras to even consider "throwing away" all the years of learning the "how best to" and the why of "making good photographs".
Ken
OP
OP
@JWMster I was just looking at this link:
https://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/compatibility-lens.htm#incompat
It states that the "Pre-AI" F-mount lenses are only compatible with the Nikon Df in the D series. Are you sure you've been mounting an F-mount lens onto your D750??? Are you sure you're not mounting "AI" lenses onto your Nikon?
I just had an idea though... What if I just saved up for a Nikon Df, so that I can the same glass for my SLRs and my Df? Anyone here shoot with a Nikon Df before?
https://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/compatibility-lens.htm#incompat
It states that the "Pre-AI" F-mount lenses are only compatible with the Nikon Df in the D series. Are you sure you've been mounting an F-mount lens onto your D750??? Are you sure you're not mounting "AI" lenses onto your Nikon?
I just had an idea though... What if I just saved up for a Nikon Df, so that I can the same glass for my SLRs and my Df? Anyone here shoot with a Nikon Df before?
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Pre AI lenses some of them can be mounted on the D750 without damaging the camera (most will damage the camera though) but it still won't meter like the AI lenses. With cheaper cameras like the D3xxx or D5xxx they can mount safely but then these cameras won't meter with any manual focus lenses.l
I am who used Nikon film cameras and when I moved to digital in 2013 I got the Df and I used all the lenses that I had for my film cameras. Also the digital cameras have a lot of settings but you can simply not using them and use them just like a manual film camera.
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I'm partial to mirrorless and I got a used Fuji XT-1 for cheap on Ebay because my Sony NEX5T doesn't have a great viewfinder. I found the camera very hard to focus with my manual focus Canon FD lenses with the back screen only. Some may disagree with me, but all used digital camera on the market have pretty good sensors and it's hard to tell one digital camera from another. I'm very happy with 16MP. Anything more than 16MP is just overkill. I could get an 16x20 print @ 200dpi from a 13MP sensor.
At this point, it doesn't make sense to by new because there's a glut of used and very good gear on the market.
At this point, it doesn't make sense to by new because there's a glut of used and very good gear on the market.
Anvil, I print everything with inkjet. I suppose there's nostalgic logic in starting with a traditional wet darkroom, like I did nearly 70 years ago, but perhaps your time would be better spent perfecting inkjet printing, or at least using inkjet for proofing since there are several exquisitely good professional inkjet labs. Canon and Epson make very fine inkjet photo printers.
Some folks love darkrooms. I don't know anybody that loves inkjet printers but they're incredibly good. I don't know anybody who shoots wooden field cameras anymore either...
Andrew O'Neill
Moderator
Hi Tom, actually, I got it mainly for Japan this Spring Break, which sadly, I had to cancel. I wanted something that would compete with my RB67 and HP5, as I was planning on dragging that along as well. Kind of a backup camera. The dslr will mainly be used as backup camera, as long as I keep shooting film, especially large format. So... the D850 has sat there in its nice saddle bag. But, if I do get some good ones with it, I'll most likely use it for alt processes... Cheers!
OP
OP
@jtk is it worth it to purchase my own printer and print myself even if my print shop probably has a nicer printer?
Hmmm, thank you for all your help everyone. I think I've narrowed it down to a camera in the Fujifilm X series (most likely the cheap XT-1) or a Nikon Df for cross compatibility with my analog lenses. I'm going to table my thinking about it all until I come up on some money and until I master scanning negatives, post-editing, and, potentially, printing my own photos.
But, I'm happy to know that not all DSLR or mirrorless cameras are just touching LCD screens and navigating through restrictive settings that hinder you from doing everything manually.
Hmmm, thank you for all your help everyone. I think I've narrowed it down to a camera in the Fujifilm X series (most likely the cheap XT-1) or a Nikon Df for cross compatibility with my analog lenses. I'm going to table my thinking about it all until I come up on some money and until I master scanning negatives, post-editing, and, potentially, printing my own photos.
But, I'm happy to know that not all DSLR or mirrorless cameras are just touching LCD screens and navigating through restrictive settings that hinder you from doing everything manually.
Deleted member 88956
Don't know what you're getting it for but x-t30 tops x-t1 in pretty much all boxes,
Probably yes but I believe it is not in the price range for OP. Dunno if it was with the kit lens or not but I would suggest buying only the body and then an adaptor for old lenses. I'm just totally in love with X-T30 + old FD lenses. I've heard that one part of the "film aesthetics" comes from old lenses. For example the kit lens that came with my X-T30 is far too sharp for the look I'm after. Surely it is a good lens if I need to take make "real" digital work but as I wrote previosly, my setup feels more close to film photography than to digital photography..
So consider buying body only.
The EVF even on X-T30 doesn't really show how the picture will look like on computer. Mostly it is too contrasty. However I've got used to it and "trust" that the photo will look better. I still respect the film emulation preview + cropping (I mostly shoot at 1:1) on the EVF.
I made a jump to digital a few months ago since I could no longer use a darkroom and the used equipment and film prices were way too expensive to me. I have kept one 35mm camera and will shoot my remaining rolls with it.
I chose the Sony a7. It is a full frame camera and you can mount nearly any lens on it. It has 24MP, it's great for use with manual lenses since it has focus peaking and you can easily see the focused areas. At 3200 ISO the pictures are "noisy" but definitely usable. You can find it pretty cheap as almost everyone will go for the a7II which has in body image stabilization, something the a7 lacks. Personally I don't really mind giving that up for the low price. There is also the small size and weight which makes it a perfect candidate for street photography.
However, you should know that the battery life on this camera is pretty low and it is highly recommended to have more than 2 at any time. Also there is no optical viewfinder but an electronic one. I would prefer an optical viewfinder but the electronic one works fine.
I chose the Sony a7. It is a full frame camera and you can mount nearly any lens on it. It has 24MP, it's great for use with manual lenses since it has focus peaking and you can easily see the focused areas. At 3200 ISO the pictures are "noisy" but definitely usable. You can find it pretty cheap as almost everyone will go for the a7II which has in body image stabilization, something the a7 lacks. Personally I don't really mind giving that up for the low price. There is also the small size and weight which makes it a perfect candidate for street photography.
However, you should know that the battery life on this camera is pretty low and it is highly recommended to have more than 2 at any time. Also there is no optical viewfinder but an electronic one. I would prefer an optical viewfinder but the electronic one works fine.
Not sure if DF has 500$ price range, but it should be much simple camera for menus.
Every time I engage with FujiNoFilm users they have to struggle with menus to answer my questions.
On top of it EVF is not OVF and using old manual focus lenses on mirror-less just not something easy.
Non-AI lenes are not going to perform well on FF digital, even if modified (just old optics), but here are many F mount DSLR non expensive lenses.
Manual focus AI lenses are cheap and some if not many of them are OK on digital.
F mount Vivitar 20 3.8 lens (under 100$) on FF digital. (Edges are edgy due to post processing, not lens, camera).
Every time I engage with FujiNoFilm users they have to struggle with menus to answer my questions.
On top of it EVF is not OVF and using old manual focus lenses on mirror-less just not something easy.
Non-AI lenes are not going to perform well on FF digital, even if modified (just old optics), but here are many F mount DSLR non expensive lenses.
Manual focus AI lenses are cheap and some if not many of them are OK on digital.
F mount Vivitar 20 3.8 lens (under 100$) on FF digital. (Edges are edgy due to post processing, not lens, camera).
Every time I engage with FujiNoFilm users they have to struggle with menus to answer my questions.
On top of it EVF is not OVF and using old manual focus lenses on mirror-less just not something easy.
How come using old manual focus lenses are not-easy on mirrorless? I haven't noticed anything difficult in it.
Most manual focus lenses are a lot faster than autofocus especially the primes. ...they give you maybe two stops brighter view and better bokeh.
Fwiw the photo dedicated Canon and Epson printers are as good or better than printers used by most labs, especially for B+W.
With a decent scan and any of many art papers, and some experience, B+W inkjet readily whups home darkroom especially in tonal scale, dodge/burn etc, and detail. And of course the ease of 13x19 etc.
Maybe because you have to stop down the lens? I imagine most will set aperture, then focus, thus having more difficulty with fine focusing. Also, the lack of split prism could be a major factor.
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This seems like a no brainer to me. A Sony A7 meets all your criteria.
Stepping down the aperture on modern mirrorless cameras is not a problem; you can still see the scene well through EVF. That is the beauty of it; you actually can preview everything. Also for example X-T30 has a really good focusing assistants - I like the one which shows edges with color when the part is in focus. It is actually very informative to practice and test hyperfocal distances and prefocusing.
you decided on the budget, that's good
now spend double that
on a current cam
digi is very good these days, great quality/price ratio, unlikely you will have regrets
money will grow back, much quicker than you think; that camera you buy will not
With the exception of pro digital cameras (which cost thousands of dollars) digital camera bodies are largely consumable. Even a pro level used digital body doesn't go for $500 unless it's extremely old, and in those instances, you need to keep an eye on the things like the shutter count and wether you can buy batteries for it. The shutter count as digital cameras shoot way more frames than film cameras, and batteries because the one that came with the camera is probably junk, and unless it's a standard battery that is used in multiple product lines (like Canon's LPE-6) finding replacements will be difficult. Without a good battery, you don't have a usable digital camera. Other stuff is things like whether it's been dropped, etc. Only pro cameras survive that sort of thing very well.
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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