Looking to get into analog and need advice.

[IlfordFan]

I am a seasoned digital photographer who is looking to discover the analog process. Should I keep shooting with my Canon Sureshot or should I get a better camera?

 

[removed account4]

i think it depends on what you want to do
if you want total control of aperture dnd shutter speed
and maybe change lenses then the sure shot might not be
the right choice but if you want to get your feet wet, shoot film
and learn to process and print, concentrate on compositing
instead of shutter speeds fstops and DOF then maybe someting
inexpensive that offers manual technique might be worth it..
sometimes its a blast just to point and shoot

have fun!

 

[Eric Rose]

What system are you into for your digi stuff? If it's Nikon you are in luck as you can use most of your new glass on the newer (relatively speaking) analog Nikon SLRs.

 

[IlfordFan]

My setup for digital is Canon.

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

Stay with Canon, especially if you have a number of lenses by Canon for the digital. Find one of the EOS film bodies e.g. EOS 1N or EOS1V (with any options you desire as they are available).

 

[MattKing]

If your digital lenses are full frame EF lenses, they will work well on Canon film bodies.
The Canon EOS Rebel bodies are incredibly cheap, and provide tremendous value.
That being said, a Sure Shot is very capable as well, in a different sort of way.
Learn its strengths and weaknesses on (relatively) inexpensive negative film, and you will also be learning a lot about film in general.
One caution though - if you will be using a lab to develop your film, the quality of scanning and printing offered by labs can be inconsistent. You might be doing great work, but sloppy lab work may give you the impression that you are doing poorly.
Whatever you do, don't use a lab that doesn't return your negatives!

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I'm using my Canon EF lenses on EOS DSLR and SLR.

Tamron 28-75 2.8 on EOS 300:

50L on same EOS 300:


I owned briefly EOS 3, with focus by eye, it was very handy, but I sold it quick due to enormous weight and size.
It might be good to balance long Ls. It is not expensive camera.

 

[artcarbuncle]

No reason to get something else until you’re sure that the limitations of the camera are preventing you from doing something you want to do, seems to me. Having a different focal length or control over exposure and focus aren’t aspects of the analog process per se, so if your goal right now is to just learn what it’s like to make negatives and scan or wet print them, the SureShot should do very well.

 

[IlfordFan]

If your digital lenses are full frame EF lenses, they will work well on Canon film bodies.

Mine are ef-s

Having a different focal length or control over exposure and focus aren’t aspects of the analog process per se

The Canon SureShot 60 has adjustable focal length. In terms of exposure, I think I can bracket by putting an ND filter over the lens.

 

[Helios 1984]

I vouch for the Elan 7e/EOS 30, you could purchase a few EF lenses which you'd be able to use on your EF-S too.

Ps: Welcome to APUG (Photrio)

 

[tedr1]

The analogue process can be approached more than one way.

Do you want to make your own prints using wet chemistry? If that is the goal my advice is to first setup your darkroom, which will eat up some cash and time, and use film from the Sureshot. If you find you like darkroom work then it may be time to upgrade the camera.

Alternatively have your film processed and printed by a lab and avoid the darkroom.

Depending on your taste in imagery and technical requirements you may find film offers no advantages. On the other hand some will use nothing else. My personal opinion is that an image good enough to mount frame and hang on the wall can be made with both digital and film, what matters is the image not how it was made.

 

[Chan Tran]

Since your EF-S lenses won't work on the EOS film camera I think you can get a Canon system based on the FD lenses. They are cheap enough. Using the sure shot is similar of using the power shot so I don't think it's a good thing.

 

[MattKing]

The Canon SureShot 60 has adjustable focal length. In terms of exposure, I think I can bracket by putting an ND filter over the lens.

For most cameras of that type, the meter sensor is behind any filter - so ND filters won't do what you need.
But you may be able to adjust the ASA/ISO manually.

 

[dpurdy]

Personally I think that you probably will be disappointed in 35mm compared to your digital work that you are so used to. I would go out of that familiar box and get an interesting medium format film camera instead. It doesn't need to be expensive to give you a much different look that is technically impressive with all the analog interest and enjoyment.

 

[IlfordFan]

For most cameras of that type, the meter sensor is behind any filter - so ND filters won't do what you need.
But you may be able to adjust the ASA/ISO manually.

In the Canon SureShot, the meter sensor is separate from the lens. Really bad if you accidentally put your thumb over the sensor.

Personally I think that you probably will be disappointed in 35mm compared to your digital work that you are so used to. I would go out of that familiar box and get an interesting medium format film camera instead. It doesn't need to be expensive to give you a much different look that is technically impressive with all the analog interest and enjoyment.

Or maybe I should try Lomography.

 

[John Koehrer]

I've got a rebel 2000 for postage if you would like it.
Send me a PM if you want more information.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Any number of Nikon, Canon, or Minolta cameras will provide manual settings [some with programmed options] and interchangeable lenses at very affordable prices.

 

[MattKing]

I've got a rebel 2000 for postage if you would like it.
Send me a PM if you want more information.

A very usable camera indeed.
But the OP's EF-S lenses won't work with it.

 

[tomfrh]

Get a Canon EOS 30/33/30v//7/7n/7ne etc

I have three - one E6, on BW and one C41. Great cameras and take EF lenses which interchange with 5D3 digital

The rebels and other cheap ones work, but why would you bother when you can buy a $1000 camera for under $100?

 

[Sirius Glass]

I have one Nikon slr for black & white and one for color. They share their lenses.

 

[Erik Petersson]

In the Canon SureShot, the meter sensor is separate from the lens. Really bad if you accidentally put your thumb over the sensor.

Or maybe I should try Lomography.

Toy cameras can also be very rewarding. I use them from time to time. If you want to explore low quality lenses, I would not go for Lomography, though, they are overpriced. Try a really old medium format camera, a 6x6 folder for example. It's slow photography of course, big negatives. I love the low contrast on some of my lenses.

 

[ic-racer]

shooting with my Canon Sureshot

Any camera that exposes the negatives correctly will be good for which to start. With this internet forum you can post your negatives before you print them to see that they are going to be printable. This can help immensely.

 

[wiltw]

The analogue process can be approached more than one way.

Do you want to make your own prints using wet chemistry? If that is the goal my advice is to first setup your darkroom, which will eat up some cash and time, and use film from the Sureshot. If you find you like darkroom work then it may be time to upgrade the camera.

Alternatively have your film processed and printed by a lab and avoid the darkroom.

Depending on your taste in imagery and technical requirements you may find film offers no advantages. On the other hand some will use nothing else. My personal opinion is that an image good enough to mount frame and hang on the wall can be made with both digital and film, what matters is the image not how it was made.

^^^ full agreement

 

[Doc W]

Personally I think that you probably will be disappointed in 35mm compared to your digital work that you are so used to. I would go out of that familiar box and get an interesting medium format film camera instead. It doesn't need to be expensive to give you a much different look that is technically impressive with all the analog interest and enjoyment.

I agree with dpurdy. My suggestion would be to get an inexpensive medium format camera and learn to process your own black and white negatives. This is a different world from 35mm. If you just replace what you are doing now with analogue and get a lab to do all the work, it won't be much of a change. You won't really understand what analogue is all about and you will be disappointed.

 

[John51]

Medium format contact prints have a charm of their own.