Modern body or old school- what do you use and why?

pthornto · Aug 5, 2017

I find myself using a "modern" autofocus EOS body more and more for 35mm...this despite the fact that I really enjoy the feel and responsiveness of old school nikon or olympus manual focus slr. I guess that for my subjects (usually my little kids that aren't sitting still for more than 3 seconds) I feel an AF body with automatic film advance helps me work just a bit faster, keeping my eye on the subject and leveraging some automatic exposure to have one less thing to think about. That, said, I don't know if it really improves my success ratio or just changes my approach (and potential types of pictures I get- eg. action vs candids)

When I shoot with an manual focus body I am somewhat more restrained in my choice of shots and as I said- I really like the feeling of shooting manually, trusting myself to focus properly, and knowing what the camera is doing...so I guess if I were to summarize I would say I enjoy the experience of photographing more with an older manual camera but feel like I may be getting better (or at least somewhat different more spontaneous) results with a EOS.

I'm thinking on these aspects of camera choice as I'm headed out on vacation for a week in a few days and really want to only bring one SLR system!

What are your preferences for 35mm SLR? Do you shoot what you prefer because it gives you results you like or do you greatly enjoy the experience (or both!)?

Les Sarile · Aug 5, 2017

There is no denying the advantage of the EOS AF system. But I also do enjoy the manual focus cameras. All AF systems have tiny squinty viewfinders when compared to the gigantic one in the Pentax MX which is a huge advantage when using manual focus lenses and attaining critical focus.

Each has it's purpose, advantages and disadvantages and I enjoy the fact they all use film.

rrusso · Aug 5, 2017

Modern for me (for 35mm) - I use either a Nikon F4 or F100.

I like having auto film advance, auto focus, top shutter speed of 1/8000, focus indicator when using manual focus lenses, etc.

For me, although the process is enjoyable, the image is more important. So, anything that lets me get there quicker is better.

I have a Yashica D for when I want to go "old school".

Chan Tran · Aug 5, 2017

I have a Nikon F5 and a Nikon F3. I prefer the F3. The F5 actually slows me down. I would use the F5 in situation where I don't have to work fast.

albada · Aug 5, 2017

Like you, I prefer old-school manual-everything, but I'll admit that AF is wonderful for fast-moving subjects such as kids and birds.

Mark Overton

George Mann · Aug 5, 2017

I use a Nikon F90x because it is better at everything when used with a good, autofocus lens!

pthornto · Aug 5, 2017

Chan, How does F5 slow you down? More dials to spin leading to more complexity and more decisions?

rrusso, I agree the image should be the goal. I'm just not convinced I necessarily get better images from my use approach of modern AF cameras but know I work faster and end up getting through a roll quicker. In reviewing the negatives however I see more frames that are repeats of similar images (a similar approach I would take to digital photography).

Theo Sulphate · Aug 5, 2017

The old manual equipment is most fun for me. But when I shoot motorsports, I use AF lenses and a ...an F700. Yeah.

Two23 · Aug 5, 2017

I used my most modern 35mm last night at the county fair--a Nikon F3t! I shoot more often with my second newest camera, a 1941 Leica IIIc. Just bought a Kodak Bantam Special. I have more fun shooting the really old stuff. My oldest 35mm is a 1916 Kodak Premo No.00, followed by an Agfa Memo (c.1928.)

Kent in SD

bimmey · Aug 5, 2017

In 35mm film cameras I shoot Olympus and Contax. So unless I buy a Contax AX it's manual focus for me. Never really warmed up to AF cameras. Most likely because they came with a bunch of other "bells and whistles" that I had no use for.

Sirius Glass · Aug 5, 2017

For 35mm I use AF cameras.
For MF I use the Hasselblads which are manual focus.
If I want to used manual cameras without the safety net of interlocks I use 4"x5".

CMoore · Aug 6, 2017

I only own Manual Focus bodies.....i Think...At least i do not own any Auto Focus lens'.
I am kind of "old fashioned" so i like the older, manual focus stuff.
But.....even as SLOW as the auto focus is on my Canon Sure-Shot 80, i can see how appealing a "real" 35mm auto focus camera would be. No doubt there are times when the auto focus would be "better" or at least make life easier.
Whenever these type of questions arise, i always try to think about what all the modern cameras do...battery everything...automatic ASA...Auto Focus...Etc etc.
But i understand this forum is about Traditional Photography Skills, that is why i am here.
Who knows, in a few more years, my eyes might start asking for auto focus.
If it were not for Digital Technology, all the new film SLR would be just like a Digital SLR....automatic everything would be what "Pros" would be using to shoot film.

narsuitus · Aug 6, 2017

pthornto said:
Modern body or old school- what do you use and why?

I use both. However, I prefer a no light meter, no motorized film advance, no auto focus, no automatic, no battery, manual/mechanical, old school SLR.

Old School SLR by Narsuitus, on Flickr

MattKing · Aug 6, 2017

I recently acquired a few Canon EOS bodies and EF lenses in order to have available an auto-focus, auto-wind, built in auto flash film option.
I say "a few" because so many of them are so ridiculously inexpensive. Essentially, most of them "followed me home", although I actually bought a new lens (the 40mm f/2.8 STM) to use with them.
I also have an older Canon Rebel digital body.
All of them together are essentially useful accessories - they fulfill particular needs, even if they aren't what I usually reach for first.
That eye control focus on two of the bodies is really neat though!
I really need to pare down the collection though.

R.Gould · Aug 6, 2017

I only own old cameras, all rangefinder's, I by far prefer to use them, especialy my 1946 Leica 3c and Canon 7, and the ambi sillette and vitessa t, a
Richard

TheRook · Aug 6, 2017

My only modern body SLR, the Nikon F90 (N90) is a fine camera, but it has far too many buttons for me. If I haven't used it in a while, I usually need to read the manual to figure out how to operate it, and it takes some time for me to get comfortable using it again. With my older cameras, I can simply pick up any one of them anytime (even years later) and I'm ready to shoot, no instruction manual needed. For the most part, I prefer the simplicity of the "old school" cameras - I can better concentrate on what I'm trying to capture, without the distraction of button selection. Besides, I also prefer the more angular contours of the typical old-school SLR body.

RalphLambrecht · Aug 6, 2017

pthornto said:
I find myself using a "modern" autofocus EOS body more and more for 35mm...this despite the fact that I really enjoy the feel and responsiveness of old school nikon or olympus manual focus slr. I guess that for my subjects (usually my little kids that aren't sitting still for more than 3 seconds) I feel an AF body with automatic film advance helps me work just a bit faster, keeping my eye on the subject and leveraging some automatic exposure to have one less thing to think about. That, said, I don't know if it really improves my success ratio or just changes my approach (and potential types of pictures I get- eg. action vs candids)

When I shoot with an manual focus body I am somewhat more restrained in my choice of shots and as I said- I really like the feeling of shooting manually, trusting myself to focus properly, and knowing what the camera is doing...so I guess if I were to summarize I would say I enjoy the experience of photographing more with an older manual camera but feel like I may be getting better (or at least somewhat different more spontaneous) results with a EOS.

I'm thinking on these aspects of camera choice as I'm headed out on vacation for a week in a few days and really want to only bring one SLR system!

What are your preferences for 35mm SLR? Do you shoot what you prefer because it gives you results you like or do you greatly enjoy the experience (or both!)?

me too. for 35mm I enjoy AF and matrix metering. I just can't focus any better or determine a better exposure than what my cameras(mostly Nikon) can do.They are much better cameras than I am a photographer.

Sewin · Aug 6, 2017

As TheRook says I too find there are too many buttons and settings on my F65 and just end up using it on auto as a point and shoot.

Mechanical cameras, all the controls are basically the same, so no problems there and I like the sound the old cameras make.

Old manual SLR for me then.

film_man · Aug 6, 2017

Both. My main camera is the F3HP. I love it, I love the 50/1.2 I have on it, I love the viewfinder. I have the motordrive as well for when I want to work a bit faster. I have a couple of Canon AF bodies too, I like the simplicity, put them in A mode and go. So depends how I feel like.

anfenglin · Aug 6, 2017

Manual, old fashioned all the way. Pentax 6x7, Pentacon Six, Leica II, Nikomat FTN.

blockend · Aug 6, 2017

I enjoy the flip up flash in consumer AF SLR bodies, much handier than carrying a hot shoe flash for fill-in. For everything else I prefer a manual camera. Automatic cameras should be quicker in most circumstances, in reality they don't seem to be unless they're on full auto Program. Once you need to tweak the controls a dedicated dial is quicker than a multi-function wheel in my experience. Perhaps if I stuck to a single "modern" camera the controls would be instinctive.

E. von Hoegh · Aug 6, 2017

I have a couple Pentax IQ ZOOMS, one was free, one was $3, both came with good cr3 batteries. I use one sometimes when I might want to hand the camera to someone else.
For rangefinders, it's Contax II/Kiev: for slrs it's Nikon F, F2, and Nikkormat. I like simple things that work perfectly 100% of the time.

Chan Tran · Aug 6, 2017

pthornto said:
Chan, How does F5 slow you down? More dials to spin leading to more complexity and more decisions?

rrusso, I agree the image should be the goal. I'm just not convinced I necessarily get better images from my use approach of modern AF cameras but know I work faster and end up getting through a roll quicker. In reviewing the negatives however I see more frames that are repeats of similar images (a similar approach I would take to digital photography).

I used F2 and F3 for a good 10 years from late 70's to late 80's. Then I sold them all. Using a Minolta SRT-101 with no meter. Up to early 2000's I wanted a camera again so after much reading I decided that the F5 would be the one. At the same time the F3 + Motor drive was about $1700 and the F5 was $1900. So out of curiousity I bought the F5. I found that the F5 control layouts are very logical but when I started to use it they are very slow to operate. Turning the wheel from f/3.5 to f/11 takes a while. Try changing shutter speed from 1/125 to 1 sec. it's time consuming. I kept overshooting.
AF is good but selecting the focus point isn't fast. If use the center focus point I hate focus and recompose thingy.
And the Matrix meter doesn't work for negative film.

Cholentpot · Aug 6, 2017

Thanks to the affordability of camera bodies I chose for each situation nowadays.

I do enjoy shooting on a fully manual camera more than an autofocus. I have nicer manual lenses than I do auto, but that being said when I have to shoot kids or blow a roll in 60 seconds I roll out the EOS.

Paul Howell · Aug 6, 2017

I shoot AF in either shutter speed priority or program, for sports, wildlife, nature, travel, for walks around, shooting at the zoo, some landscapes I use any number of non AF bodies, most have some level exposure control, Konica, Miranda, others are basic, Petri, Spotmatic and Kowa (fixed lens SLRs).

Modern body or old school- what do you use and why?

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