My Niece wants to get into film

perkeleellinen · Apr 24, 2011

About 6 months ago my Niece bought herself a Canon digi camera; one of those hybrid / superzoom things. Here's a photo I took of her in action:

Dead Link Removed

Anyway, she phoned me last night to ask if I could help her get a film camera and also to set her up a darkroom. I'm quite excited about this but I need to act fast. I want to get her hooked before she gets into something else. Initially I thought about telling her to buy Nikon so I could get the camera when she quits, but my wife told me off!

How can I get a capricious 16 year old hooked on film?

My initial ideas:

Get a fairly cheap manual camera (OM10?) that's the antithesis of her digi superzoom.
Take her to a shop (Ag Photographic) to buy film and chems
Drive to pick up a 2nd hand enlarger got from ebay
I'll develop her negs to start with and let her concentrate on prints
Maybe try slides so she can project her photos

Any other ideas?

Oh, one other thing: money isn't too much of an issue, she recently quit school and is working full time but still living at home.

hpulley · Apr 24, 2011

What sort of stuff does she shoot? What does she want to shoot? Those are the main usual questions we'd ask and I think they still apply.

Let her handle your Nikon, see how she likes it. Take her to a used camera store if such a thing is still around. She may find a big old SLR too heavy or she may think it's great. If she's used to AF she may want that or she may want to go retro in which case even a Holga or Diana may be fun to start.

Local craigslist enlarger deal sure, just make sure it has ALL the pieces. Some haven't been used in decades so make sure the lamp turns on, it focuses, can be raised and lowered etc.

Show her how to develop negatives the first time and help her the next time but it really isn't hard.

Help her with prints. Once you show her a time or two she'll be fine.

Slides are fun but will she want to do slide shows?

You don't want to spend much to start in case it doesn't hold her interest for long.

R gould · Apr 24, 2011

Why not try and get her interested in using classic cameras such as a nice 6x6 folder, or a nice Rollei, something different from the normal, I gave my 15 year old cousin a Folder when she expressed an interest in film, She loved the idea of using something as old and loved the way folks wanted to admire the camera, and she was soon taking some great b/w stuff and developing and printing the stuff, started in my Darkroom and soon wanted her own,and has not looked back in 3 years,and her digi gear is now up for sale as she wants more film gear,
Richard

Jeff Kubach · Apr 24, 2011

You can check out KEH for a used camera and lookup Freestyle for film and other stuff.

Jeff

thegman · Apr 24, 2011

I would say start her off with something with AE, I think going meterless, or even manual with a built in meter is throwing someone in the deep end, and likely to scare them off.

A little simple Pentax or Olympus SLR I think is a good idea, with a cheap fast 50mm and maybe a zoom too. A trip to a good film shop is a good idea, I'm 31 and the little colourful boxes of film still attract my attention.

perkeleellinen · Apr 24, 2011

Thanks for all the comments so far.

She sort of shoots whatever she comes across: friends, stuff, activities; it's all en passant. The folder idea is quite nice but I'm concerned that may be a bit much for someone who I suspect doesn't understand exposure. The OM10 has aperture priority I think (and full manual with an adaptor). I can pick one up with a 50/1.8 for just under £50 online in the UK.

AlbertZeroK · Apr 24, 2011

I think you should put a TLR in her hands and load it with some 120 chrome, get it developed and let her be AMAZED at the beauty of chrome!
I often get the most amazing comments when friends of mine look at a page of 120 chrome on a light box. There is nothing better in my book.

I'm loving my little 124G TLR. Simple, easy and it has a light meter to get you close.

Rick A · Apr 24, 2011

I would help her get an auto/manual whatever on the cheap. Then let her start on auto with the ability to experiment with manual exposures to get the feel of what is possible. Take her into your DR whenever possible and help her set her own up. Show her different equiptment when ever you have a chance, and encourage her to let her imagination run wild.

Diapositivo · Apr 24, 2011

If she has small hands, I would suggest a small SLR such as an Olympus OM1 or OM2, a Pentax MX or ME or ME Super. Or an "average" like a Minolta X-xxx series for which she can find tons of used lenses of very high quality. Instead of "discouraging" her with theory about exposure, just let her do some rolls in Automatic mode (or Manual, following the internal light meter). She will just concentrate on composition while doing those first rolls.
You will then examine with her the results, pointing to here where a picture would have been better with more, or less, depth of field, where the shutter time should have been faster, or slower, and where the internal light meter leads to an underexposed (or overexposed) subject. The best way to teach theory is to start from practice. Theory solves problems, and once you experience a problem, theory teaches to solve them before taking the image. Theory is the most interesting thing also for a very young person, if it lives in practice.

Fabrizio

Shaggysk8 · Apr 24, 2011

Don't suppose she would like 2 enlargers an Agfa C66 (Durst 605)?

Or as you list was a to get list and I didn't read it very well would she like an enlarger with lens 50mm & 80mm. It works really well and I only live in Daventry

Mark Fisher · Apr 24, 2011

OM10 or OM2 with a 50mm lens would be perfect. Cheap with aperture priority. Great way to start. The OM2 would be much cooler looking than the OM10 especially in chrome.

2F/2F · Apr 24, 2011

You don't need much to get her hooked. A small enlarger, some darkroom stuff (focuser, trays, chemicals, etc.), a camera, and a lens. Ideally, a light meter and a tripod too. The earlier she learns to ignore the in-camera meter, the better off she will be.

It make take medium format to make some "kids" see the benefits of film over digital.

I agree on getting a Nikon. The lenses will work on Nikon digital cameras too, if you get AI or later lenses.

Bill Burk · Apr 24, 2011

Years ago when my niece was interested in photography, I gave her a Minolta SRT, a Durst enlarger and tanks/trays/chems. Last Christmas, another niece took pictures of her and wanted to see them immediately. When the film can popped open, the film hit the floor but she picked it up and reeled it like a pro. She developed it and poured in the fix before everyone had to pack up and go. As they were driving away, I pulled the negs out of the fix and held it up to the light for her to see...

Brian Legge · Apr 24, 2011

If you want an Olympus, I'd suggest an OM2 instead. She could start with auto exposure but the camera gives her a nice path to learning about manual control, etc. If she really gets into it, from there I'd suggest a meterless medium format camera like a TLR or folder.

perkeleellinen · Apr 25, 2011

Well she bought herself an OM10 last night!

guitstik · Apr 25, 2011

perkeleellinen said:
money isn't too much of an issue, she recently quit school and is working full time but still living at home.

The bigger concern, it seems to me, would be to get her back in school to finish her education. It could be that a school with a photography/darkroom curriculum would be good but an education would be better. Sixteen is to young to know what she wants, my daughter changes her mind almost daily, and an education will be much more beneficial to her.

perkeleellinen · Apr 25, 2011

I'm fairly relaxed about her dropping out and I sense her Mother is also. I think she'll re-engage when she's ready (and little more mature).

N467RX · Apr 25, 2011

For now, let her enjoy film

Luseboy · Apr 25, 2011

I'd say try and find a photo class for her to take. I started my darkroom last year, when i was 16, and i don't think i would be still doing it (i don't think i would have started it to begin with) if i hadn't been in such a great photo program at my school. That's what got me hooked, and i now have 5 nice cameras, more enlargers than space, and tons of equipment. I am happy to be one of the few people fighting to keep film photography alive. I'd love to see more people from my generation doing the same! the om10 should be good for her to learn with. As for enlargers, try and find something which is capable of medium (or large) format. Also get her a sink plumbed in and everything, that makes a huge difference. Start her off with cheap chems and paper. try arista edu paper/film, very good pricing, and it's not bad stuff. as far as chems go, i'd say go the d76/dektol route, use kodafix and indicator stop. And it's up to you to keep her interest up, i'd say. Your the teacher effectivley at this point, so make up some projects for her, and gradually teach her how to do things, like start just doing straight prints without contrast filters or dodging and burning or anything, just straight light, negative, paper. Nothing fancy. then gradually move up with contrast adjustment, dodging/burning, etc. Let's all cross our fingers and hope she sticks with it!

guitstik · Apr 25, 2011

To set the record straight, I dropped out when I was 17 and took my high school equivalency (GED) but I had also been out on my own when I was 15 and had a good job. I wasn't speaking from a point of being judgmental but concerned. Obviously I don't know the conditions for her dropping out or her parents stance on it, if they are comfortable with it then there must be a good reason.

The OM10 is a fair camera to start with but it is not the best that Olympus put out as it is a massed produced consumer camera. I started my daughter with a Minolta X-370 a much better camera. I wouldn't worry about teaching her DR just yet, have her shoot as many rolls as you can and either develop and print for her or get a local lab to do it. If you can do it yourself have her help out and she can pick up as you go along.

perkeleellinen · Apr 25, 2011

Thanks for your concern, I never took your post as being judgemental but I think I should clarify her quitting school. She did her secondary school exams (kids take them at 15-16) and scored fairly well. She then enrolled into what we call 'sixth form' which is a two year period taken at school or college which is the traditional route toward university - it's that 2 year period which she's quit. She can take it again later or even go to university without it (like me).

wblynch · Apr 25, 2011

If she has time, have her check into Vivian Maier's stuff: http://vivianmaier.blogspot.com/

OM10 are great, fun, cameras. Congratulations to her and more strength to all of us. Keep film alive.

TareqPhoto · Apr 29, 2011

I wish and i wish and i wish that the more people getting into film[analog] then the more film manufacturers can produce films for us, too bad they discontinue 5 films and produce one, discont 3 produce one, we will end up with 4 B&W films and 2 color neg and 1 slide in the future [hope not less], at least if they will keep films in markets.

2F/2F · Apr 29, 2011

perkeleellinen said:
Thanks for your concern, I never took your post as being judgemental but I think I should clarify her quitting school. She did her secondary school exams (kids take them at 15-16) and scored fairly well. She then enrolled into what we call 'sixth form' which is a two year period taken at school or college which is the traditional route toward university - it's that 2 year period which she's quit. She can take it again later or even go to university without it (like me).

I think that quitting school and seeking to learn a trade (photography, in this case) is far more laudable, and far more helpful to society, than going to school just because everyone tells one that it needs to be done to make a good living. I wish more young people did that. I think it possibly shows real intelligence, individualism, and critical thought, depending on her reasoning. This prevailing attitude that college is as necessary as high school is a big con IMHO, and it has the terrible side effect of lowering the quality of education by overcrowding schools, filling schools with people who are there for all the wrong reasons, and of taking young bodies out of the workforce and away from trades and headed for a (4 to 8 years delayed) future in white collar service work.

perkeleellinen · May 3, 2011

A quick update: the OM10 arrived from Ffordes in the UK and she says it works fine. I gave her two rolls of 24exp Neopan 400 and told her to not to waste the shots. I thought she'd blast through the 48 frames as she's coming from digital but she's taking it slowly. When they're done I might develop one roll and let her do the second.

My Niece wants to get into film

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