So... who switched to AF/modern film cameras?

GarageBoy · May 20, 2014

I know, the Nikon F, Pentax Spotmatic, and Leica M are god's gift to the photo world and they're nice to hold, play with, etc, but how many are using the latest whiz bang film cameras these days?

I'm thinking of AF, purely because I'm sick of missing candid people shots that I can't zone focus for

BetterSense · May 20, 2014

My eyes are getting worse, and my kids are getting faster. I'm using my AF Nikons more and more.

Richard S. (rich815) · May 20, 2014

Get a Fuji GA645!

dugrant153 · May 20, 2014

I'm actually starting to migrate over to film cameras. Notably I'm using 2 Pentax cameras so I can use DA lenses from my digital camera and have one set of lenses versus a variety of different lenses with different cameras from different companies. Less to carry.

I do really like the old cameras but the AF really helps when the light starts to get really low.

Current setup:
Pentax PZ1p + DA*55 F1.4 (have to manual focus as no Pentax film cameras have SDM support)
Pentax MZ5 + DA 40mm F2.8 ( Auto focus )
Pentax K7 digital + DA 21 F3.2 ( Auto focus ).

Also have a Pentax Super Program + Sigma 24mm F2.8 that I'm playing with. It's manual focus.

The reasons for going with the more modern cameras is mainly for AF but, in the case of the PZ1p, having 1/8000th of a second is really really useful when it's bright and I'm stuck at 800ASA and I want to get down to F4 or F2.8 (not F16...).

segedi · May 20, 2014

Current Film Camera lineup

AF:
Nikon F100 (picked up recently for $150, with grip!)
Canon EOS Elan 7e (Shot a roll through this and the 40mm pancake lens this weekend - sweet combo)
Canon EOS Elan 7

MF:
Leica M7
Arax CM
Mamiya RZ67 II

No-focus:
ZeroImage 612F

I've tried to like the MF cameras for portraiture, but I'm not really fast enough and recomposition poses problems, too. It's nice to pick a non-centre focus point and be spot on with fast focus.

Paul Howell · May 20, 2014

I have both manual focus and auto focus cameras, I use both depending on my needs. I use auto foucs not so much for auto focus but because new cameras are often smaller and lighter, better metering, built in auto winder, and mirror lock up with auto exposure bracketing. In my case I have full range of M 42 and Miranda prime lens, I think that even the 40 year old primes are sharper with less distortion than modern zooms. But at the end of day shooting I can really tell the difference if I carry a Pentax SF1 or Z 70 or my Sigma SA 9 with a couple of zooms vs either a M 42 camera body winder 4 or 5 lens or Miranda with 4 or 5 lens.

AgX · May 20, 2014

The only functional AF SLR I got is the SX-70 Sonar. And just because I got it. But it is useful for hand-held self-portraits.

I got some finder AF-cameras too. But with these the AF is often primitive.

blockend · May 20, 2014

It's worth remembering that autofocus technology on film cameras is typically 15 - 20 years behind AF on d*g*t*l. I use manual and auto focus, but it won't keep pace with a modern DSLR.

Paul Howell · May 20, 2014

blockend said:
It's worth remembering that autofocus technology on film cameras is typically 15 - 20 years behind AF on d*g*t*l. I use manual and auto focus, but it won't keep pace with a modern DSLR.

That is true, the Nikon F 6 is the most current but it not up to the D 4. I put a split image screen in one of my SF 1 which I use with M 42 and Pentax A lens.

Nick Merritt · May 20, 2014

The Nikon F5 is quite a camera, as you'd expect, and goes for really cheap these days. The F100 is an even better deal, and maybe better overall (it's not nearly as heavy). Check out the Elan 7 also -- it's remarkably quiet. All have as good AF as you'll need.

cliveh · May 20, 2014

Does autofocus know where to focus?

Tinykin · May 20, 2014

Sometimes it'd be nice to a have a camera that does focus bracketing.

snapguy · May 20, 2014

RF

I have everything from a Brownie Reflex to a DSLR with a full range of lenses but lately am using olde rangefinder cameras a lot. I just took a Minolta
AL (circa 1965) for a spin and it is wonderful. And I just purchased a 60-year-old Rolleiflex that has no meter or any of that new stuff.
I have a neighbor who used to drag race his Chevy in the 1960s. He always drove it with a stick shift even though he admits an automatic would have given him faster times. But as far as he is concerned it ain't a drag race unless you use a stick shift. I am a little bit like that. I will use a very modern camera if I have to but prefer something more traditional.

flatulent1 · May 20, 2014

I have some of each, but mostly I have modern tech film cameras, such as the Canon T90, Elan 7NE, EOS 1V, Contax RX and AX, Mamiya 645 Pro TL, and so on. You can tell by my list that they're not all AF, though they all have auto frame advance and rewind, and fancy-shmancy metering systems. I shoot with these because it's what I'm comfortable with.

My all-manual camera lineup include Canon F-1, FTb, Contax S2, a pair of Zeiss folders, a Yashica Mat 124G, an RB67, Holga, Likea pinhole, Minolta SRT 202... I know I'm forgetting something...

karl · May 20, 2014

Though I have quite a horde of Nikon F, F2A and F3 bodies, they don't get nearly use as the Nikon F100. It's just a great camera. Frankly, the autofocus is more accurate than my eyes. Especially in low light. When I feel like a manual focus Nikon SLR, it tends to be the F3. Largely because of the aperture priority metering. An AF Nikon SLR pairs very nicely with a Leica M body. I hardly shoot much 35mm anymore but when I go to some family function were 35mm seems like the right choice I almost always take my F100 with AF-Nikkor 85mm f1.4 and a Leica M4 with a 50mm Elmar f2.8.

markbarendt · May 20, 2014

I switched. F5 and F100 now.

I thought I would miss my FM2, my 35mm Nikkor O, and my Nikkor 105 2.5; I was wrong. The F5 and F100 are true joys to use.

I will though happily manual focus for medium and large formats.

fstop · May 20, 2014

In the late 90s I decided if it was going to be AF then it would digital for autofocus.I skipped over the AF film cameras. Interestingly enough I use manual focus lenses on my digital where they suit a need.

MattKing · May 20, 2014

I decided to dabble with some Canon AF equipment, to complement my Olympus OM stuff.

The bodies and kit zoom lenses are so cheap that I now have 5 bodies, 4 battery grips and four kit zooms and one new fixed focus lens.

Plus a couple of old digital bodies that go with them.

AF = Rabbits!

ArtO · May 20, 2014

For me it's a mix. I like AF and use it quite a bit but recently I've been shooting with a D2H and Nikkor 105mm f4 AI and 55mm f2.8AI. I just really enjoy the close focus capabilities of those lenses.

Drew B. · May 20, 2014

I just bought an F100...in fact it hasn't even arrived yet. This will be my first auto focus...

ic-racer · May 20, 2014

I didn't 'switch' to AF cameras, but in the last 3 years I have been also using modern Nikon 35mm SLRs in addition to my other cameras. The Nikons are much easier to use than some of my 1980s cameras, the lenses are good, the bodies are inexpensive and replaceable and kudos to Nikon for still making and selling 35mm SLRs!

For 'action' shots, the AF is pretty useless, because the shutter won't release when you want the image. So, in those cases, I either don't use an AF camera, or I'll put the camera to "M" and focus manually (I usually 'zone focus' for action shots). If you have not used AF, there is a learning curve as to what it can and can't do.

I use a N75, N55 and F100 and will likely get an F6 at some time. BTW, I don't have any interest in manual-focus Nikon, I have plenty of manual focus 35mm cameras already.

John_Nikon_F · May 20, 2014

I have both an F4s and an F5. Use them pretty regularly, just like I use my F, F2AS (both of them), and my F3P, as well as the FM2n and Nikomat FT2.

I installed a P screen in the F4s and a J screen in the F5, mainly so I could have focusing aids with my manual lenses. Not that the electronic rangefinder is unuseable, but, it's nice to still have a split-image and/or microprism spot.

-J

pdjr1991 · May 20, 2014

markbarendt said:
I switched. F5 and F100 now.

I thought I would miss my FM2, my 35mm Nikkor O, and my Nikkor 105 2.5; I was wrong. The F5 and F100 are true joys to use.

I will though happily manual focus for medium and large formats.

+1

markbarendt · May 20, 2014

Drew B. said:
I just bought an F100...in fact it hasn't even arrived yet. This will be my first auto focus...

You are in for a treat. Got a nice lens?

BradleyK · May 20, 2014

35mm SLR-wise, I use pretty much the whole Nikon F family (my F, however is a work in progress):F2s (F2s, F2As, F2ASs), F3s (F3HPs and an F3P), an F4e, a pair of F5s and an F6. The three AF lenses I own (17-35mm 2.8 ED, 28-70mm 2.8 ED and 80-200mm 2.8 ED) seem to spend most of their time on my D800; my preference remains to use manual focus lenses with whatever camera I happen to feel like using. Switching to "modern lenses"? Not really; No real need; I still prefer to shoot the old fashioned way...lol

So... who switched to AF/modern film cameras?

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