Starting getting into photography - Suggestion on inherited gear

Gpob · Nov 9, 2021

Hello, I always wanted to started with photography, and I am in the process to buy a mirrorless, but this is another story.

I recently inherited my father's gear. In the 80s, he was into photography, developing his films at home, printing in the dark room etc...
I have got a:
-Canon AE1
-Canon F1
-Nikonos V

IT looks amazing, but I don´t know where to start. Here my questions:
-What courses do you suggest for beginners?
-Where can I find out more about the cameras I have got?
-I understood from google, that the F1 is the best of the 3, especialyl becuase the Nikonos is very specific. Should I only use the F1 and sell the AE1 or there is a point in keeping them both?

Thanks

BrianShaw · Nov 9, 2021

Google the manuals for the F-1 and AE-1 and read them. Keep both cameras if you really don't need to raise funds. Having a back-up camera is a good idea, or you can load one with color and the other with black-and-white film for convenience and artistic options. Buy some film (and batteries) and see how they perform and if there are any repairs that might be required.

Enjoy!

Save the Nikonos for your next scuba diving adventure.

Disappointed_Horse · Nov 9, 2021

You can find manuals for most film cameras here: https://www.butkus.org/chinon/

Paul Howell · Nov 9, 2021

In terms of course work, here in the U.S we have Community Colleges, these are 2 years post high school, (secondary school) colleges that teach basic academics for transfer to 4 year college or technical trades, and some still teach basic analog photopghry and have darkrooms. Not sure if Spain has such pragmas. There are many free online courses including You Tube, start with a class that teaches how a camera and film works, how to hold a camera, lens, and exposure. You can also find how to books, many were printed and can found in used book stores.

As you probably know the Canon gear uses the same lens mount, the Nikons is designed for underwater, but a very good camera to use in bad weather. Unless you know the service history I would find someone who can clean, lub, and adjust each.

Sirius Glass · Nov 9, 2021

Nikonos V needs special grease for the o rings. Easily available on the internet. When the rings are in place a long time they get flattened and need to be replaces and regreased. Again easily available on the internet.

Download the instructions from https://www.butkus.org/chinon/ and to support the site send in $3US for each download you find useful. I recommend that you shoot a roll of film in each to check out the cameras. When cameras have sat for a long time, years, the shutters get sticky or stuck and need a CLA [Clean, Lubrication & Adjust]. If CLAs are needed check back here to find some recommended repair places.

Enjoy your cameras.

Alan9940 · Nov 9, 2021

Way back when I worked a camera counter and the Canon AE-1 was new, we sold a WHOLE lot of 'em. They're nice cameras. The F-1 is built like a tank and could take any abuse you would throw at it. I'd keep both, if I didn't have any pressing need to sell one.

Lots of YouTube videos on using 35mm film cameras. Tons of used books are around covering just about every topic you'd need to learn. A photo friend, local photographer, or a local camera club can be great resources, too. And, if you have any local camera stores (not many around anymore), the folks working the counters generally love to talk about photography.

Enjoy your cameras and welcome to the fold!

pbromaghin · Nov 9, 2021

As others have said, look on Youtube for each of the cameras. The AE1 might be better to start with because it has full automatic mode, which will make all of the decisions about exposure for you . But if you use the F1 you will learn much faster from all the mistakes it allows you to make with those decisions.

AgX · Nov 9, 2021

Gpob said:
I understood from google, that the F1 is the best of the 3.

"Best" is a term I myself do not use on cameras. All three cameras were made for different uses.

DMJ · Nov 9, 2021

Está el http://www.formatomedio.eu/forum/ en españa. Seguro te pueden ayudar con respecto a cursos y/o talleres de fotografía.

Deleted member 88956 · Nov 9, 2021

Starting fresh I'd go with Nikonos first. Load it up (sure, learn its use first) and take it out on some crazy rainy day. Just a thought of pouring rain, wind hauling, and photos on film to keep memories forever... all that may put you on fast track to learn more and shoot more. Canon F1 is heavy duty top camera from its day. So long as it has no issues, it is hard to beat. Total pleasure in use.

Sirius Glass · Nov 9, 2021

VTLD said:
Starting fresh I'd go with Nikonos first. Load it up (sure, learn its use first) and take it out on some crazy rainy day. Just a thought of pouring rain, wind hauling, and photos on film to keep memories forever... all that may put you on fast track to learn more and shoot more. Canon F1 is heavy duty top camera from its day. So long as it has no issues, it is hard to beat. Total pleasure in use.

Since I no longer scuba dive, I use mine for worry free rainy day weather.

Alan Edward Klein · Nov 9, 2021

Too many cameras to start with. Put the Nikonos on a shelf unless you plan on diving. Then select one of the other two the works the best and feels the best. Only shoot that one. Using two cameras serves no point especially of the same type. It's going to confuse you. Learn one camera so it's familiar and you could use it in the dark.

Bazza D · Nov 9, 2021

I got into film photography the same way. My uncle gave me the accumulation of my grandfathers cameras. My advice is that if the cameras work, use them and see what you like. And then still give it some time. What may seem like the wrong camera now may be the right one as you get into it more. One of the cameras I was given, I absolutely hated at first. Then I learned a bit more and changed my mind. As a beginner you don't really know what you will want or like yet. It is also better to wait a bit than to hurriedly sell something that has some family history as well. Also,most camera that are in decent order will take a good picture. Learning the technique is more important than the equipment. Save your money for film and use what you have..

Paul Howell · Nov 9, 2021

I will present the opposing view, learn to use both, the F1 is all manual, no automation, put the AE-1 has manual override and use it in manual mode. That way you can put a normal lens on one body and telephoto or long, or a wide angel on the other, or color in body and black and white in the other. Once you have mastered the basics of exposure you can learn to use the shutter speed preferred mode of the AE-1 in which the camera sets the aperture based on the meter reading. The AE-1 has a motor drive or winder, meaning that the camera will advance the film at 2 frames per second and may come in handy if you are shooting action. The F1 is a pro or system camera, built for daily hard use it has many features not found the AE-1 such as interchangeable viewfinders and focusing screens, a faster motor drive, and can use older Canon FD lens that cannot be used with the AE-1. Both are pros and cons, you need to figure what works best for you and what will become your style of shooting.

Sirius Glass · Nov 9, 2021

Alan Edward Klein said:
Too many cameras to start with. Put the Nikonos on a shelf unless you plan on diving. Then select one of the other two the works the best and feels the best. Only shoot that one. Using two cameras serves no point especially of the same type. It's going to confuse you. Learn one camera so it's familiar and you could use it in the dark.

What? Why would you waste a perfectly good all weather camera?

Huss · Nov 9, 2021

The Nikonos V is a fantastic camera in good weather as well as bad. It is easily the toughest built 35mm camera. Plus that body muffles the shutter so all you hear is a dull, quiet thud. Add to that the giant viewfinder, 'zone' (estimate) focusing and you have a superb street camera. The lens is very good too.
I recently took this with my Nikonos in perfect weather. I don't save it for rain/deep sea diving! It's just great it can do that too!

Huss · Nov 9, 2021

More Nikonos pics:

Alan Edward Klein · Nov 9, 2021

Sirius Glass said:
What? Why would you waste a perfectly good all weather camera?

I didn't say throw it out. I said put it on the shelf. Since he's first starting out, a 35mm SLR camera is more practical especially to learn. I have a Nikonos IVa. So what?

Here are shots from it above and below water. By the way, he didn't mention which lens he has with it. Only the 35mm lens works above water as well as below. It looks in the picture that is the lens. The other lenses are only for underwater use.
https://www.flickr.com/search/?sort...&tags=nikonos&user_id=55760757@N05&view_all=1

Sirius Glass · Nov 9, 2021

Alan Edward Klein said:
I didn't say throw it out. I said put it on the shelf. Since he's first starting out, a 35mm SLR camera is more practical especially to learn. I have a Nikonos IVa. So what?

Here are shots from it above and below water. By the way, he didn't mention which lens he has with it. Only the 35mm lens works above water as well as below. It looks in the picture that is the lens. The other lenses are only for underwater use.
https://www.flickr.com/search/?sort=date-taken-desc&safe_search=1&tags=nikonos&user_id=55760757@N05&view_all=1

The next largest out of water lens is the 80mm lens which is not all that wonderful, a little h larder to focus but is not very expensive [a little more expensive than the price of shipping].

GRHazelton · Nov 9, 2021

Huss said:
The Nikonos V is a fantastic camera in good weather as well as bad. It is easily the toughest built 35mm camera. Plus that body muffles the shutter so all you hear is a dull, quiet thud. Add to that the giant viewfinder, 'zone' (estimate) focusing and you have a superb street camera. The lens is very good too.
I recently took this with my Nikonos in perfect weather. I don't save it for rain/deep sea diving! It's just great it can do that too!

Here is a company that will install new seals on Nikonos cameras, pressure test them to their design depths, and has orange "storage seals" so that the black "pressure seals" remain undistorted: http://www.southern-nikonos.com/index.html As you will see when you visit the site many other repair services are available. BTW,I suspect that for bad weather shooting - above ground, just rain and wind - the storage seals are probably adequate, as would be pressure seals, regardless of age. I'd be curious to hear from other Nikonos owners/users about bad weather above ground use.

Sirius Glass · Nov 9, 2021

GRHazelton said:
Here is a company that will install new seals on Nikonos cameras, pressure test them to their design depths, and has orange "storage seals" so that the black "pressure seals" remain undistorted: http://www.southern-nikonos.com/index.html As you will see when you visit the site many other repair services are available. BTW,I suspect that for bad weather shooting - above ground, just rain and wind - the storage seals are probably adequate, or that the pressure seals, regardless of age. I'd be curious to hear from other Nikonos owners/users about bad weather above ground use.

I got a small plastic tab for safely removing seals from a dive shop, then I ordered a bag of each size o rings and silicon grease for not much money. With the plastic tab it is easy service for yourself.

warden · Nov 9, 2021

Gpob said:
Hello, I always wanted to started with photography, and I am in the process to buy a mirrorless, but this is another story.

I recently inherited my father's gear. In the 80s, he was into photography, developing his films at home, printing in the dark room etc...
I have got a:
-Canon AE1
-Canon F1
-Nikonos V

IT looks amazing, but I don´t know where to start. Here my questions:
-What courses do you suggest for beginners?
-Where can I find out more about the cameras I have got?
-I understood from google, that the F1 is the best of the 3, especialyl becuase the Nikonos is very specific. Should I only use the F1 and sell the AE1 or there is a point in keeping them both?

Thanks

My advice is to sell nothing. Once you get to know all of the cameras then you can decide what to do. My advice will still be to sell nothing, though. ;-)

Sirius Glass · Nov 9, 2021

warden said:
My advice is to sell nothing. Once you get to know all of the cameras then you can decide what to do. My advice will still be to sell nothing, though. ;-)

+1

GRHazelton · Nov 9, 2021

warden said:
My advice is to sell nothing. Once you get to know all of the cameras then you can decide what to do. My advice will still be to sell nothing, though. ;-)

Good advice!

RalphLambrecht · Nov 9, 2021

Gpob said:
Hello, I always wanted to started with photography, and I am in the process to buy a mirrorless, but this is another story.

I recently inherited my father's gear. In the 80s, he was into photography, developing his films at home, printing in the dark room etc...
I have got a:
-Canon AE1
-Canon F1
google for Rockell camera-reviews to get more detail about your cameras. Nevertheless you will find that The Knick on F1 and the canon AE1 are probably all y'all ever need.
-Nikonos V

IT looks amazing, but I don´t know where to start. Here my questions:
-What courses do you suggest for beginners?
-Where can I find out more about the cameras I have got?
-I understood from google, that the F1 is the best of the 3, especialyl becuase the Nikonos is very specific. Should I only use the F1 and sell the AE1 or there is a point in keeping them both?

Thanks
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Starting getting into photography - Suggestion on inherited gear

Deleted member 88956

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