Starting getting into photography - Suggestion on inherited gear

[film_man]

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
View attachment 290590

The Nikonos will need servicing if you intend to put it in the water. This will have to be done by someone who can change the internal rings too, not just the 4 extrernal ones you can buy online. However you can probably use it safely in rainy water etc.

I actually find the Nikonos V a great land camera. You set f/8-11, zone focus, point and shoot. The image quality is amazing.

 

[Craig75]

Imo you should sell none of it

A. Because its all quality gear
B. It was Yr dad's gear

 

[removed account4]

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
View attachment 290590

hi Gpob
If it was me, I'd just start using any of them, it really doesn't matter which one. Just ship one off to a repair guy or drive it to one and get the shutter cleaned and adjusted and lubricated, and upon its return put some film in it and use it. (old stuff sitting around for years tend to need to get a CLA ) as for a "course". not sure what you mean do you mean what should you do ? ... how involved you want to be is up to you, these camera seem to have different levels of involvement from just focusing to letting the camera do different amounts of the rest. I'd just pick up one of them and use it. Are you planning on starting a camera shrine of your dad's cameras and negatives and prints? Do the cameras have sentimental value to you or others in your family? Before you sell them ask people you are close to if they want them or if they mind if you sell them and then do what you want. if you mean course as in course of study to learn how to develop and print and use a camera you might pick up any of Henry Horenstein black and white photography books **, they show precisely how to do everything and even have a section in the back that show things that went wrong and how to remedy them.

good luck !

John

** these are the books that photo 1 / intro to black and white photography students have been using for years ... maybe there are others? but his books are great.

 

[bdial]

As several people have already mentioned, don’t submerge the Nikonos unless you can get its internal o rings serviced.
Also, the only lens usable in air is the 35mm, leastwise according to Nikon. But, assuming that is what you have, it is wonderfully sharp.

The Canons are probably a better choice for initial learning experiences, the Nikonos has various interlocks because of its waterproof nature, so it’s slightly more complex to load and operate.

Get some film and go have fun, you have a nice collection of excellent cameras that deserve to be used.

 

[wiltw]

The AE-1 is a decidedly mass market appealing product, while the F-1 is the top of line Canon in its day and was priced accordingly. Durability is proportionate with original price. The shutter life is better in the higher end product.

 

[Gpob]

Thank you all for the amazing replies, I feel that I already learned a lot. Replying to some questions in the topic

• Selling it --> I realized it was dumb even to say it. I was thinking of using the funds to buy another camera, but it would not be my dad's one. I will not sell them, and just keep them and use them. I know the story of these cameras
• Thank you all for the manuals. I downloaded them and began to read
• Which one I will use --> I will start with the AE1, it looks simpler, and I want to have a good time while I learn, I'll move to the F-1 after a while. I prefer to concentrate on one
• Nikonos V --> I've got the message: A professional needs to see it, and it will. My dad used it 25 years ago, because I don't have memory of him using it, and we were diving together. I would proabably be able to do it, but I don't have any way to test the seal. I will use it for rainy days during the winter, and I hope for diving next summer
• Courses: I found some online, and I will start with them. When I don't know a topic, I prefer to start with a course with a clear structure, and later moving to youtube and other online materials

hi Gpob
If it was me, I'd just start using any of them, it really doesn't matter which one. Just ship one off to a repair guy or drive it to one and get the shutter cleaned and adjusted and lubricated, and upon its return put some film in it and use it. (old stuff sitting around for years tend to need to get a CLA ) as for a "course". not sure what you mean do you mean what should you do ? ... how involved you want to be is up to you, these camera seem to have different levels of involvement from just focusing to letting the camera do different amounts of the rest. I'd just pick up one of them and use it. Are you planning on starting a camera shrine of your dad's cameras and negatives and prints? Do the cameras have sentimental value to you or others in your family? Before you sell them ask people you are close to if they want them or if they mind if you sell them and then do what you want. if you mean course as in course of study to learn how to develop and print and use a camera you might pick up any of Henry Horenstein black and white photography books **, they show precisely how to do everything and even have a section in the back that show things that went wrong and how to remedy them.

good luck !

John

** these are the books that photo 1 / intro to black and white photography students have been using for years ... maybe there are others? but his books are great.

I want to use them. I think it is the best thing to do. I'll go for the book for sure.

 

[AgX]

The shutter life is better in the higher end product.

Which budding amateur film photographer cares for shutter life?

 

[BrianShaw]

Don’t overthink things. Learn the basics of operation, put those cameras in “A” mode, and take some nice pictures. For the majority of subjects, this will get you acceptable results. Focus on interesting subjects and good composition. As you learn more about photography, the camera’ s capabilities, and more challenging subjects you will start using more and more of their more advanced features. Enjoy!

 

[BrianShaw]

… and check out the internet wisdom on battery adapters for the F-1. The 1.35v px-13 was long ago discontinued. You’ll need to buy a voltage-regulating adapter or use zinc-air hearing aid batteries. I can’t recall what battery the ae-1 uses. Hopefully a 1.5v battery.

https://shop.criscam.com/products/mr-9-mercury-battery-adapter

 

[MattKing]

The AE-1buses a 6 volt battery - originally a PX-28 silver oxide battery. There are several designations for the size now, and they come in relatively short lived but inexpensive alkaline, long lived but expensive silver-oxide and a lithium version too.
The alkaline ones are used in dog collars, so they are plentiful on the internet.

 

[Bikerider]

The AE-1 is a decidedly mass market appealing product, while the F-1 is the top of line Canon in its day and was priced accordingly. Durability is proportionate with original price. The shutter life is better in the higher end product.

I think taking all things into consideration both the AE1 and F1 are good , capable cameras - BUT! They are in terms of life well into old age. Sure they don't usually physically show it but the AE1 is an electronic camera in that all the controls such as exposure and operation of the shutter are operated and controlled/adjusted by circuit boards, electronics etc. If these fail there will almost certainly be no spares to restore yours to working order. The F1 is a camera that is tough as old boots and will soldier on almost for ever. Being mechanical they are almost certainly repairable long after the AE1 has been found further employment as a decorative paperweight. They are in the same class as the Nikon F1 and F2 and they are still repairable. The exposure meter can fail, but the camera will be still usable via a seperate exposure meter. As for the Nikonos, I have never even held one never mind used one, but they are a specialist tool designed for work in a wet environment for a specialist.purpose.

If you are selling any off the 3 the Nikonos would be at the top of the list if it had to go. You should be able to get a fair price for it

Going back to the F1. This is a firm solidly reliable camera which will teach you the basics of camera use. The correlation between shutter speed and aperture will be decided by yourself. You may make mistakes - we all did in the past, but we learned what can and cannot be done and that knowledge stays with you..

 

[eli griggs]

Keep them all and get the Nikonos 35 and 80(?) mm lenses as the will work well above water.

The F1n is the first to learn with and the Canon AE-1 continues the lessons into, well, Automatic exposure.

Use HP5+ as your only film the first year or so, and ask others about the range of ratings it can give you.

The Canons take the same Fl/FD lenses and the F1 is just a fantastic piece of fully manual kit, which can (both Cameras will), wear and shoot Pentax M42 threaded lenses as well, which many great and inexpensive examples are found in many, many brands.

I happen to like the FL/FD Canon and Pentax lenses, but I'm sure I can also get adapters for other mounts.

I also have a Canon made, Leica 39mm or LTM as well as the Pentax mount for FD Cameras.

If you end up selling the other two cameras, consider a second F1n (2nd model) as a backup and primary shooter.

Good Luck!

 

[RalphLambrecht]

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.

I get started with the AE1 and take it from there. You may never need anything else.

 

[Don_ih]

Sell them as untested. Then buy one camera with a 50mm lens that is known to be working - something like a Praktica. The rest of the money will be needed for film and developing.

 

[gone]

Why not run a roll of film through each one and see which one you like? I've had cameras that were technically excellent, but turned out not to suit me. Maybe I couldn't see the whole frame in the viewfinder, or the shutter sounded like a shotgun, you name it. There's only one way to know for sure about things in this life. Dive in and see what you get.

Like everyone here, I've often been caught up looking at specs and making endless comparisons trying to find something that worked for me. You could do that endlessly, at some point we have fish or cut bait.