Entering the Analog Arena

[Immaculens]

Hi folks, I popped into my local shop chatting with the manager and said I think I want to try shooting film. 10 minutes later we were in the basement and she opened a drawer that had various 35mm cameras and lenses. She basically gave me my pick of the litter. There were various P&Ss, a Nikon SLR but I chose a Minolta Maxxus 9000 fron 1985 with a grip, and 2 lenses - one being a 70-210 f4 (with mold) and a 28-80 variable zoom. I'll go back for a f4 zoom but also peek at the Nikon I ignored. Been reading the 9000 manual and reading about cheap yet good 35mm film.

A local female photographer shoots film and post in a FB group and it intrigued me so here I am. I very often, for fun, try to replicate retro filmy looks with my 5Dc and 7D2 and thought why not give film a try. Has a P&S growing up.

One YouTuber vid suggested two different 35mm films for a retro look but then said that P&S cameras from the 80s + that suggested film hits the sweet spot.
I'm hoping to score a mid-level or high end Canon SLR from the late 90s or 2000s - what can you suggest I look for? Thanks!
Filmless in Ontario,
Will

 

[Terry McDaniel]

I’d start with Tri-X 400 film. It was a classic the day it was introduced. Ilford HP5 is also a good choice.

 

[gjl711]

Tri-X was so grainy. I always preferred Pan-X. Way slower but much less grain. Not sure if anyone still makes it though. I believe Ilford had something similar, Pan-F maybe? Pan- and some letter.

 

[Immaculens]

Actually I asked what mid-level or higher Canon 35mm camera would folks suggest from the mid 90s to 2000s...

 

[gjl711]

Actually I asked what mid-level or higher Canon 35mm camera would folks suggest from the mid 90s to 2000s...

Can't go wrong with any of the AE-1s. There were several but if you can find a EOS-1, that would be awesome.

 

[Immaculens]

Can't go wrong with any of the AE-1s. There were several but if you can find a EOS-1, that would be awesome.

So perhaps the AE-1 series is akin to the 5D series?

 

[gjl711]

So perhaps the AE-1 series is akin to the 5D series?

I may have mis-wrote. I thought that the AE-1 was a EOS mount, but it may have been a FD mount. You might be limited to the EOS type cameras. I took a quick peek at the Canon museum for the EOS mount cameras, the AE-1 wasn't in the list. Here are the EOS film cameras Canon made.

View by series - Camera Hall - Canon Camera Museum

Search Canon's cameras by product series and release period.

global.canon

 

[Joeseph]

I may have mis-wrote. I thought that the AE-1 was a EOS mount, but it may have been a FD mount. You might be limited to the EOS type cameras. I took a quick peek at the Canon museum for the EOS mount cameras, the AE-1 wasn't in the list. Here are the EOS film cameras Canon made.

View by series - Camera Hall - Canon Camera Museum

Search Canon's cameras by product series and release period.

global.canon

yes, the AE-1 is FD mount... (I had one, it was great!) ultimately I needed an auto focus camera due to my eyesight.

 

[Immaculens]

So I should be on the lookout for either an eos Elan 7 or eos 1

 

[gjl711]

So I should be on the lookout for either an eos Elan 7 or eos 1

Or the EOS Rebels (not to be confused by the digital Rebels.)

 

[mjp3210]

So I should be on the lookout for either an eos Elan 7 or eos 1

I have a Canon EOS Rebel Ti which I think I bought in 2004. It was a very affordable film camera and worked well enough for me. I bought a Canon EF 28-105mm f 3.5- 4.5 USM zoom lens to put on the camera and today, I use that same lens on my Canon digital SLR (Canon EOS Rebel T6i).

 

[Mr Chodes]

EOS-1 are cheap. Superseded by EOS-1N and EOS-1V.
EOS-3 has the 45 point AF that 1V has and the Digital 1D series. It also has Eye-Control AF and E-TTL flash metering

 

[Immaculens]

EOS-1 are cheap. Superseded by EOS-1N and EOS-1V.
EOS-3 has the 45 point AF that 1V has and the Digital 1D series. It also has Eye-Control AF and E-TTL flash metering

Thank-you ~ maybe the eos-3 is what I'm after. I'm accustomed to an 1/8000th shutter. Need to verify what batteries it needs.

 

[HannahsDad]

I used to shoot a Canon Elan IIe in my younger years. Now, I shoot R5s, but decided I wanted to see what film looked like on our next trip to Wyoming. So, I purchased an Elan IIe on eBay for $59. It uses and EF lens mount, so I don't have to go getting new lenses. Always loved that camera. After much searching, I finally found a place in the DFW area that not only does film development, but also does b&w and color prints using an old-style darkroom and chemicals (no scanning). I am extremely curious to see how some of the film shots compare to my raw images. Downside of course is that I can't take it into Photoshop and manipulate it, but that was the intent anyway.

Scott

 

[Immaculens]

The Elan 7 seems ideal for me except the max 4000 shutter thing. I enjoy shooting a thinner depth of field in film and notice a 400 speed film gives me the grain I want in the background. But 400 iso and 4000 shutter don't seem to be compatible with my preference of shooting at f/1.8 -f/2.5

 

[HannahsDad]

The Elan 7 seems ideal for me except the max 4000 shutter thing. I enjoy shooting a thinner depth of field in film and notice a 400 speed film gives me the grain I want in the background. But 400 iso and 4000 shutter don't seem to be compatible with my preference of shooting at f/1.8 -f/2.5

I can understand that. I mostly got it for shooting landscapes. For action (wildlife), I'll stick with my R5s and long lenses (and the 22 fps), but I really wanted an inexpensive comparison between a digital landscape image and film. So, I plan to shoot some early morning sunrise and sunset shots. I think for that, the 100 ISO film I selected will be ideal. Very low grain and should enlarge well. But, it has been so long since I shot film, I may go through an entire roll just getting setup!

 

[Bergmen]

Actually I asked what mid-level or higher Canon 35mm camera would folks suggest from the mid 90s to 2000s...

Another excellent choice of Canon film cameras from that era is the Canon A-1. I had one for years and it was a great camera. Both shutter and aperture priority modes, very versatile.

Dan