After 10 years of digital cameras, I felt the urge to go back in time and shot pictures with real film. I can describe in details how much I love the feel of celluloid and raw materials, but I know a lot of you think the same. What I intend to do here is to review a few cameras from the old time, and show you the results I’ve got. I hope it will give you the extra push to search the closet for that old camera you stored back then in the days when it took a few long hours between pushing the button and looking at the final result.
I just finished the first roll of my old/new Canon AE-1. This camera, manufactured between 1976 and 1984 is a great fun and not so difficult to handle. It took me some time to find her a 6V 28-PX battery, which is essential for operating, but once I got it powered up, it was as good as new.
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In fact, one of the things that made this camera such a big success in the early 80′ is it’s automatic exposure when using FD Lenses. The rest of the job is been done with a very easy to learn light detector, which indicate which shutter speed is best.
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When I were scheduled for a production in Kibbutz Ein-Gedi by the Dead Sea, I took it as an opportunity for some testing. I used FD 50mm 1:1.8 and a FD 75-200mm 1:4.5 lenses, and 200 ASA Kodak film.
Here are the results:
Keren, the dresser, use her IPad with the Judea mountains as backgroung.
Beny, the sound man.
Udi behind the camera.
Dany talks to the camera.
The dead sea is very dense with salt, but nevertheless Dany got a fish by the tail!
And this is me with the fish… No more salt is needed.
Please let me know what you think about the photos…
In conclusion I find this camera surprisingly easy to use and the results are well focused and exposed. The only downside I can find with it, is that the camera requires a 6v battery, which is not so common.
July 2nd, 2011 at 7:43 pm
nice read, keep having analog fun!
July 3rd, 2011 at 11:14 am
היי
קודם כל אני שמח שיש עוד אנשים שיוצא להם מידי פעם להשתמש בפילם
אני אומר להשתמש כי אף אחד לא ממש מצלם בפילם יותר
אני כותב את השורות האלה כשמולי
PENTAX ASAHI
נהדרת, שאני לוקח איתי לימי צילומים
עוד יותר מפתיע אנשים כשאני מביא איתי מצלמת הולגה פלסטית
יש לה תמונות באור יום מעניינות מאוד ואף פילטר פוטושופ לא ישיג לי אותו
PEACE
October 23rd, 2011 at 1:14 am
how did you post those pictures onto the computer if it’s a film camera? i don’t really know about cameras.
December 28th, 2011 at 9:55 pm
Amazing, such amazing shots. I’m fairly new to SLR photography having picked up a Nikon DSLR about 6 months ago. I actually stumbled upon your blog after buying this cameras younger brother (Canon AV-1) today for £40 GBP, an amazing bargain! Thanks for the nice read.
December 28th, 2011 at 10:11 pm
Thanks!
I would love to see the results he gets with his AV-1.
December 29th, 2011 at 6:19 pm
Yeah, i love my AE-1, and the results can be stunning even by modern standards. I”m stilling finding my feet but here are some of my results:
December 29th, 2011 at 6:31 pm
Great photos! I also loved the photos you took with your Retinette. I just shot with the Retinette’s sister – The Kodak Signet 35:
http://www.lomography.com/homes/royalrat/albums/1789598-kodak-signet-35
April 26th, 2012 at 6:47 am
very nice
September 18th, 2013 at 3:46 pm
i can’t tell you how many years I shot film with this camera (yeah, I’m that old). I still have the body somewhere in my house. Eventually, I transitioned to Canon’s A-1, which is now in my daughter’s room, who is looking out for 35mm film and trying to talk her father into turning her bathroom in a darkroom ;-).
This brought back memories. Thanks for this and the follow.
September 19th, 2013 at 7:21 am
I’m always happy to bring back nostalgic memories!
November 6th, 2013 at 12:18 am
I was really inspired by this project. I have really only used my digital canon 550d SLR and have never thought about going back in time experimenting with film. You have given me a lot to think about. Perhaps I shall see If I can get my hands on a film based camera and compare it with the modern day tech that everyone is so used to using.
November 6th, 2013 at 6:00 am
Please do that. I’m learning a lot from this experience…