After my childish earlier attempts with the Nikon FM3A and Pentax LX, chronicled here, i seem to be getting into the swing of things with film SLRs.
Some observations (and examples) on learning points before the better pictures:
1. Framing
Quite a few photos were almost great save for framing. Need to resist the temptation to click if framing is off, and just be a bit more generous with spacing.
2. Noise
There’s a lot more noise than i expected in medium to bad light from both the black and white and colour films. I had been using the cameras in ‘aperture priority’ type settings and given the ISO is fixed with film (I’ve been shooting at ISO 400) I’d thought the shutter would adjust and there wouldn’t be a wide range in the noise pattern. Turns out this was a poor assumption. ISO 400 in film feels a lot more grainey than the equivalent in digital. Either way, I think i’ll buy some ISO 100 Kodak Etkar or ISO 160 Porta next time. Most of the shots i really liked were in good light, so i think i can do without the higher ISO.
3. Old lenses are not as sharp.
The Nikkor 50mm f1.8 and Pentax SMC 50mm f1.7 are great bang for buck. However, I had gotten used to micro-four third primes, most of which are fantastically sharp wide open. This clearly isn’t the case for either the Nikkor or Pentax. Further, I did some test shots wide open and stopped down, and shooting wide open seems to also increase grain – Will need to work out why, as i hadn’t noted this in digital.
The pentax SMC is faster and focuses closer than the Nikkor 50mm. Both lenses have great bokeh.
4. I think i prefer colour.
I had thought I’d use film as my black and white medium – because film is reputed to have a wider grey scale than digital – but I prefer the colour film. Check out the below.
Black and white – Pentax LX | Pentax SMC 50mm f1.7. | Ilford HP5
Colour – Nikon FM3A | Nikkor 50mm f1.8 | Kodak Porta 400
