Lots of possibilities. One thing i started doing very early was watching the rewind knob on 35mm cameras. I thought i had film loaded correctly and advanced it as usual, watching the counter go up, but I was expecting the roll to end around frame 25, at about 30 i just thought to try the rewind knob to see if there was any tension on the film and heard a click that didn't seem right. I opened the back, and the film had disengaged from the take-up spool and the sprockets were just slipping under the film. I was 12 at the time and this was a Minolta srt variant. I was used to Nikon and Pentax, so the different sounds didn't set off alarm bells. Now over 40 years later thats a health check for me when using any manual advance camera to check that rewind knob to assure film is moving as intended. I missed some photo opportunities that day, but learned a lesson.
On rangefinder cameras, remove the lens cap before you leave the house. You aren't looking through the lens, so you can't tell if you have the cap on when you take the picture.
Oh boy, we ALL make mistakes. I have been shooting film for 50+ years. Last month I went to a 1940's weekend and so wanted a vintage look, B&W of course, wanting to pull the film I set the ASA differently to box speed, only to realise when I had finished it and ready to put another film in, I had left the setting for the pushing of the previous roll of film ooops. I ending up pushing instead of pulling, not the end of the world, but that's life. I finished the day with a phone.
I recently replaced the light Seals in my Pentax Spotamatic SP11. I did not realize I had a problem with the light Seals until I shot a roll of film. Nothing came out when i had the roll developed. On inspection the light Seals were badly deteriorated. I checked light seal replacement on TH-cam and found I could make my own for a few dollars in supplies from Walmart which I did now I have a functioning Spotamatic again for a few dollars in repairs
I recommend to stick to one camera, one lens and one type of B&W film (the cheapest one), until you master this wonderful world of analog photography. Once you feel that your wings are strong enough, you can use any type of camera, lens or film.
Correct - I'm no longer maintaining the website and site memberships are no longer available. However, my old videos are available here on my channel, with some photos shown in the videos.
I remember my sister taking pictures of our Sylvania TV with a Kodak Instamatic and Flash cubes when the Beatles were on Ed Sullivan. We had the film developed at Woolworths and those photos were not very good
My background when starting was the days of film and darkrooms. Did newspaper photos. Cameras back then the standard lens that came with the camera was the 50mm. Now they are called the Nifty 50!. For those that want to shoot now day cameras in "Manual mode" They should shoot with film cameras. Back then it was known as ASA now iso. Slides are unforgiving compared to just regular film. For those that want some fun, bring a film camera with you along with the digital , and take photos with both. compare the difference. Just remember unlike digital film can get a little pricey
Lots of possibilities. One thing i started doing very early was watching the rewind knob on 35mm cameras. I thought i had film loaded correctly and advanced it as usual, watching the counter go up, but I was expecting the roll to end around frame 25, at about 30 i just thought to try the rewind knob to see if there was any tension on the film and heard a click that didn't seem right. I opened the back, and the film had disengaged from the take-up spool and the sprockets were just slipping under the film. I was 12 at the time and this was a Minolta srt variant. I was used to Nikon and Pentax, so the different sounds didn't set off alarm bells. Now over 40 years later thats a health check for me when using any manual advance camera to check that rewind knob to assure film is moving as intended. I missed some photo opportunities that day, but learned a lesson.
Great tip! :)
On rangefinder cameras, remove the lens cap before you leave the house. You aren't looking through the lens, so you can't tell if you have the cap on when you take the picture.
I think you were very brave to show those b&w film photos......you knew they were bad but you showed them to us anyway.
So brave……lol
Oh boy, we ALL make mistakes. I have been shooting film for 50+ years. Last month I went to a 1940's weekend and so wanted a vintage look, B&W of course, wanting to pull the film I set the ASA differently to box speed, only to realise when I had finished it and ready to put another film in, I had left the setting for the pushing of the previous roll of film ooops. I ending up pushing instead of pulling, not the end of the world, but that's life. I finished the day with a phone.
Oh no! But thank goodness for our phones!
Great video Leigh.
I recently replaced the light Seals in my Pentax Spotamatic SP11. I did not realize I had a problem with the light Seals until I shot a roll of film. Nothing came out when i had the roll developed. On inspection the light Seals were badly deteriorated. I checked light seal replacement on TH-cam and found I could make my own for a few dollars in supplies from Walmart which I did now I have a functioning Spotamatic again for a few dollars in repairs
I recommend to stick to one camera, one lens and one type of B&W film (the cheapest one), until you master this wonderful world of analog photography. Once you feel that your wings are strong enough, you can use any type of camera, lens or film.
I have a growing collection of film cameras, including an old Rolleiflex, and just got a Nikon F Photomic T.
All of your archive photos from your old website aren’t available.. is there anywhere else we can get all of your archives?
Correct - I'm no longer maintaining the website and site memberships are no longer available. However, my old videos are available here on my channel, with some photos shown in the videos.
I remember my sister taking pictures of our Sylvania TV with a Kodak Instamatic and Flash cubes when the Beatles were on Ed Sullivan. We had the film developed at Woolworths and those photos were not very good
Great story. Your sister was quite resourceful!
how tall are you please reply
My background when starting was the days of film and darkrooms. Did newspaper photos. Cameras back then the standard lens that came with the camera was the 50mm. Now they are called the Nifty 50!. For those that want to shoot now day cameras in "Manual mode" They should shoot with film cameras. Back then it was known as ASA now iso. Slides are unforgiving compared to just regular film. For those that want some fun, bring a film camera with you along with the digital , and take photos with both. compare the difference. Just remember unlike digital film can get a little pricey