The beginners guide to analogue photography. Part one --- Film.

As some of you know, my first analogue camera was an Olympus trip 35. I had bought it in the thrift shop and didn’t have a clue how to use it. I can imagine a lot of people have got an analogue camera somewhere, or want to buy one. But are struggling with the same problem. So here is a good beginners guide to analogue photography. It will even include some tips and tricks for the most awesome multiple exposures and redscales! I will write it in parts, today part one. I will show you guys:

• Why buying an analogue camera in the thrift shop is better than a new one (especially when you are a beginner).
• What film do you buy for your camera?
• What ISO/ASA is.
• How to load and unload your camera.

First of all, buying an analogue camera from a thrift shop is pretty fun. Why? Because I know a lot of people who bought a new analogue camera. Which is not a real smart move when you’re starting analogue photography. A new analogue camera (for example, from lomography)  can cost you a lot of money. An analogue camera from the thrift shop is as good as a new one, (sometimes even better) and a lot cheaper. Plus, an old camera often has the name of the previous owner carved or written on the body somewhere. They always come with a little history you can fill in yourself. Not that I dislike lomography! Love that. But for a starter who is still finding out if they like analogue photography, the thrift shop is a cheaper solution.  I would recommend you to buy a real simple automatic analogue camera if you’re only shooting for the fun. If you’re planning on really thinking about what you are going to take pictures of, making almost art-like pictures, I would recommend you to buy a SLR camera, which has an exchangeable lens, ISO settings and shutter time settings. Scared you will buy a broken one at the thrift shop? DON’T PANIC! Just read my older post on how to buy the right vintage camera!

This is a SLR camera with an exchangeable lens.

Already have an analogue camera? You would have to buy film for it. Now you have different film types. So first of all check what kind of film your camera uses. Most of you will have a 35mm film camera. But there are a lot more film types out there. The only ones that are being sold by lomography (not expired) are 110mm, 120mm and 35mm. You can also get instant film (for cameras like the polaroid land 1000 camera). I am going to focus on the 35mm films right now, since I’ve got the most of those, and those are the cheapest ones out there.

So, you are going to buy film. What kind of ISO do you need? ISO/ASA shows the light sensitivity of the film you are using. For example: You are having a party soon. Most of the party time is late at night. It will be dark. You will need a high light-sensitive film. You would have to use an 800 ISO/ASA film. If you are going on a summer vacation, there will be lots of trips to the beach, with a lot of sunlight. You won’t need a light sensitive film, because you have a lot of sunlight. You would have to use an 100 ISO/ASA film. If you’re going on a skiing trip, there will be loads and loads of light because the sunlight will reflect in the snow. Making  pictures on the slopes is possible with a 50 ISO/ASA film. ISO/ASA ranges from low numbers to real high ones (even 1600ISO/ASA). The most common ones are those between 50 and 800. Though, buying a high or low ISO film does influence the sharpness and contrast of your picture. Let me show you in a real simple table I made what kind of ISO you can use:

ISO/ASA	Sensitivity	Contrast	grain
50	Low	low	low
100	Medium	Medium	Medium
200	Medium	Medium	Medium
400	High	High	High
800	Really High	Really High	Really High

If the right film is in the camera, you set your ISO settings on your camera to the same as your film says.  You are ready to take some cool analogue pictures.

Don’t know how to put your film in your camera? Just watch this video:

Don’t know how to unload your film? Just watch this video:

 

So that was part one of the beginners guide.

The links to the other parts will come here:

Part 2 – 12/19/12

Part 3 – 12/22/12

Don't forget to fill in my survey, I need at least 50 people for this. Only 25 have filled it it right now.

http://www.enquetemaken.be/toonenquete.php?id=128030&p=1&zelf=0

And don't forget to follow me on Glipho! If I hit the 50 followers, I will give away a vintage camera to one of you guys. (You have to be following me for a chance to win)