The K1000 was a budget camera whose only redeeming feature was that it Would. Not. Die. and was sold for twenty years.
The lenses are kind of slow and none of the glass is spectacular.
Think 35mm film would still be good after 15 years? It doesn't go bad, does it?
Definitely worth getting shooting practice with a film camera. ANY camera is lots of fun. I had an old black Pentax ME Super, a very small camera which I prefer, and the lenses were sharp. I have 1000s of shots, one of the things I do between posting here is film scanning on a Nikon CoolscanV but most negatives hold up fine for decades.Show Image(http://www.aohc.it/cameras/mes01.jpg)
Think 35mm film would still be good after 15 years? It doesn't go bad, does it?
It does. However some people like expired film because it gives cool effects (funky colors, etc.)
As for negatives and longevity, color negatives tend to fade and color shift after a while, even if properly stored in a dry, dark place. Color slide is somewhat better, and B&W and Kodachrome are the best.
So we found my mom's old 1981 Asahi Pentax K1000 35mm film SLR in a box with some lenses and other goodies. I've been wanting a DSLR for quite a while now, and while this is film based the lenses and filters are good to have. We got:
K1000 camera body
SMC Pentax-M 50mm f/2
Lenmar 135mm f/2.8
Quantaray 35 ~ 70mm f/3.5-4.5
Lenmar Auto 2x Teleconverter
Hoya 55mm Skylight(1B) filter
Hoya 50mm Skylight(1B) filter
Quantaray 49mm +3 filter
Plus a manual, tripod, strap, flash, and a couple rolls of 35mm film. All lenses are K or KA mount.
Now none of this stuff is spectacular. The K1000 was a budget camera whose only redeeming feature was that it Would. Not. Die. and was sold for twenty years. The lenses are kind of slow and none of the glass is spectacular. But you can get an adapter to mount K-thru-KA2 lenses to Canon cameras for like $20, so at least I'll have free macro and telephoto lenses laying around when I get my own SLR (probably a Canon T1i 500D).
Think it's worthwhile to get some practice with the film camera? I'm going to try for the Canon for Christmas.
Nikon. Don't go down the Pentax route just because you have a $30 50mm SMC lens.
Shoot the camera forensics experts and Serial Killers prefer.Show Image(http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk173/mmeeooow/dexter/nikon5.jpg)
Does Pentax have any decent entry level DSLRs in the $500 range?
Over on OCN there appears to be a love affair with the Canon T1i and T2i bodies, the 450D/500D/550D is always one of the first cameras recommended to a beginner. The T1i 500D was the only real DSLR on display at Walmart for me to try out, and I liked it well enough. But if Pentax is comparable and compatible with these old lenses...
I've got a Nikon d3000, which is an entry level slr. I didn't realize it before I ended up buying a 75-300mm lens yesterday, after having a lot of difficulty with that bunny shot that dlsr's are backward compatible with film slr lenses. I actually own a nikon film slr as well and had a few lenses for it. I'm flabergasted and really happy. I just need a nikon-minolta converter now and I'll be able to use all my lenses. I even have one of those crazy 500mm ones for my minoltas that looks like you're trying to snipe someone. lol
I just tried out an old 100mm I had for my nikon, worked perfectly, great shot. Manual focus of course, but who cares.
I realized I even have a telescope mount for my old nikon that I can use with this digital now, so I can photograph planets and through people's windows miles away and junk too. lol
That's because they put it where it works the best.
Pentax is not a financially stable player - never has been. Important consideration since once you start buying lenses it's hard to switch brands.
Old lenses are old. There have been many improvements in lens design over the years.
And once again, other than the 50mm F2 the others in your stash are trash.
Old keyboards ARE old. Usually big and clunky too. Like most old camera stuff.
That guy owns an iPhone and runs a blog and he talks about "a new photo community". Therefore his opinion is void due to pretentiousness.
Old keyboards ARE old. Usually big and clunky too. Like most old camera stuff.
d3000 = no screw drive focus, you loose AF on anything prior to an AF-S lens.
Despite having many AF lenses, including a 50mm f/1.4 AF lens, I recently bought a 50mm f/1.4 manual focus lens, because while I can manually focus an AF lens, most AF lenses are designed with short throw (for fast AF, unless it's a macro, in which case it will have long throw) and are not damped (again for fast AF, unless it is a macro that has an adjustable dampening control), so an old 50mm f/1.4 that's manual gives me the well-damped, precision manual focussing I want, with all the optical quality of my AF lens.
A few months back I also bought an old Cosina (Tomioka designed) 55mm f/1.2 lens, which is also well-damped, has a great all-metal build, and is a joy to use on a modern digital body once I installed a split-image focus screen. The lens is probably 15 years old, at least, and still looks and works like new, and for f/1.2 focusing, especially doing macro work with extension tubes, I wouldn't want anything other than manual anyway.
That being said, I also believe in the philosophy that the best camera is the one you have with you (http://blog.chasejarvis.com/blog/2009/09/the-best-camera-iphone-app-book-community/).
If you set a manual camera correctly, utilising depth of field, and have some leeway with exposure (particularly with b&w) then they can be quicker in use than an automatic. I remember working with a Leica alongside a friend with his Nikon D2 (I think) and I'd often got my shot before his kit had finished focussing. Of course, overall, mine was less flexible but if you know what you're doing manual kit can be plenty fast enough to work with.
I'd also agree that old lenses aren't necessarily bad lenses. You should check for fogging, misalignment and scratches, and smooth operation of the aperture (and in-lens shutter if it has one) but there has been some damn fine glass in the past. A good older Pentax or Nikon 50 will give great quality. One of the nice things about the old Leitz uncoated lenses is the softness and character of the image - not useful for everything, but if you want it, you got it. Tools for jobs, like everything else.
Ah, chemicals.
Old lenses are old. There have been many improvements in lens design over the years.Also many compromises. Like plastic lens mounts. Take the Canon 50mm f1.8 mk2 for example. Takes nice pictures but pops apart with a light tap.