I have to shoot FILM!!

[bonethgz]

So I'm beginning my college courses on photography this year, and I've been informed that I have to shoot using film! I've shot digital for two years and I don't even know how to load a film camera...does anyone have any tips/advice for such a huge transition!? ANYthing would be helpful, thanks!

[Woolburr]

Don't try to chimp film....it really messes up your mind.....and potentially your film too.;)

[440roadrunner]

I just bought an ElanII on the 'bay for something like 40 bucks. This will allow me to use much of my EOS accessories, too. Believe me, loading the film is the least of your worries.

Some of my stupid mistakes in years past, other than lack of skill were:

forgetting what ISO film was in the thing--tape the film box label somewhere

forgetting the camera was loaded and opening the back

forgetting the camera was UNloaded and trying to take pictures

and of course never having a new roll at the proper time.

[Bob_A]

It's not a huge transition if you have good abilities with digital, understand light and how to achieve correct exposure. To me it's no different than having a digital camera with a broken LCD on the back :)

A hand-held light meter can be a big help since you won't have a histogram to rely on.

Take time to examine the scene before taking the shot, and if your shooting outdoors in the sun remember to check your settings against the sunny 16 rule to make sure they make sense.

[Bob_A]

I just bought an ElanII on the 'bay for something like 40 bucks. This will allow me to use much of my EOS accessories, too. Believe me, loading the film is the least of your worries.

Some of my stupid mistakes in years past, other than lack of skill were:

forgetting what ISO film was in the thing--tape the film box label somewhere

forgetting the camera was loaded and opening the back

forgetting the camera was UNloaded and trying to take pictures

and of course never having a new roll at the proper time.

Fortunately the Elan II uses the markings on the film cartridge to ensure the camera is set to the correct ISO. If you shoot with an older camera you have to also ensure you set the camera so that the metering works correctly.

[Woolburr]

The big thing to remember in shooting film is that you need to get your settings right the first time. You can bracket exposures in critical situations, but it gets very expensive, very quickly when you have to pay for the film and the developing every time you have to take multiple images to get one right. Understanding the relationships that take place in an exposure really pays off.

[bonethgz]

good to know!
What I'm mostly worried about is making sure my settings are correct, every time. Also, when shooting digital, I tend to immediately check the LCD to look at my composition/histogram, so thatll definitely be new for me to not know what I shot until I develop the film...

[rklepper]

My daughter just started her intro to photography course and the first day they made pin hole cameras. Then on to 35mm film and dark rooms. The instructor actually goes over what they need to know, so they learn on the way. Have faith, it will not be an issue.

[aussieskier]

My daughter just started her intro to photography course and the first day they made pin hole cameras. Then on to 35mm film and dark rooms. The instructor actually goes over what they need to know, so they learn on the way. Have faith, it will not be an issue.
My thoughts exactly, it is a photography class everything will be covered.

Don't fret, and don't expect perfection the first few rolls, eventually you will get it.

[darosk]

Yeah, it's a class. You will be taught mostly all the basics.

[saravrose]

I'm excited for you. I've been itching to shoot film for awhile now.. I'd be just as clueless as you are... I think the best course of action would be to take it as it comes remind yourself that you know how to shoot it's just a matter of what you're shooting with. And if all else fails Ansel Adams shot film. As did Diane Arbus, James Nachtwey.... just to name a few..

Sari

[Cristina_]

I think the problem isn't if you can see the photo on display or not, but how you think at the shot before doing.
Before buying my eos5, a friend of mine suggested me to use a very small C.F and shoot in RAW, in this way i had to think very well to exposure, framing, effects before taking my pictures.

And what about slides?

[yogestee]

The basics are the same as digital.. You compose, focus, meter and shoot..

[Tdragone]

The basics are the same as digital.. You compose, focus, meter and shoot..

True; BUT..
You can't just think 'I can fix that in photoshop'

Shooting film helps in several aspects.
You might meter different parts of a scene to determine if a white something in a scene will be blown out,
You are more conscious of your backgrounds,
Your timing will become better and you won't spray and pray at x frames per second.

Bonethgz; good luck and enjoy it. It will help you in challenging situations in the future by teaching you how to attack difficult situations.

[yogestee]

Tom,, I here what you are saying.. I over simplified my reply.. Once the negative has been exposed you are basically stuck with what you've got unless you scan your negatives or you're a very clever darkroom worker..

The wonderful thing about film is it slows you down.. You think real hard about subject matter, composition, exposure, focus etc.. Film is a great platform for honing your photography skills and then transfer those skills to digital..

[Oneslowz28]

I had to shoot film in college too. Once we were done with film I sold the K2 I used and have not picked up a roll of film since. I am a strong advocate to colleges dropping the film requirements. Every person I know sold their film cameras after they graduated and have not looked back. Sure it taught me a little but the same fundamentals can be taught through digital cameras. There is a reason the industry moved to digital. That reason is ease of use and the ability to easily correct mistakes.