Just a thought.

Having just sold my (most awesome) 1D Original, I find myself without a backup body to my 1D Mark II. I did, however, recently purchase a Nikon LS-2000 dedicated film scanner which produces approximately 10MP resolution scans.

How nuts would it be to grab an Elan 7N or similar to get a cheap when-desperate-only backup body and keep a few rolls of Superia in the bag with it? If push came to shove, I could grab the Elan then scan my developed negs and send those off to WHCC right along with the Mark II files. I would also get to use my L glass on some film for a change on the hobby side of things and/or if a client specifically requests film.

I'm just thinking $200 for a like-new Elan 7N (E-TTL II compatible, by the way) vs $500 for another 10D (been there done that), $650 for a 20D, $900 for another 30D (been there done that), or $2200 for another Mark II (got one already, but don't really have a strong desire to carry two).

I'm definitely not interested in a 5D or Mark III. Don't try to spend my money fellas, it ain't gonna work. I know how some of y'all are. I just want to discuss the feasiblity/practicalit​y/insanity of grabbing a cheap film for backup (NOT for side-by-side shooting).

Depends how easy you can get the negs developed I suppose, if you cannot do them, and then how urgent you may need those pictures off the back up camera, could be critical, and lose you loads of money??????

There should be no problem except the extra time it takes to scan all the negs...
Just get the films done develop only...

cdifoto wrote in post #3380942
Don't try to spend my money fellas, it ain't gonna work. I know how some of y'all are. I just want to discuss the feasiblity/practicalit​y/insanity of grabbing a cheap film for backup (NOT for side-by-side shooting).

actually, if you think about the discounted cost of the 1d2n, it practically pays for itself! other reasons you should buy another dslr are......


:p:p:p:p


i think your film backup idea sounds like a great idea. a good way to stay involved with film, and you'll be one of the few people who can shoot 10mp velvia on here! (and no, fredmiranda's velvia photoshop action doesn't count) Such good deals on great film bodies, I'm tempted to do the same (somehow my fiancee won't let me get yet another body though.)

The only neg I can see is a psychological one. If you do end up using the film camera, invariably people are going to ask to see the pics instantly or they are going to see you changing film and at this point most people equate being a pro with having a nice digital SLR. They might think you aren't up with the times and this could have a negative impact on their perception of you. Of course, if anyone asks you can always say you keep a film camera with you for the times when you want a "classic feel" or something and they might just think you're the typical artsy type.

I've been doing exactly this for a while now, until I can get a second digital body! I've never actually had to use it, but I know that it's there if need be. One negative I can think of is that the elans don't have much of a 'pro' feel so it may bug you to use it after you're familar with the 1D. I notice it between the Elan and the 20D, so I can only assume that it will be painfully obvious in your case.

I think it's a fine idea. I kept my EOS 3 around just for that reason, and even though I know have a couple of backup bodies, I'm not selling it. Film is still a wonderful media, and if you can get the neg scan process flow down pat (mimimal dust and scratches retouching needed), then it should work for you.

Mark

I have a Nikon LS-2000 film scanner from my old film days. Scans from color negatives do not look as good as scans from transparencies and scanned film just doesn't look as good as original digital files. Film scans from the LS-2000 are noisy compared to digital and lack the dynamic range of an original digital file. You can get better looking digital files from a Rebel XTi than the files from a film scanner.

Scanning is a real boring drag. I spent eighteen months scanning trannies in on my desktop drum scanner and spotting out in photoshop and it nearly sent me insane. Just thinking of a title for each one makes my head hurt.

And film goes off after a while.

I am not sure I would trust a camera that wasn't used much. It may become lazy and you wouldn't even know until you got the negs back. I would get a second hand digital if I was you.

Nostalgia is a dangerous thing. Things always seem better in the old days, but were they?

Graham

Well, I'm not going to advise you about having a film SLR to back up your DSLR. As you can see from my sig I have a film camera, but I either go out in the field with film or digital, not both. Currently, I have not felt the need for a DSLR backup, I have a decent P&S if push comes to shove (a G5, which I am dearly fond of). Unless the EOS gods decide to make sport of me I should have a 1D3 by Summer's end. I will be keeping my 20D anyway. I also have a film scanner and have spent many, many hours scanning the thousands of slides I have from my old film only days. I use more Kodachrome 64 than any other film and since there is only one place, Dwayne's Photo in Kansas, that is the only Kodak certified processor of Kodachrome film in the U.S. that is where I send it. They will scan a roll for $4.00 and send a CD with 15MB files. All total it costs me $17.50 to have a 36 exp roll of film processed, mounted in 2"x2" slides, the roll scanned to a CD and return postage. I shoot one hell of a lot more digital than film, but, I have never been able to get a digital photo with that 'Kodachrome look'.

Save us all the intermediate threads and just skip to the part where you get the 5D

Don,
I've actually got 2 Elan 7's, one bought new from B&H and the second was picked up from KEH used. Although I never had to use them, they were backups for a couple of weddings I did a while back. They do get occasional use even though a majority of what I shoot is now digital. Also the Elan's are FF so you get the benefit of a wide lens being truly wide. I have a 35mm film scanner also, Nikon Coolscan V ED, which does an OK job on negs and slides. And for MF film and transparencies, a Canon flatbed 9950F which doesn't do too badly. Problem I found with scanning is the negs/slides have to be meticulously clean and if you're into doing alot of scanning this can get a bit tedious.
If you had to use a film camera for backup, why would you scan the negatives to send digital files into WHCC? Don't they take film for processing and prints as well?

The Elan7 will also fit up with a grip/battery holder from KEH at resonable $$.

Thanks for your input so far everyone. Recent developments (read: car problems) are probably going to force me into a film body anyway since my 1D sales cash is apparently being spent on that. Life.

I'm just thinking; "Have something! Anything!" A $200 camera body and 6 rolls of film would be ok. Not ideal of course, but when a 1D II with 6K clicks on it fails, things aren't going swell in the first place.

Since an Elan *kind of* fits in with the 20D/30D line, I don't think it would be too much of a problem. Command wheel and E-TTL II is still there so I'm good. I wouldn't be too elitist to use it.

Mark_48 wrote in post #3382658
Don,
I've actually got 2 Elan 7's, one bought new from B&H and the second was picked up from KEH used. Although I never had to use them, they were backups for a couple of weddings I did a while back. They do get occasional use even though a majority of what I shoot is now digital. Also the Elan's are FF so you get the benefit of a wide lens being truly wide. I have a 35mm film scanner also, Nikon Coolscan V ED, which does an OK job on negs and slides. And for MF film and transparencies, a Canon flatbed 9950F which doesn't do too badly. Problem I found with scanning is the negs/slides have to be meticulously clean and if you're into doing alot of scanning this can get a bit tedious.
If you had to use a film camera for backup, why would you scan the negatives to send digital files into WHCC? Don't they take film for processing and prints as well?

The Elan7 will also fit up with a grip/battery holder from KEH at resonable $$.

I would send scanned files to WHCC because they're an all-digital lab. It would surely slow down my workflow but we're not talking about doing this every gig either.

cdifoto wrote in post #3380942
Having just sold my (most awesome) 1D Original, I find myself without a backup body to my 1D Mark II. I did, however, recently purchase a Nikon LS-2000 dedicated film scanner which produces approximately 10MP resolution scans.

How nuts would it be to grab an Elan 7N or similar to get a cheap when-desperate-only backup body and keep a few rolls of Superia in the bag with it? If push came to shove, I could grab the Elan then scan my developed negs and send those off to WHCC right along with the Mark II files. I would also get to use my L glass on some film for a change on the hobby side of things and/or if a client specifically requests film.

I'm just thinking $200 for a like-new Elan 7N (E-TTL II compatible, by the way) vs $500 for another 10D (been there done that), $650 for a 20D, $900 for another 30D (been there done that), or $2200 for another Mark II (got one already, but don't really have a strong desire to carry two).

I'm definitely not interested in a 5D or Mark III. Don't try to spend my money fellas, it ain't gonna work. I know how some of y'all are. I just want to discuss the feasiblity/practicalit​y/insanity of grabbing a cheap film for backup (NOT for side-by-side shooting).

Just don't get caught chimping the back of the Elan 7N (and guaranteed, you will). You'll never live it down if someone posts a shot of you chimping a film camera.

PacAce wrote in post #3382799
Just don't get caught chimping the back of the Elan 7N (and guaranteed, you will). You'll never live it down if someone posts a shot of you chimping a film camera.

Tumak wrote in post #3382814
I did that the other day. I run a roll thru occasionaly to keep the shutter working. Also stared at the back to change CF to trailing shutter. Couldn't remember for a minute how to get to it, then almost changed the wrong thing.

Hah. I've already tried to chimp my old Spotmatic. And it doesn't even remotely resemble a modern camera. Thankfully I was alone.

On a slightly different spin, I remember first seeing the Digital Rebel/300D in stores. I thought to myself "ooo they put review screens on the film cameras! Awesome!"