What do you miss most about your first SLR.

The only thing I miss is that moment where you that feeling you got when you KNEW you had a great shot, but had to wait to develop it to see. I will never forget in High School how it felt to race to the darkroom with a roll of tri-x, wondering what would pop out of the can. You had to wait -- go through the process. And when you nailed a shot, it was a jump up and down moment.

Now, that thunder is gone, lost in a blizzard of shooting and chimping, then shooting again.

Zansho wrote in post #5433246
I miss the focusing screen on my Pentax K1000 :/ It was bright as hell, and made manual focusing a breeze.

Exactly! My first SLR was a Canon TX, completely manual, no auto anything, but I sure do miss that split prism for manual focus.

It's really good to read all these comments from people who have actually used film SLRs, and manual bodies at that. It seems like there are so many people who never even handled an SLR before digital photography became the norm.

But I don't miss a single thing about any of my earlier SLRs.

Ade H wrote in post #5436609
It's really good to read all these comments from people who have actually used film SLRs, and manual bodies at that. It seems like there are so many people who never even handled an SLR before digital photography became the norm.

But I don't miss a single thing about any of my earlier SLRs.

Really? There got to be something?

highbarger wrote in post #5436146
Exactly! My first SLR was a Canon TX, completely manual, no auto anything, but I sure do miss that split prism for manual focus.

Thanks for reminding me that I miss the OM-1 combination focusing aid of microprism center and coarse focusing ring surround!

Wilt wrote in post #5436674
Thanks for reminding me that I miss the OM-1 combination focusing aid of microprism center and coarse focusing ring surround!

I agree, MF on the two dSLR's I have is sometimes a PITA. I miss the split screen to match focus...I wish I can change my 30D and XT/350D without using a non-Canon product.

00silvergt wrote in post #5436701
I agree, MF on the two dSLR's I have is sometimes a PITA. I miss the split screen to match focus...I wish I can change my 30D and XT/350D without using a non-Canon product.

...all of which can have very adverse affect on metering accuracy!

Taking that first shot, waiting an hour to have it processed, looking at the prints and thing they were awesome. I've become my own worst critic over the years.

Wilt wrote in post #5436719
...all of which can have very adverse affect on metering accuracy!

Good point...Exposure or accurate MF?

00silvergt wrote in post #5436801
Good point...Exposure or accurate MF?

It should not have to be an Or situation. If they designed the metering system right, you could change the focusing screen without affecting metering at all! I never had to change metering in any way, regardless of which of a dozen focusing screens was in my Olympus OM-4, for example.

Wilt wrote in post #5436719
...all of which can have very adverse affect on metering accuracy!

How does the micro-prism affect the metering?
I thought metering was done off the mirror.

Minolta SRT 101
I miss the split finder, full frame and the light weight/small size.
Oh, and my MF 50/f1.2 MC Rokkor was so cheap (compared to today).

DAMphyne wrote in post #5436829
How does the micro-prism affect the metering?
I thought metering was done off the mirror.

Minolta SRT 101
I miss the split finder, full frame and the light weight/small size.
Oh, and my MF 50/f1.2 MC Rokkor was so cheap (compared to today).

Unfortunately Canon doesn't publish a lot of technical details of their designs, and the photo magazines do not disassemble cameras for an in-depth analysis like used to be done 30 years ago!

I can only take the written information provided by the third-party focusing screen vendors like Katz Eyes, and the requirement published by Canon about the need to change Custom Function settings for the different focusing screens they provide for cameras with user-changeable focusing screen designed into the camera.

Katz Eye will tell you depending upon the max aperture of the lens, the effect on Spot accuracy can be 3EV in error, while in Evaluative or Center weighted it might only be 1/3 EV in error.

Wilt wrote in post #5436858
Unfortunately Canon doesn't publish a lot of technical details of their designs, and the photo magazines do not disassemble cameras for an in-depth analysis like used to be done 30 years ago!

Add that to the what I miss entry.

00silvergt wrote in post #5432391
I think it would be interesting to see if anyone misses anything from their first SLR camera, be it Digital or Film. What you don't miss and what is the most significant change, improvement or drawback with your current camera? If this is your first DSLR, talk about your expectations, disappointments, etc.

What I miss most from my Minolta XD-7 is the darn F-Stop ring on the lens. It was much more intuitive to turn that mechanical dial than fiddling around for the little wheel or big wheel or a button and the little wheel. I also miss not having modes I'll never use. The XD-7 only had M, AP, SP and X. I don't miss wasting film and playing the guessing game and getting surprised when the film comes out of the darkroom or from the lab.

Digital no question, has opened many doors, and the are so many advantages (and disadvantages) to this "new" format, but to choose a favorite or two, will be the instant gratification or at least the knowledge that I need to re-shoot. Two, Can manipulate and subsequently distribute pictures much easier via Internet or email.

I had a Minolta XG-9 with a Vivitar 28-85mm zoom lens that had a dent on the side that looked like it had been shot by a BB gun (I bought the set-up used). It worked great for years.

Anyway, I also miss the aperture ring on the lens. Like you say, much more intuitive.

I also miss the relative simplicity. I'd rather have more options, but sometimes I feel overwhelmed by all the choices.

My first DSLR was/is a 10D, which I still have, but rarely use since I got my 40D. I do really love the histograms and immediate feedback, etc.

Even though I used film for years, I never developed my own, so I don't miss the wait and cost of development, that's for sure. Digital lets me go home, download, PP if necessary (usually is), and bang! I'm ready.

00silvergt wrote in post #5436623
Really? There got to be something?

Well, I thought I might miss the DEP from the 100, A-DEP being a less than ideal "update", but I haven't in practice. Gone back to educated guesswork and DOF preview!