What do you miss most about your first SLR.

photoguy6405 wrote in post #5436917
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.

It's not just the cost that is good to leave behind. I used to do my own B+W printing at college and I really don't miss the heady mix of dim red light and chemical fumes!

photoguy6405 wrote in post #5436917
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.

I loved the XG-9 but as a lowly gas station asst. Mgr, it was waay out of reach. Especially, during one of my HS photo assignments, I took the XD-7 out to shoot some ducks near the shore during a windy day with a flimpy tripod. Which fell over and cracked the silver mirror, which I eventually got fixed, but before that, I was contemplating buying the XG-9 as upgrade.

Anyway, one more thing I missed with my Film SLR, Double Exposure by the use of stopping the film advance and a DE mask/filter!! Can't do that with a DSLR...only in PP.

Ade H wrote in post #5437059
It's not just the cost that is good to leave behind. I used to do my own B+W printing at college and I really don't miss the heady mix of dim red light and chemical fumes!

Yeah, you do! LOL Nothing like the smell of developer!!! LOL

BTW, my photo teacher was sort of a perv in High School. The classroom was located far from the rest of the classes with the exception of Driver's Ed and Autoshop, probably due to those fumes you were talking about. Anyway, the teacher would have a trailer that was right outside the classroom. Not too far from that was the Girl's gym. During his break period, he would go into his trailer with a set of binoculars...

He also would always favor the girls in the class, often getting touchy feely , one time he even rubbed on a girls legs, since she was wearing a short skirt in front of the class. Lawd only knows what he did to them in the dark room during the color processing classes!

I guess, he touched the wrong girl one day and some guy from another class, came to the class and poured developer into his coffee mug, unbeknown to him. Immediately after sipping and swallowing some of it, he spat it out and needed to be rescued by an ambulance. I don't know what happened to the student, but there were rumors that Attempted Murder or something like that was charged.

00silvergt wrote in post #5437083
I loved the XG-9 but as a lowly gas station asst. Mgr, it was waay out of reach. Especially, during one of my HS photo assignments, I took the XD-7 out to shoot some ducks near the shore during a windy day with a flimpy tripod. Which fell over and cracked the silver mirror, which I eventually got fixed, but before that, I was contemplating buying the XG-9 as upgrade.

I bought my XG-9 in 1983 from my new roomate when I got to Germany. I was 18. The body, lens, and rickety tri-pod for $100 or $125, I forget which. I had no clue what level of a camera it was, or if I was getting a good deal or not. I didn't really know anything about photography, either, but guessed alot and actually got some very nice pictures.

I occasionally miss it. It went belly-up in 2000, so I sold it on eBay and bought a Canon Rebel 2000 and two lenses to replace it, and have done my fair share to support the photo manufacturing indiustry ever since.

Wilt wrote in post #5436858
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.

That's 3 stops?
I can't imagine a focusing screen making that drastic of difference in exposure.
I can't say I noticed a difference on my XK when I changed the screen, which I did frequently.

I need to look into this, I was thinking of getting a split-prism.

DAMphyne wrote in post #5437220
That's 3 stops?
I can't imagine a focusing screen making that drastic of difference in exposure.
I can't say I noticed a difference on my XK when I changed the screen, which I did frequently.

I need to look into this, I was thinking of getting a split-prism.

From the horse's mouth (Katz Eye website info about screen for 40D:

"Metering Information

The Katz Eye™ focusing screen for the Canon 40D has little to no effect on light metering in Evaluative or Center Weighted metering modes. Partial and Spot metering modes are somewhat more affected, depending on conditions. We recommend use of the Ef-A selection in the camera’s focusing screen type custom function for most accurate results. Please see your owner’s manual for instructions on adjusting the custom function settings. Detailed test results for each of the four metering modes are as follows:

• "Evaluative Metering Mode: Our testing showed evaluative mode to be within factory tolerance for all lenses having a maximum aperture of f4.5 or larger (lower f number). AF lenses with a maximum aperture of f5.6 or slower (higher f number) will overexpose slightly. With an f5.6 AF lens, we recommend an exposure compensation of -2/3EV. Manual (non-CPU) lenses with a maximum aperture of f5.6 or slower (higher f number) will underexpose slightly. With an f5.6 non-CPU lens, we recommend an exposure compensation of +2/3EV.
  
• "Center Weighted Average (CWA) Metering Mode: Our testing showed CWA metering mode to be within factory tolerance for all lenses having a maximum aperture of f4.5 or larger (lower f number). Lenses with a maximum aperture of f5.6 or slower (higher f number) will underexpose very slightly. With an f5.6 lens, we recommend an exposure compensation of +1/3EV.
  
• "Partial Metering Mode: Our testing showed partial metering mode to be within factory tolerance for all lenses having a maximum aperture of f2.0 or larger (lower f number). Lenses having a maximum aperture smaller than f2.0 (lager f number) will show a shift toward increased exposure. The shift will be greater for lenses with smaller maximum apertures. When using partial metering mode, it is advisable to first take a test shot, check the histogram, and adjust exposure compensation as required. Starting points for exposure compensation are as follows: f2.8 lens: -1/3EV, f4.0 lens: -2/3EV, f5.6 lens: -1EV.
  
• "Spot Metering Mode: Our testing showed spot metering mode to be within factory tolerance for all lenses having a maximum aperture of f2.0 or larger (lower f number). Lenses having a maximum aperture smaller than f2.0 (lager f number) will show a significant shift toward increased exposure, with the shift increasing for lenses with smaller maximum apertures. Spot metering mode is not recommended when using a split prism focusing screen except with very fast prime lenses. However, if spot mode must be used, it is strongly advised to first take a test shot, check the histogram, and adjust exposure compensation as required. "

My Yashica TL super SLR had a gauge on the right hand side of the viewfinder. Up was over and down was under exposure. simple to use and understand. AH the good old days.

What do I miss most about my first SLR? All the money I spend on getting bad pictures developed.

Simoli wrote in post #5437865
What do I miss most about my first SLR? All the money I spend on getting bad pictures developed.

I would load my own film, process, and print. It was pretty cheap. I do miss my darkroom nights.

Things I miss about my Pentax ME Super:

-Changing lenses without worrying about sensor dust
-Using an all-metal 50mm f1.7 prime with a smooth MF ring and a positive F-stop ring
-Compact size
-Big, bright viewfinder and easy manual focusing
-The sound
-Not worrying about nicking the paint since most of it was unpainted

If not for the light leak, I'd still have it today.

hmmm . . . what i miss most about my old 300D?

ALL THE $$$$ I COULD HAVE SAVED IF I JUST STUCK WITH IT!!!!

markubig wrote in post #5438496
hmmm . . . what i miss most about my old 300D?

ALL THE $$$$ I COULD HAVE SAVED IF I JUST STUCK WITH IT!!!!

You know that you really want the 70-200L f/2.8 USM to go along with your
40D

All you have to do is click on the link and it could be yours

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …f_2_8L_USM_Auto​focus.html

We're your friends

It has to be the weight of it, comparing my Minolta Dynax with my 1D Mark III is quite some difference.

My age at the time I owned it.

On the topic of things not missed, how about this:

Missing the shot because you forgot to cock the shutter?

Anyone else have that happen to them?

Rad

Note the Argus below, with the little lever on the right of the lens. In order for the spring to pull the shutter open/closed, you had to put tension on the spring by pushing down on the lever first. This was cocking the shutter, and without doing that, there was nothing happening when you pressed the button.

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