[PRCo] Re: Film tricks

[Edward H. Lybarger]

I, too, was a strong adherent to the "I want to make my own mistakes" school
of cameras for many years, and I made plenty while I also got some nice
stuff.  Then I bought a cheap semi-automatic Pentax and used it for maybe a
year.  While I hated the particular lenses that I used, I found that the
automatic features were kind of nice for an aging gentleman.

When I couldn't stand the glass any more, I went for the Nikon N90s, but not
before consulting Fred Schnieder...I was originally considering the N80, and
he explained why it wasn't perfect for my needs (my son has one and it
serves him well, but Fred was right), and I procured the N90.  Fred told me
to turn off the autofocus (but I ignored him and am immensely pleased with
this feature) and let the camera work for me.  And it has.  I love the
automatic film rewind, just as I love the autofocus and automatic exposure
(I also love the exposure lock that lets me expose for the subject, then
include some sky).  And best of all, I can turn it all off if I need to.

I think it's the knowing what you need to do that's the education Bob's
saying you need...don't buy one of these critters and think that the camera
makes you a good photographer.  Learn some photography and then buy a device
that makes it easier for you.

I still chide Fred on occasion about the need for a bearer to haul the N90
around.

Ed

-----Original Message-----
From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org
[mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org]On Behalf Of Bob
Rathke
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2001 7:50 PM
To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
Subject: [PRCo] Re: Film tricks



Fred,

I use Nikon equipment, but I wouldn't own a camera that was so automated
that it has automatic rewind :-).  All of my lenses are manual, and
fortunately you can always find more Nikkor lenses on the used market at
good prices.  When my daughter enrolled in photography classes at college in
1994, they would only approve students' use of fully manual cameras.  And
right now I'm helping a neighbor learn how to use his super-expensive Canon
camera in the manual mode.

Bob 10/18/01

----------------------------------------------------

----- Original Message -----
From: "Fred W. Schneider III" <fschnei at supernet.com>
To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2001 6:24 PM
Subject: [PRCo] Re: Film tricks


>
> You primitive being.  I'm not so lucky.  The motorized rewind on my
> Nikon simply winds it back into the cassette.
>
> Bob Rathke wrote:
> >
> > I don't usually perform the tight-wound-take-up trick, but when I think
of
> > it, I try to watch the rewind knob to be sure it's turning.  However, I
> > sometimes switch film among cameras, especially if it's a 36-exposure
roll
> > of special film with only a few exposures on it, and I need to put a
> > different roll of film in that camera.  I note the exposure number on
the
> > counter, then rewind the film until I hear the leader slip off the
take-up
> > reel; when I reload that roll later, I advance it to the exposure number
> > where it was last exposed, and then give it 2-3 extra advances to be
safe
> > (this is all done in a dark area, lens cap on, and shutter set at 1/1000
> > second).  However, if the roll of film is near the end of the reel, I'll
> > simply rewind it, forget about the lost exposures, and get it processed.
> >
> > For most B&W exposures, unaided I can't differentiate among similar
> > negatives of the same view, so I use an 8X loupe for that chore.
> >
> > Bob 10/18/01