Getting into film photography can be an expensive endeavour especially once you decide you'd like to build a collection of different cameras and start developing film yourself. Here are some tips to get you started in film photography without breaking the bank.
1. Purchasing your first film camera.
Purchasing film cameras can be very expensive but your first film camera needn't be overly elaborate. The first film camera you purchase is required to do a few basic things.
1. The light seals need to be in good condition. Old, sticky, eroded light seals mean that light can leak into the camera from the back with devastating outcomes. Open the rear of the camera and check the condition of the light seals before handing over your money.
2. The shutter speeds on the dials need to be accurately reproduced by the shutter. A shutter that does not accurately replicate the speeds shown on the dial will make it impossible to measure the exposure stops with unpredictable outcomes. It is not really possible to check this yourself but we will cover this in the following sections.
3. The shutter needs to fire successfully. If the shutter opens but does not close then you will have wasted an exposure on the film reel not to mention the possibility of wasting a number of exposures if the camera has to be opened up to fix the problem. Check the shutter before you buy.
2. Where to source cameras.
There are a number of places that you can purchase cameras at a good price. Depending on where you buy, the risks of walking away with a duff camera vary. Here are the places you can buy cameras in order of minimal risk to maximum risk.
a. Camera Hut - The Stables Market, Camden.
Camera Hut market stall has a good range of reliable film cameras both 35mm and medium format. If you have any issues with the camera you can simply take the camera back and explain the issue. The stall owner is very friendly and happy to help. Follow CameraHut on Instagram at camerahutuk.
b. eBay and Gumtree.
I bought two of my cameras via these websites. There are differences however and they are as follows. When you purchase anything on eBay you are protected by ebay's buyer guarantee and on top of that, if you use PayPal to purchase the item then you are protected by their 180 days guarantee. Of course if you have any issues with the camera then talk first to the seller. Always read the description and leave positive feedback where appropriate.
c. Charity Shops and Vintage Stores.
Some of the cheapest deals on cameras I have ever come across have been in charity shops and vintage stores. You can pick up a medium format DLR for £30 or a 35mm SLR for £20. Of course along with this saving comes a heft amount of risk. Stores like these don't know anything about cameras so who's to know the working condition of the item until you get it home. I have had issues with cameras before and they can usually be sorted with a service. Having a service done can be expensive so weigh up the risks and benefits before you do anything rash.
3. Buying film.
Purchasing film can range from amazingly cheap to unbelievably expensive. The thing to do is to shop around. In my experience, the cheapest form of buying film is in job-lots or bundles of expired film. It is possible to shoot expired film successfully. Simply be sure to over expose the film by 1 full stop for every decade of expiry. If a 200 ISO film expired 20 years ago then simply over expose the film by 2 stops by setting your camera to 50 ISO.
Closing shop...
In conclusion, buying cameras can go terribly wrong and that's not to say that spending more is less risky. As cameras age their parts wear and become liable to fail. Even a camera that has been looked after from new, if it has been in constant use there is a possibility for things to go wrong. If the camera works for you right away then I wouldn't worry too much, but as you become more serious about it I would fervently recommend getting the camera serviced to ensure that everything is in good working order and will not trip you up at the worst moment. I do hope that this guide has been of use to you.
Have fun & stay sharp...