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| *SoulEyes Photography>>>Photography Equipment |
Where can I get all of the equipment I need to start analogue photography? |
I have just bought an old Canon Eos 300 Analogue SLR, which came with two lenses and a kit bag- nothing else. I presume all I need to get going are some batteries (are rechargeable ones best?) and film? I'm talking bare basics here. Where can I get the right film for the job? And what do I look out for? Is the film you can buy in Tesco the right dort of stuff for serious SLR photography? As I am also on a strictly low budget, what should I be looking to buy next in the way of equipment once I am up on my feet? I am aiming to (in time) become a freelance photo-journalist. Also I have no darkroom facilities- what is involved in setting up my own at home (I know a lot can go wrong but I aim to do it properly and on a small, realistic scale. I know there's a lot here but thanks! Check with www.bhphotovideo.com and start pricing their items and compare with their USED CAMERA DEPARTMENT, which has a lot of used darkroom equpment in great shape (I go there frequently). I'm also getting a darkroom equipment soon; an old friend of mine from the late mid- to late-60s has not used his in decades and he's giving it to me. So, I'll just have to buy chemicals and paper and bulk film, reuseable film cartridges and film dispensers. It should prove to be fun since I also enjoy hand-coloring black and white photos, especially portraits. EDITED: IF you get a chance, go to a few libraries and look for old black and white photography books. They're really great. You'll also find chapters there that will explain in detail what the camera parts are, and how and when to use these, will explain the different lenses and advantages and disadvantages and what they're used for, and the different types and uses or filters, etc. IT will also outline what you need for a start-up darkroom. EDITED: In the UK, check with Ritz! They're a huge outfit and they have just about everything you might need at the most competitive prices, too. They can probably sell you a starter's set. But what you need, basically, is a condenser (not the cheaper diffuser) enlarger with a relatively good lens, the developing cannisters, the 3 trays (I recommend 14 x 16), the chemicals (save bleach bottles and rinse carefully before using for mixed chemicals, and LABEL carefully), two or three types of papers in 8 x 10, since you can cut to smaller size, a guillotine cutter, a base paper holder, bulk film will save you A WHOLE LOT, but you need the dispenser, the reuseable cartridges (learn to make a "tongue" lead on the end of the film with very small scissors), the red/green safety light. Don't forget that you'll need water near you to wash and rinse negatives and prints after they're "fixed." Speak with someone in the camera shop or ask your instructor to help you out. The darkroom area MUST be lightproof... any stay light will ruin your negatives and photographic paper; do not work where you turned off a flourescent light... it will ruin your negatives and paper 20 minutes AFTER you turn it off since it will continue to emit UV rays long after you turn it off! Good luck and best wishes. You are right, your not asking for much are you! Firstly a lot of equipment can be picked up cheaply second hand. I presume you are talking B&W, not Colour. since colour takes a lot more equipment and is still expensive. Regarding film, I suggest you stick to known makes since they provide all the necessary development data. Would strongly recommend Kodak or Iford. Would also suggest a little book for you, as I have done to all my students: Guide to Photography by John Garrett, Keep It Simple Series by Dorling Kindersley Books. ISBN 1 4053 0181 3, see www.dk.com. If you want any more contact me. Have fun! The other posters have some good advice, but allow me to add a couple things. First, if you're shooting film, you may not want the hassle of setting up and maintaining a darkroom. The chemicals get expensive and when disposed of, they're pretty harsh on the environment. Consider having your film professionally processed without prints. Here in the US, I get a roll of film processed for the equivilant of one British pound. Buy a good negative scanner and a highend digital printer (I've had the best luck with Epson scanners and Canon printers). Scan your negs and print your own photos! It's true, even the best digital prints can't compare to silver nitrate papers (or whatever the emulsion is) but the cost of supplies is arguably cheaper and more environment-friendly. Also, since you're still learning, ask if your local photo shop might have some expired print film. Expired print film is often sold for a fraction of fresh film and if kept in the fridge, should be fine. You do however, lose 1/3 of a stop for every year the film is expired (or so I'm told). Notice that I said "print film" and not transparency or "chrome" film - shooting expired chrome may cause you some problems because there isn't the same latitude for error as with print film. Decide whether you're going to shoot primarily slide or print film. The advantage to shooting slides when you're learning is that it requires MUCH more discipline. It has often been said that if you can shoot slides, you can shoot anything. I grew up shooting print film, and thirty years later, I wish I had learned on slides! One more thing - consider the commercial aspects of your photography for tax purposes. I don't know what the tax laws are like in the UK but here in the US, freelance photographers who make even a small amount of money can write off their gear and supplies as business expenses at tax time! I suppose the key is don't get ripped off, I would say get a manual OM or FD system to make use of the cheap lenses available on eBay, the trouble with your camera is that the lenses go on digital bodies to, so they have held there value and therefore will cost a lot. As for other costs, I get my film from 7Dayshop, Fuji Superia 200 and 400 is by far the best value film there is, it can currently be had for 93p a roll. I get my processing done at ASDA, 37 prints for about 拢4.50 on a 2 day wait. Not only do they cost nearly half of what Jessops cost they do a better job, also they don't charge extra for white boarders, and if you take less photos they will charge you less, for every picture they don't print. That is a big plus, so if you need a film developing and you haven't use all the frames they is no need to take random snaps, plus if you mess up and only 20 frames come out you don't end up paying the full amount unlike Snappy Snaps who refuses to even knock the price down to the 24exp price when I did mess up. Do this is so cheap it works out at about the same price as getting digital prints made, that includes the cost of the film! 400 Ilford-Delta film is a good pick for beginners; low grain and forgiving in the darkroom... I don't know that exact camera, but presumably batteries and film are all you need. A lot of the chemicals involved in setting up your own dark room are expensive, so a more precise description of your living situation and budget would be helpful in advice-giving. Some things you can pick up cheaply used if you hunt for a while (englargers can occasionally be found in random places), but if you don't have a suitable space to use them (somewhere with no light and lots of ventilation), they're not terribly useful to own. Most larger cities will have a place where you can rent out darkroom time; check with any local unis. Personally, I like a lot of photos I take, and love just a couple, so I get rolls printed off at the cheapest nearby place I can find, and afterwards, for pics I really dig, I go to a local darkroom, pay $10, and get to spend the day using their equipment and chemicals. There will be staff on hand to help you out with any questions you might have. Unless you're already pretty familiar with how darkrooms work, I would recommend just googling for what facilities are available near where you live, and then getting used to that, before trying to set up at home. To have a darkroom, you need first a place that is really well ventilated, with temp.-adjustable running water, and absolutely no light. If you live in a house, this is possible, boarding basement windows and opening all the vents, but esp. as a beginner, you'll be better off trying to utilize uni or public facilities. I know it seems like a better idea to set up a darkroom in your bathroom, but espeially as a beginner, it's not worth the time, energy, or money. If you live in any kind of metro area, you will be able to find a darkroom that will grant you full access for relatively little, and you'll benefit a ton from the other people sharing the space, not to mention the employees and interns. At least, that was how it worked out for me. Good luck! |
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