Cameras have been helping people capture special moments for more than 150 years. Todayís technology has made it easy for everyone from the beginning photographer to the seasoned professional to turn lifetime memories into high quality photos.
Film cameras from brands like Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Kodak and Sony have recently come down in price due to the popularity of digital cameras. Buying the right film camera is simple once you determine how you will be taking pictures. The biggest factors to consider are quality, price, and the amount of control you want over functions.
The Beginner
Shopping for your very first film camera, or just looking for something thatís inexpensive and easy to use? If you donít need all the bells and whistles but still want good quality, you have several options.
Point-and-Shoot Cameras As their name implies, point-and-shoot cameras are easy to use because they do most of the work for you: just aim and fire away. Look for ones with auto focus, auto film loading and flash. Most point-and-shoot cameras also come with APS (Advanced Photo System) that allows you to take panoramic shots.
Pros: Good quality, easy to use, panoramic options, lightweight, good for trips.
Cons: Enlargements beyond 5îx7î produce less than perfect picture quality.
Price: Starting at $50.
Instant Cameras Instant cameras, also referred to as ìPolaroidsî, are great if you want to see your prints immediately or you donít want to go through the trouble of taking the film somewhere to be developed. These cameras come with a fixed or auto-focus lens as well as built-in flash.
Pros: Quick, convenient prints.
Cons: Bulkier than other cameras, film can be expensive.
Price: $40 to $100.
Disposable Cameras Disposable, or ìsingle useî, cameras come with preloaded film and a fixed-focus, plastic lens. These cameras come in various film speeds (200 or 400 speed will be fine for almost any condition), and with or without flash capabilities. Underwater disposable cameras have become very popular. Underwater disposable cameras are great for outdoor adventures in which water or sand may be involved. They let you take great photos without the risk of damaging your camera.
Pros: Cheap, easy to use, widely available. A good backup in case something goes wrong with your other camera on a trip.
Cons: Picture quality is generally not as good as point-and-shoots.
Price: Under $12.
The Intermediate/Advanced Amateur
Pretty comfortable with your skills and want to take more control of your cameraís functions? Check out these more advanced options.
SLR Camera An SLR (single lens reflex) camera is the classic manual camera that permits you to control the clarity and size of your images by manually changing the settings on the cameraís dials. You can get different effects by changing lenses, flashes and timers ñ all of which you can buy separately.
Pros: Gives you more control and freedom so you can get perfect pictures if you know what youíre doing.
Cons: Heavier than point-and-shoot cameras, SLR cameras may take time to master.
Cost: $150 to $400.
Rangefinder cameras Rangefinder technology is older and far less popular than SLR but is experiencing somewhat of a comeback. A rangefinder device focuses the camera based on the distance from the camera to the subject. A rangefinder camera gives you more precise judgment in determining focus for your picture. Itís a great tool for a serious photographer.
Pros: Smaller and lighter than SLR cameras, a rangefinder camera doesnít have any moving parts besides the shutter, so itís quiet and practically vibration-free. Rangefinder cameras are great for low-light and documentary photography.
Cons: More expensive and difficult to master than an SLR camera, rangefinder cameras arenít as popular as SLRs which makes them difficult to find.
Cost: $600 to $2,500
TLR cameras TLR (twin lens reflex) cameras are composed of a vertical box with two lenses on the front. TLRs produce a square image, rather than a rectangular one, so you donít have to worry about changing the angle of the camera whether youíre shooting a portrait or a landscape. Also, TLR cameras have their viewing window on the top so, as the photographer, you look down at the camera instead of directly at the subject. TLR is a very old technology and few are currently being manufactured, which makes them difficult to find. However, theyíre very solid cameras so if you run across a used one your chances of it still working are very good.
Pros: A novelty for the camera enthusiast, good for portraits and scenery. No need to worry about composition.
Cons: Bulky, not widely used and difficult to find.
Cost: Starting at $140.
Other Considerations
Film types Millimeters (mm) are used to refer to the width of the film. Most cameras use 35mm film, though some cameras use other sizes. The type of camera you are using will determine the size of film that you need.
Lenses A lens bends and focuses light as it passes through and projects it (sometimes via a mirror) onto the film, creating a photograph. Most point-and-shoot cameras have built in zoom lenses while most SLR cameras offer the ability to change lenses to give the photographer more freedom.
Shutter speed Shutter speed measures how long the cameraís shutter stays open while taking a photo. A 1/500 shutter speed setting means the shutter opens and closes within one five-hundredth of a second, while a shutter speed setting of 1 means that the shutter stays open a full second before closing. Shutter speed (along with aperture range and film speed) determines how much light the photograph will be exposed to. Generally, you use a fast shutter speed to get sharp pictures of moving subjects and a slow shutter speed (with your camera mounted on a tripod) to take photos of still subjects in low-light situations.
Aperture Range A cameraís aperture refers to the size of the opening in its lens that lets light through. Combined with the shutter speed and the film speed (or ìISO) it regulates the photographís exposure to light. Aperture range is measured in ìf-stopsî. The smaller the ìfî number the more light will pass through the camera. Use small f-stops in poor lighting conditions.
Optical Zoom Zoom is the action of shifting the focal length of the cameraís lens to make your subject appear larger in the frame. Optical zoom achieves its magnification by moving parts of the lens forward or backwards. This magnifies the image while retaining maximum quality.
Here are a few recommendations for the amount of zoom you might need:
Beginner: A 1-4x optical zoom will be sufficient for typical snapshots.
Intermediate: A 5-7x optical zoom is good for those who are expecting to take action shots or pictures from greater distances.
Advanced: Having a 10-12x optical zoom will provide you more clarity for distant scenic and nature shots. This zoom level gives you greater flexibility in taking pictures of your subjects from further distances.
Power supply Cameras with flashes or electronic readouts will require batteries. The most common types are NiMH, NiCd, Lithium and Alkaline batteries. Be sure to check which batteries your camera will require before you buy it. Save money and hassle by buying a camera that can use rechargeable batteries.
Focus Type
Automatic focus Automatic focus lenses are controlled by a central microprocessor that takes information from an auto focus system and light meter and automatically focuses the lens, resulting in a sharp picture. Automatic focus is great for a beginning photographer.
Manual focus Manual focus lenses work well when you want the most control over your image. They require you to look through the viewfinder and manually change the focus of the lens.
Fixed focus Fixed focus lenses are set from the manufacturer to ensure that you always have a subject in focus within a certain distance. Disposable cameras and some point-and-shoots come with fixed focus.
Digital versus Film Camera
Digital cameras and film cameras both have pros and cons. Youíll get the best results by choosing the right type of camera for your situation. Hereís what to expect from each:
Film Cameras The digital camera craze has caused the price of film cameras to drop, which means high-quality film cameras are now more affordable than ever. Film cameras have generally been recognized as producing better quality photos (especially large prints), but as digital technology advances this point is becoming debatable.
Pros: Less expensive, generally more durable with longer-lasting batteries. Film cameras are great for prints and their response time between you pressing the shutter button and the picture being taken is immediate while some digital cameras have a delay.
Cons: Film cameras lack the convenience of digital cameras and their cost of taking a picture is much higher due to film and developer expenses.
Digital Cameras The world of digital cameras has exploded and despite being more expensive than their film counterparts, many people are making the switch to digital cameras because of their convenience. With no film and proofing costs, you can experiment to your heartís content and see immediately what works and what doesnít. Digital photos are easy to download and share via e-mail with friends.
Pros: Digital cameras are convenient - they allow you the ability to see your pictures immediately, throw away the bad ones and take another shot. Digital photos are easy to share via e-mail, they have no film cost and they only have developer costs if you decide to print your photos. Also, even novices can retouch and enhance their digital photos with easy-to-use software.
Cons: Digital cameras cost more up front than film cameras. They have a short battery life - so be sure to buy one that uses rechargeable batteries - and digital photo quality is not quite up to the quality of film.
