Analog film photography and cameras

it may need a service. Like bikes, moving parts will sieze and or stop working properly. However, you may still get away without servicing, but not pushing the camera to its limits. Stick around the 1/125 - 1/500 and see what happens. you may need to compensate +/- a stop (what's on the dial isn't necessarily what is actually happening inside the camera).

pah. go somewhere else. Stay away from boots, they have no idea about film. http://www.londonfgss.com/thread6112.html

where did you get the film (and what film was it)? get hold of some fuji superia 200ASA from a camera shop. last bit is important as you need to know it's been stored well. f1.4 again, is at the limit of the lens and is unlikely to be sharp.It's also a very difficult aperture to work with (I still struggle sometimes).

1/focal length, depending on your technique. for a 50mm lens, 1/50. You can get away with slower, but practice.

suggest fresh batteries and film, take some test shots, 1/250, f5.6 or so, on a tripod if you have (or can borrow) one.

Ah thanks a lot, thats really helpful. The film was a kodak ISO200, but it was likely a good few years old (maybe even 10yrs). I've been playing around with a new kodak iso 400 film, and steering clear of the uber-apertures for the time being. Looking forward to seeing the results :)