Analog film photography and cameras

Well, fuck. I talked about an issue I was having with my Canon T70 a long time ago where the mirror would not clear the frame when shooting at 1/500th and 1/1000th. I put a few rolls through making sure I didn't go higher than 1/250th but it still seems to be happening even at lower shutter speeds if this last roll is anything to go by, example below.

I'm pretty gutted as most of the roll was shot on a hike that we brought a friend out on after his father had passed.

It's time to put the T70 into retirement. In terms of replacement I'd like something fully manual, Canon A1 looks good but seems to be victim to hipster tax? Reliability needs to trump all, then affordability. As mentioned above Canon autofocus SLRs seem to be abundant and dirt cheap, is there a caveat to them that I'm missing? I have never shot with an AF film SLR.

I bet the soundtrack of mass wheezing of old auto focus and wind motors was amazing

As mentioned above Canon autofocus SLRs seem to be abundant and dirt cheap, is there a caveat to them that I'm missing?

The caveat in your instance would be that they use a different lens mount to the FD lenses you've used on the T70. EOS SLRs use the EF mount, so will mean buying new glass.

Otherwise, some people don't like them as they prefer manual focus and the heftier build quality of older SLRs. Using an EOS film SLR is perhaps more similar to a modern DSLR than it would be to an older manual focus SLR.

I like auto focus SLRs as they're dirt cheap, get better image quality out of them and they're generally more reliable (as they're newer).

& @mi7rennie thanks guys : )

Good shout! Thanks for the information.

If you're looking to keep the fd-mount glass, then have a look at FTb QL
Another T70 might be a good plan as they're excellent value and very versatile.

A1's are great but popular and the ae-1 is subject to hipster-tax

In terms of replacement I'd like something fully manual, Canon A1 looks good but seems to be victim to hipster tax? Reliability needs to trump all, then affordability. As mentioned above Canon autofocus SLRs seem to be abundant and dirt cheap, is there a caveat to them that I'm missing?

I'd say that shooting film and shooting autofocus SLR cameras doesn't go that well together - except if cost of film and dev is not an issue for you.
Or, put it another way: analog photography in general is not suitable for high-speed action shooting (and maybe it's just me, but I think AF cameras do make you kind-of trigger-happy).
I had one of those N-series Nikons mentioned upthread, and learned this lesson the hard (expensive) way.
Don't get me wrong the camera itself was indeed great, and cheap, but heavy as fuck because of the batteries and the motor, and like I said I burned through rolls of film quickly.

Analog photography lends itself more to a slower, contemplative kind of shooting I believe.
All the buzzing and whizzing and beeping of those AF machines is really quite distracting, if not annoying.

To answer your question (also just realizing that your T90 already has a loud-ish motor drive (and it beeps, right?), so you're "used to that" already) - why not just get another T90?
I had one for a year or so, didn't like it, sold it again - but if you like it just get another; it's a capable camera with good a good meter.

If you want to try a classic manual SLR take a look at the AV-1.

You'd better tell the hipsters so they can offload their 90's autofocus autowind compacts ;)

I find I don't burn through film any quicker on either manual or auto cameras as I'm too conscious of the cost. It's a shame as I'd love to burn through rolls of Tri-X shooting on the streets.... but as it is digital is better for that now on a cost basis.

I don't burn through film any quicker on either manual or auto

Well then I guess it's just about the feeling of the camera - chunky oldschool metal thing versus modern plastic shit
: ]

I ordered a 40mm pancake for my EOS 300 a la @Rik_Van_Looy - I found it best if I used it simply as a point and shoot, rather than anything more or less. Not gonna win any beauty contests but the body was so cheap that I don’t care. The EOS was perfect for using when riding, too.

Also ordered 10 rolls of HP5 to document my move to New York with the EOS. Then will attempt development at home for the sake of turnaround time and cost and will probably buy a scanner too.

Like Ste_S I am too economically aware to allow myself fall into blowing through rolls at will.

The analog, heavy, metal, clunky feel is something I do relish (even though the T70 has auto advance/ uptake it's super fucking industrial as you can imagine for 1984!). I would very much prefer something in the Canon FD A-line or F-line but the price difference between that and a late 90s SLR body is (at the present moment) prohibitive for me. Looking locally, used but seemingly decent nick A1/ AV-1/ AE-1 bodies are in the region of €130-€200 whilst several similarly clean EOS 300/500 bodies are €35-€70.

I would only ever be using manual focus lenses: adapted FD/ M42 primes and I also have some nice fast Samyangs in EF mount. AF in an SLR body shooting film - yeah, I could see some "trust" issues flaring up. Shooting film and focussing manually have always gone hand in hand, in my head.

So i will most likely dip my toe in the Canon AF SLR pond in the next week. The plasticky bodies are a real deterrent but it's as a means to an end. Maybe whatever I pickup will be nicer in the hand than it looks in images.

How about this T60?
Perhaps still too plasticky for you.

https://wycameras.com/collections/canon-fd-cameras/products/canon-t60-w-50mm-f-1-8-exc

https://www.ebay.ie/itm/Classic-Canon-A1-35mm-SLR-Canon-FD-35-70-lens/273493332457?hash=item3fad7911e9:g:b0kAAOSwZl1bthqI
Just spotted this recent listing on eBay and jumped on it! Lens included is pretty irrelevant but thrilled even though it was a bit more than I wanted to spend I think it represents good value.

I did indeed see that when I was looking through WY Cameras, turns out Canon didn't actually make them, they outsourced production to Cosina I think it was, which put me off a little. I realise I sound like a bit of a blouse going on about cameras being too plasticky!

I ordered a 40mm pancake for my EOS 300 a la @Rik_Van_Looy - I found it best if I used it simply as a point and shoot, rather than anything more or less. Not gonna win any beauty contests but the body was so cheap that I don’t care. The EOS was perfect for using when riding, too.

Also ordered 10 rolls of HP5 to document my move to New York with the EOS. Then will attempt development at home for the sake of turnaround time and cost and will probably buy a scanner too.

The EOS 300x and 40mm pancake is what I use a lot of the time also, and I also use it as a point and shoot. Crazy that you can pick that combo up for less than the cost of a Mju II

Rolleicord / Ektar

Darkroom is also progressing nicely so hoping to start printing at the weekend.

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Thanks for the infor on the Nikon L35AF all....definitely going to be getting one of those in the upcoming weeks.

Also my 2 cents on the auto focus SLR convo (if its worth anything). I bought a Nikon F90x with bottom battery pack at the start of summer, for something like 35 quid on ebay, and It does feel different but the shots have come out really nice and I personally love shooting on it.

Really great snap modes - like portrait, landscape etc and feels lovely and heavy too, not plastic-y at all

Nikon F90x does look nice, have thought about getting one myself. Probably at the sweet spot of Nikon AF being good whilst still being cheap.

..also it has

I like my A1, although haven't shot many rolls on it so far (should get one back today from filmdev). For a solid slr theyve not suffered too much from hipster tax. More the lenses but thats also because they can be used on sony mirrorless cameras I think.

If you want a 50mm prime I have a spare one I bought in a camera shop in Arundel before I got my A1 body etc off here!

Nice one man, I have a 50mm 1.4 so a 35mm or 28mm is next on ze list.

Yeah. Totally mad. I liked my Mju a lot but it wasn’t that good. Can also use it on my girlfriends 70D which is nice.

This.
I've not missed the kit zoom on my 300d at all, and f2.8 would be way outside my price range for a zoom anyway
Meanwhile it turns a cheap Eos film body into something pretty special

Hahahaha