Film SLR - preview exposure

[raptor84]

I see. They sell the Fuji 400s at the nearby supermarket as well, but I don't remember them being as cheap as that. Looks like I'd be taking a trip to MS Colour again, and I didn't even think I'd be going back there.

Just went there a few days ago to buy film. Was kinda sad they didnt have stock for pro 160C .... only had 160s and pro 400...

 

[lonelywolf]

I havent been able to find cheap film and the lowest i've gone is $2.8 for a roll of superia 200. If you have been with a digital you will find yourself slowing down alot more before pressing that shutter . As for development and scannig i have been going to kex in bedok even though i stay in punggol. Its $9 for developing and scanning in a roll and i think its very worth the service.

hor??where did u get the superia 200 at 2.8 ah? can tell us the location?

 

[doug3fflux]

ya man, go there buy 50 rolls. hee

 

[raptor84]

hor??where did u get the superia 200 at 2.8 ah? can tell us the location?

That one was at MS colour but only because i bought fomr them before. I think regualr price is $3 for superia 200 yes its a good price but dunno if they have stock now...

 

[glchua]

I bought Kodak 400 speed consumer color film (Gold?) for only $2.80 (or $2.50?) per roll from Fotohub.

I shoot digital for presentation, film for everything else. It is cheaper for me as a good film camera cost much less than a "prosumer" digital. I always recommend film if someone only shoots occasionally, and you have a permanent "hardcopy" record which you can deal with later.

And, most importantly, when I want to print, the shop can save me hours in front of a computer!

 

[glchua]

As Wai Leong explained, people have been using film for a long time. People had been happily snapping with their point-and-shoots for decades!

My mother still uses film (in a 5 year old point-and-shoot that costs less than $200), and her pics might even look better than that from a digital camera with poor white balance, clipped highlights, poor shadow details etc.

Film is much easier to use, especially color negs.

The advantage for digital is instant feedback. But how much can you judge from even a 3 inch LCD screen? How about under bright sunlight?

 

[fWord]

The advantage for digital is instant feedback. But how much can you judge from even a 3 inch LCD screen? How about under bright sunlight?

I'd agree that it's hard to judge sharpness from a small LCD screen. Mostly, I use this instant feedback system to judge if the framing is right (ie. if any extra stuff that I didn't want to include actually turns up in the picture), and if the exposure is close to what I wanted for that photo. For example, if I take a photo in a hurry and forget to dial in exposure compensation for a snow scene, I'd immediately note that the snow is almost grey and hence correct that with exposure compensation for the next shot.

 

[waileong]

Cheap film-- try ABC shop at Peninisula Plaza, or the $1.99 shops in the heartlands. You can get Kodak MAX 400 or Konica Centuria. Not the best films in my estimation, but at least these are reputable brands.

However, if you really want film quality, you'll have to pay more for good/professional film, which could cost anything from $5-12 per roll. You should know that each film is made for different uses, and has different characteristics, so you match the film you buy to your application.

Don't skimp on processing even if you buy cheap film. The cost of processing at a good pro lab (like Colourlab) is $4.50 per roll, vs $4 per roll at an ordinary lab like S'pore Colour Centre ($3 per roll if you print at least 30 pix together with processing + you get a free 8x12 print). The quality control and fresh chemistry is what accounts for the difference, and 50 cents is worth the trouble to save. Avoid the small HDB shops if possible-- they usually do not have the volumes to keep the lines running.

For printing, find a shop which has the same colour vision as you. Because a negative can be colour corrected and printed in so many ways, the quality of your work is at the mercy of the printer. The cost of printing is quite standard (30 or 40 cents for a 4R print), but if Lab A gives you the colours you like, you should always go to Lab A when printing, rather than go to Lab B because they are offering prints at 25 cents.

Wai Leong
===

Actually this thread is turning out to be of significant interest to me because, although I've always shot digital, actually bought an old film camera recently, and I'm interested to venture into shooting film.

I've been reading that some of these Fuji and Konica films are available for as little as $2 a roll. Where can I go (specifically) to pick up film at this price? I think the initial phase of shooting will be pretty much hit and miss, so I'll need a source of cheap film, just in case. Although I very much hope that my camera and I won't botch things up too much. The camera itself is capable, and hopefully, I have half a mind to know how to shoot photos and focus manually. :sweatsm:

Where are the cheaper places I can go to and get processing done? Cheap is not always good though, but reliability is of course important. I stay in Kovan and there might be a store in Heartland Mall, but I've never checked prices there before.

 

[student]

Like what Wai Leong said, there are alot of misinformation here. Too many for me to try to correct. And unfortunately often given by people who do not use film on a regular basis.

If,

1 this is your first try at films,

2 and seeing that like most people who started with the digital cameras, and therefore have little knowledge how light works, and whose knowledge of getting the correct exposures is limited to (a) Checking the LCD/histogram (b) just bracket like hell to hopefully get a "right" one

3 ? you intend to use film in an upcoming trip?

I would suggest to you,

1 get a film camera with a program mode to decide exposure for you. Just use this and you will be OK most of the time (exposure wise), but see below. This is not the time to learn how to get exposure right without the using the LCD. Sorry to be blunt on this.

2 avoid situations where the contrast is very bright. The main culprit would be taking photographs of people with the sun behind the subjects.

To simplify things, use only one ISO. If most of your images are outdoors, I suggest ISO 200. If you are Kaisu, then use 400.

Good luck!

 

[student]

Like what Wai Leong said, there are alot of misinformation here. Too many for me to try to correct. And unfortunately often given by people who do not use film on a regular basis.

If,

1 this is your first try at films,

2 and seeing that like most people who started with the digital cameras, and therefore have little knowledge how light works, and whose knowledge of getting the correct exposures is limited to (a) Checking the LCD/histogram (b) just bracket like hell to hopefully get a "right" one

3 ? you intend to use film in an upcoming trip?

I would suggest to you,

1 get a film camera with a program mode to decide exposure for you. Just use this and you will be OK most of the time (exposure wise), but see below. This is not the time to learn how to get exposure right without the using the LCD. Sorry to be blunt on this.

2 avoid situations where the contrast is very bright. The main culprit would be taking photographs of people with the sun behind the subjects.

To simplify things, use only one ISO. If most of your images are outdoors, I suggest ISO 200. If you are Kaisu, then use 400.

Good luck!

 

[student]

Sorry for the double post. Itchy fingers!

 

[doug3fflux]

Cheap film-- try ABC shop at Peninisula Plaza, or the $1.99 shops in the heartlands. You can get Kodak MAX 400 or Konica Centuria. Not the best films in my estimation, but at least these are reputable brands.

However, if you really want film quality, you'll have to pay more for good/professional film, which could cost anything from $5-12 per roll. You should know that each film is made for different uses, and has different characteristics, so you match the film you buy to your application.

Don't skimp on processing even if you buy cheap film. The cost of processing at a good pro lab (like Colourlab) is $4.50 per roll, vs $4 per roll at an ordinary lab like S'pore Colour Centre ($3 per roll if you print at least 30 pix together with processing + you get a free 8x12 print). The quality control and fresh chemistry is what accounts for the difference, and 50 cents is worth the trouble to save. Avoid the small HDB shops if possible-- they usually do not have the volumes to keep the lines running.

For printing, find a shop which has the same colour vision as you. Because a negative can be colour corrected and printed in so many ways, the quality of your work is at the mercy of the printer. The cost of printing is quite standard (30 or 40 cents for a 4R print), but if Lab A gives you the colours you like, you should always go to Lab A when printing, rather than go to Lab B because they are offering prints at 25 cents.

Wai Leong
===

wheres colour lab?