My beginnings of using a SLR

[toothfangclaw]

Hello all,

I don't post much around here but I might be a more frequent visitor to this part of the forum.  Last week sometime I happen to be in a thrift store and found a Cannon Rebel 2000 35mm SLR with its kit lense in great shape for $5. It was too hard to pass up so I got it. Sure, film is expensive and harder to come by as time goes on. But I sure do love the color, detail and feel of 35mm. I plan on finding a cheap dslr with the same lense mount so I can possibly save some money on lenses and use use the digital to cut my teeth on using manual mode so I don't kill my self on film and development and use the 35mm for the keepers if possible. 

I was telling a Co worker of mine who is into photography about my purchase and he said he had some film that he would give me but they were expired. I thought "why not, it could work fantastic or a waste to $10" so I said yes please. So I threw in a roll of 12 exposure IS 100 and went shooting primarily in auto mode just to get comfortable with using the camera and such. So I didn't really take note of the settings because this was just a trial run.

Here are some of the keeper pictures. Let me know what ya think? I would love to learn more.













These are my wife's and I favorite.

[Bean Counter]

Not a bad start! 

I tend to think that people who never shot film might actually learn some things faster by doing at least a few rolls with film. What I would do if I were you is keep a small notebook and make notes on the exposure readings right before you make the shot since film doesn't give the instant feedback that digital does. This will slow you down even more than you do with digital and really force you to think about the exposure triangle in addition to composition. Compare your notes to the photos once they're developed.

Keep it up.

[Bullkllr]

Good stuff!

This weekend I saw a Pentax with a nice long lens for 5$. Same one I bought back in the 80s...saved up for a long time to buy that camera. Still don't have a digital, but need to make the leap sooner or later.

[grandpawrichard]

A Most Excellent Start into the wonderful world of photography! Congrats to you! You definitely have the eye of a photographer and also a good set of basic skills to build on. Keep up the awesome work!

Dick

[TheHunt]

THere are some sites on FB you should "Like" as they show how to take a good picture.  There are some pointers for landscape pictures that I picked up from an expert.  He said the viewer should not ask what is behind the subject of the picture. 

[fishnfur]

Not a bad start.  Always examine and document your subject from many angles and views.  Film is cheap.

Be your own worst critic.  Display only your very best.  Try to learn from the ones that didn't turn out and ask - "how could I have done that better".

[toothfangclaw]

Thank you all for the kind words, tips and encouragement. I am looking forward to growing in this hobby. I've been looking at KEH.com lately for a EF mount DSLR. Just something cheap so I can enjoy this hobby more. They have some pretty good deals on there!

[Bean Counter]

Pretty sure that film camera has an EF mount, no? 

[toothfangclaw]

It does. Yes. Future lenses will be full frame FE that way I can use them on both cameras.