Got myself a Pentax!

[996GT2]

Picked up a Pentax K1000 today for $0.00, complete with:

Pentax SMC 50mm f/2
Vivitar 28-80mm
Vivitar 70-210m

Various filters

Cable releases

20+ rolls of Fuji and Kodak Gold 200 film

Since I picked up this entire kit, I'm going to try shooting a few rolls through it to get a hang for how everything works on a fully manual film camera. Just a few questions:

1) Is it ok to use expired film? The film that came with the camera expired 3-5 years ago judging from the date on the box.

2) Do I need to use a UV or warming filter with a film camera? I know digital sensors aren't very sensitive to UV light; is film?

3) Can any kind of film be scanned in a dedicated film scanner? I'm thinking about trying out some Velvia 50.

4) Anything else (besides film, obviously) that I should get? What kinds of film are good for portrait and landscape use?

 

[scott916]

Welcome to the club. I love my K1000. I've heard the Velvia is awesome for portrait use, I believe Ken Rockwell has a write-up on popular films on his website.

 

[ghostman]

How did you manage $0? They were just giving it away?

I know nothing about film, but perhaps consider getting a K-to-EF mount adapter to use it on your 40D. I do that with my XTi and an SMC Takumar 50mm 1.4.

 

[996GT2]

Originally posted by: ghostman
They were just giving it away?

Yep

 

[randomlinh]

Jealous. Extremely so. My K1000 stopped working at 1/1000... shutter seems to drag over half the frame. That and I dropped it at the inauguration. Seems to be fine tho (the shutter thing was long before).

I've been looking into a Bessa R3A+40/1.4, but the idea of spending $1000 on a film camera at this point.. maybe next year.

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

:shocked:

:thumbsup:

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: 996GT2
1) Is it ok to use expired film? The film that came with the camera expired 3-5 years ago judging from the date on the box.

2) Do I need to use a UV or warming filter with a film camera? I know digital sensors aren't very sensitive to UV light; is film?

3) Can any kind of film be scanned in a dedicated film scanner? I'm thinking about trying out some Velvia 50.

4) Anything else (besides film, obviously) that I should get? What kinds of film are good for portrait and landscape use?

1) yes, but it really depends on how it's stored
2) they made the filters for a reason, but I wouldn't worry about it
3) assuming you have the right holder, yes. but be warned, most flatbeds suck unless you have a good one. Even then, I love my film scanner (it's just slow as balls).
4) just get a bunch of black and white film to develop yourself =)

I really like FujiFilm Reala for color, but I haven't done much. For black and white.. I'm partial to neopan these days.. but good ol' tmax too. I generally use it for indoor-ish/low light shooting tho.

 

[996GT2]

Originally posted by: randomlinh

Originally posted by: 996GT2
1) Is it ok to use expired film? The film that came with the camera expired 3-5 years ago judging from the date on the box.

2) Do I need to use a UV or warming filter with a film camera? I know digital sensors aren't very sensitive to UV light; is film?

3) Can any kind of film be scanned in a dedicated film scanner? I'm thinking about trying out some Velvia 50.

4) Anything else (besides film, obviously) that I should get? What kinds of film are good for portrait and landscape use?

3) assuming you have the right holder, yes. but be warned, most flatbeds suck unless you have a good one. Even then, I love my film scanner (it's just slow as balls).

My school's digital media center school has a Nikon Coolscan V ED, which is a dedicated 35mm film scanner (not a flatbed). Do I just put the film in and let the scanner do its thing?

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: 996GT2
My school's digital media center school has a Nikon Coolscan V ED, which is a dedicated 35mm film scanner (not a flatbed). Do I just put the film in and let the scanner do its thing?

well boo to you =P I have not used those, but for the most part yes. My Scan Dual II has tray that lets me do 6 at a time (at about 1-2 minutes each for a high res scan). I have not used the nikon, but I suspect it's similar. The specs say "direct film loading" so i have no idea what that means.

one thing to note tho, the digital ICE (automatic dust removal) doesn't work on black and white film. which sucks because it's what I shoot, haha.

 

[spikespiegal]

If you have a 40D as it says in your tag, I'm not sure what benefit a K1000 will add. It's a decent, somewhat rugged manual camera. Not in the same class as lets say an FM2, but the K1000 will work fine once you get the hang of it's rather spartan metering.

The biggest problem you'll have is getting print film processed and printed with nearly the same quality as a current dSLR. Current commercial printing of color negs has gone backwards in quality as more and more customers demand digital printing from digital files. This is why I tell people who wan't to 'go film' that they'll need to include a film scanner in the project, and preferably medium format gear rather than 35mm. They'll otherwise be quickly disgusted with the current state of low rez scanning / second class handling/printing of consumer film.

Fuji Reala is probably the best all purpose film you can use. Gold 200 has never been remarkable in any respect. Velvia is a high contrast/high saturation slide film more usefull for landscapes than anything else. Certainly not portraits.

Again, the type of film you are using depends on your ability to scan it well.

 

[jpeyton]

The novelty will wear off quickly, and you'll be back to your 40D in no time.

BTW, are you going to be shooting in RealRaw EX-S or RealRaw Pro?

 

[twistedlogic]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
The novelty will wear off quickly, and you'll be back to your 40D in no time.

BTW, are you going to be shooting in RealRaw EX-S or RealRaw Pro?

lol

You forgot the "tm".

As trademarks, the use of any of the RealRaw EX-S and RealRaw Pro are limited to use only by jpeyton and his authorized representatives.