WPF - World Photography Forum
Home Gallery Register FAQ Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Welcome to World Photography Forum!
Welcome!

Thank you for finding your way to World Photography Forum, a dedicated community for photographers and enthusiasts. There's a variety of forums, a wonderful gallery, and what's more, we are absolutely FREE. You are very welcome to join, take part in the discussion, and post your pictures!

Click here to go to the forums home page and find out more.
Click here to join.


Go Back   World Photography Forum > Photography Equipment > Cameras


Cameras Discussion on Cameras of all types

Vintage camera, any good????

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 19-01-13, 17:03
norway_dino norway_dino is offline  
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Norway
Posts: 7
Default Vintage camera, any good????

Hello all.

Up to now I have only used pocket cameras, digital.
But, I am getting more and more interested in taking photos.

Looking at old photos when I was a kid is nice, they had some good quality then to.
I have got my hands on a old Pentax Asahi Sportmatic from the late 60`s.

How is these camera to use? Hard?
How is the quality on the photos, if I do it things right? Compared to a new digital camera like Panasonic FZ 200?

The idea of a vintage camera is very interesting to me, but the main thing is if it provides good photos, if I do what I shall.......

Hope some can help me, all tips, ideas and information is good to me.
I need it.


THank you all
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 19-01-13, 19:23
Birdsnapper's Avatar
Birdsnapper Birdsnapper is offline  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Lincs
Posts: 5,666
Default

The Pentax is a classic camera and should be capable of good photos if it's good working order. It only has basic controls, which will make you think more about what you are taking - a very good way of learning. On of the disadvantages will be the cost of film and processing, which might restrict how much you practice - it doesn't matter how many pictures you take with a digital (some people will argue that digital encourages sloppiness and lack of care for that reason). You'll need to think about lens with the Pentax, whereas the Panasonic has a good lens with a terrific zoom range.

Best of luck with your photography.
__________________
Mike
Nobody ever erected a statue of a critic
http://www.pbase.com/sunnycote
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 19-01-13, 23:37
norway_dino norway_dino is offline  
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Norway
Posts: 7
Default

Thank you for the reply.
Got it, I need to take photos and photos and so. But, I like to try. The feel of the old Pentax is good, to me. Yes, it is not a expensive Leica or Zeiss, but I like it.

Any good tip to one who just started to learn?
Oh, lenses, yes, it comes with two lenses, original. A 28 mm and a 135 mm.

Thank you.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 20-01-13, 09:37
Birdsnapper's Avatar
Birdsnapper Birdsnapper is offline  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Lincs
Posts: 5,666
Default

Don't take the first shot that you see - view the subject from different angles and positions and try to imagine the final image.

Welcome to the forum, by the way.
__________________
Mike
Nobody ever erected a statue of a critic
http://www.pbase.com/sunnycote
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 20-01-13, 11:27
norway_dino norway_dino is offline  
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Norway
Posts: 7
Default

Thank you.
I will get a new battery and some film tomorrow and give it a try.

But, just to ask, how is the lenses on the Pentax, it has the original lenses, any good in todays standard?
How are they in a bit clouded weather?
Strong sunlight? (Well, not taking a photo directly into the sunlight.)
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 20-01-13, 14:16
Birdsnapper's Avatar
Birdsnapper Birdsnapper is offline  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Lincs
Posts: 5,666
Default

The lens should give good results if they are not damaged - I think that can be used on digital cameras (you will have to check) but manual focus only.

They should be OK in cloudy conditions. For strong sunlight you will need a small aperture (a large 'f number'). One advantage of more advanced digital cameras is the ability to set the ISO (the sensitivity to light), whereas you'll have to decide the sensitivity of the film you intend using - I used 200 ISO as a general film, but other people might disagree.
__________________
Mike
Nobody ever erected a statue of a critic
http://www.pbase.com/sunnycote
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 20-01-13, 22:40
norway_dino norway_dino is offline  
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Norway
Posts: 7
Default

Thank you for helping me out.
Will lett you know how it goes.
But, it sounds interesting, to learn these way and to do so with a old camera to.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 30-01-13, 14:36
petrochemist's Avatar
petrochemist petrochemist is offline  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Clacton, Essex
Posts: 390
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by birdsnapper View Post
The lens should give good results if they are not damaged - I think that can be used on digital cameras (you will have to check) but manual focus only.

They should be OK in cloudy conditions. For strong sunlight you will need a small aperture (a large 'f number'). One advantage of more advanced digital cameras is the ability to set the ISO (the sensitivity to light), whereas you'll have to decide the sensitivity of the film you intend using - I used 200 ISO as a general film, but other people might disagree.

M42 lenses can indeed be used on most DSLRs, and have gained quite a following in some circles. Few zooms from such early days are worth bothering with but many of the primes are very good. They are basically fully manual, Even the 'auto' versions only close the aperture to the preselected setting prior to taking the shot (keeping it fully open for composition & focusing).

My own experience with my film SLRs allowed the use of quite wide appertures even in bright sunlight, with f4 being about the limit for ISO100. (My DSLRs have faster shutters so I can just about get away with f1.7 without needing filters, not that I've seen much bright sunshine in the last couple of months)
__________________
Mike

Pentax K5ii & Panasonic G5 user (with far too many bits to list)
Member of North Essex Photographic Workshop
Also online with PentaxUser.co.uk, Flickr, MU-43, MFLenses...
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 07:36.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.3
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.