How to take a good picture with a filem camera?

Question

I am using a Nikon F55/N55

Answer 1

That's a low-end beginner's camera, but it's a nice camera nonetheless.

Keep the camera on "P" Mode (full automatic) and try not to fumble with the other settings ("Landscape," "night portrait" or whatever other auto modes you have). Keep it simple. Make sure that you have an AF lens (doesn't really matter if it's a "D" or a "G" lens). Keep the light source on your back; if the light source is coming from in front of you, use the built-in flash to fill in or you'll get a nice silhouette. Take your time when you press the shutter button halfway down to focus and set the automatic aperture and shutter speed.

Use a UV filter on your lens at all times to avoid dust and airborne dirt and accidental fingerprints (I do this with ALL of my lenses, and I SO GRATEFUL I've done this... kids are so quick and do the most unexpected things). Keep fresh batteries in the camera and if you're going to store the camera for long periods, I suggest that you remove the batteries to prevent drainage; and, keep it away from extreme heat/cold and humidity.

Pick up the Instructions Manual and see if Thom Hogan has a book for it (great books, really; Thom Hogan makes it so easy for the beginner, and offers many great tips, too, on how to get the most out of your camera).

Good luck, best wishes, and have fun with that camera!

Answer 2

Your question is too general.

Here are some pointers:
1/ Since your camera is fixed, buy good film appropraite to your useage. Buy from a camera shop or a developing house. Find out where your local newpapers develop their work (or used to in the heydays of film). Film purchase from supermarket and whatnots may have been exposed to heat (heat damage) or just too old. Keep your film in a cool place before and after shooting.
2/ Get good camera techniques. too much to talk about that here. Learn from books, practise, groups and online groups like PhotoCritique on Yahoo Groups.
3/ Get a good lens. Old fixed Nikon lenses should be affordable. A 50mm is probably the cheapest and a 35mm the most versatile.
4/ Develop at a good developing house.

I hope that helps.

Answer 3

I never think it is appropriate to degrade another man's things, such as his camera. In this world, you have to play cards with the hand you were dealt.

The price of the camera makes no different in whether or not you get good photos or not. The single aspect that determines whether your photo will be good is the grey stuff between your ears. If it does not know how to do it, you can educate that part of your body and over come your difficulties.

My suggestion is that if y ou are in college that you take the basic Art History class where you will see how artists work with light and how they place the subject in the composition. You can also go through volume after volume of known good photographs and find the same thing. How they used light and placement of their subject in the composition.

I have stack after stack of very good photographs. I have enough cameras to furnish one each to the 3rd Marines. They all work. One of the pictures that I classify as my best was taken with a used Olympus Infinity with a fixed focus of 35mm

Answer 4

The best advice that I've heard is to keep the light behind the camera

Answer 5

"let there be light" (the more the better) on the object you are taking the picture of.

make sure you focus well before taking the pic. (if it's not an autofocus camera)