Cameras please answer.?

Question

http://shop.lomography.com/shop/main.php?cat=Lomographic_Cameras&pro=coc

I have never owned a camera and was looking for something that looked classic or vintage. I found this camera on a clothing website and have been researching it. I have never taken any photography classes although I do know how to put film into cameras. Will this camera be to complicated? And also do I need to buy certain film for it?

I really don't know..

Answer 1

Here's a tip... buy a digital, as you don't need to keep buying film for them (cheaper in the long run)... and unlike film (usually limited to 8 / 12 / 24 / 36 pics per roll of film) you can take literally thousands of pictures on them before running out of space on the memory card... and I've missed out on loads of potentially excellent picture opportunities because I've run out of film, or because the camera screwed-up and decided to rip me off by auto re-winding a 36 exposure roll of film after just 8 shots!

Nor do they have any (or at least not many) moving mechanical parts that can seize up or break over time... as happened with my Mum's classic Rollei B35 that was given to me about 20yrs ago (which is otherwise one of the greatest compact film cameras of all time, if you can find one):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rollei_35
http://search.ebay.co.uk/rollei-35_W0QQ_trksidZm37QQcatrefZC6QQcoactionZcompareQQcoentrypageZsearchQQcopagenumZ1QQflocZ1QQfromZR10QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ1QQftrtZ1QQftrvZ1QQga10244Z10425QQsabfmtsZ1QQsacatZQ2d1QQsaobfmtsZinsifQQsaprchiZQQsaprcloZQQsaslcZ2QQssPageNameZWLRS

The PENTAX ME is also another pretty good all time classic 35mm film camera
http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/search.dll?sofocus=bs&sbrftog=1&catref=C6&from=R10&_trksid=m37&satitle=Pentax+ME&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC6&floc=1&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D2&sadis=200&fpos=YO21+1NH&sabfmts=1&saobfmts=insif&ga10244=10425&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&fsop=1%26fsoo%3D1&coaction=compare&copagenum=1&coentrypage=search&fgtp=

However, Digital cameras seem to give much more detailed pictures than film.. here's 2 example pics taken from roughly the same location:
Micklegate Bar, York, UK:
35mm film camera:
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h257/jduck1979/020_18_smaller.jpg

Cheapo Fuji A345 Digital Compact camera (discontinued):
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h257/jduck1979/2006_0927_Yorktrip-b_Image0027_Smal.jpg

I think it's because Digital cameras are mean't to have more light gathering capacity than a film camera.

If I've now sold you on the idea of a Digital camera, I'd suggest the Fuji S6000fd / S6500fd (got one myself, and it's a beautifully designed piece of kit... modern, yet classic looking at the sametime):
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2007_reviews/fuji_s6000fd.html

Here's some sample pics taken with mine:
http://s66.photobucket.com/albums/h257/jduck1979/Fuji%20S6500fd%20Demo%20shots/
http://jduck1979.photostockplus.com (got some from my other cameras mixed in).

If you want something more easy to carry around, then... perhaps the Canon Powershot G9
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2007_reviews/canon_g9.html
A digital compact camera is almost as versatile as an old Film SLR camera..... except as with practically all digital cameras, you can see the results instantly (instead of having them developped weeks or months later, only to find you screwed the focus up or something)....... and they can also double up as a camcorder, without the bulk.

Answer 2

It uses standard 35mm film.

If classic or vintage is the look you're going for, why not a Minolta SRT-202 or Pentax K1000 or Canon FTb? All 3 are classic 35mm SLR cameras and will definitely give you that classic/vintage look. Lenses are plentiful for all 3 on ebay. Just my thoughts...

Answer 3

These are almost toy-like camera and you will probably not be happy with the results. Digital camera (even point and shoot) are not so expensive nowadays, and you can instantly see the results--and keep what you like and delete the rest. Why not go for that.

Kodak has a really good "photo tips" website here:

http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-path=38/39&pq-locale=en_US

Hope this helps a little.