The Canon A1 was my first camera. With the FD lens set on "A", you can put the camera in Program mode, which basically makes it a point & shoot camera. You can also set it to either Shutter priority or Aperture priority and learn more of the fundamentals of photography. Finally you can take the lens off "A" and manually set the aperture while setting the shutter speed on the camera, so you have full manual control.
The Ricoh ones shared a lot of the Pentax design. But you got a lot of bang for your buck with some of the mechanical ones. DOF preview, viewfinder lens aperture preview. Also, alot of them had COPAL metal shutter assemblies. My XR-1 is really hard to part with.... thanks for your vid.
Good information and a nice take on some camera options. I have been teaching photography at a high school for the past few years and we still start with film. We have about 70 canon AE-1s and Pentax K1000s and I tend to stick with those because of the similar controls and reliability. The canons do get squeaky but the K1000 is a tank as it is fully mechanical and only needs the battery for the meter. What you said about coming from digital. I would recommend just buying into the camera system you want in film and then just buy an adapter to use that glass on your digital camera. I have adapters to use k mount, FD, and m42 glass on my digital Fuji. You can get these adapters for a lot of digital cameras. On the Soviet stuff- it’s going to let you down in the end no question. Some of it is fun but I wouldn’t use it as my only film camera given the options. I have a Kiev 4a- love the pictures but the rangefinder is off and not a lot of info out there on opening them up. I enjoy your videos on repair. I would like to see more on common repairs for the AE-1 and K1000s as I have a few bins full from broken ones over the years- maybe 200 cameras. I would love to put some back on service but it seems the problems vary from one to the next. I I have seen quite a few canons bricked because they just don’t advance anymore- maybe a future video? Thank you- I look forward to your videos
I think the K1000 is the ultimate starter camera because you can find them quite easily at flea markets and 2nd hand stores for like $25-75, plus k mount lenses are also super easy to find at the same places
When I decided to swich from a more niche brand like pentax was 12 years ago (in comparison with canikon) I went for nikon because of the its more close ergonomy to the pentax’s and an older mount system. Still, i have to add that there were (only?) two canon cameras that then caught my attention: Canon eos Elan 7 eyecontrol and i think the only canon sporting a copal square shutter: Canon EF. But unfortunately i would have need to invest in two different mounts :(
Very good commentary on film camera selections. I was brought up on Canon and currently have all the A series with the exception of the AL-1. In addition to the original F-1, I tend to favor my TLb and my TX. These two are my favorites. And to step out of the box, I’ve got a couple of Yashica FX-3’s and a Contax RTS, which you have right now for repair.
Canon started electronically controlled cameras in the mid to late 70's, Downside of electronically controlled cameras is that they rely on a microprocessor. Those microprocessors are now getting very old and cannot be repaired. I've had two A1's die on me over the last few years. One I bought new in 1980. Other manufacturers jumped on the bandwagon and moved over to electronically controlled cameras. Mechanical cameras however do not deteriorate over time without use if taken care of. Mechanically controlled cameras can usually be repaired by a good camera technician.
If you like Canon FD, the Canon A-1 is *right at the edge* between the new features and the automatism and the electronics being fleshed out in cameras, while keeping the classic design of an SLR. It does all the priority modes than you'd want, but it is still manual advance and manual focus. I have one, I love it. I wish they made it in silver, but sadly they did not.
Do not listen to this person. Praktica in Soviet cameras were made in the millions and there are so many lenses you can use for them because they mostly all use a 42M screw mount! I highly suggest the Praktica MTL cameras for SLR or a Kiev 4A if you want a rangfinder!
You’re certainly entitled to your opinion but the Spotmatic is of infinitely higher quality to any of the Praktica models and they are usually around the same price point. Soviet cameras are fine when they are affordable but I have seen so many bricked and broken beyond repair that I hesitate to recommend them to anyone. I appreciate your input and admit I can be biased but it’s based on my experience and I have had very very few good experiences with the soviet line up
The Canon A1 was my first camera. With the FD lens set on "A", you can put the camera in Program mode, which basically makes it a point & shoot camera. You can also set it to either Shutter priority or Aperture priority and learn more of the fundamentals of photography. Finally you can take the lens off "A" and manually set the aperture while setting the shutter speed on the camera, so you have full manual control.
The Ricoh ones shared a lot of the Pentax design. But you got a lot of bang for your buck with some of the mechanical ones. DOF preview, viewfinder lens aperture preview. Also, alot of them had COPAL metal shutter assemblies. My XR-1 is really hard to part with.... thanks for your vid.
Good information and a nice take on some camera options. I have been teaching photography at a high school for the past few years and we still start with film. We have about 70 canon AE-1s and Pentax K1000s and I tend to stick with those because of the similar controls and reliability. The canons do get squeaky but the K1000 is a tank as it is fully mechanical and only needs the battery for the meter.
What you said about coming from digital. I would recommend just buying into the camera system you want in film and then just buy an adapter to use that glass on your digital camera. I have adapters to use k mount, FD, and m42 glass on my digital Fuji. You can get these adapters for a lot of digital cameras.
On the Soviet stuff- it’s going to let you down in the end no question. Some of it is fun but I wouldn’t use it as my only film camera given the options. I have a Kiev 4a- love the pictures but the rangefinder is off and not a lot of info out there on opening them up.
I enjoy your videos on repair. I would like to see more on common repairs for the AE-1 and K1000s as I have a few bins full from broken ones over the years- maybe 200 cameras. I would love to put some back on service but it seems the problems vary from one to the next. I I have seen quite a few canons bricked because they just don’t advance anymore- maybe a future video?
Thank you- I look forward to your videos
Thanks for the Podcast and your answer. I think I now know what I’m looking for.
Pentax fr the best camera company overall. They have a camera for everyone.
I think the K1000 is the ultimate starter camera because you can find them quite easily at flea markets and 2nd hand stores for like $25-75, plus k mount lenses are also super easy to find at the same places
It is beginner, but you can use it quite well as a professional too when sticking with just manual principles and mindset.
When I decided to swich from a more niche brand like pentax was 12 years ago (in comparison with canikon) I went for nikon because of the its more close ergonomy to the pentax’s and an older mount system. Still, i have to add that there were (only?) two canon cameras that then caught my attention: Canon eos Elan 7 eyecontrol and i think the only canon sporting a copal square shutter: Canon EF. But unfortunately i would have need to invest in two different mounts :(
Very good commentary on film camera selections. I was brought up on Canon and currently have all the A series with the exception of the AL-1. In addition to the original F-1, I tend to favor my TLb and my TX. These two are my favorites. And to step out of the box, I’ve got a couple of Yashica FX-3’s and a Contax RTS, which you have right now for repair.
The A-1 seems more comparable to slightly more complex Pentax cameras.
Canon started electronically controlled cameras in the mid to late 70's, Downside of electronically controlled cameras is that they rely on a microprocessor. Those microprocessors are now getting very old and cannot be repaired. I've had two A1's die on me over the last few years. One I bought new in 1980. Other manufacturers jumped on the bandwagon and moved over to electronically controlled cameras. Mechanical cameras however do not deteriorate over time without use if taken care of. Mechanically controlled cameras can usually be repaired by a good camera technician.
If you like Canon FD, the Canon A-1 is *right at the edge* between the new features and the automatism and the electronics being fleshed out in cameras, while keeping the classic design of an SLR. It does all the priority modes than you'd want, but it is still manual advance and manual focus. I have one, I love it. I wish they made it in silver, but sadly they did not.
Do not listen to this person. Praktica in Soviet cameras were made in the millions and there are so many lenses you can use for them because they mostly all use a 42M screw mount! I highly suggest the Praktica MTL cameras for SLR or a Kiev 4A if you want a rangfinder!
You’re certainly entitled to your opinion but the Spotmatic is of infinitely higher quality to any of the Praktica models and they are usually around the same price point. Soviet cameras are fine when they are affordable but I have seen so many bricked and broken beyond repair that I hesitate to recommend them to anyone. I appreciate your input and admit I can be biased but it’s based on my experience and I have had very very few good experiences with the soviet line up
@@RompingBronco
What about the Pracktia lens line up? (Lending to the aquired knowledge "taken" from Carl Zeiss and other German maker's R&D)