In recent times, film has seen a resurgence in popularity among professionals and enthusiasts alike. Even millennials who are obsessed with the latest technology, are ditching their smartphones and digital cameras for film cameras as the move back towards appreciation for vintage seems to be making a comeback.
In contrast to digital photography, analog photography can be very tricky. You have to be very careful about the images you take, as you do not want to waste any film. Unlike digital photography, there is no such option of cropping any unwanted element out or adjusting the exposure of a particularly dark image with editing software. The main difference between the two is that developing your films to a digital image is a longer process.
The beauty of analog photography that attracts people into film is the variety of creative and technical advantages such as the dynamic range, unique colour saturation and allowing people to experiment with double exposure. It is safe to say that film cameras generally are much more affordable than digital cameras. There are however, different types of film cameras as well as film formats available in the market that is more affordable or largely available than the other.
1) Single-Lens Reflex (SLR) Cameras
These Single-Lens Reflex (SLR) cameras have functions that are like the current day DSLR. The internal mirror mechanism allows you to look straight through the lens with a close approximation of what the image will look like once it’s captured. SLR cameras allow you to swap lenses, enabling you to exert greater control in terms of the aperture, shutter speed and ISO. Generally, SLR cameras can start anywhere from $150 to as high as $500 based on my knowledge. One of the most popular SLR to start you off on your film journey is the Canon AE-1, which will cost you about $250 on the low end.
2) Rangefinder Cameras
One of the most notable features of the Rangefinder camera is the ability to calculate the distance through the triangulation for accurate focusing. Having the same internal mirror mechanism as SLRs, the rangefinder camera has a compact revolving mirror and two windows which are used for focusing purposes. Rangefinder cameras however do not allow you to look through the lens, but through a small window on the upper right corner. With a very wide price range, a simple rangefinder from brand such as Yashica will start from $200 onwards. However, brands such as Leica, that produces one of the well-beloved M6 models will cost you about $1,000 on the low end.
3) Point-and-Shoot Cameras
Point-and-Shoot cameras are generally more compact and lightweight as compared to its counterparts. Without any mirror or other complex mechanisms, the camera only allows you to point and shoot literally. The camera controls the focus and exposure settings automatically and you won’t be able to zoom in or out as these cameras have a fixed focal length generally. On average, point and shoot cameras will cost about $100, or you can opt for the cheaper option such as M35 that that can cost around $35. Unless you are feeling fancy and have some cash to spare, go for the Contax TVS that cost about $800 on the low end.
Not forgetting pinhole cameras, twin reflex lens cameras and medium/large format cameras, these cameras are not commonly owned as they tend to be on the pricier side. You can purchase these cameras from second-hand markets such as Carousel or eBay or visit a physical store in Singapore.
For physical stores that carry a range of film cameras, check out the Black Market Camera located at Peninsula Plaza and learn more about the different types of cameras that are being mentioned above for a good start to enter the realm of analog photography.
Black Market Camera
Address: 3 Coleman Street, #03-31/31/32, Singapore 179804
Opening Hours: 12.30pm – 7.45pm (Monday – Saturday) & 2.00pm – 5.45pm (Sunday)
This article was brought to you by Williek.
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