I repair and own a lot of pre 70s tech, its good to approach cameras like you would an old car. A morris is nice to use and own but theres an expectation that it will need difficult (or expensive) maintenance at some point in the near future. That being said, a repair manual and a bit of singer oil does wonders.
Every film camera I buy, I send it to my camera repair guy. Even if I bought in “good/mint” condition. I rather put in the extra money just because sellers themselves probably aren’t qualified to fix them and stuff. Sure “you just don’t know” but it helps my confidence in my gear when I send it in to someone I trust.
Hi Taran I recently found your channel and just wanted to say how much I am enjoying your output on here. Super nice discussion of all things photography, gear and projects, and digging the chilled cadence. Im now feeling inspired and looking forward to heading to cornwall over the new year to explore with my gfx 100s and a bag of vintage lenses
Thank you! That means the world to me. I think the winter is the best time to visit Cornwall, everything is cheaper, you get a more unique look at the place and quite a bit of the time it's still sunny!
I do not seem to have that problem with the questions of "Does this work?" .. If you want to be sure invest into the test gear needed and service your own gear like I do.. I am normally quite sure the gear is fully working before I even put a roll of film in it.. On the other hand this "Major Problem With Film Gear" you talk about is often what others find exciting and actually will not test the gear and just take it out and shoot and that becomes a part of the fun .
I'm the same where I invest to make sure the gear is working and serviced but you can never be 100% sure. I bought an RB67 that I was told was working and had just been serviced but a month after buying it and only putting a few rolls through it ended up breaking on me
i have never had an issue buying stuff off ebay etc. As long as they have money back and they pay for return shipping, its all good. I have gotten most of my stuff from japan. But in the UK you have to pay a large import tax from japan.
I buy almost everything from Japan as well since they were the place to go for the last few years, however, recently when looking at cameras, lenses etc the majority have been falsely advertised, called "working" even when they haven't been tested or called "near mint" but their near mint category is actually near the bottom of the chart. Plus the major downside to buying from Japan with the uncertainty that something could be falsely advertised is you can't get the import tax back
dont worry too much about used cameras not working properly. they nearly all work fine. it is extremely rare to get a older camera that does not work properly unless its actually listed as such. best thing you can do is download a service manual for your camera. they are easy to work and you can do it all yourself. as you get more years under your belt and get older, you will realize that alot of the worries you have are all due to your inexperience and age.
I've personally had a few cameras go wrong in a very short time after buying them and so have people I know, it's not as uncommon as you may think, obviously if a camera is looked after well and has been stored properly then the risk is minimised but a lot of people lie about that as well. I was recently thinking of purchasing an RZ67 but after a couple of weeks of talking to the seller I asked to see a video of the shutter speeds and it turns out the electrics had gone and the camera was only firing mechanically and as soon as I mentioned that they blocked me haha!
I bought an Olympus XA with the flash unit and it was in incredible condition. Now it's like a month later and the flash unit somehow just split along the seam? I guess the plastic got brittle and the little tabs holding it together broke or something but I've been exceptionally careful with it, always storing it in its box, even in between photos. Luckily it's something I can just "fix" with some gorilla tape but y'know.
That's where the uncertainty of film is most prevalent, with cameras that were produced cheaply like the Olympus XA/ point and shoots from that time and also cameras with electronic components
@@taranspictures while I do agree with your point in the general sense, I wouldn't say that the Olympus XA is cheaply produced, nor is it a point and shoot. It's a rangefinder and seen as the magnum opus of the legendary camera designer Yoshihisha Maitani. But you are definitely right about the fragility of electronic cameras, especially with how hard they are to repair.
I've heard that it was a basic, cheaply produced camera at the time and yeah I know it's a range finder I was just saying that point and shoots from that time are fragile
Film photography in general is way more difficult than digital, broken cameras notwithstanding. If you need your photography to be cheap and easy then stick with digital. If you're up to it then shoot film and enjoy the journey.
Good way of looking at it, although you can quite easily make film cheap, I've covered it in numerous videos, it's always fun to experiment how cheap you can make things
I don't agree at all. Your camera just needs some proper maintenance. I own multiple medium format cameras including the C330 and the RB67 that you mentioned. The RB67 does not look like a camera that is sold as a "mint" one, but was serviced by a good mechanic. Not a single shot have failed for other reasons than user error. The same applies for the C330 - my camera that I use the most - shot dozens of rolls with it in the last years (maybe 70 rolls / 15 a year) and when the camera didn't fire, it was my fault. Not a single blank frame on all this rolls.
You completely missed the point of the video, this isn't my camera and the video wasn't about cameras needing maintenance, it was that you cannot be 100% that the camera you buy will be working/continue to work for the near future. Also you can't be sure that your film is going to come out properly. I have shot with many film cameras and had no issues with lots of them, but that doesn't mean I would never have issues with them, that's what this video is about, you just don't know
Also just because you haven't had issues with a camera doesn't mean no one can, take me for example, I had an RB67, only put a few rolls through it and it ended up breaking because the seller tried to scam me and sold me the wrong camera. Once again, you just don't know what's going to happen when buying older gear or gear from people online
@@taranspictures "you cannot be 100% that the camera you buy will be working/continue to work for the near future" - That's why you do tests and perform a basic CLA. "you can't be sure that your film is going to come out properly" - Yes, you 100% can. You just have to be a decent photographer and know what you're doing. I've never had a single film not "come out properly" without fucking something up myself. 100% user error. 0% gear error. In the end, you chose to add a shitty clickbait title, and now you're getting the backlash for it. Do better next time.
It's you and probably 2 or 3 other people who are giving me backlash because you're mad and can't accept the truth that film photography is a gamble, keep commenting and boosting this video into the algorithm please;)
Film photography is not a gamble. Incompetent photographers not testing or taking care of their equipment are a gamble. Delete my comments as much as you like but you're just in the wrong here and firmly on the left side of the Dunning-Kruger curve.
You clearly didn't watch the video, I never said film photography sucks and I never said that it's my camera. The whole point of this video was to discuss the uncertainties that inherently come with buying older gear and using that older gear to create work. I love film photography and if you actually watched the video you would have known that, maybe next time watch a video before getting salty, or don't as commenting on this video helps boost it up into the algorithm more🤔
I repair and own a lot of pre 70s tech, its good to approach cameras like you would an old car. A morris is nice to use and own but theres an expectation that it will need difficult (or expensive) maintenance at some point in the near future. That being said, a repair manual and a bit of singer oil does wonders.
That's a great way to look at it!
Every film camera I buy, I send it to my camera repair guy. Even if I bought in “good/mint” condition. I rather put in the extra money just because sellers themselves probably aren’t qualified to fix them and stuff. Sure “you just don’t know” but it helps my confidence in my gear when I send it in to someone I trust.
That's a great thing to do! If I could afford it then I would do the same with all my gear but sadly I am unable to
I want you to know I've been trying to keep up with the uploads. Been loving the adventures.
Thanks man I really appreciate it!
Hi Taran
I recently found your channel and just wanted to say how much I am enjoying your output on here. Super nice discussion of all things photography, gear and projects, and digging the chilled cadence. Im now feeling inspired and looking forward to heading to cornwall over the new year to explore with my gfx 100s and a bag of vintage lenses
Thank you! That means the world to me. I think the winter is the best time to visit Cornwall, everything is cheaper, you get a more unique look at the place and quite a bit of the time it's still sunny!
I do not seem to have that problem with the questions of "Does this work?" .. If you want to be sure invest into the test gear needed and service your own gear like I do.. I am normally quite sure the gear is fully working before I even put a roll of film in it.. On the other hand this "Major Problem With Film Gear" you talk about is often what others find exciting and actually will not test the gear and just take it out and shoot and that becomes a part of the fun .
I'm the same where I invest to make sure the gear is working and serviced but you can never be 100% sure. I bought an RB67 that I was told was working and had just been serviced but a month after buying it and only putting a few rolls through it ended up breaking on me
i have never had an issue buying stuff off ebay etc. As long as they have money back and they pay for return shipping, its all good. I have gotten most of my stuff from japan. But in the UK you have to pay a large import tax from japan.
I had issue on ebay, what do you do when the shutter breaks after 1 month and 2 films ?
I buy almost everything from Japan as well since they were the place to go for the last few years, however, recently when looking at cameras, lenses etc the majority have been falsely advertised, called "working" even when they haven't been tested or called "near mint" but their near mint category is actually near the bottom of the chart. Plus the major downside to buying from Japan with the uncertainty that something could be falsely advertised is you can't get the import tax back
Very similar to what I mentioned in the video, luckily I managed to send the camera back and get a refund but I never saw that import tax money again
@@taranspictures In my country, we are always taxed on imported items. And it changes all the time for the same item. Arbitrary.
@@taranspictures I stopped ordering in Japan. I focus in Europe and rarely to the US. I pay a bit more.
I agree and confirm. It's almost an universal law
Yeah I am definitely more weary now after the RB67
dont worry too much about used cameras not working properly. they nearly all work fine. it is extremely rare to get a older camera that does not work properly unless its actually listed as such. best thing you can do is download a service manual for your camera. they are easy to work and you can do it all yourself. as you get more years under your belt and get older, you will realize that alot of the worries you have are all due to your inexperience and age.
I've personally had a few cameras go wrong in a very short time after buying them and so have people I know, it's not as uncommon as you may think, obviously if a camera is looked after well and has been stored properly then the risk is minimised but a lot of people lie about that as well. I was recently thinking of purchasing an RZ67 but after a couple of weeks of talking to the seller I asked to see a video of the shutter speeds and it turns out the electrics had gone and the camera was only firing mechanically and as soon as I mentioned that they blocked me haha!
I bought an Olympus XA with the flash unit and it was in incredible condition. Now it's like a month later and the flash unit somehow just split along the seam? I guess the plastic got brittle and the little tabs holding it together broke or something but I've been exceptionally careful with it, always storing it in its box, even in between photos. Luckily it's something I can just "fix" with some gorilla tape but y'know.
That's where the uncertainty of film is most prevalent, with cameras that were produced cheaply like the Olympus XA/ point and shoots from that time and also cameras with electronic components
@@taranspictures while I do agree with your point in the general sense, I wouldn't say that the Olympus XA is cheaply produced, nor is it a point and shoot. It's a rangefinder and seen as the magnum opus of the legendary camera designer Yoshihisha Maitani. But you are definitely right about the fragility of electronic cameras, especially with how hard they are to repair.
I've heard that it was a basic, cheaply produced camera at the time and yeah I know it's a range finder I was just saying that point and shoots from that time are fragile
Film photography in general is way more difficult than digital, broken cameras notwithstanding. If you need your photography to be cheap and easy then stick with digital. If you're up to it then shoot film and enjoy the journey.
Good way of looking at it, although you can quite easily make film cheap, I've covered it in numerous videos, it's always fun to experiment how cheap you can make things
I don't agree at all. Your camera just needs some proper maintenance. I own multiple medium format cameras including the C330 and the RB67 that you mentioned.
The RB67 does not look like a camera that is sold as a "mint" one, but was serviced by a good mechanic. Not a single shot have failed for other reasons than user error.
The same applies for the C330 - my camera that I use the most - shot dozens of rolls with it in the last years (maybe 70 rolls / 15 a year) and when the camera didn't fire, it was my fault. Not a single blank frame on all this rolls.
You completely missed the point of the video, this isn't my camera and the video wasn't about cameras needing maintenance, it was that you cannot be 100% that the camera you buy will be working/continue to work for the near future. Also you can't be sure that your film is going to come out properly. I have shot with many film cameras and had no issues with lots of them, but that doesn't mean I would never have issues with them, that's what this video is about, you just don't know
Also just because you haven't had issues with a camera doesn't mean no one can, take me for example, I had an RB67, only put a few rolls through it and it ended up breaking because the seller tried to scam me and sold me the wrong camera. Once again, you just don't know what's going to happen when buying older gear or gear from people online
@@taranspictures "you cannot be 100% that the camera you buy will be working/continue to work for the near future" - That's why you do tests and perform a basic CLA. "you can't be sure that your film is going to come out properly" - Yes, you 100% can. You just have to be a decent photographer and know what you're doing. I've never had a single film not "come out properly" without fucking something up myself. 100% user error. 0% gear error. In the end, you chose to add a shitty clickbait title, and now you're getting the backlash for it. Do better next time.
It's you and probably 2 or 3 other people who are giving me backlash because you're mad and can't accept the truth that film photography is a gamble, keep commenting and boosting this video into the algorithm please;)
Film photography is not a gamble. Incompetent photographers not testing or taking care of their equipment are a gamble. Delete my comments as much as you like but you're just in the wrong here and firmly on the left side of the Dunning-Kruger curve.
Sorry but it's not film photography that sucks, it's just your camera that desperately needs proper service.
You clearly didn't watch the video, I never said film photography sucks and I never said that it's my camera. The whole point of this video was to discuss the uncertainties that inherently come with buying older gear and using that older gear to create work. I love film photography and if you actually watched the video you would have known that, maybe next time watch a video before getting salty, or don't as commenting on this video helps boost it up into the algorithm more🤔
If you havent read how to use a camera, know anything about film, seems no research of any kind, I simply have no patience! None! Enroll in a course!
You woke up on the wrong side of the bed😂