Image quality in cameras hasn’t meaningfully improve since ~2008. DSLRs are and will always be fun to use.
Good quality 4k30p video has been widely available since 2015, thanks to mirrorless cameras.
The shift in tech has resulted in a selloff of Canon EOS EF and Nikon F cameras and lenses. It is possible to get absolutely obscene price to performance value on used gear. Lens adapters make it possible to use these lenses on mirrorless cameras.
Used Camera Gear Shopping
My two recommendations for camera shopping are:
Smaller and lighter is better.
Lenses matter more than cameras. Don’t buy an expensive body only to use a kit lens.
All lenses aren’t equal, especially when it comes to vintage and early digital camera lenses. Modern lenses will give you images that are razor sharp corner to corner. Vintage lenses can set themselves apart by how they render, the color you can get with them, interesting bokeh, or other characteristics not valued by current photographers.
On the other hand, many vintage lenses are not good. Their performance may not be good enough to set them apart from other lenses. Worse, as time has gone on some lenses have defects such as haze, fungus, balsam separation, or degraded grease, that will render them worthless because of the difficulty in repair.
I’m somewhat indiscriminate in my purchasing of gear, so I get a mix of good, bad, and average. The lens reviews will help you find a lens worth owning. These are popular film cameras that recieve frequent lens questions.
Have you ever been paranoid about the capacity of a battery? Especially if it was from a third party? I was.
I have figured out how ANYONE can inexpensively capacity test camera batteries. I have written a guide on how to capacity test camera batteries. It is a simple DIY project that only requires a screwdriver and pair of wire strippers.
Panagor was a brand name used by Jaca Corporation in the UK, Europe, and Asia. Jaca distributed re-branded photography gear. Komine made the Panagor 55mm f/3 macro lens.
Used Prices and Where to BuyIf you’re in the US, the Panagor branding is going to be difficult to find. It was a European brand. Look for the Vivitar version instead.
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The Canon FD 100mm f/4 macro lens is front heavy and only goes to 1:2 magnification. Despite that, the lens is sharp when stopped down to f/8.
A 50mm extension tube is needed to get to 1:1 magnification. Adapting the lens to a mirrorless camera body adds even more extension. For the lens to be usable on a mirrorless camera, a tripod collar will be needed. The amount of weight from the lens will damage a camera mount.
This page will cover all of the steps needed to rewind and remove a roll of film from the Nikon FM2. If you need help with loading film into the camera see this step-by-step guide on how to load film into the Nikon FM2.
How to Rewind FilmTime needed: 1 minute.
Here are all the steps you need to follow to successfully rewind film from your Nikon FM2.
Unlock the film take-up spool.
