Hi there. I've been scouring around the forums for quite some time now but I couldn't post for some strange reason. It turned out I registered improperly. Anyways, I just found my passion in photography a couple of weeks ago but amateur as I am, I'm happy to say that I've learned a lot from DPP just by reading posts, looking at pictures and stuff. This has been my school for quite some time now, together with a few sites and books.

I'm using film since I dont have funds for dSLR. And from the vibe that i get in this forum, I feel that starting with film is indeed romantic. hehe

Here are my queries.

I'm using a second hand Canon AE-1 Program with 35-210mm ampro lens and a 28 mm soligor wide angle. I just got the telephoto serviced and it seems to be ok but do you think I should scrap it anyway and get a good Canon lens now?

How about the wide angle? Dong in Hidalgo said it's a very good lens when he inspected it. What do you think?

Are there labs in Hidalgo that process B/W film?

What's the best store in Hidalgo that offers Canon products? And cheapest that is...

Where can i buy film processing chemicals in Hidalgo? How much would they cost me?

Regarding transfer of images into the computer, is investing in a photo scanner for personal use worth it? Or should i stick to the stores which offer that kind of service?

Umm and would you know how much they charge for a roll for that kind of service?

Hehe pardon if I had lots to ask.

Got lots to learn. hehe

Thanks!

http://www.ontu.net/images/_IGP5655.jpg

Hi Pinggoy,

Welcome from another AE-1P user. I'm more or less known as a Pentax user but I still have this camera which I occasionally use (pa senti...). A critical question that needs to be asked is: do you plan eventually to migrate to digital? Canon manual focus (FD) lenses will not work with auto focus/digital (EF) lenses and vice versa. There are adapters out in EBay to make it fit but they are not (1) simple and (2) cheap (for one thing, the adapter mounts the FD lens outside the body so you lose infinity focus; they have corrective lenses to compensate for that, so they're not cheap). It is actually easier to fit manual focus Pentax lenses on auto focus/digital Canon bodies!

That is something to think about if you plan to build around your AE-1P. Now if it is your "heart's desire" to pursue a system around that camera, your options are the used market...and there are plenty (although I have to say that I look at KEH.com and Ebay which may not reflect the Pinoy reality)! But it has to be emphasized that to switch from your AE-1P to the auto focus/digital Canons is almost like switching brands of cameras. So think before spending for any new lenses or accessories for your Canon.

Hope to be of help! :Grin:

Hey bong!

Your AE-1's a looker! haha.

Man Im torn then damnit. If ever ima get myself a dSLR, it'd be in the summer of 08 pa. And that's if im lucky... hehehe. hmmm... there are still approx seven months to go til summer.. i think lots of beautiful photo ops naman siguro will come my way in seven months... should that be enough reason to spend on this my AE1p? im thinking heck yeah hehe

and im not ebay capable. im only jeep-lrt-jeep capable so it's only gona be hidalgo for me i guess hehe. hmm dilemma...

Your lens range about covers it all: 28mm-210mm (combined 28mm prime and 35-210mm zoom). With that you might not have to spend on any new lens at all. If ever, I'd look for a prime lens with a wide aperture (50/1.4?) but that may not be necessary depending on what you plan to shoot. I would suggest that to enable you to shoot with available light because most likely your 35-210 zoom would have a f3.5 or less opening at its widest. Or, you could buy a flash, which I would not suggest.

Hidalgo is awash with Canon stuff...but most likely for the auto-focus/digital cameras. Keep your eyes peeled for primes like 50/1.4 in the used shops, I occasionally see some.

More later... :Grin:

Welcome to DPP Pinggoy. Enjoy and happy shooting :)

Welcome Pinggoy ! You will surely learn alot from this forum:)

Welcome Pinggoy!, Enjoy your stay here, and yes a lot of Guru's are ready help,,:)

Welcome to DPP Pinggoy.
If you don't have plans to switch to digital anytime soon, I recommend getting these lenses for your AE-1P
Canon FD 28 2.8 - Small and light and an excellent performer.
Canon FD 50 1.4 - One of my favorite prime lenses on any system.
Canon FD 35-105 3.5 - A wonderful constant aperture zoom lens. It's internal zooming and focusing as well. This was one of my favorite zoom lens at that time.

Hi there. I've been scouring around the forums for quite some time now but I couldn't post for some strange reason. It turned out I registered improperly. Anyways, I just found my passion in photography a couple of weeks ago but amateur as I am, I'm happy to say that I've learned a lot from DPP just by reading posts, looking at pictures and stuff. This has been my school for quite some time now, together with a few sites and books.

I'm using film since I dont have funds for dSLR. And from the vibe that i get in this forum, I feel that starting with film is indeed romantic. hehe

Here are my queries.

I'm using a second hand Canon AE-1 Program with 35-210mm ampro lens and a 28 mm soligor wide angle. I just got the telephoto serviced and it seems to be ok but do you think I should scrap it anyway and get a good Canon lens now?

How about the wide angle? Dong in Hidalgo said it's a very good lens when he inspected it. What do you think?

Are there labs in Hidalgo that process B/W film?

What's the best store in Hidalgo that offers Canon products? And cheapest that is...

Where can i buy film processing chemicals in Hidalgo? How much would they cost me?

Regarding transfer of images into the computer, is investing in a photo scanner for personal use worth it? Or should i stick to the stores which offer that kind of service?

Umm and would you know how much they charge for a roll for that kind of service?

Hehe pardon if I had lots to ask.

Got lots to learn. hehe

Thanks!

Here's my take on your questions, as nobody has answered them yet.

Forget Hidalgo, just about everything I have seen for sale there is overpriced crap!
That goes for film bodies, lenses, darkroom equipment etc...

I did look at several cameras in several stores, one camera (a 4x5 field camera) even started to fall apart when the store owner was showing it to me. The bellows had more holes than swiss cheese and there was fungus in the lens.

None of the second hand equipment in Hidalgo is stored correctly and I'd say a lot of the old stuff will have problems (like fungus).

For film, developing B&W and Chemicals I can reccomend Studio 58 in Makati.


Mike

hi pinggoy!

i suggest you use a fixed 50mm lens first. it'll help you practice your composition. i have one at home and i can lend it you.

wide angle lens is also good too. check out ebay. usually they have good affordable stuff for sale. don't go lens shopping din. master one or two lens first before you acquire another one. you can find lots of lenses in hidalgo. thing is, it's hard to find one that has no scratches or fungus. mike's right. they don't usually store the cams or the lenses properly. check ebay.

save your cash so you can purchase LOTS of films. i can order kodak tri-x from kodak. P235 per roll.

before buying the chemicals (which i can also order from the distributer), you have to buy developing tanks, thermometer, graduates, and a changing bag. there are some shops in hidalgo that sells second hand and brand new darkroom stuff but usually they are way way too overpriced. all these developing stuff and the chemicals will cost you around P5,000.00

studio 58 for me is the best. usually charges P75 per roll (b&w). additional P100 for contact prints. catch here is it's way way out in pasong tamo makati. don't ask them to scan your photos coz it'll cost you an arm and a leg. P70 per image. i usually go to dpi to have my negs scanned.

a film scanner is a good investment. yun nga lang, it is also expensive.

my darkroom's on its way. painting got stalled because of work. will open first week of september.

:)

hi pinggoy!

i suggest you use a fixed 50mm lens first. it'll help you practice your composition. i have one at home and i can lend it you.

wide angle lens is also good too. check out ebay. usually they have good affordable stuff for sale. don't go lens shopping din. master one or two lens first before you acquire another one. you can find lots of lenses in hidalgo. thing is, it's hard to find one that has no scratches or fungus. mike's right. they don't usually store the cams or the lenses properly. check ebay.

save your cash so you can purchase LOTS of films. i can order kodak tri-x from kodak. P235 per roll.

before buying the chemicals (which i can also order from the distributer), you have to buy developing tanks, thermometer, graduates, and a changing bag. there are some shops in hidalgo that sells second hand and brand new darkroom stuff but usually they are way way too overpriced. all these developing stuff and the chemicals will cost you around P5,000.00

studio 58 for me is the best. usually charges P75 per roll (b&w). additional P100 for contact prints. catch here is it's way way out in pasong tamo makati. don't ask them to scan your photos coz it'll cost you an arm and a leg. P70 per image. i usually go to dpi to have my negs scanned.

a film scanner is a good investment. yun nga lang, it is also expensive.

my darkroom's on its way. painting got stalled because of work. will open first week of september.

:)

Raena is right! master one lens first. For me it would be the 28mm you have but then I'm a street shoot. She's kindly offered to loan you a 50mm lens. That and a bag of film is all you need (well apart from the 28mm :) ).

Tri-X is an excellent B&W film however a little expensive. Fuji YKL was selling Neopan 400 for 111 a roll. I love Tri-X but also have a love afair with Neopan.

A film scanner is well worth the money. I may have one for sale in a month or two if you are still interested.

By the way, I've given up digital to shoot film full time! Call me mad but I just prefer it. The thrill from pulling you B&W's from the tank and inspecting the negatives is amazing!!

My darkroom will start construction once the rain stops.


Mike

hi pinggoy!

i suggest you use a fixed 50mm lens first. it'll help you practice your composition. i have one at home and i can lend it you.

wide angle lens is also good too. check out ebay. usually they have good affordable stuff for sale. don't go lens shopping din. master one or two lens first before you acquire another one. you can find lots of lenses in hidalgo. thing is, it's hard to find one that has no scratches or fungus. mike's right. they don't usually store the cams or the lenses properly. check ebay.

save your cash so you can purchase LOTS of films. i can order kodak tri-x from kodak. P235 per roll.

before buying the chemicals (which i can also order from the distributer), you have to buy developing tanks, thermometer, graduates, and a changing bag. there are some shops in hidalgo that sells second hand and brand new darkroom stuff but usually they are way way too overpriced. all these developing stuff and the chemicals will cost you around P5,000.00

studio 58 for me is the best. usually charges P75 per roll (b&w). additional P100 for contact prints. catch here is it's way way out in pasong tamo makati. don't ask them to scan your photos coz it'll cost you an arm and a leg. P70 per image. i usually go to dpi to have my negs scanned.

a film scanner is a good investment. yun nga lang, it is also expensive.

my darkroom's on its way. painting got stalled because of work. will open first week of september.

:)

wow great! il take note of all that raena, thanks a lot! i have a 50 mm also but i though it was useless already cos of my zoom lens hehe seems like im wrong. aryt good luck with your darkroom, i bet it's gona be swell. looking forward to learning about film processing and all that with you soon! :)

and by the way, hi to you and your fam fr gin, kin, and vida! hehe :)

Welcome to DPP Pinggoy.
If you don't have plans to switch to digital anytime soon, I recommend getting these lenses for your AE-1P
Canon FD 28 2.8 - Small and light and an excellent performer.
Canon FD 50 1.4 - One of my favorite prime lenses on any system.
Canon FD 35-105 3.5 - A wonderful constant aperture zoom lens. It's internal zooming and focusing as well. This was one of my favorite zoom lens at that time.

sounds good! il look around for those. if ever i would be getting the zoom lens cos ive been accustomed to the zoom already ever since i got my slr... thanks bro.

to eric_javier, reyno rosete, and ron hilario, thanks for the warm welcome guys! happy shooting to you as well! \m/

Welcome to Dpp Pinggoy! This site will help you to enhance your Photography skills!
WhenU have a question please feel free to drop by on DPP SB.

Keep on shooting!
JiOn:)

Welcome Pinggoy to DPP & be prepared to become an ADDICT!

Welcome Pinggoy to DPP & be prepared to become an ADDICT!

hell yeah i know what you mean brotha! haha. Thanks man \m/

hi... here's a sample photo which i took two days ago when i was walking around in campus... what do you guys think? that's with my current non-canon 35-210/f3.5 zoom lens...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/11981658@N05/1214727469/
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1376/1214727469_d1753aaa1f.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11981658@N05/1214727469/

Here's my take on your questions, as nobody has answered them yet.

Forget Hidalgo, just about everything I have seen for sale there is overpriced crap!
That goes for film bodies, lenses, darkroom equipment etc...

I did look at several cameras in several stores, one camera (a 4x5 field camera) even started to fall apart when the store owner was showing it to me. The bellows had more holes than swiss cheese and there was fungus in the lens.

None of the second hand equipment in Hidalgo is stored correctly and I'd say a lot of the old stuff will have problems (like fungus).

For film, developing B&W and Chemicals I can reccomend Studio 58 in Makati.


Mike


really man? that fungus and "malstrorage" part sucks. hidalgo seemed to be near utopia for me when i first went there... are there any exceptions? how about the store "acell"? tama ba... ok ba dun?

hi there pinggoy! just lurk here in dpp and surely you will learn a lot from the threads to the galleries and with the help also of all your friendly neighborhood here in dpp! ahehehe :D

welcome and happy shooting!!! share your pics na! :) :) :)

hi ariane and jion. thanks! hehe :)