Comparing my cameras and testing my new film camera

Use code: FILMFIVE for $5.00 off my preset shop!
  
I finally purchased the film camera I’ve wanted for a few years now. I’ve always been drawn to film photography, and there’s just something so much more artistic with the way photos turn out. I was nervous about which film camera to start with, how to use film properly, where to have it developed, and it goes on. After doing a lot of research and learning how to use my new camera, I took it out all last week to capture photos around my town and then had them developed. Today, I’m going to talk about the pros and cons of the film camera so far, chat about the cost, compare it to my other cameras, and let you know if I decided to keep it or not!

If you’re looking for a post on how I edit my photos and what cameras I use, you can check that one out here!

Which film camera did I buy?

I purchased the Pentax 6×7 67 – Medium Format Camera – Takumar 105mm 2.4 Lens.

Pentax 6×7 67 – Medium Format Camera – Takumar 105mm 2.4 Lens – SLR film Photography

I learned a lot about this camera on YouTube and Reddit before purchasing. 

How much did the Pentax 6×7 with 105mm 2.4 lens cost?

The camera with the lens came to around $1600, but it feels as though it’s never truly paid off with a film camera. I didn’t factor in how much the film itself would cost as well as developing.

How much does the film roll + developing and scans cost?

With my other cameras, I can have instant photos without the cost of film or developing/scanning, but with the Pentax camera, it costs me about $12 per roll, which only takes around 9-12 photos. To have them scanned in high-res was $29 per roll. So I had to drive 25-minutes to the only place where I live to have them done, and after shooting over 10+ rolls over the weekend, I ended up spending around $400 for only 70 photos that came out usable, and the rest were flops or never showed up in development. I’m sure there are much cheaper ways to process film, but this was just the most convenient.

Shooting with 120 film, you only get 12 shots and plan to have maybe half of those turn out ok. You’re definitely taking a chance with the film if it’s for something important! Now, if you’re shooting with 35 film, you’ll get more exposures, and it won’t cost as much.

My black and white rolls will be developed within the next few days. Those take up to ten days to develop. I’ll keep you posted on how those turned out. 

Is film time-consuming?

Yes. It takes a couple of minutes to reload the film, wrap up the old roll, store it in a bag, and continue shooting. I love that my canon is just always ready to go!

What is the downfall of the Pentax 6×7?

It is SO SO SO HEAVY! It feels like you’re holding a twenty-pound baby. You will definitely have to purchase an attachment for your hands to save them from cramps. It’s definitely not a camera I want to be holding for hours.

What do you like about the film camera?

Kyle and I went out to lunch on Sunday, and I loved that I had to be picky about what photos I could take. I only brought one film roll, and I didn’t want to take any photos with my phone. I would spend a few minutes looking into the lens and then decide if it was worth it or not worth it. I also loved that I took a photo and then didn’t go through my camera roll picking apart how I looked. I just had to deal with whatever photo popped up when it developed. The photo we took downtown is a photo I would have deleted immediately if it was on my phone, and then I would have felt bad about how I looked the rest of the outing. The camera is actually better for your mental health in a funny way. It also teaches you patience.

I took the camera out to the Bush-N-Vine farm and The Peach Tree located in York, SC.

This was a fun spot to shoot photos because of the flower fields, ice cream, produce, and gorgeous countryside. The first time I went out there, I shot on two film rolls. When I went to have them developed, nothing from the farms turned up. I’m assuming I loaded the film incorrectly, but it’s moments like that when it can be a little frustrating. You can make so many errors with a film camera that won’t show up until you get the photos back. With a regular camera or cell phone, you can see the errors and make changes right away.
Even though I had a lot on the film roll that didn’t show up on the second visit, some of the photos really turned out nicely. I also included a photo of this taken on my cell phone so that you can compare the two.

I absolutely love the artistic look of the film with its blur, fine grain, and attention to detail.
   If you’re looking to edit your photos similar to these, make sure to head over to my preset shop. I use all of my presets for editing these photos! Editing makes a big difference in how your photos turn out. When my photos are not taken on film, I add a ton of grain to give them that look. I loved how these ice cream photos turned out! It was so hard to capture this shot since it was 100+ outside with the worst humidity. I included a photo taken on my cell phone so that you can compare the two. I use the same presets on the film shots as well as the cell phone shots.
The sad part is when you get a photo back that you thought would look amazing when you shot it, and then it just turns out awful, or it doesn’t show up at all.  The zinnias are always so much fun to capture out at Bush-n-Vine. Speaking of zinnias, my garden post will go up soon! I absolutely LOVED how the peach photos turned out! The peach color with the teal blue was worth printing for a bedroom!  Whenever my dad and I stop at Peach Tree, we always get a Cheerwine, an egg sandwich, and a peanut roll. I still need to try their ice cream.    A photo like this makes me want to keep the film camera, but my canon still can take a similar photo.

So will I keep the film camera?

I don’t think so! Overall, I think it’s a costly hobby, and I feel more satisfied with the photos I take with my canon. I may try another film camera model soon, though! The Pentax 6×7 is not for me.

 I do love how most of the photos turned out, but I don’t think it’s necessarily worth the money when I can imitate the style of a film shot by using lightroom.
    

Let me know your thoughts on how you like the film results and your experience with film! I also took my cell phone out for some shots using the same filters as the film so that you can see the difference. Even with a cell phone, you’ll get great shots without the anxiety (or maybe that’s the beauty of it) of wondering how the photo will turn out.
  

I actually prefer a lot of the cell phone shots! I’ll include more later this week in a recap blog.

My absolute FAVORITE camera I own is the Canon EOS Mark IV SLR Camera. It’s high quality and a great investment if you are looking to GO BIG with your photography. I alternate two lenses with this camera. I use a Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM  for lifestyle photos and a Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM for more detailed shots.

Canon EOS Mark IV SLR Camera.

I thought I would love the film photos better, but it made me realize that I like my Canon WAY BETTER! The convenience, the cost (it was a lot pricier, but I don’t have to purchase film/develop) and it’s reliable. Below are all the photos I took with this camera.

Let me know what you think of this camera! Do you like it over the film shots?

Fujifilm X-T30 Mirrorless Digital Camera

Next up on the cameras is the Fujifilm X-T30 Mirrorless Digital Camera w/XF18-55mm lens. It’s the BEST lightweight travel camera, and most of my travel guides are shot with this camera. The photos are so sharp, colorful, and it gives my canon a run for its money for how small/less expensive it is.
   
Let me know what you think of this camera!
 

Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark ii

The last camera I have is the vlogging camera, the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark ii. Not only does it record amazing videos for being so compact, but it also takes great lifestyle shots. I used it to capture 90% of the photos in this travel blog to the Biltmore. It takes amazing photos for how small/inexpensive it is, and it’s also amazing for a video! Questions for you!

1. What questions about my cameras do you have for me?
2. Which camera of mine do you like best for photos?
3. Have you ever used film for your photos?