First off I'd like to introduce myself and send a little hello to everyone! I'm a digital photographer from Montreal doing his homework on MF before his purchase. I knew very little a while ago about this format, and even as I read threads here, I know I have many years of reading in front of me before I can honestly say that I know what I'm talking about. I sincerely hope to do a bit of that progress here on this board, seeing as inputs from people is much better than random readings around the web.
So after getting a degree in film school, I decided to take a break from all the teamwork and enjoy art by myself for a while. I scraped my pockets and got a Nikon D40 with a 50mm lens. Very versatile and surprising camera. I found myself shooting every night with friends, going on random roadtrips with a bunch of photographers and making a few bucks here and there. I'm having the time of my life. A lot more fun and intimate than cinema!
So I've reading a lot, experimenting, trying out new stuff, sketching compositions. I was looking for a cheap alternative to get bigger prints and finer details. Big digital cameras are way too expensive for me, so I looked into film cameras. I discovered MF cameras and snooped around for bargains. On the plus, while digital photography is great to experiment with, there just is something about film that makes it sacred. I want to WORK in order to get a good shot. Think hard, make mistakes, and get away a bit from all the LCD's and gadgets.
I found a nearly mint Hassy 500c (not c/m) with a 80mm planar f2.8, a 120 back and a light meter for 800$CAN. An old photographer I know told me to try and get the c/m instead so I could change the top screen. Seems like the old ones are darker and can be a pain to focus in low light situations. Could anyone confirm this? I want to use this camera as the final step, trying different stuff with my D40 until I know what I want, and then proceed to shoot it right with the Hassy. Scanning and printing isn't a problem since I'm working as a technician in a photo lab. I checked earlier today and our scanner supports 6x6 negatives and can scan up to 2900DPI. Would that be enough to get a fine 24x36 print?
I'm still doing my homework on MF, so bear with me if some questions seem stupid. I'm discovering a whole new realm of photography, and I'm loving it even more by the minute.
If anyone has a must-read article or book to propose on MF, I would be glad to take a look. I'm a very patient person and an avid reader!
Thank you for your time!
- Charles