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Photography Question 

Sherri McGee
 

Did I Ruin My Film?


Oops! I opened the back of the camera with film in it. I shot 2 exposures before opening it so most of the film is hidden inside the canister. Did I ruin all or some of the film?


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January 05, 2009

 

John H. Siskin
  Hi Sherri,
You probably ruined the first two shots. Also shots 3 and 4 will probably be no good. Shots from 5 to the end of the roll should be OK, if you keep the back closed. Remember, the counter will reset when you opened the back, so when the roll is over the count will be off.


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January 05, 2009

 
- Gregory LaGrange

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  You likely messed up those two exposures and the blank that would've been your third and maybe fourth.
Advance two frames and continue taking pictures.


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January 05, 2009

 

Sherri McGee
  I'm glad I didn't mess up the entire roll. Thanks.


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January 05, 2009

 

Christy Joseph
  I have two CANON AE-1 and AE-1 Prog Cameras. Is it wise to continue using film cameras and keep it? or dispose it off for a digital camera?? Please let me know. Do the results from film cameras match the digital ones??

CHRISTY JOSEPH


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January 13, 2009

 

John H. Siskin
  Hi Christy,
The top end digital cameras offer many advantages over film cameras. You have greater resolution and your images are available instantly. Unfortunately they are expensive, a Canon 50D costs about $1,000, much more than your film cameras did when they were new. There are many less expensive digital cameras, but some of them are not as good as your current film cameras. I am sure that many people will be happy to post on the merits of particular cameras. Try digital, you’ll like it.
Thanks, John Siskin


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January 13, 2009

 

Christopher A. Walrath
  If you choose to dispose of your cameras I'll pay you extra to ship them to me. However, I truly hope you don't. Film cameras are every bit as reliable as digital cameras. Both make superb images in the hands of someone who knows how to use it. For those who are challenged in the patience department digital makes sense what with instant gratification and all. But just because it's newer and more expensive doesn't preclude film being lesser to digital.

Kodak is still making film, improving what they have even. So, it's not like you'll have to worry about there one day being no more film to shoot. And the Canon AE group, and others as well, is a fantastic system camera that can be expanded through more gear, always a good thing. It is very modular.

And even I, shooting film for over twenty years seriously, opened the back of my N65 at my own baby brother's wedding before rewinding the film. I still have no idea why I did it but I did. So, we all make mistakes.

Use your camera more. Get used to using it. Over and over and over. Practice truly does make perfect. And once you get to a point where using your gear comes as second nature you free up your concentration so you can better focus (no pun intended) on your creativity.

Good luck and I am serious about picking up the AE-1's if you choose to let them go. Again, I hope you reconsider keeping and using an awesome camera.

ChrisW
http://creativeimagemaker.co.uk


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January 15, 2009

 

Christopher A. Walrath
  Sorry, Christy. And as to whether film photographs rival digital photographs. In the hands of a practiced photographer who is comfortable with his or her gear, in a word, YES!

ChrisW


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January 15, 2009

 

Christy Joseph
  Thank you JOHN and CHRISW for your valuable suggestions. I think I'll keep and continue to use my Campm AE-1 cameras and at the same time I propose to prop up my gear by investing in a Canon 40 (?) OR Canon 50D digital camera with EF S17-85 IS USM lens. Any comments?


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January 16, 2009

 
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