any photographer around?

[rap138]

Hi guys, I've got a few lenses and a couple of old film photographic cameras, the thing is I don't know anything about this, they were just given to me, and would like to know if the lenses are worth anything, can they be used with digital cameras, etc, any info would be useful.

one of the cameras is an Olympus om10
with a 1:1,8 f=50mm lens,
another lens 1:4.5 80-205mm macro Bell&howell
another lens 400mm 1:5.6 auto telephoto Vivitar diameter 72
another lens 1:8 f=500mm diameter 72 Paragon
and a few other little lenses for a Zenit EM Camera

I don't need them but I don't want to throw away something that could be of value, I'd appreciate a lot any help.

Thanks

[TheDarkReaver]

All worthless, I think you should send them to me.

[L-A]

Your camera is not worth a lot itself, but if your lenses are of good quality and well maintained, they can be worth some serious money. Try to see what others are asking for them (eBay, CL, local ads) and decide how much you should ask. Sometimes, it'll be a cheap price for the buyer but more money than what you need

[rap138]

Originally Posted by TheDarkReaver

All worthless, I think you should send them to me.

of course, you pay the 1000 quid postage

[tplyons]

Can't say much for the other lenses but the Oly stuff you've got is basic, automatic aperture priority gear, not going to fetch much more than $50-75 US. Great camera though, just doesn't have the value of other manufacturers. I suggest you buy a few rolls of Kodak 400TX and learn to use the camera instead of selling it.

[warwick.hoy]

Originally Posted by rap138

Hi guys, I've got a few lenses and a couple of old film photographic cameras, the thing is I don't know anything about this, they were just given to me, and would like to know if the lenses are worth anything, can they be used with digital cameras, etc, any info would be useful.

one of the cameras is an Olympus om10
with a 1:1,8 f=50mm lens,
another lens 1:4.5 80-205mm macro Bell&howell
another lens 400mm 1:5.6 auto telephoto Vivitar diameter 72
another lens 1:8 f=500mm diameter 72 Paragon
and a few other little lenses for a Zenit EM Camera

I don't need them but I don't want to throw away something that could be of value, I'd appreciate a lot any help.

Thanks

I took a B&W photography course in High School, and worked processing 35mm for Ritz Camera (and others) up until the threshold of the digital camera revolution. 10mb cameras were thousands of dollars back then.

As far as I know the modern Olympus stuff isn't compatible with the OM stuff; digital or otherwise.

Traditional 35mm photography is fading out with the introduction of cheap digital cameras, even the digital SLRs are more affordable than ever. The gear you were given is not going to fetch you much money.

That being said; for personal enrichment, you may find yourself an art school that perhaps has a darkroom and take some classes. Learn how to use that camera. Traditional Photography really is an art form that is fading away. There are things you can do with 35mm; and larger formats, and an enlarger that are not replicable with a digital camera or on a computer.

Learning how to take pictures, process and print B&W film will give you a lot of skills that translate well to digital photography even with a point and shoot style digi.

I guess this is a remember your roots plea.

If any of that interests you than you should hang onto those old lenses and OM10. If you are more of a casual photographer; post em up on Craigslist or similar (in the UK) and sell them to someone who will get some enjoyment out of them.

[MJ5150]

Send a PM to Bad Brains. He is into photography.

-Mike

[Mike N]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Send a PM to Bad Brains. He is into photography.

-Mike

And very good at it, too.

[Selta]

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

I took a B&W photography course in High School, and worked processing 35mm for Ritz Camera (and others) up until the threshold of the digital camera revolution. 10mb cameras were thousands of dollars back then.

As far as I know the modern Olympus stuff isn't compatible with the OM stuff; digital or otherwise.

Traditional 35mm photography is fading out with the introduction of cheap digital cameras, even the digital SLRs are more affordable than ever. The gear you were given is not going to fetch you much money.

That being said; for personal enrichment, you may find yourself an art school that perhaps has a darkroom and take some classes. Learn how to use that camera. Traditional Photography really is an art form that is fading away. There are things you can do with 35mm; and larger formats, and an enlarger that are not replicable with a digital camera or on a computer.

Learning how to take pictures, process and print B&W film will give you a lot of skills that translate well to digital photography even with a point and shoot style digi.

I guess this is a remember your roots plea.

If any of that interests you than you should hang onto those old lenses and OM10. If you are more of a casual photographer; post em up on Craigslist or similar (in the UK) and sell them to someone who will get some enjoyment out of them.

+1. I now shoot exclusivly digital, but I started out on a Minolta XG7 SLR. I also shot some medium format stuff here an there.
I've meedled in blackrooms and did some fun things in them. Never owned my own gear though.
I now only shoot with Nikon dSLRs. I believe that I can do anything with digital that I could with film; even mimick kodachrome.
Photography is more about understanding exposure than the equipment that is used to take that picture. In my local picture club, one guy gets results that are 10 times what most of us are getting. He is using a simple digital "point and shoot". The guy just has an eye and a knack for photography. His camera probably cost him around $300? My last lens I bought was nearly $1500.
Just like with music, it's more about the person doing it than the items they're using.
A good place to start is with Ansel Adams.

[rap138]

than you very much for the advice guys.

[Selta]

Originally Posted by rap138

than you very much for the advice guys.

Here's a good book to buy as well.
http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-...3651840&sr=8-1
It'll take you from nothing to being able to snap great shots. No, not in 10 easy steps or anything.

[Philbiker]

http://www.camerapedia.org/wiki/Olympus_OM-10

Neat camrea. The camera and lenses are worth very little money. They are extremely obsolete by today's standards. I've been using a hand-me-down vintage 1981 Canon AE-1 Program for about 15 years. A camera like this is capable of taking stunning photographs.

The lenses are practically worthless because they won't fit on the modern digital cameras.

After major sticker shock at the cost of developing and digitizing my last four rolls of film, I finally got a DSLR outfit about a month ago (Canon Digital Rebel XT). I will never go back! With the costs of modern DSLRs going so low, old film based cameras are boat anchors. These days you can buy a digital SLR for the cost of developing and digitizing less than a dozen rolls of film.

[jonathan_matos5]

im a hack when it comes to photography. ive got a thread around here somewhere but i'm not gonna bump it until i take todays pic.

[Selta]

Originally Posted by jonathan_matos5

im a hack when it comes to photography.

We've noticed. Hopefully your project teachers you more about it and hopefully you listen when it is teaching .

[jonathan_matos5]

Originally Posted by Ray Salamon

We've noticed. Hopefully your project teachers you more about it and hopefully you listen when it is teaching .

if anything ill have snapped a lot of photos.

maybe one day i will take a photography class, for now ill just shoot and hope

[tplyons]

Another recommended book: Black and White Photography

http://www.amazon.com/Black-White-Ph...3665846&sr=1-1

Anyone who asks where to start learning digital photography, I recommend an old, fully manual 35mm camera, Kodak 400TX film, and hours in a darkroom. Then, step up to digital.

[Philbiker]

Originally Posted by tplyons

Anyone who asks where to start learning digital photography, I recommend an old, fully manual 35mm camera, Kodak 400TX film, and hours in a darkroom. Then, step up to digital.

I don't. This is akin to telling someone interested in playing bass guitar that they should start by playing an upright for years first.

Digital is so much better in so many ways than analog film. Not the least of which is the environmental impact.

But I agree that old style 35mm cameras are a lot of fun and you can get a good perspective from them. Heck, I'd like a digital SLR that works like a K1000. Fully manual, analog needle light meter. To hell with film, though.

[tplyons]

Originally Posted by Philbiker

I don't. This is akin to telling someone interested in playing bass guitar that they should start by playing an upright for years first.

Digital is so much better in so many ways than analog film. Not the least of which is the environmental impact.

But I agree that old style 35mm cameras are a lot of fun and you can get a good perspective from them. Heck, I'd like a digital SLR that works like a K1000. Fully manual, analog needle light meter. To hell with film, though.

I find it's much easier to learn the ins and outs of digital photography if you understand the ins and outs of photography without all the help.

[Selta]

Originally Posted by tplyons

I find it's much easier to learn the ins and outs of digital photography if you understand the ins and outs of photography without all the help.

Mine, and almost all dSLRs have full manual modes. I still only use full auto mode, and carry an exposure meter trio with me when shooting. I also know exposure like the back of my hand, so I don't need the built-in metering, though it helps. One can't complain about metering though, as pratically everything from at the very least the 70s on had internal metering.
I don't think it matters what instrument you use to learn your exposure, but agree that learning it is absolute key in taking good photographs.