You’ve seen those beautiful photos on Instagram that were taken on film cameras. They look stunning and you wish you could have had one of those cameras too. But you don’t have the skills needed to take such great pictures. However, you still love photography and you would like to take some good images of the kids or yourself and post them online.
This article will give you tips on how to shoot great photos with an old camera.
Table of Contents
Use an external flash.
If you have a digital camera, this may be possible, but it’s much easier with a manual camera. With a manual camera you can adjust the shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and flash exposure. An external flash is especially useful if there is little natural light available. If you use a DSLR camera with a built-in flash, you’ll be limited in what you can achieve and this won’t help you if you’re having a bad day. A good external flash will illuminate your subject from behind, so you can use a shallow depth of field. This gives your images a professional look.
Choose the right settings.
Aperture priority is the best mode to use when taking family photos indoors, because it allows you to set the correct amount of light in the scene and the camera will automatically choose the ideal aperture setting. When you’re using this mode, you should start with a small aperture (the opening in the lens) and then increase it gradually until you find the right level. For example, if you have an aperture of ƒ8 and you want a brighter image, you’ll want to open it to around ƒ11. Try out different apertures for different types of shots.
Shutter speed is the time it takes the shutter to close (or open). To get the right result, set the correct shutter speed. Shutter speeds vary between ƒ1/125 and ƒ1/250. The faster the shutter speed, the sharper the picture. Too fast a shutter speed will blur moving objects.
ISO is the sensitivity of the sensor. To get the right exposure, you can lower the ISO to 200 to 400 or raise it to 1600 to 3200. If you lower the ISO to 100 or 200, your images will appear slightly grainy and dark. Try to set it as high as you can for a clear image. You may want to lower it when you’re shooting outside under cloudy skies.
You need to make sure that your subject isn’t overexposed by lowering the ISO. The image below was shot with a slow shutter speed and an ISO of 200. As you can see, the child’s face appears bright, while the background looks almost black. However, the image has been adjusted in Photoshop so that the child’s face is darker and the background is brighter.
Make the most of your memory card.
If you want the best possible quality from your photos, you should be using a memory card that has a large capacity. This will allow you to take more shots and ensure that your images are saved correctly. There are also different types of memory cards that offer different qualities. Some have larger capacities and can hold more images. Others store images in a more efficient way, which means that they will use less power.
Play with the white balance and color settings.
White balance refers to the lighting conditions of your image. If the room is too warm, you can adjust the temperature by using the white balance setting on your camera. You can also play with the white balance for different types of situations. For instance, if you’re taking photos of a group of people, you can use a warmer white balance setting than if you’re taking photos of a person on their own.
Your camera also has color settings that you can adjust. These are particularly useful when you’re shooting outdoors or in the shade. For example, you can use a sepia effect to create a vintage look. You can also experiment with the saturation of colors, which creates a brighter, more colorful image.
Keep a good eye
Aperture priority mode is probably the most useful setting for shooting with an old camera. This allows you to choose the size of the aperture – the opening through which light enters the camera – and set the shutter speed (the length of time the shutter stays open).
A large aperture, such as f/2.8, will let in lots of light but can also create blurry photos due to a lack of depth of field, or DOF. A small aperture, such as f/16, will allow a lot of DOF but won’t let much light in. To ensure sharp focus on your subject, try keeping the aperture small and working in low light, or even using a tripod.
Get closer
If you have a zoom lens, you can use its power to get closer to your subject and make sure your picture is sharp and clear. This works well with a telephoto lens, which will compress the perspective of the photo, making objects appear bigger and closer.
When shooting at the maximum focal length of a zoom lens, you can shoot close up with the lens at half-power. As soon as you zoom in, the lens will automatically change to full power, so make sure you don’t accidentally zoom out.
Check the manual
Many people forget to check the manual for their camera. The manual usually tells you the maximum and minimum aperture settings for each lens, but it may also tell you how the camera handles exposure compensation and whether or not autofocus is possible.
Try a different angle
A normal lens isn’t always the best way to shoot a picture. For example, a wide-angle lens might not be the best choice for portraits, because it tends to flatten out the background. Instead, you could try a fisheye lens, which creates a circular distortion of the image, bringing together more of the background than usual.
It’s also worth trying shooting in landscape mode, where you tilt the camera downwards to take the shot. This will make your subject appear larger than usual and the background smaller, giving a more natural look to the picture.
How can I make my old camera better?
This is a tough question to answer, but I would suggest that you consider taking it apart. Most cameras have removable parts that you can remove and inspect. The problem is that the internal workings of a digital camera are not easy to access. A repair shop or local camera store should be able to help you. They may be able to make some adjustments to the camera for you.
I have been told that a good quality DSLR (digital single lens reflex) camera with a flash may last for years if you take care of it. That said, there is no point spending thousands of pounds on a camera if it is going to be obsolete in just a couple of years.
Make sure you understand how your camera works. When you look at it and see flashes of light, does it really make sense? This may mean learning about light, exposure, metering and aperture settings. You should also understand what ISO settings and exposure compensation mean. This means looking at the manual that comes with your camera.
There is also a manual for each memory card in the camera and, if you have more than one, there may be a separate manual for the SD (Secure Digital) cards. There may be several manuals too.
Once you understand your camera, you can start to play around with it to see what it can do. Take photographs indoors and outdoors to check if it is working properly. Try using different settings on the camera, such as changing the ISO, white balance and shutter speed. When you have a good idea of how your camera works, it is time to start taking photographs.
A camera that is not used regularly can lose its automatic settings. So, when you take a picture, make sure that you adjust the camera settings to the settings that you need. For example, you may need to set the aperture to 5.6 to focus correctly on your subject.
Doing this may take some practice, so use a tripod or other support to steady the camera. If you use your camera outside, be careful. If you have to use a tripod, put it on a level surface and make sure you know where you put the batteries. Also, if you are planning on doing some night photography, check that the lens is dark adapted. It may also be a good idea to use an extra battery to be on the safe side.
Keep your camera well protected. You don’t want a nasty accident that could damage your camera. Keep it in a camera bag or case when you are not using it and take it to a professional repair shop when it breaks.
Is it worth keeping old cameras?
Do you have an old camera sitting around taking up space? If you are thinking of giving one away, here are 10 reasons why you should keep it.
1. Old cameras are fun!
The whole point of buying a digital camera was so that you wouldn’t have to carry a heavy box around with you everywhere. But if you still enjoy using a film camera, it doesn’t have to be a hindrance to the use of your new digital camera. Old cameras come with loads of great features and interesting stories attached. It’s a nice hobby to keep.
2. They make lovely presents!
If you have a collection of old cameras you probably have a few boxes of memory cards. And if you find a really cheap box of memory cards, you could consider giving those to someone else. It’s a lovely present, especially when you think how much money you’ve spent on the memory cards. And there’s no reason why it has to be memory cards. Any camera with a lens will do.
3. Film cameras were the first.
Many of us grew up with film cameras and many of us learned how to use them. If you didn’t have a camera when you were young, the chances are you’ll have lots of interesting photos you’d like to look at again. It’s a wonderful experience seeing what your ancestors looked like.
4. They make great conversation pieces.
A film camera will take lots of memories. If you’re holding a group of old cameras, it can be a conversation starter. You can show them off and discuss how you took them. And even if you’ve never used a camera before, it’s a great opportunity to try one out. You’ll soon learn it’s not hard at all.
5. Film cameras made beautiful pictures.
You don’t have to be a pro photographer to make a lovely photo. You just need a film camera. It’s a great way of capturing moments, especially for your kids. It’s a nice idea to go through a camera once a year and pick out a few images that you like. Why not start a collection of images you took from when you were younger?
Conclusion
The digital era has given us a revolution in photography, with new and creative ideas and endless possibilities. But while cameras are more convenient than ever, there are still some things that an old camera can do better than a new one. We hope that this article give you some great ideas to get the most of your old camera.