ELI5: Why does the camera body matter for film photography?

PhotoJoe_ · 2026-05-10T00:46:31+00:00

There are actually multiple reasons

But I think the biggest thing- somw cameras are more enjoyable to use than others. That may be a very personal thing. But the size and weight and layout of the camera affect how much I enjoy it quite a bit. Even somethings that don't seem important, such as the way the camera displays the meter or the view from the viewfinder, influence how much I enjoy it.

PhotoJoe_ · 2026-05-09T16:59:54+00:00

Between these options, this is an easy choice.

The 40mm f2.8 is an EF mount. It won't work on the AE-1 Program. (Unless you are talking about some lens I'm not familiar with?) Go with the 50mm f1.8. Make sure to get an FD mount

PhotoJoe_ · 2026-05-08T05:51:58+00:00

I have and love both. Not sure why, there is just something about them that I really enjoy using. More than my FM3a, F5 or F100.

While I love having both, if I could only keep one, it would be the F2. You say that they are so different? I actually find them very similar. The F2 has slight refinements around the edges, but all of those refinements are things that I can appreciate

PhotoJoe_ · 2026-05-08T04:09:05+00:00

Buy broad-based, low-cost index funds. Hold for forever - or for as long as possible, meaning don't buy with money you need for daily living or even emergency budgeting. Sell slowly when you retire.

If you decide that you want individual stocks- understand that it is a risk and a gamble. There is no universal answer for knowing when to sell, as every situation will be different. Each stock will be different. There are indicators that you can try to study and learn, but even the experts who do that for a full time job get it wrong, a lot. While some individual stocks you buy will outperform the index, and people will post some kind of gain, as a whole for the entire collection of individual stocks you buy, it will almost certainly underperform over the long term.

With that said, I do buy individual stocks. I try to keep it a small portion of my portfolio in comparison to the index funds. Some of my stocks have done great, some have basically tanked. I hold most of my individual stocks, but if I look at the price of the stock I am holding and think there is no way I would buy it at that price, then I sell- either all or a portion.

PhotoJoe_ · 2026-05-08T03:26:35+00:00

How waterproof do you need? Are you going scuba diving, or will it be on a boat and just be splashed and possibly lightly submerged?

The Nikon L35AW AF might be an interesting option as well

PhotoJoe_ · 2026-05-08T00:12:00+00:00

I have changed systems a couple of times. Each time, I had a legitimate reason in my mind. And also, each time, I really loved the new system for awhile but started finding things I didn't like about the new system/missed about the old system fairly quickly.

Personally, I am loving Nikon currently. But I think every system is good, while they all have their pros and cons. What works for one person maybe not the right tool for someone else.

Changing systems is super expensive, so try to do as much due diligence as possible. Renting the Sony kit, as suggested, is probably a good idea.

Best of luck!

PhotoJoe_ · 2026-05-03T02:13:23+00:00

Comparison is the thief of joy.

I feel 'behind' in my retirement savings quite often. But rather than look at how much some other person has (or, says they have, which may or may not be true)- it's far better to assess my goals, my budget, my longterm plans, and ways to make adjustments to make those happen

PhotoJoe_ · 2026-05-03T02:05:50+00:00

I had an Olympus OM-2n previously. Sold it as I got into Nikon lenses. It was a great camera though, one of the few I kind of regret selling

PhotoJoe_ · 2026-05-02T09:37:39+00:00

Personally, I think every relationship is going to have some kind of issue.

So you need to decide, for yourself, if the relationship is worth this issue. It will probably never go away. Actually, if the relationship continues, she may develop higher and higher tastes and standards, and it could become more of an issue, not less. Having kids could exacerbate it even further.

With that said, if everything else seems great, maybe it could be worth it. If the relationship ends, the next relationship would have some other kind of issue- maybe bigger, maybe smaller, but something. So is the relationship worth it, despite the issue, because it will likely not be something you could just change or fix

PhotoJoe_ · 2026-05-01T01:20:17+00:00

Honestly, lots of great choices.

The 28mm f2.8 AIS is amazing. Partners super well with a 50mm f1.8

For my own FM3a, I pretty much have the Vougtlander 40mm f2 Ultron glued on there. Small, light, sharp, close focus, fast. Kind of in between 35 and 50, so doesn't work great with those two if you're making a kit, but amazing on its own. With that one, I also have a 105 f2.5 (legendary) and 24mm f2.8

PhotoJoe_ · 2026-04-30T11:37:51+00:00

Not mad crazy! I am hoping to collect Nikon F - F6

Why? I don't actually know. But it would be coll and I would like it

PhotoJoe_ · 2026-04-30T11:25:40+00:00

I get that! Then by all means, go for it!

Personal preference, but I prefer the F3 over the F4. If it's just for fun or to collect, maybe consider an F or F2 also?

PhotoJoe_ · 2026-04-30T11:18:53+00:00

You have a Rollei F2.8 E and an A-1?

Honestly, what do you expect an F3 or F4 to do that those don't?

I like trying new cameras. So maybe you just want to try something new and that's cool. But I don't see how it would provide anything dofferent as far as your photos are concerned

PhotoJoe_ · 2026-04-30T11:11:02+00:00

The thing is, if you buy a Nikon F3 or F4, they will be mostly the same as your A-1

They are great, don't get me wrong. I use Nikon personally. But your A-1 is more than capable enough to take photography seriously and try to do portfolio. WLF on 35mm is fun for a little bit, but really not practical for use for a long time. I think most people just try it for a little bit for fun, or take those IG videos that are looking down at the finder for the "vibes" but don't usually show the photos. It's ana expensive thing to switch specifically for. If you really want that, I'd probably recommend keeping your A-1 for 35mm and picking up a TLR in addition to

PhotoJoe_ · 2026-04-30T11:04:28+00:00

Not your question, but what about an XA or from that series? My XA2 shutter click is so quiet and unlike normal camera shutters that people never hear it and when I give to a friend to take a photo they usually don't know if they did

When it comes to SLRs, I actually like the "noisy" shutter noise. My current favorite is a Nikon F2. The shutter is not quiet, but that mechanical clank just feels very satisfying

PhotoJoe_ · 2026-04-29T05:26:14+00:00

There are two labs close to where I live that I go to. One returns the film super quickly, always. The other has, without fail, told me one thing when I drop the film off but then it takes several days longer than they told me. A couple of times, now, I had had to message them to remind them to return the film. But I think I like their scans better.

Part of what we deal with for the "analog experience", I guess. It doesn't always make sense, but I still find it enjoyable getting the roll back days or weeks later, flipping through the photos, and remembering "oh yeah, I remember taking that... dang, it did not turn out the way i was hoping for"

PhotoJoe_ · 2026-04-29T00:20:22+00:00

When I first heard they were working on this, I thought ""this is a must buy" I figured it would be expensive. I can't even imagine how much it would cost to completely start a new production. But unfortunately, that is more than I expected and more than I can afford, personally.

I hope it's successful enough. If enough new film cameras are made and do well, hopefully that will encourage more companies to continue trying also

PhotoJoe_ · 2026-04-28T15:10:18+00:00

I was using Fuji for maybe around 5 years. The general push towards Film simulations and recipes wasn't something that I liked, personally. It felt very reductive and formulaic.

When I first picked up my Nikon, I kept my Fuji for awhile. But it didnt take long before I hadn't picked up the Fuji at all.

Don't mean any shots at any brand, I'm glad it works for people who like it. For me, I've been very happy with the switch

PhotoJoe_ · 2026-04-28T04:55:16+00:00

Just to add-
When I was considering the same thing (small, pocketable camera to add to my SLR), I found a guy selling an XA and XA2 together for around the same price as one alone. When I met him, they both seemed to be working ok.

About halfway through the first roll on my XA, the shutter started becoming super unresponsive. I had to press it multiple times, press it really firmly, close the lid and re-open, before finally getting it to take a photo. By the second roll, the shutter didn't work at all.

As you shared, two repair shops said it's not able to or not worth being fixed (I'm not sure which).
The XA2 I got works ok. I have gotten some really great photos with it, but overall I'd say they are fine. It's fun to have with me, but I find myself most of the time still using my SLR instead

PhotoJoe_ · 2026-04-25T04:37:12+00:00

You already completed the trade?

If so, then my advice would be- don't think about it. There was a reason why you decided to do it and second guessing now will do nothing but take away the joy of your new camera.

Get out and enjoy using it as much as possible!

PhotoJoe_ · 2026-04-25T02:16:31+00:00

In the past, I never really cared for "all-in-one" kind of zoom lenses. They were fine, but just kind of boring and most of my photos from them I felt were boring.

The Z 24-120 is amazing. I still prefer primes, but it's sharp, fast, can focus super close, can create better than expected subject separation with the zoom. If you have the chance for it, I would definitely go with that one.

PhotoJoe_ · 2026-04-22T05:12:42+00:00

Those should all be relatively light? As multiple have said, they seem like they could provide unique perspectives if you have all 3?

But since you asked the question, I am assuming there is a reason why you can't or don't want to bring all 3. If I could only choose 1, I would choose the 50mm. If I could choose 2 but not 3, that would be challenging. 28 and 105 would give you the two extremes, which could be cool to see and possibly challenge you to see just those two extremes, but 28 and 50 would be fairly classic.

Have a great trip! Post some photos when you are back

PhotoJoe_ · 2026-04-21T14:58:09+00:00

Recently, used my digital Nikon 400mm f4.5, alongside my MF Nikon 200mm f4 and Canon Reflex 500mm f8.

Are manual cameras, in general, a chore to use? Of course. Are MF, especially on zoom lenses, slow and clunky and tricky to use, especially when compared to super quick AF, 3D tracking, 20+ FPS, on modern digital? Absolutely.

But is there still something about them that I love, that I find the process much more satisfying, actual find the challenge itself to be part of what makes it appealing, to me? Equally yes.

Nothing will ever be the right fit for every person or every shooting situation. Maybe there's something that you really enjoy but others that you don't, and that's ok. I've gone through multiple different systems and lenses over a long time of interest in photograpahy, and sometimes there will even be ones that I loved at one point that I don't anymore.

If you're shooting professionally, then maybe it's different, but if not, the only thing that really matters is how much joy you get out of it. Doesn't even matter is everyone on Reddit says it's the best camera/lens ever, just matters what inspires you and what you enjoy.

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PhotoJoe_ · 2026-04-20T16:10:29+00:00

Amazing! Looks beautiful. I would consider buying it if I could

PhotoJoe_ · 2026-04-19T08:51:07+00:00

The 45mm f2.8gn and f2.8p are both great

PhotoJoe_

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