Old camera shops (for sale, buy, high school)

[raubre]

I was wondering where I should look in the area that would sell old cameras and film? I know of the Camera Exchange on the North Side, but I don't know anything about it really. How about local pawn shops?

I was interested in maybe picking up photography as a hobby but also with retro style pictures. I have a regular point and shoot digital camera that's OK, but doesn't do justice with nicer pix. I do use a Pixl-r-omatic program on my computer which is cool, but I guess I wanted to try it out using the real thing.

[Copanut]

I have a bunch of old Pentax SLRs, make an offer.

[hinsey86]

Check Craigslist too. I just sold an older 35mm camera on there last week and I know there were others for sale as well.

[stburr91]

I'm not really sure what you want to do, but I can't see an old slr camera being what you want, unless you collect vintage cameras. If you want to get into photography as a hobby, you do not want a film camera (way too expensive).

What do you mean by "retro style pictures"? Let us know in more detail, what it is you want to do.

[Herodotus]

I'm a shooter, and I have dozens of old cameras, including a Speed Graphic. Digital has blown film away, and my film cameras are now collecting dust.

[irishvan]

There is a camera repair shop in market square that sells old cameras (this was as of last year.)

Also, agree with above posters, get yourself a Digital SLR

But if you really do want to get into 35MM check craigslist or B&H (they might sell used cameras) Take an intro to B&W Photography at Filmmakers they have great facilities you can buy a membership and use their equipment freely. Getting your film done is pricey and time consuming if you don't do it yourself all 35 and 120 non C-41 processed film needs to be shipped to a remote developer.

[irishvan]

I still use film occasionally I always take a 35MM camera or my medium format camera on trips along with my digital to shoot a roll or two if you have the slightest interest and don't know how to chemically process film I do reccomend learning now access to facilities will only decrease and it's extrememly satisfying making prints yourself, just like I enjoy screenprinting sometimes vs. just laser printing images.

[raubre]

Originally Posted by stburr91

What do you mean by "retro style pictures"? Let us know in more detail, what it is you want to do.

Hipstamatic pictures. The ones that look like they were taken in the 70s.

Sort of like these...

hipstamatic pictures - Google Search

Or anything else with cool effects.

Like with these types

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toy_camera

I don't think I'm going to get that look with a regular digital SLR, so I don't think that's what I'm looking for.

[greg42]

For those you just need an iPhone and app.

Seriously though, I think you'd have to get *really* into it to want to deal with actual film. It's kind of hard to dabble without still spending a fortune, although I guess you could try to locate an old camera that actually operates the way that the effects sometimes mimic. You can't always get the film and/or processing you need anymore anyway. You could learn your own b&w processing easily enough, probably, and use a 35mm. (I did b&w 35mm processing and printing in high school, never color.)

[raubre]

Originally Posted by greg42

For those you just need an iPhone and app.

That's also what I have been told, but I have friends on Facebook who also use the old cameras and play around with those and get some really cool pictures. One of them has what is called a "Diana" camera (I think there is a pic on the Wiki link I posted.) I was wondering if there was anyplace in the area that would have something along those lines.

Originally Posted by greg42

Seriously though, I think you'd have to get *really* into it to want to deal with actual film. It's kind of hard to dabble without still spending a fortune, although I guess you could try to locate an old camera that actually operates the way that the effects sometimes mimic. You can't always get the film and/or processing you need anymore anyway. You could learn your own b&w processing easily enough, probably, and use a 35mm. (I did b&w 35mm processing and printing in high school, never color.)

I may consider taking some continuing education classes at CCAC to see if I would want to go that route