If You Know This, You’re a Film Camera Expert!

These days, most people use their smartphone cameras to take pictures. In contrast, more and more people are taking pictures using film cameras. Cameras in cellphones are usually used by people because they are easy to take pictures with, however, film cameras seem to be used when they want to capture their special moments of daily life. If you want to depart from your dull routine, you had better use a film camera to take your own pictures. There are two types of film cameras which are used by many people who like them. One is a disposable film camera and the other is a manual film camera. The Pharos will show some ways to use them and important points about using them.

< Disposable film camera >

There are many people who don’t know how to use film cameras but who have considered giving one a try because they are new to them. A film camera that can be used easily by these beginners is precisely the disposable film camera. Disposable film cameras are light in weight, easy to carry and make it easy to print pictures. Therefore, students who are familiar with cellphone cameras can easily feel the fun of film cameras by using disposable film cameras. To take a picture with a disposable film camera, first of all you need to turn the film dial in order to set the film. Next, you should press the shutter. It starts with the total number of pictures you can take on your first use and reduces the number depending on the number of photos you take. The important point when you snap a picture is to not put your finger close to the camera lens. This is because if a fingerprint is smudged on the lens, it can make the picture hazy, unlike the clear object that you see in the viewfinder. The price of a disposable film camera is cheap, about 10,000 won. Moreover, if you want an environmentally friendly disposable film camera, you can buy a product that can be recycled. Typical disposable film cameras are the Kodak Funsaver 800-27 and the Fuji QuickSnap 400-27.

< Manual Film Camera >

Manual film cameras are recommended for those who want to learn about film cameras in earnest. The film undergoes a chemical reaction and an image is formed by the light received through the lens of the camera. The quality of pictures taken with manual film cameras mainly depends on aperture, shutter speed and the sensitivity of the film to light, and they typically capture clear pictures. The sensitivity of the film is a unit that shows how much the film responds to light, and it can be used to adjust the exposure to light. The aperture adjusts the size of the hole to control the amount of light received, and the shutter opens so that light can reach the film. In particular, the shorter the length of time the shutter opens, the clearer the focus. If dealing with these film and camera functions is burdensome, there is also an automatic film camera that automatically adjusts exposure and focus and automatically winds the film because a battery is built into the camera. Nevertheless, manual film cameras can carefully express the intentions of the photographer and can be quickly modified to take a variety of photos if one knows about them, so they are recommended for those who want to study the functions of film cameras. The typical manual film cameras include the Nikon FM2, the Canon AE-1, and the Minolta X-700.

< The Comparison of Disposable and Manual Film Cameras >

There are various types of film cameras, but we have focused on disposable and manual film cameras as the typical cameras. Both cameras use film, but there are differences. First, disposable film cameras are special because they aim for convenient functions. Depending on the environment in which the camera is used, important functions are that they are waterproof and have a flash inside. On the other hand, manual film cameras do not have many specialized functions, flashes have to be installed separately and they are not waterproof like regular cameras. Second, disposable film cameras are limited because it is not easy to replace the film, but manual film cameras can express various feelings by using several different films. Disposable cameras usually use embedded film, but manual film cameras make it easy to replace the film and thus display colors according to the photographer’s intentions. Recently, to make up for this limitation of disposable film cameras, “Lomography Simple Use” disposable cameras, which use multiple cellophane layers on top of the flash to express different colors, have come on the market. Third, disposable cameras are usually discarded after the enclosed film is used up, but manual cameras can be used many times. Disposable cameras are reusable, but the process of reusing them is complex and if they are reused, they still have a short period of use time due to gaps occurring between plastic parts. Manual film cameras are suitable for long-term use.

Taking pictures with the camera function of a cell phone is convenient and it is easy to keep the pictures you took. Manual film cameras on the other hands require the user to wind the film after each picture is taken, and if the film is stored in correctly, the photos that you have taken could be ruined. Although you have to pay careful attention to the manual film camera until the film turns into a series of pictures, the manual film camera can produce analogue sensibilities that cannot be captured with a disposable camera. In addition, manual film cameras allow users to photograph color senses that are appropriate to a situation and create unusual impressions. Why don't you use a manual film camera to capture memories of your own feelings in the new semester?

Planning Editor•KIM JIN•coo0714@naver.com

74th Cub Reporter•GONG JINYOUNG•wlsdud03520@naver.com