I wanna start panoramic photography.

[mazen]

Hello,
I have been thinking for the last two years about going film cameras. I Do landscape mainly, and I have been using DSLR cameras ( Canon). I have always wanted to do panoramic photography with a camera like Linhof or fuji, and I have been saving the money in the last two years and I will be able to get a camera within one year.
I have always asked myself, Is it really worth what I am doing? I answered yes, since this is the thing I wanna do and I want to turn it in business.
Anyway, since I have this plan in my mind, I want to familiarize myself with film photography. But I have zero knowledge about this area. So
1-is there any source where I can learn more about film photography ?
2- What is the range of shutter speed on those panoramic cameras like linhof technorama 617s iii?, and does it depend on the body or the lens?.
3- How can I control the shutter speed, and aperture? Is the controlling done through the lens itself?
4- When I develop a color film, can I scan the negative to my computer and get the picture and print it?,
5-what is a type of good scanner and how much does it cost?
6- I know when I buy a body like linhof or fuji I need basically a lens, center filter, and a case. What else?
7- Whats a light meter, How can I use it, and Is it essential in this type of photography?.

Thank You
Mazen

[Jesper]

Have you considered a swing lens camera such as Widelux or Noblex?

[Ian Grant]

Welcome to APUG Mazen.

The best way to learn would be to find someone near you with a Panoramic camera who can show you a camera in use - so it would help to say where you're located. I use a Gaoersi 6x17 camera with a 75mm lens and it's great format. You control the exposure with the shutter and aperture of the lens itself, you need a separate light meter.

Ian

[jordanstarr]

...is the landscape photography market vibrant enough to justify saving money for 3 years for a film camera to use only for landscapes? I thought people go into film for the love of film. I didn't think there was much money in it. My point being, are you going into it with the right intensions or should you look at panoramic options for your digital (ie. stitching frames in photoshop)?

[ChuckP]

Look at scanners first. A good quality professional scanner to take medium format probably will cost as much as the camera.

[David Brown]

4- When I develop a color film, can I scan the negative to my computer and get the picture and print it?,
5-what is a type of good scanner and how much does it cost?

These really are questions for our sister site: DPUG. We do not normally discuss digital technical matters here. However, yes, you can scan color film. If you're going to do that and print digitally, why not just shoot digital in the first place?

[Mark Fisher]

You may want to start by trying out a roll film camera that can shoot 6x9 format and crop it. This will teach you how to use a meter properly, scanning film, and use a manual camera. There are pretty inexpensive cameras out there that could shoot 6x9 like a Mamiya 23 or an old folding camera. You could probably learn 80% of what you'd need to learn that way and you can always sell the camera at the end if you wanted to.

[Jeff Kubach]

Is there a community college near where you live, if so you can learn about film photograthy.

Jeff

[M.A.Longmore]

.
Welcome Home Mazen !

Ron
.

[zsas]

Welcome to film! You will live it! Like Mark says, maybe get a cheap 6x9 folder and get you hands wet. I highly suggest a copy of the below, which can be found used for less than a cup of coffee....

Black and White Photography: A Basic Manual by Henry Horenstein and Carol Keller (May 30, 1983)