Vanity-PHOTOGRAPHY BUFFS - Freeper needs advice

Me | 8/7/2005 | 6ppc

[6ppc]

My son has signed up for a photography class and I need to buy a 35mm SLR camera capable of manual operation.

My limited experience with 35mm photograph was a Pentax Spotmatic F I owned in the 70's and 80's. It was an excellent camera, but is no longer alive.

I want to buy him a good quality camera and have been shopping on Ebay, but really do not know enough about 35mm SLR cameras to know which ones are the best buys. I was hoping some freepers could clue me in on which of the following cameras are good/better/best etc.

Requirements include through the lens metering and ability to operate in manual mode. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Here are some examples of the brands and models I'm considering:
Canon AE-1
Canon A-1
Canon EOS 650
Canon EOS A2E
Canon T-70
Canon EOS Rebel
Nikon N-70
Nikon Nikomat
Nikon N-80
Nikon FM
Pentax K1000
Pentax SF1
Olympus OM-1
Olympus OMG
Olympus OM-2N MD
Minolta Maxxum 7000
Minolta Maxxum 450si
Minolta XG-se
Minolta SRT MC-11
Minolta XG-A
Minolta Maxxum 4
Minolta Maxxum 5
Minolta X-700

[6ppc]

Repair shop is a good idea...I didn't think of that.

[panamagringo]

Canon A-1 with the S.C.C 1.4F lens. Great camera and built like a rock. Heavy but the build quality is there. Look for the metal mounts and not the plastic ones.

Dropped mine at O'Hare aiport about a year after I bought it. Still tested perfect by Canon 10 years later.

Also, the lens quality is outstanding according to none other than Carl Zeiss at the time. Best coming out of Japan.

The A-1 has many great features including fully automatic but non-focusing lenses.

An alternative would be the F-1 but they are a bit more expensive. Built like an Abrams though.

[gorush]

You pay the shipping and it is yours...very fast shutter speed, 1/4000 I believe, w. extension tubes and a nice zoom as well as a high quality 50mm lens, yours for the asking.

[raybbr]

Does the Nikon FM have through the lens metering?

Mine has TTL (through the lens) metering using LED's match. I think the new ones have a meter-like match.

[6ppc]

Remember too, that he will need a couple of good lenses.

Ebay has some good deals with several lenses and accessories.

[aimhigh]

Nikon is preferred by professionals.

I used to sell camaras. The professionals usually had two Nikons, because one was always in the shop. I switched from Nikon to Olympus and never looked back.

[raybbr]

If you don't want I will take it.

[operation clinton cleanup]

Attention Valerie, your 2 cents is requested.

[GRRRRR]

NIKON N-80. Got it for my daughter a year ago, she's taken fantastic pics with it.

IF your son doesn't take to it, it will have great resale value. Get the standard lens and also a decent zoom, I think I got her a Vivitar lens? Yeah, it's expensive but they are excellent tools.

G

[yarddog]

I would agree with the Nikon FM or FM2n. The old Minolta SRT series would be great and their lenses are plentiful and inexpensive.

Actually just about any of those you listed would be ok. The Pentax K-1000 is considered the standard students camera and is good for that purpose if maybe a little over rated.

Any of the Olympus OM series are great tho lenses would not be as plentiful.

Any of the Canon cameras using the FD mount would be fine except the T-80.

Make sure you get a good clean one. You will probably need to replace the seals and mirror foam but this is an inexpensive job, in fact you can order the kits and do it your self.

[6ppc]

Deal! Freepmail me with an address to send a check for the shipping and thanks!

Freepers are incredible and generous!

[COEXERJ145]

I'm not sure how much you're looking to spend but the Nikon FM10 is probably the cheapest you'll find from one of the better manufacturers.

I personally buy all my photography equipment from a store in New York called B&H. I've found them to always have good service and usually a good price. I recently orders a DSLR and accessories from them for just under $2,000 so I definitely have faith in their service. This Link will take you to the page for 35mm SLR cameras.

[yarddog]

I just noticed that offer of the free FE2.

You are one lucky dude as that is one of the really great ones.

[Boundless]

> My son has signed up for a photography class and I need
> to buy a 35mm SLR camera capable of manual operation.

Does it have to be film? A used Canon EOS-300D (original
D-Rebel) would have some value well beyond the class.
Film, processing and printing costs are not cheap.

> My limited experience with 35mm photograph was a Pentax
> Spotmatic F I owned in the 70's and 80's. It was an
> excellent camera, but is no longer alive.

And the same is true of many of the 35mils you list (inop).
I'd suggest buying locally with return privs.

> I want to buy him a good quality camera and have been
> shopping on Ebay, ...

Also, many of those you list are collectibles. I sold
a Canon A-1 outfit last year, and the working stuff
did NOT go cheap on eBay. 3 of my 7 Canon-branded EF-mount
lenses had been ruined in storage helicoid grease failure
(and listed and sold that way, but not all sellers are
that honest - or even aware that the lens has a problem).
Beware.

[mercy]

Also ....

The top makers have always made 'professional' 'semiprofessional' and consumer type cameras. Now they call them professional and prosumer.

The older professional grade cameras are built like tanks. You can hammer nails with them. They are bigger and heavier though. They have higher flash sinc speeds which your kid probably won't need. They have mirror lock up which is really handy for long exposures such as are used for low light landscape shots. Mandatory really.

Also I have heard it said and I hold it as true that the single most important piece of gear for improving one's photography is a tripod. This is only true for certain types of photography such as landscape and sometimes nature work however.

If you or your kid really gets into photography one day you will want professional grade lenses. These get REALLY expensive but will make a significant improvement to just about all sorts of photography. Of course the older manual ones are still pretty cheap these days. Make sure any you buy are multicoated glass.

[MosesKnows]

Many of the cameras you've listed would be detrimental to someone just beginning to learn photography. A camera is just a device to hold film. Many made their first camera from an oatmeal box to begin to learn the basics.

I would recommend a used Pentax K1000 from the list you provided.

[6ppc]

Does it have to be film?

Yes. He will be using black and white film and learning how to develop in a darkroom. I hope it will become a serious pursuit for him.

[raybbr]

Sorry, I stay away from Ebay. Look for a good Nikon zoom lens first. He can buy the other lenses later. A 28 - 70mm zoom will give him a good start. It has a nice angle for scenes and can get a little closer with the 78mm zoom.

I also have a Nikon N70 that I bought with the 28 -70 zoom. I like it but it takes all the fun out of composing a picture. On the other hand it has a full manual setting with TTL and forces you to compose the picture yourself. When in auto I feel like I never know how the pic is going to come out because I am relying on the camera to compose the pic. Sometimes I throw it into manual and make my own pics.

[Cboldt]

I switched from Nikon to Olympus and never looked back.

I have a few OM-1/OM-2 bodies. I much prefer the Olympus to the Canon and Nikon for a variety of reasons, the compact size being a primary one.

Shutter speed is conveniently located at the front of the body, coaxial with the lens (vs. on the top of the body), and overall, a very convenient system to manipulate.

The biggest drawback, which is not much of one now, is that OM mount and Zuiko lenses in particular were expensive.

Between the OM-1 and OM-2, I prefer the OM-1 because the shutter is all manual. I sometimes shoot in cold weather, batteries lose juice when cold, and it's maddening to lose a shot because the battery-powered shutter won't fire.

[mercy]

6PPC,

JUMP ON THIS WITH BOTH FEET .... RIGHT NOW!!!