Need Some Recommendations For a $100 SLR.

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Steve M.

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I'm comfortable w/ my medium format cameras but need a 35mm for those times when I don't want to tote a TLR. I tried a Leica CL, but when you have a nice little rangefinder that takes Leica glass you end up w/ a lot of money tied up in it. Before I knew it I had a $1000 plus 35mm outfit!

Having sold that I still need something that's light, and chose $100 (w/ a lens) as an arbitrary cutoff so I don't go nuts again. I've used the usual cameras that would qualify such as a Canon AE-1, a variety of Nikons, and a Pentax Spotmatic (no good for glasses wearers like myself). Anyone have any suggestions for something different? Image quality is important.

It can be autofocus or manual, but I'd like for it to be relatively light and relatively small. I tried a basic search on fleabay using the $100 cutoff and came up w/ something like 10,000 cameras. Wow.

I just noticed that there's a thread for a $100 medium format SLR. How odd.
 
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My Minolta XG-9 has been quite reliable after CLA and about $100 with purchase, repair, CLA, and Griptac cover. It's lighter than any of the other cameras mentioned. Lenses are really good, and cheaper than any of the others mentioned.
 
Aside from the obvious choices mentioned above, something different:

- A working Contax 137MA and Planar 50/1.7 should set you just right at $100 these days.

- A Minolta XD11 with any standard MC/MD Rokkor lens.

- A Fujica ST801 with Fujinon EBC lens.

- A Chinon CE-4s with a Super Takumar lens. Better than Pentax MX in some ways.
 
Personally, I'd go with a nikon FM2N. Possibly the OM-2.

But then, I am not a fan of either bells or whistles. Newer Nikon's are probably cheap enough if you go for the consumer models. (N75, especially).
 
I'll second the Canon FD recommendation. Good solid cameras with excellent glass that goes dirt cheap. I love my FTbN & 50/1.8 S.C.
 
The smallest Nikon SLR is the EM - Aperture-priority only. You should be able to get that and a lens for $100 or less.
 
I have the F80 Nikon and it's very nice 🙂
At the moment most 35mm cameras sell for under $100 so it will be a tough decision, the condition of the camera is more important than the brand.
The OM2n is a good choice and the glass is beautiful, camera is small and beautifully formed and Zuiko.com can do any work it might need.
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Canon A-1 (FD mount) is a good choice and can be had for $100 or even less with a Canon 50/1.4 lens.

I also like early Canon AF cameras - EOS 630/600, RT etc.
 
Minolta....X series....use current batteries..

Minolta....X series....use current batteries..

Krosya said:
Canon A-1 (FD mount) is a good choice and can be had for $100 or even less with a Canon 50/1.4 lens.

I also like early Canon AF cameras - EOS 630/600, RT etc.
Click to expand...

The three that come to mind:

Minolta X370, highly regarded student camera, many reasonably priced and high quality lenses

Minolta X570.... little known but all the ease of the 370, plus a couple of really attractive exposure options.

Minolta X700.... program selectable upgrade of above.

All use the same manual focus lenses. All use contemporary (readily available) batteries.

I have two of the X570's and they are excellent for a small form factor, reliable, quality SLR.

Look them up on the www.rokkorfiles.com site:

http://www.rokkorfiles.com/X-570.htm
 
An OM-2n with 50mm f/1.8, easy. One of Olympus' most reliable SLRs, uses easy-to-find S76 batteries, and is quite elemental in use (either metering manually or aperture-priority AE). Solid little machine.


- Barrett
 
Pentax ME Super even? Well cheap, small profile and great camera - much cheaper than an MX even. Mind I was tempted by a beater LX I saw in a shop window for £99 yesterday! Bargains can be had if you look around.
 
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