SLR suggestions and advice

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decoyslikecurve

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Hey there,

I'm trying very hard to decide between some film SLRs partly for my photog degree and also for personal use. I use a canon 30d for work (basic commercial and architec.. etc) with some good canon primes and L lenses.

While I like the 30d, I love B&W film, and digital isn't anywhere near the mark.

My previous film cameras have been Yashica GSNs, Minolta 7s, Bessa R's and olympus XA. (didn't like the Bessa R)

So, Now I also need a camera with fully manual capability for my degree and interchangable lenses. I also need it to be robust and have Excellent quality fast lenses as its going to be my personal camera. (I love street photography)

The quality of the lens wide open is probably the most important part for me. I mostly use from a 24mm-50mm.

I was looking at a user m6, but one with a descent lens is still quite expensive. I know how good the leica optics are though, and how beautiful they are wide open.

Now, I'm really looking to choose between the Nikon FM2 and the Olympus OM2. As far as I can tell, the OM is a little smaller which is a big advantage, but the FM is more robust, has a much higher top shutter speed.

Of the nikkor and Zuiko optics, which do you prefer and why? Are they comparible with the leica lenses shot open?

Of the 2 SLRS mentioned, which do you prefer and why?

Otherwise I could grab myself a Bessa r2/r3 and a CV optic of around 28-35mm, however I was put off by my bessa R.(didn't like the feel/quality- came with crooked veiwfinder etc) Is the Bessa R2 etc much better?

Any other suggestions please throw them in!



Thanks,
Gavin
 
Gavin, Ive seen beautiful shots w/ both the Nikon and OM system... I chose nikon for their full compatability w/ lenses all the way back before pre-ai... Optics are supurb, leica-esque... maybe not... but beautiful in thier own way. My favorite is the 105 2.5. fast, excellent length, and just stunning wide open.

Example:

Julia_by_NL2377.jpg
 
I have owned several Manual Nikon SLRs (F, F3HP, FM2,etc.), Canon T90 ( an awesome camera for its time) and an OM-4ti. The problem with OM's is thier rarity for good ones has driven the price up. I would go with the NIkon. great bodies and great lenses. Having said that, I prefer the Bessa R3M. The build quality is light years ahead of the R. The lenses are great for the money. You won't go wrong. The 1:1 magnification is truly awesome. I can walk down the street with both eyes open truly anticpating the shot. You could never do this with an SLR.
 
I just got a Canon F1. It has a durable body and great lenses for low prices. It's also enjoyable to use. I got a Leica m6 the same day my F1 arrived and I'm embarrassed to admit that the Canon is getting allot more use then the M6 for now. Jim
 
Best option, imo, buy a Bessaflex and explore the world of M42 lenses, including some great FSU ones.

Gene
 
I can't decide for you, but I love my Nikon F. I have a 50 and a 270 for it. My R8 comes first though. This is the best camera in the world. I got mine off of Ebay brand new for 800 and then a 28-70 lens for 650. Immaculate!!!!!!
 
I would go with Nikon optics. Zuiko optics never developed like the other companies. It seemed to stop in the 70s. You may notice fewer fast lenses with Olympus. They are excellent lenses, but dated. Nikon has continued to develop their optics and so will be more modern.

The Olypus lenses for their digital line are another matter.
 
Hmm...I'm with Back Alley for moving this thread to a more relevant channel, but since we're here...

I say it's a toss-up. Nikon gets the nod for longevity in terms of its F-mount (never mind the crazy mutations thereof, over the course of over forty years). I wouldn't mind an F4e body, which could take virtually any Nikon optic made ("...since the Eisenhower administration", to quote an ad for the F4 from years back), and has the long-ballyhooed adventage of a 100%-accurate VF, among other virtues.

Then again...the OM system has its own virtues, including a lens system that could hold its own compared to most others, a camera body system that, in addition to its virtues of compactness and economy of design, stayed almost eerily consistent (in terms of the single-digit OMs, at least). The system's only "flaw", as it were, was the lack of interchangeable VFs, which I somewhat prefer, but isn't an absolute deal-breaker (Olympus' VariMagni finder, while not the perfect counterpoint for Nikon's interchangeable finders, was quite good in it's own right). My slight preference toward Nikon (and Canon's F-1), might be related to my regarding the SLR – these days, at least – as something of a bantamweight view camera (at least when equipped with appropriate PC optics), whereas I regard rangefinder cameras as my "go-to" cameras for practically everything else...a radical viewpoint, perhaps, but there it is.


- Barrett
 
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I've used Nikon before (I had an F3), but now my SLRs are exclusively Olympus OM (OM1n, OM2n, OM2sp). Why? because they're smaller and, to me, just feel better. Lenses? I personally doubt there's much to choose between Nikkor and Zuiko lenses - I love just about every one of the Zuiko lenses I have now, and again they're smaller and feel great (size and weight are important to me, because I travel a lot).

At the end of the day it has to be personal choice, so I think you really need to get your hands on the competing models and get a feel for which you like the best. But whichever choice you make, either Nikon FM or Olympus OM will be excellent gear.
 
Don't forget Canon FD manual focus cameras. Lots of amazingly great glass out there for peanuts. I've always liked the look from Canon glass, especially wide open. The best manual focus camera of all was the Canon T-90; you could do far worse than one of them. A F1N is another extreamly wonderful camera.

Good luck,

William
 
I just purchased a nice spankin mint olympus om2n with a 50 1.8 from ebay, and now am waiting on it to arrive. I chose it because of the size mainly. It sort of has to make up for not having a leica M or Zeiss ZM for the moment, as I dont have enough money to spend on those cams. (also buying film scanner and darkroom stuff)


I'm going to order a kit from camera leather as well, although the particular camera I bought has the film check square on the film door, and I'd like a plain film door so I may purchase one from zuiko.com


I plan to buy the 28 f2, 21f2 and a 50 f1.2 and then something around the 80 mark. The lenses are tiny! I couldn't believe how small they are for an SLR lens.

Anyway, I'll post up some pics when I get it, and some impressions.

I also have a canon av1 but it's a little large and doesn't have a manual mode. I hope the zuiko optics are good in comparison to the canon fd optics, which I know are quite gorgeous.
 
Please note that if you chose an FM2 or FM2n that they are only compatible with ai'd, ai and ais lenses. If you mount a non ai lens on either of these two models you may damage the ai meter coupling tab on the camera. ON the older FM and FE models the metering tab could be swung up out of the way to safely allow stop down metering with non ai lenses. Yes I am partial to my FM2n and some primes that I own. I have not used Oly and can't comment but I would bet it would be a hard choice.

Bob
 
FM2n is only a few millimeters larger than a Nikon Rangefinder, and about the same weight.

The Nikkor 24/2.8 is one of the best wide-angle lenses ever made.

The Nikkor 50/1.4 has been a classic workhorse for generations of photojournalists, and the 105/2.5 has already been mentioned.

Pre-AI lenses can be modified for not much money (for free, if you can accept the idea of spending a few minutes with a metal file to put a notch in the correct location of the lens mount).
 
I really like my Pentax MX. It is very compact, rugged and there is lots of Pentax K-mount and M42 glass out there. The VF has 0.97 magnification, 95% coverage and it is quite bright for an SLR.
 
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fdigital said:
I also have a canon av1 but it's a little large and doesn't have a manual mode. I hope the zuiko optics are good in comparison to the canon fd optics, which I know are quite gorgeous.
Click to expand...

If this is the case, then give me your address & I'll send you a Canon FTb-N with a 50/1.8 lens (and batteries to boot :) ) for free. Totally manual w/ match needle metering. I'll happily argue that they are equal to anything that Nikon put up - and Nikon put up some awesome cameras & glass. But there is just this little part of me that thinks the Canon glass looks a bit better; a bit more correct. Now, I know that's pure subjectivity in action & that's cool. But the AV-1 is not, IME, the best way to experiance the FD camera series.

PM me your address if you are interested.

William
 
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