Budget SLR options - Nikon or Canon

[Deleted member 65559]

My plain prism F is heavy too, I often pair it with a 105/2.5 Nikkor. It's OK on short walks but if I am going to be out for a while I prefer to take the Leica IIIg with a 90/4 Elmar.

While that's true, the OP original question was about budget SLRs and it is amazing how inexpensive the top tier SLRs cameras of the past are right now. Whether it's an F, Canon F1, or Leicaflex SL...their build quality is high standard and they can still do the job.

 

[hap]

Hmm. You pique my curiosity. Out with the scale...

Nikon F plain prism + Nikkor 28/2 == 1047g
Nikon F plain prism + Micro-Nikkor 55/3.5 == 964g
Leicaflex SL + Summicron-R 50/2 == 1094g

In other words, differences so close as to be inconsequential.

G

Exercise in scale focus. Excellent.

 

[John Bragg]

Nikon FM2n is by far my favorite. However, the F90x is superb value for money and is a real wolf in sheeps clothing. It looks like a budget plastic bodied el cheapo slr, but has a metal chassis underneath the polycarbonate exterior. It was good enough for pro use and can be had for way less than an F100, F4 or F5.

 

[splitimageview]

Any recommendations for budget options from Nikon or Canon

would like to pick up a budget camera

The Canon AE-1 seems ubiquitous, and overpriced

I wanted to get a Nikon F or F2 but they seem to be pretty expensive.

I'm not sure why the Nikon F is so pricey

I was looking at the Nikon FG which seems to be affordable.

I'd also consider an Olympus body if these are appealing and budget friendly.

Please give us an idea of what 'overpriced', 'pricey', 'expensive', 'affordable' and 'budget' are to you.

 

[Deleted member 65559]

Please give us an idea of what 'overpriced', 'pricey', 'expensive', 'affordable' and 'budget' are to you.

Good point splitimage I notice you'd asked the question before, & it went unanswered. While we're waiting for Forest_rain, i'll say that IMO $200 or less for a working top-tier camera from the film era is a pretty good catch in the digital age. & any camera that costs less than a tank of gas...should be considered pocket change.

 

[JeffS7444]

Getting back to some of the OP's questions (thanks for the reminder splitimageview):

Nikon F, F2, F3 (and Canon F1!)
Relatively conservative features compared to consumer models, and they tend to be a bit larger and heavier too. But their finders show close to 100% of the actual image area, and build quality is second to none. Emphasis is less about jewel-like exterior detailing (though they are very nice) and more making them the most rugged and reliable picture-taking machines.

Olympus has tended to be one of the more idiosyncratic camera companies, and the OM1 is no exception. Their best designs have struck me as ingeniously simple. They boasted of some pro-type features, yet these were compact and relatively affordable cameras: Where the pro Nikons and Canons were more cost-is-no-object, Olympus OM is an exercise in achieving the most with as little as possible. Downside is that many wound up in the hands of more casual shooters who were less than scrupulous about maintenance and storage.

 

[Deleted member 65559]

Getting back to some of the OP's questions (thanks for the reminder splitimageview):

Nikon F, F2, F3 (and Canon F1!)
Relatively conservative features compared to consumer models,with as little as

Jeff, Back-in-the-day the modular construction and wide variety of focusing screens, metered & non-metered prism finders, sports finders, as well as motor drives & high speed motor drives....weather-sealed bodies (F3 pro)....titanium bodies (F2 & F3), & 250 shot bulk film magazines.... these were state of the art cameras and anything but 'relatively conservative.'

 

[hap]

Jeff, Back-in-the-day the modular construction and wide variety of focusing screens, metered & non-metered prism finders, sports finders, as well as motor drives & high speed motor drives....weather-sealed bodies (F3 pro)....titanium bodies (F2 & F3), & 250 shot bulk film magazines.... these were state of the art cameras and anything but 'relatively conservative.'

I have an F3 HP. It has great design and probably the best finder of my Nikon herd. Lots of screens to play with. I do worry a little about the circuit board underneath the flash shoe on top of the rewind crank. they say it can break and literally cannot be repaired. Oh well. Still a beauty. NIkon's transition to electronics.

 

[Deleted member 65559]

I have an F3 HP. It has great design and probably the best finder of my Nikon herd. Lots of screens to play with. I do worry a little about the circuit board underneath the flash shoe on top of the rewind crank. they say it can break and literally cannot be repaired. Oh well. Still a beauty. NIkon's transition to electronics.

Hap, I used one for a number of years. In the back of my mind I worried about the electronics.....but that F3 took the bumps bruises and drops surprisingly well and never let me down. & with the motordrive i always felt it was the best handling Nikon. I know Pan G is a big fan of the F4, but i hated the F4 in comparison with the F3 in terms of the grip size for handling.

 

[randy stewart]

Going back to the range of options in your original post, The Nikkormat/Nikomat FT2 (for use of non-AI lenses) or FT3 (for AI lenses) fit your need. The FT3 meter will not couple to the non-AI lenses (will stop down meter - a hassle). The FT2 will require "rabbit ears" on aperture ring to couple AI lenses to the meter (limits use of later AI-S lenses lacking such). FT2 is more available (far more sold new), but FT3 is a bit newer. Both came with the last version of the 50mm 2.0 lens, which is excellent - a real sleeper selling cheap. Skip the non-multicoated Series E lenses. If you limit to AI lenses, the FG is another sleeper: cheap, available, full range of auto exposure features lacking in Nikkormat and FM models, but no where near as durable. Other Nikkor lenses fairly cheap: AI (last (version) 28mm 3.5 - less than $100; 105mm 2.5 AI (it's why you own Nikon.) 85mm AI; 24mm 2.8 AI. AI-S versions may cost more, but give you nothing in return over AI versions. Only the FM/FE models make use of the "S" focal length key metering feature. Only the later bodies with shutter or program priority metering make use of "S" changes to aperture design.

 

[james.liam]

AI-S versions may cost more, but give you nothing in return over AI versions. Only the FM/FE models make use of the "S" focal length key metering feature. Only the later bodies with shutter or program priority metering make use of "S" changes to aperture design.

Can't make that blanket statement. For the 28/2.8, the optical formulae for the AI and AIS ar different, with the latter having CRC for close focus. Same, as I recall for the 28/2.

For others like the 105/2.5, AIS being more recent, coatings are newer & lubricants less likely to have gummed up. Neither are minor considerations.

 

[JeffS7444]

Jeff, Back-in-the-day the modular construction and wide variety of focusing screens, metered & non-metered prism finders, sports finders, as well as motor drives & high speed motor drives....weather-sealed bodies (F3 pro)....titanium bodies (F2 & F3), & 250 shot bulk film magazines.... these were state of the art cameras and anything but 'relatively conservative.'

Deardorf38, I was thinking more in terms of "tech" features like fast(er) flash sync shutter speeds, matrix metering and program-mode automation, most of which made their debut in consumer models before being incorporated into the flagships. In the case of Nikon SLRs, I'm thinking that aperture-priority automation appeared first in the Nikkormat EL?

 

[Deleted member 65559]

Deardorf38, I was thinking more in terms of "tech" features like fast(er) flash sync shutter speeds, matrix metering and program-mode automation, most of which made their debut in consumer models before being incorporated into the flagships. In the case of Nikon SLRs, I'm thinking that aperture-priority automation appeared first in the Nikkormat EL?

Thanks Jeff. It seems to make sense perhaps to try things out & fine tune them on the consumer models. Pro photographers value consistency and reliability above all.

 

[Godfrey]

Thanks Jeff. It seems to make sense perhaps to try things out & fine tune them on the consumer models. Pro photographers value consistency and reliability above all.

I value simplicity. I never use any of the automation modes and gizmos: I don't like using stuff that I don't know exactly what it's doing. I've been willing to pay extra, many times, for the simplicity of a camera with only focus, exposure time, and aperture settings.

"I'm not a Luddite but I play one when I'm acting as a photographer."

G

 

[Pál_K]

I value simplicity. I never use any of the automation modes and gizmos: I don't like using stuff that I don't know exactly what it's doing. I've been willing to pay extra, many times, for the simplicity of a camera with only focus, exposure time, and aperture settings.

"I'm not a Luddite but I play one when I'm acting as a photographer."

G

As William Lear (of Learjet) once stated, you never have to diagnose, repair, or replace a feature you leave out (paraphrased).

So, once you have the essential functions required to make an image (focus, aperture, shutter speed), all else is optional.

 

[Deleted member 65559]

I value simplicity. I never use any of the automation modes and gizmos: I don't like using stuff that I don't know exactly what it's doing. I've been willing to pay extra, many times, for the simplicity of a camera with only focus, exposure time, and aperture settings.

"I'm not a Luddite but I play one when I'm acting as a photographer."

G

Completely with you....

 

[Deleted member 65559]

As William Lear (of Learjet) once stated, you never have to diagnose, repair, or replace a feature you leave out (paraphrased).

So, once you have the essential functions required to make an image (focus, aperture, shutter speed), all else is optional.

Absolutely!

 

[nickthetasmaniac]

Downside is that many wound up in the hands of more casual shooters who were less than scrupulous about maintenance and storage.

Ironically, the most common advice I've heard against buying 'pro' models is that many spent their life getting flogged by unscrupulous pros...

 

[paul in AZ]

I have an F3 HP. It has great design and probably the best finder of my Nikon herd. Lots of screens to play with. I do worry a little about the circuit board underneath the flash shoe on top of the rewind crank. they say it can break and literally cannot be repaired. Oh well. Still a beauty. NIkon's transition to electronics.

I recently had experiences with F3HP.
A neighbor gave me one -free! It had electrical faults, likely in the battery chamber. I returned it. He then offered to sell me his other F3HP at a good price. It also had malfunctioning electronics. I declined.

These were checked by two repair shops. Not repairable and parts are no longer available.

Too bad. These were big, heavy but in like new condition otherwise. Thats when I got the FEs.

So be wary.

 

[hap]

I recently had experiences with F3HP.
A neighbor gave me one -free! It had electrical faults, likely in the battery chamber. I returned it. He then offered to sell me his other F3HP at a good price. It also had malfunctioning electronics. I declined.

These were checked by two repair shops. Not repairable and parts are no longer available.

Too bad. These were big, heavy but in like new condition otherwise. Thats when I got the FEs.

So be wary.

I have a "backup" FE. But it's not the same.