Camera Suggestions for a Beginner

[BillBingham2]

Why/when did she use the RF vs the iPhone?

Another crazy option is a Canon P (one is the classifieds I think, not recommending that one, just the camera perhaps) and a 1st generation CV 15 and 35 of your choosing.

A Leica IIIc with a 1st gen CV 15 and a 50 of your choosing. Think about adding the cost of a CLA to the purchase.

A lot depends upon what she likes/wants to shoot.

B2 (;->

 

[nasmformyzombie]

Yeah. And?

Why not go for a camera that still works when the battery dies?

Cheers,

R.

You battery fearing people are just quaintly anachronistic in your fear, and for some who drum on incessantly about it are likely just plain battery phobic. I have been using battery dependent cameras since 1978 and have NEVER had a battery die outright in a camera while shooting. It's not that difficult to check the battery viability with a camera prior to leaving for a day of shooting. It's certainly no big deal to carry spares either. It's not like a new battery costs a fortune or takes up too much room in your camera bag or your pocket.

Many pros in the late 70's and early 80's feared battery dependent cameras---when they were first introduced. Today most pros shoot digital. I have yet to see a battery independent digital camera.

Nikon introduced the FE in 1978 and the FE2 in 1983. Take advantage of 1970s and 1980s technology (oh the horror for you Luddites, I know 😱) so one doesn't have to spend time fiddling with a shutter speed knob and the aperture setting and a focus ring. Concentrate more on composition instead. We are talking about a beginner here! You can always forgo automation later after mastering the basics.

Furthermore, many battery dependent cameras from the 1970's and 1980's have one shutter speed that works without a battery. The Lecia M7 (albeit from the 21st century in some respects) has two manually controlled shutter speeds.

 

[CMur12]

Everybody will mention his favourite manual focus camera, be it Nikon, Canon, Olympus, Pentax, Minolta, you name it.

Are you sure a manual focus SLR is what she wants?
Would something like a Voigtländer Bessa R be an option?
Or something like a Canon Canonet 28 or Minolta Hi-matic 7SII?

If you go for a manual focus SLR it really doesn't matter what brand. Don't get an entry level one, but you don't need a top of the range one. Some important things already got mentioned: what battery does it use and how's the condition of the camera.

Edit: I would like to add a recommendation, and yes it is a favourite of mine: Minolta X700. These are great cameras, affordable, batteries are easy to find, under appreciated so very affordable.

I think any of the cameras already mentioned will do, but be aware that Nikon manual focus lenses are expensive compared to Canon and Minolta.

I agree with all of these points. I'm also partial to manual-focus Minoltas and think that the X-700 would be an excellent choice, among the many good options.

I'm glad to hear that you will be taking this young woman to a camera store where she can handle a variety of cameras. My thought was that she had only used a Leica RF, so far, and that she may, or may not , like an SLR.

- Murray

 

[aizan]

Mechanical cameras will be repairable forever; not so your electronic wonders.

Chris

try getting a nikon f eye level finder's prism recemented and resilvered. just saying! 🙂

 

[Bill Clark]

When ever I use a battery dependent camera I carry at least one spare. My digital cameras have rechargeable and I can have one charging while using the other.

I would try to buy a used newer camera as it will be lighter having more composite materials. The older all metal cameras can be an issue regarding weight.

Just my thoughts to help.

 

[leica M2 fan]

Just adding my two cents. Minolta X700, Nikon FG, Pentax MX, Canon AE-1 P
would make a wonderful first camera.

 

[ktmrider]

Actually, I let her use my R6.2 before going to Iceland and then gave her a choice between a M or the R6.2. I think the variety of lenses I planned on bringing led her to select the M. I know she liked the metering on the R.

 

[BillBingham2]

I'm sticking with my IIIc but adding an SL2 to the mix. Good lenses are reasonable for both these days.

B2

 

[marcr1230]

Ah - the photographer's catnip question...


I'd suggest an OM-4t or Nikon FM3a or FE2
The battery issue is a canard, what if your battery dies? Well, what if you run out of film and your battery is just fine?
You can carry film, then carry an extra battery

Cameras break - if the OM-4T dies, get another or get it repaired
Same for FM3a etc

Nikon has infinite variety of lenses , but honestly, how many us she likely to get as a beginner?

Just about any small body with a couple lenses is all she needs to get started, the rest is just overanalysis

 

[Jack Conrad]

Minolta XD is a simple ergonomically pleasing camera that has modern functionality without much complexity.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

The young lady used a film CRF with a direct vision VF and liked it but we/you are all suggesting a film SLR...

Then I read that she liked the R6. So why not an R6, dirt cheap at present but dear lenses? Or ask what she liked most about the M2 and concentrate on that. And did film come into it at all?

Thinking about smart phones I wonder if it was the VF she liked and so would be happy with either a CRF or SLR.

And an external meter was used and so I wonder if an AE camera with manual would be ideal.

Regards, David

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Honestly, since she has an iPhone, which has several good light meter apps available, I think I'd find her a beater M4-P and a Voigtlander 50.

Yes! Giving person best ever made RF camera to try and then pushing to SLRs is the cruelty!

She liked 21 and 35mm. 35 Color Skopar on M4-2 will do.

 

[Addy101]

The young lady used a film CRF with a direct vision VF and liked it but we/you are all suggesting a film SLR...

I wasn't 😉 I mentioned the Voigtländer Bessa R.

 

[Huss]

It's 2016, get a body with automatic exposure as an option. Nikon FE or FE2 instead of an FM or FM2, for example.

It's 2016, not 1986. Get one with program modes and multi zone AF.

😛

I'd recommend - from personal use - Nikkormats FT2 or FT3, Nikon FM2, FE2.

The Nikkormats are crazy cheap - my perfect FT2 was a fraction of the cost of a Pentax K1000. Out of the Nikkormats I'd recommend the FT2 or FT3 models are they take modern batteries. The older ones do not.

The Nikon FE2 and FM2 are the next step up.

Ultimately whatever you pick, you want to make sure it is reliable. A lot of old cameras have issues w/ prism desilvering, shutter curtains needing rebuilding etc.
Nikkormats and FM2, FE2 use metal bladed shutters, and tend to be very solid.

 

[tunalegs]

Exa 1c.
Use a hand held meter/phone/film box stickman exposure guide.
Learn real photography.

 

[Finglas]

I think David Hughes and Ko.Fe are right, why not a CRF camera?

Mind you, to undermine my own theory, today I used both the Leica MP and the Nikon FM3a to try to take shots in the back garden in a heavy shower - I was trying to capture the rain.... and found it much easier to deploy the SLR compared to the rangefinder.....

 

[ktmrider]

Well, like I posted earlier, she has tried both. She tells me her budget depends on her birthday later this month. CAMERA AND DARKROOM in ABQ has a great selection of used cameras. We will go there and fondle several before she makes a final choice. The point on battery availability was something I had not thought about.

 

[texchappy]

Won't that Leica cost a lot more than even a pristine Nikon F, F2, etc?

 

[BillBingham2]

Won't that Leica cost a lot more than even a pristine Nikon F, F2, etc?

A lot depends on which Leica.

Lots of great options to start her journey. Some classics take a bit of work, be it battery adapting or CLA, best thing is that many are very afordable and quite useable.

Keep is in the loop, be sure to check out the classified here for get deals (e.g. Stuff listed for a couple of weeks looking for a good home) and the occasional fire sale).

B2 (;->

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

If the budget is limited then I'd ignore the Leica fttb and look for one later when money is easier to come by.

Most of us end up with a small collection of cameras for different tasks. I suggest looking at where you'll end and starting with one of them. So the Leica's for later on but how about a small pocket film camera for now like an Olympus XA, Konica A4, Leica mini II and so on?

Or - the third of the classic trio - some sort of SLR with a decent zoom and then, later on, specialised prime? The Pentax ME Super and Minolta X-300 and (say) a Tokina AT-X zoom, which is a great 28-90mm zoom from memory. Or one of the bigger Minoltas like the 7000.

All the above are great cameras/excellent for the money you pay these days. Looking at film cameras as a trio of SLR, RF and good P&S gives a wide choice of starting point and of cameras.

Regards, David

PS Just thought; how about one of the overlooked "bridge" cameras? I was/am very impressed with the Olympus iS-3000 that I bought out of curiosity because it was cheap and had a good spec.