Decent plastic-bodied SLR with manual controls?

[Forest_rain]

I was looking at trying a plastic bodied camera because many of my cameras are a heavy brass construction, and want something lighter, and also want to have something with a different feel and finish to it.

I was looking at a Minolta 370S, it seems fairly new with manual controls, and looks relatively new, wondering what other options are out there. I also have a Minolta 600si, which is nice, but I'd like one with all manual controls to force me to manually do the exposure and manually focus, and without a digital dial.

It looks like the Canon EF-M is also plastic, and might be OK (It was for learning photography).

Wondering if there's any other options. I tried a Praktica but mine broke, and it has a metal finish which I'm trying to avoid.

Call me weird but I just want to break up all the metal in my SLR lineup even though I know metal is regarded as being higher quality.

I'd like to avoid aluminum because I may have a slight aluminum allergy.

No Holgas please they are TOO low quality, and a plastic lens is too far 🙂

 

[Huss]

I like this:

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I change shutter speed and aperture on plastic EOS cameras in manual control mode. The only difference is display showing numbers instead of dials.

My EOS 300 even have plastic EF lens mount.

 

[Forest_rain]

Thanks, the Nikon is made of Polycarbonate, and also new-ish. Looks dissimilar enough from my Minolta 600si to give me some variety, and will allow me to try Nikon lenses and ponder the rendering. Thanks immensely 🙂

I like this:

 

[santino]

Mamiya ZM. Super light, good lenses and minimalistic 80s design.

 

[Scrambler]

Get a Cosina CT-whatever or one of the versions they built for other manufacturers.

https://www.35mmc.com/11/10/2019/cosina-ct-1-and-its-lengthy-legacy-by-ben-okeeffe/

They are very plentiful in Pentax mounts but exist in pretty much every popular mount format. They are all plastic fantastics, with both words applying.

I own 3 Cosina built cameras, 2 off this chassis. They are light, but tough. They are fully manual. They would be my pick for your needs.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

Konica Autoreflex T4. A slightly lower end variant is the Autoreflex TC. The T4 is really a great camera. I should get mine serviced to have the meter fixed. Otherwise, it is a great shooter, especially with the 40mm f/1.7 pancake lens.
Phil Forrest

 

[CMur12]

Do you mean the Minolta X-370?

If so, it is a very lightweight, very competent camera. The film rails/mirror box/lens mount constitute a metal structure, where you most need it. Other than the film door, the rest is advanced plastic. The X-370 will also work with an Autowinder G or a motor drive.

The camera offers metered manual and aperture-priority auto with AEL (auto-exposure lock). The shutter speeds have quartz timing. The finder is exceptionally bright, with Minolta's Acute Matte focusing screen (which Minolta licensed to Hasselblad) and a multi-coated mirror.

You can get one of these for a very low price. At a certain point, Minolta started using release capacitors of questionable longevity, so some cameras need these replaced (if the shutter doesn't work already or if it fails later on). Early versions didn't have this problem.

I think this is a camera worth considering.

- Murray

PS. Depending upon what you are prepared to spend, here is a more deluxe X-570 and lens, both refurbished by a reputable technician, on eBay:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Beautiful-...702905?hash=item2897d04df9:g:RRIAAOSwl59fCdCa

 

[Ste_S]

Mamiya ZM. Super light, good lenses and minimalistic 80s design.

I've got one of those, very pleased with the photos I've had out of it.

Another option is the Pentax ZX/MZ 5 if you can find one that isn't broken. Small and lightweight, works with both MF and AF lenses, has shutter speed and exposure comp dials and even a pop up flash.

If you're happy with autofocus then also consider the Canon EOS 300x, Nikon F75 and Minolta Dynax 5.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

Pentax P3N or P30T

Chris

 

[Dogman]

Many really excellent "plastic" SLRs weren't really plastic. Like the Canon EOS 1n I used to use. It had a plastic skin over a full metal body. Of course these are easy to spot when you pick one up--it's heavy for the size.

 

[Huss]

Pentax P3N or P30T

Chris

Yes. Liking mine.

 

[p.giannakis]

Plenty of options. Chinons are great and cheap.

 

[santino]

Wow! The Pentax and Chinon look like the Mamiya ZM but the Mamiya has a socket for a traditional cable release.

 

[Scrambler]

I've got one of those, very pleased with the photos I've had out of it.

Another option is the Pentax ZX/MZ 5 if you can find one that isn't broken. Small and lightweight, works with both MF and AF lenses, has shutter speed and exposure comp dials and even a pop up flash.

If you're happy with autofocus then also consider the Canon EOS 300x, Nikon F75 and Minolta Dynax 5.

NEVER put money into buying a light Pentax MZ series. If you can find one that isn't broken, you will break it. They reached their useable lifespan 10 years ago and the plastic interior goes. It's theoretically fixable but it's better to avoid them. Yes, great cameras. I've owned about 5 of the series. Each has gone in the bin as uneconomic to repair.

 

[Huss]

Wow! The Pentax and Chinon look like the Mamiya ZM but the Mamiya has a socket for a traditional cable release.

The Pentax does too, but it is on the side of the body. Weird, I know.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

In an interview with Eric Hendrickson I recently read, he said that the Pentax MZ was a heck of a lot of camera but all of the plastic Z series cameras are now about beyond repair. There are a lot of MZ/ZX series cameras out there but I wouldn't spend more than $8USD on one due to it being solely electronic and mostly plastic. I owned a ZX-5n I bought new in 2000 and used for a year or so but I would have been better off sticking with the ME Super that the plastic fantastic replaced.
Phil Forrest

 

[charjohncarter]

I used my Pentax ZX-5 today. I've heard about its potential for failure and I just waiting. I like the analog aperture and shutter dials, but I really bought it for the AF. I also have an AF Pentax SFn1. It is a tank and I'm not nervous about it, but I have never really accepted the VF read outs or the screen read out. I certainly isn't light weight though. I just want a ZX-5 built like a SFn1.

By the way, I have two P3n(s) which I use all the time I paid $129 for the first in 1989(with lens) and $20 for the second body. But my eyes now require AF for wide lenses, the 50mm lens is fine with the split image prism.

 

[jsrockit]

You have to go with a ...

 

[Huss]

Arguably the greatest plastic bodied manual exposure Russian SLR that is available in Pentax K mount ever made..

Ladies and Germs, my stunning Zenit 212K:



What is especially impressive about this camera is the VF that shows only 65% on the actual image. I kid you not. It's always a delight to wait in anticipation to see what else actually snuck into your scene. Zenit lists this as a 'feature' in their owner's manual.

The lenses are really decent. I bought this for the lens, thinking I could use it on one of my Pentaxs. It was cheaper buying the lens with the camera than the lens by itself..
Warning - while Pentax K lenses fit on the Zenit, the Zenit K mount lens can get stuck when attached to a Pentax. So, so much for that..