Help picking out an SLR for my niece

The Minolta XG-1 is AP and Minolta's lenses are good. I don't know the current price on the camera however.

If AP isn't a priority, the Yashica FX-3 is a good camera that takes Yashica and Contax lenses. Yashica lenses are generally under rated, Contax lenses are some of the best but cost a lot.

I can't recommend my wonderful Fujica ST 901 which has been a favorite of mine for about 35 years. The camera with 50mm lens is probably in your price range. Unfortunately, the Fujinon lenses are hard to come by and expensive. Not good to grow with.
 
There's a nice looking Olympus OM2n w/ 50mm lens that just hit the Classifieds for $100.00.

No affiliation to the seller, but looks like a nice body & lens for $100.00

Good luck!
Paul
 
I bought Minolta Srt 101 with 58mm 1.4, and 35mm 2.8, Braun flash, hard-case leather original Minolta, camera and lens leather case's. all that for 100 euro.
Was enough good for me.
 
Another vote for a Canon AE1 or Canon A1 (has both shutter priority and aperture priority AE) with 50mm 1.8 or even better 50mm 1.4.
 
As a parent of a fifteen year old girl I can tell you that insisting she take what you think best is not a recipe for success.
Suggest you ask what strikes her fancy, and take it into consideration before choosing any particular model.
FWIW my daughter's choice surprised me...

Chris
 
The Yashica FX-D is really a nice little camera.

As with all Japanese cameras, you might have to replace the foam seals. And with the Yashica, you might need to replace the body covering.

I recommend Aki-Asahi.com, which has a nice selection of coverings for this camera and ALWAYS delivers orders without lengthy delays and doesn't require repeatedly sending reminder e-mails to the vendor.

There's also the Minolta XD11. Same issues as the Yashica. Always make sure that the electronics on a Minolta are working correctly.
 
My opinion doesn't count for much but you may still want to consider something more modern like a Nikon N80 w 50/1.8 AF. It's plasticy but tightly built, and kids being what they are, they may want AF and lightweightness. It does manual focus just fine and the handling transfers to more modern digital cameras.

And from an engineering and usability point-of-view, I'll argue that it is Nikon's crowning achievement, putting that much technology into an easy-to-use and inexpensive form. That's harder to do than making a F6 imho.

Oh and the metering is dead-on perfect, it has a flash, and it could well be more rugged than a 1970s hulk, even if it doesn't have all the mojo... it will make really good photos.

I bought a near mint set like this last year for $120. Expect to pay a bit more if you're impatient, but $150-$160 should cover it.
 
ChrisPlatt said:
As a parent of a fifteen year old girl I can tell you that insisting she take what you think best is not a recipe for success.
Suggest you ask what strikes her fancy, and take it into consideration before choosing any particular model.
FWIW my daughter's choice surprised me...

Chris
Click to expand...

Agree 100%, even if probably the OP has to propose a basic choice... The girl might be interested to choose among something she can see, but if she doesn't even know what she can choose, she might likely reply "I don't know any camera, that's up to you" - For sure an engagement/involvement with her is required and it might be nice for her to know you value her opinion
 
Thanks again everyone. Interesting options here. I've put a list together based on what's been recommended above and will research and then buy.

My guess is that she will have fun with it until the novelty wears off and she realizes film is expensive and hard to get up on her facebook page etc. So that's why I'm not concerned with the system or buying something nice.

I'll update here and let you know what I end up with though it may be a month or so.
 
Paddy C, I had my reservations over the appearance of the Pentax ME initially too, but only as far as the auto dial on the top plate. Over the years I've used Nikkormats, Nikon Fs, Pentax Spotmatics, handled an OM2 (had difficulty with the viewfinder, much to my amazement) and found the ME to be just so easy to use. Aperture, focus, hit the button. Simple! And tough as old boots!
 
Update

Update

So I ended up sitting on this for way too long.

I realized the K1000 I had sitting in the closet might do but it had been given to me with a broken zoom. So I bought a 50 f2 and ran a test roll. Seems to be fine so that's what she's getting.
 
I was surprised when my 15 year-old daughter asked for a Pentax K1000 by name.
She's using the same outfit as you will be giving your niece, K1000 body with Pentax 50/2 lens.

It's an excellent choice - a simple camera that offers everything required to learn the fundamentals.
BTW a good companion book is Henry Horenstein's Black and White Photography: A Basic Manual.

Literally millions have learned photography with a Pentax K1000. Over three million were sold,
and for twenty years the Pentax K1000 was the choice of photo courses around the world.

Please bid your niece welcome to the world of film photography.
I hope she enjoys her K1000 as much as my daughter has. 🙂

Chris
 
I bought my daughter an F3. She loves it. But I agree with the OM2n. That is a nice small camera and so damn clever. It works perfectly in good light even if you forget to turn it on!
 
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