Help picking out an SLR for my niece

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Paddy C

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Would love some advice here as my knowledge is limited. I've been making the rounds reading about and pricing various SLRs but don't have a set idea of what to get.

My niece expressed interest in shooting with a film camera when we visited her this summer. I told her I had two kicking around at home and would send her one. Both had been given to me and thrown in a box. Neither has a meter so they won't be any good for her.

I think her interest may be short lived so I need to keep this cheap.

I'm looking for an SLR with the following:

1. Small in size (compact)
2. W/meter and aperture priority
3. Manual other than #2
4. Reliable
5. Good f/2 50mm or 35mm (I'm leaning towards the 50)
6. Less than $100 total cost would be wonderful. I suppose I could go to $150.

Is that realistic?

Really appreciate any help. We'll be seeing her in March on vacation and I'm hoping I can surprise her with the camera and a few rolls of film.
 
Nikon FE?

With a 50mm Series E that would probably be under $150 right?

I'm from England and I'm not very good at currency conversions...
 
Skip the AE and get an OM-1n (better than OM-1) and let the camera teach her how about exposure. Big, bright viewfinder, hard to beat.
 
Agree with the choice of an Olympus OM camera - OM-1n or OM-2n are good first SLRs to have. Paired with the standard Zuiko 50mm 1.8 lens and you could be lucky with $75. Further Olympus lenses aren't going to cost a fortune if the bug bites.

jesse
 
I can agree with what's been mentioned already and will add that it should be a system, if she continues with it, that will allow her to grow...
I started in Nikons with the FE, as that system grew I was able to go forward with all the lenses I picked up along the way...fast forward a few years I'm using an F4 & F5 with the same lenses...and a few newer ones...
My first thought...The FE...
 
Is it Olympus that has the problem with prisms/foam glued on that is showing up as desilvering decades after manufacture.

Old Nikon lenses can be found easily enough. Buy Ai or AiS ones and they work on the very latest full frame digital and everything in between.

I do not believe there is another brand with compatability and fully function diaphragm that has not screwed the customers along the way. Well Leica, but that is another issue. Those are not $150.
 
Wot? No votes for Pentax ME Super?? Ticks all the boxes, so easy to use, plenty of lenses, easy to find replacement if it goes wrong................and cheap!

Ray
 
Nikon FM (FM2) with a 50/1.4 or 35/2
A MD-12 drive as an option...
Or a Nikon FG cheaper and light!
 
Thanks all.

rayfoxlee, the Pentax ME Super is on my list but for some reason I just don't like the look of the thing.

I will look into the Olympus. For some reason I just assumed they were above my budget because they seem to have a cult following. Never assume!

I will also take a good look at the Nikon FE. I wanted to get a Nikon but most are out of budget and the version variety was starting to make my head spin.
 
Of course with an SLR you can learn with the basics and add lenses.

But- why not a fixed-lens RF? The Canonet Ql17 GIII is small, fast lens, shutter-preferred auto. Definitely "retro" which a lot of "younger generation" like.

This is RFF, I am required to ask this...

Also- I would suggest placing a Want to Buy ad here. We also have Want to trade, both are free.
 
Minolta XE1 and 50mm f1.7 MC (not MD), my suggestion. Lens is a bit bulky, but good. Has manual but no metering.
 
I have bought both versions of Canon AE1 for less than £30 ($60max)
A praktica for 1p
And various fuji x baypnet cams for less than £20
I bought the Fuji because I fancied the 1.6 lens but the body is ae only so I bought another plus one with a 135mm (+50) lens for £12
For $100 I think you should be able to get a very good camera what about a Yashica with a zeiss lens? Pentax lenses can I think be used on their latest digi boxes,
 
I'm going again with:

OM-2N or OM-2SP with 50mm f/1.8 or 35mm f/2.8 - could probably get these off KEH for around $100

or

Nikon FG + 50mm f/1.8 Series E or 35mm f/2.5 for slightly more
 
Hi,

She'll be very happy with a Nikon...

If I remember well, FE has ISO setting for beyond 3200, while Oly OM-2n goes just to 1600... With modern fast film that's a big difference (to me...) Both have +/- AE, though...

FE has a convenient mechanical back-up speed of 1/90th in case camera has battery problems including exhausted batteries, wild humidity (rain, falling on water), extreme temperature or electrical damage during the beginning of a trip... Without battery, or in these cases, OM-2n would become totally useless. With a Nikkor 50 1.8 it's a pro kit for peanuts.

Cheers,

Juan
 
My vote is for a manual camera so skip the AE. Look for a good student camera such as a Pentax K-1000 or Yashica FX-3 or FX-3 Super. The bodies are reliable, stock lenses very good and either can be the basis for a good system. The Pentax glass of course is 1st rate as well as the Yashica but with the Yashica yoiu can also step up to the Zeiss Contax lenses and then move on to a 2nd body such as the RTS. Both were used to teach a lot of kids film photography so they can not be too bad. There is also the Minolta X-700.
 
I'll suggest a Canon AE-1 with a 50/1.8. They made a whole lot of them for a number of reasons and most of them are on your list. It's as good as any of the others and they go dirt cheap because the only digital solution for FD glass is Micro 4/3. Since she wants to shoot film that's not a problem.

Solid, simple cameras that have normal ergonomics. Shutter priority automation only but I never found that to be a big deal.

But ask 10 camera geeks this & you'll get 24 answers :angel:

William
 
You will have a hard time getting an Olympus OM camera is good shape for $150 (your stated top price.)

I am inclined to go with Nikon (recommendations later) but often recommend AF Canons to folks in your situation. Why: lenses for EF Canons are readily available since it is a current system, but EOS film bodies are in large supply, and short demand - thus they are inexpensive! An EOS 630 really suits a novice shooter - it has an auto-everything mode, yet can do manual everything. And costs less than $50 usually with an EF-A lens.

Ok, there are issues, not the least of which is, it's a Canon! A Nikon FG with a 50mm manual focus lens is great! It has 3 metering modes - manual, aperture priority, and full manual. $50 should get you one of these also, with an MF 50.

Or if you want to go to the full $150 and get a camera to grow with, look at an N80 and AF 50mm f/1.8. As is proper, the expense is in the lens. The body can be found in the $30 to $50 range, but it only works with modern lenses (AF, AF-D, AF-S, G and VR) so get the 'low man' 50mm f/1.8. There is an incredible list of lenses that work with this camera, and although fully into autofocus, it has the ability to manual focus with the best of them. The best ting is, that it works with all the newest lenses and utilizes all of their advantages.

I have one of the latter cameras (N80), and no matter how many newer cameras I get, I just cannot give it up!
 
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