Suggest me a film slr

[Coopersounds]

love my Eos50e, great body but not tiny (small being one of the OP requirements)

 

[gavinlg]

Manual focus small and light: Olympus OM-1 (classic style), Olympus OM-4 (more modern).

Manual focus durable: Canon F-1 New with standard prism

Autofocus: Canon EOS-1N

*I prefer Canon due to their fast prime lenses in AF and their better offering in the 35mm lens length which is all I shoot. A manual focus lens on a Nikon F-100 was my favorite Nikon set though.

This guy right here ^ knows his ****!

I will also add - nikon f3 is excellent to use and the ais primes are good.
Leica r8 is cheap nowadays and very smooth - possibly the best lenses too.
EOS 1n/3/1v are all excellent, super durable and no-nonsense, and canons AF lens range is formidable.

 

[peterm1]

I still use my Nikon f801s (F8008s in USA) from time to time when I want to use film. While I have a number of older non AF cameras this camera was and is so reliable I find it hard to go past for this purpose. It has matrix, centre weighted and spot metering as standard. It was overtaken by the later F90/F90x series but that range of cameras had a few faults not the least of which is that its covering / skin degrades over time becoming sticky, making it "ikky" to handle and use. The F801s is dead cheap to buy and still usually reliable to use. Another benefit of this camera is that it runs off 4x standard AA cells. It is also comparatively small and light by comparison with most of Nikon's later film cameras and has good support for manual focus lenses in addition to AF. Perhaps its only sin (shared with most cameras of its era) is that AF is a little slow by comparison with today's SLRs.

 

[kxl]

KEH has a bargain grade N90 for $27. Twenty-seven dollars! I bought one used years ago for $500. Sure, the AF ain't as great as the F100, but it's pretty darn close. And it's $27! Did you hear me? $27!!!!!!

Sure, if you don't plan to use VR lenses and/or you find it acceptable to use 'G' lenses only in 'P' or 'S' modes. :bang:

 

[anerjee]

Thanks a lot, it seems that my last 2 options [small and traditional controls] have to sit out (other than the F4).


It seems that Canon's 35mm f/2 offering is more acclaimed on the interwebnet than Nikon's. Is that true?

 

[Chris101]

Sure, if you don't plan to use VR lenses and/or you find it acceptable to use 'G' lenses only in 'P' or 'S' modes. :bang:

Yep N90 is less capable than the N80 or N75, AND it is larger and more ... clunky. For me, the N80 has everything I need (except mirror lock up) and none of the stuff I don't want. With small lenses (16 through 85), or AFS larger ones, the focus speed is fine. Plus it is very light. If you can live without non-DX film speed setting, and with the silvery plastic look, the N75 has everything the N80 does for a few less $$.

 

[p.giannakis]

I haven't shot with the F100 but people say that it is an excellent camera. I have handled the EOS 30 though and I own an EOS 5. The EOS 30 is definately no match to the EOS 5. The later digital 10D has the same focusing module as the EOS 30 (I own the 10D) and it doesn't come close to the EOS 5. Plus there are some reports on the net about focusing issues which i think there are true (at least with my 10D, google around).
The EOS 5 goes for about £40 for one in good condition. I would seriously consider it.
I have a review of mine here: http://pansfilmcameras.blogspot.co.uk/

 

[nikon_sam]

I have an F5 and it's big...they say the F100 is a smaller version of the F5...if that's so the F100 should do it for you...it doesn't have traditional knobs or controls but what it does have are easy to get used to....

 

[mretina]

my most used AF SLR is Eos 1-n. you can also get smaller in eos line up but have not direct experience.
It has for me unique lens synergy with the EOS digital line-up and I feel very comfortable with AF, metering and handling.

my true favourite is Contax N1, but I do not recommend in your case because of the cost and lack of 35mm prime to match among the best 50/1.4 and zoom.

when I want really light I shoot nikon f50 and 50/1.8 AFD and a cheap nikon zoom, arguably it is an unbeatable price/quality line up with a point & shoot srl feeling.
I do not own any other nikon camera past F3 nor any AF lenses as I shoot Nikon almost exclusively F/non AI.

 

[Ibraar]

I'd suggest the Minolta Dynax Maxxum 5 or 7 - fast, compact, beautiful to use great lenses

 

[Addy101]

With you requirements, the Minolta Dynax 7 (a.k.a. Maxxum 7) is the best choice imho. It is a great camera and it fits all current Sony lenses.

1. Autofocus with a 50mm prime was the best in class in 2000 when introduced.
2. All there*
3. Great viewfinder.
4. It is a (semi) pro camera, but much smaller then the EOS 3 or F100
5. Controls are as traditional as they come by in an AF camera

*You can get the Sony Zeiss 24/2 and Sony Zeiss 50/1.4 - they're best in class. Looking at second hand, the Minolta 28/2 and 35/2 are great lenses.

The Sony/Minolta 50/1.4 is as good as its Canon counterpart - the Sony/Minolta 35/1.4 is acquired taste, some love it.

You wouldn't go wrong with the EOS 3 or F100, but those are bigger. I didn't warm up to my EOS 30/33.

 

[Harryo1962]

Nikon N90. I love mine.

 

[p956lh]

I haven't managed to find a small, tough AF SLR with a short mirror blackout time yet. I've got all of the following:

The N80 is perfectly sized but it has a mirror blackout, and the viewfinder has a slightly odd tint to it (due to the LCD overlay), and it draws somewhat more current than the older models while metering.

The N90/S has a shorter blackout, pretty quick AF (if you know where to point it and don't mind only having a single point) and no viewfinder tint, but it's loud and heavy.

I didn't mind the F100 but I can't justify its pricetag since I own all three above. $100 in casual film usage terms buys quite a lot of Portra, and I'd rather shoot Portra through an N80/90 than run Superia through an F100.

From other makes:

Maxxum 7 and 9 are great, though the 7 isn't actually weathersealed. Minolta's 35/2 is as rare as hen's teeth compared to Canon's or Nikon's though.

EOS-1/3 are all pretty big, the 5/A2E is ok (but watch out for that main dial problem), but I've never tried the Elans.

 

[anerjee]

I'm intrigued by the Minoltas. Would these lens be usable on the sony a7 with some sort of adapter?

Can the latest Sony alpha lens be used on a minolta maxxum 7?

 

[Addy101]

I'm intrigued by the Minoltas. Would these lens be usable on the sony a7 with some sort of adapter?

Can the latest Sony alpha lens be used on a minolta maxxum 7?

Yes, you can use all current Sony A-mount and Sony Zeiss A-mount lenses work on a Minolta Maxxum 7 (or Dynax 7).
All Minolta AF lenses work on the A7 or A7r with the LA-EA4 Adapter - it gives full AF and aperture control.

 

[varchs]

I own an EOS 30 as well as an EOS 3!!!
Both are great but the 30 is seriously smaller and lighter... I think it is a great camera!
The EOS 3 is a little more advanced but it is bigger, no flash embedded, as well as it has a more sturdier construction...
Go for each of them they are great!

 

[Addy101]

Both are great but the 30 is seriously smaller and lighter... I think it is a great camera!

Thank heavens people differ - I prefer my (now broken) EOS 50 over my 30 anyday 😱
To me the 30 feels like a hollow plastic shell, it fits the plastic fantastic 50/1.8 II well!

 

[jultou]

Elan 7 + 28/1.8 and 40STM

Elan 7 + 28/1.8 and 40STM

Elan 7 is a great AF camera, many features but still very easy to use. I may be biased because I have used many AF Canon DSLR. The control on the Elan 7 are very similar to the ones on modern Canon DSLRs.

There are many options for 28mm, 35mm and 50mm lenses depending of your budget.

Personally I would go for the 28/1.8 and the 40/2.8 STM (which I own).

However if by traditional control you mean aperture control on the lens you will not get that with Canon AF lenses.

Here are my criteria, in order of importance:

1. Excellent auto-focus (required)
2. Excellent fast 50mm and 35mm/28mm prime, need to support af
3. Bright viewfinder
4. Small in size
5. Traditional controls (nice to have)


I have 2 in mind. Nikon F100 and Canon EOS 30/Elan 7. For people who have both, which one would you choose form the above?

Anything else I should be considering?

 

[Joe AC]

Nikon F100 is great! But not small.

Joe

 

[Ranchu]

First figure out what lenses you want then buy a body for them.