jonasv
has no mustache
Hi all,
A friend of mine shoots a digital SLR and is quite proficient in digital photography.
She's interested in taking a darkroom initiation class and is therefore looking to buy a film camera. She doesn't have much to spend now, and besides she just sees it as an experiment so it should be something simple.
Would you have any advice as to what camera to get, given these requirements?
- Film (35mm)
- All manual (focus, aperture, shutter), aperture priority is a nice extra but not a necessity. DX coding might do for ISO.
- Some kind of light meter would be nice
- Rangefinder or SLR doesn't matter
- She's not looking to build a system, so exhaustive lens compatibility etc is not necessary
- Something that she could find in London, or order online (still within the budget with shipping included).
I'm thinking SLR+50 or some kind of fixed-lens-rangefinder. But the cheap ones often have aperture-priority only, and no complete manual settings.
What would you recommend for... 20 GBP?
If you know of any lying around in a specific shop, any points would be extra helpful!
Thanks.
PS. If I can add an extra requirement myself, I think it would be good if the camera would have a nice form factor. Perhaps some very early AF SLRs would fit the other requirements but what's the advantage of those if they aren't any more charming than her digital SLR?
A friend of mine shoots a digital SLR and is quite proficient in digital photography.
She's interested in taking a darkroom initiation class and is therefore looking to buy a film camera. She doesn't have much to spend now, and besides she just sees it as an experiment so it should be something simple.
Would you have any advice as to what camera to get, given these requirements?
- Film (35mm)
- All manual (focus, aperture, shutter), aperture priority is a nice extra but not a necessity. DX coding might do for ISO.
- Some kind of light meter would be nice
- Rangefinder or SLR doesn't matter
- She's not looking to build a system, so exhaustive lens compatibility etc is not necessary
- Something that she could find in London, or order online (still within the budget with shipping included).
I'm thinking SLR+50 or some kind of fixed-lens-rangefinder. But the cheap ones often have aperture-priority only, and no complete manual settings.
What would you recommend for... 20 GBP?
If you know of any lying around in a specific shop, any points would be extra helpful!
Thanks.
PS. If I can add an extra requirement myself, I think it would be good if the camera would have a nice form factor. Perhaps some very early AF SLRs would fit the other requirements but what's the advantage of those if they aren't any more charming than her digital SLR?
jonasv
has no mustache
Here's some that I thought of myself: Canon AE-1 or Nikon FG-20. The ones with a 50mm seem to be above budget though. Olympus OM-10 doesn't have full manual exposure, I think.
As far as the Canonet's etc goes, I'm not sure the cheap ones are the reliable ones? I would like to recommend her something very simple which will definitely work, as starting with a broken camera from ebay is not the best entry into analog photography!
As far as the Canonet's etc goes, I'm not sure the cheap ones are the reliable ones? I would like to recommend her something very simple which will definitely work, as starting with a broken camera from ebay is not the best entry into analog photography!
maxwell1295
Well-known
Olympus OM-1
Pentax K1000
Pentax K1000
Pentax K1000 w/ 50mm f/2?
grapejohnson
Well-known
My first "real" camera was a Mamiya NC1000. I got it for $30, very easy to use.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MAMIYA-NC10...812306770?pt=Film_Cameras&hash=item2ec158a152
maybe not the best, but it's where my bias lies. gave mine to my girlfriend after she expressed an interest in learning
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MAMIYA-NC10...812306770?pt=Film_Cameras&hash=item2ec158a152
maybe not the best, but it's where my bias lies. gave mine to my girlfriend after she expressed an interest in learning
Nomad Z
Well-known
I think 20 quid is cutting it fine. For a low budget, a manual SLR and lens is probably the better option. As you say, the cheapie fixed lens rangefinders tend to have auto exposure (and those that have manual can be a bit fiddly to use, or don't meter in manual mode).
Regarding form factor, I guess there are two to consider - the earlier manual SLRs that are a bit chunky (thinking of the Minolta SRT I had many moons ago), or the later ones that are quite small (Olympus OM springs to mind although I've never used them, and my Nikon FM feels pretty small to me).
For what it's worth, I was looking at Minolta SRTs about a year ago, musing on buying one to remind myself of what they're like to use, and noted that they did seem to go for very low prices quite often. Maybe not 20 quid, but not far off it. In the end, I went with the Nikon FM, which cost 50 quid with a duff lens (and then got a 25-50 zoom for about the same price).
Regarding form factor, I guess there are two to consider - the earlier manual SLRs that are a bit chunky (thinking of the Minolta SRT I had many moons ago), or the later ones that are quite small (Olympus OM springs to mind although I've never used them, and my Nikon FM feels pretty small to me).
For what it's worth, I was looking at Minolta SRTs about a year ago, musing on buying one to remind myself of what they're like to use, and noted that they did seem to go for very low prices quite often. Maybe not 20 quid, but not far off it. In the end, I went with the Nikon FM, which cost 50 quid with a duff lens (and then got a 25-50 zoom for about the same price).
szekiat
Well-known
look on gumtree, loads there!
rbsinto
Well-known
All manual-Nikon-FM
metered manual plus aperture-priority-Nikon FE
Both have depth of field preview, multiple exposure capability
metered manual plus aperture-priority-Nikon FG-20 but lacks depth of field preview, multiple exposure capability.
metered manual plus aperture-priority-Nikon FE
Both have depth of field preview, multiple exposure capability
metered manual plus aperture-priority-Nikon FG-20 but lacks depth of field preview, multiple exposure capability.
Terry Christian
Established
The N- (or outside the U.S., F-) series electronic Nikons of the 1980s-1990s seem to be very inexpensive and loaded with features. Even more importantly, they take the popular F-mount Nikon lenses, and have autofocus and metering. The only downside is that the backs may be sticky due to the coating Nikon unwisely put on them, but some strong alcohol and some elbow grease make removing it short work. Because most of them had plastic bodies, they can be had for a song.
Oops, then again, they're not all-manual, but most do offer manual controls in addition to auto, aperture-priority and shutter-priority modes.
Oops, then again, they're not all-manual, but most do offer manual controls in addition to auto, aperture-priority and shutter-priority modes.
Spanik
Well-known
My tought as well. You could almost get a new one for that money
A Praktica with M42 mount and a 50mm would be something like that. No automation. Just the battery might be a problem as some take the PX.Peter_wrote:
Well-known
when you already think of the ae-1, i would also recommend the often overseen canon at-1. like the ae-1 but fully manual and very cheap.
practicas, like the mtl 5b or llc, were already mentioned. sturdy bodies, and they work with modern batteries too (but u need the batteries just for the lightmeter. they also work without one). but i their viewfinder is quite dark.
practicas, like the mtl 5b or llc, were already mentioned. sturdy bodies, and they work with modern batteries too (but u need the batteries just for the lightmeter. they also work without one). but i their viewfinder is quite dark.
paulfish4570
Veteran
pentax me super with 50 prime; k1000 with prime. i hear from friends in england that poundland has some very inexpensive c-41 color 35mm agfa film; a pound a roll, i believe.
she might pop in here: http://www.purelight-photography.co.uk/Forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=9be5544de6967838df1b02eb729b0b6d; to ask about stores, etc.
she might pop in here: http://www.purelight-photography.co.uk/Forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=9be5544de6967838df1b02eb729b0b6d; to ask about stores, etc.
kuzano
Veteran
Oly OM-10 with the shutter speed adaptor
Oly OM-10 with the shutter speed adaptor
The OM-10, while not as robust as an OM-1, does have the plug-in adaptor (FC20) that gives the camera manual shutter speed over ride, making the camera full manual, plus aperture priority standard on the camera. I've used the OM-10 and been happy with it when the fc20 adaptor is plugged into the front. Due to the misconception about no manual operation is available the OM-10 sells cheap. It takes all the lenses in the OM Zuiko series.
Nice option to keep the price down. Look for one with the adaptor, but the adaptors can be found often on eBay.
Aside from that, I consider the triad of the early "learning" manual camera's the:
Pentax K1000 50mm f2 lens
Minolta X-370 or the hard to find x-570
Canon AE-1
Oly OM-10 with the shutter speed adaptor
The OM-10, while not as robust as an OM-1, does have the plug-in adaptor (FC20) that gives the camera manual shutter speed over ride, making the camera full manual, plus aperture priority standard on the camera. I've used the OM-10 and been happy with it when the fc20 adaptor is plugged into the front. Due to the misconception about no manual operation is available the OM-10 sells cheap. It takes all the lenses in the OM Zuiko series.
Nice option to keep the price down. Look for one with the adaptor, but the adaptors can be found often on eBay.
Aside from that, I consider the triad of the early "learning" manual camera's the:
Pentax K1000 50mm f2 lens
Minolta X-370 or the hard to find x-570
Canon AE-1
jonasv
has no mustache
Thanks everyone for the excellent suggestions! I'll be looking into all of those.