What is a nice used SLR 35mm camera?

[michaeljkrell]

I feel the need to mess around with film cameras. I am looking for a decent used 35mm SLR camera that would do the job. I am probably lean to getting a Canon just because I have a Canon 50mm and a 35mm lens. Maybe around $100 or so.

 

[DNW]

I bought a nice Nikon FE from fleabay not too long ago for just under $150.

 

[hamish5178]

What are you looking for?

Like, do you want auto-focus, auto-winding, a flash, fully-automatic?

I shoot full manual, I rarely even use my built in light meter. Is that more extreme than what your were thinking?

 

[michaeljkrell]

In regards to the flash, I have a Sunpak 383 that I use on my E-300. Will that work with most other SLR cameras?

Auto-Focus would be nice, but wouldn't mind to have lots of manual controls.

 

[hamish5178]

Well in terms of fully manual I'd reccomend a Fujica ST-605, they are awesome cameras and can be found for around $30 on ebay, I don't know much about autmatic though. Good luck!

 

[michaeljkrell]

What lenses would you recommend using with it?

 

[acidboy]

btw, before you get a used slr, you should find out how many clicks it had.

 

[milosz]

Pentax K1000 is the standard starter camera - all-manual, no battery required. They've produced an absolute assload of them, so I'm pretty sure nice examples are running under a bill.

Nikons and Canons with added functionality (auto-exposure of any sort) still run a bit more, I believe.

Lens-wise, no matter what manufacturer, just get a 50mm f/1.8. Everyone made one, they were all excellent and they're all ridiculously cheap.

FWIW, I no longer have any film cameras to donate, but maybe we could get a Styleforumgives thing going for this? Buying from a reputable used outfit like KEH (keh.com - the absolute best, their bargains are equivalent to Ebay 'Mint!!!!!'), it would only take a few hundred bucks to get a small group of good camera/lens outfits.

 

[milosz]

Wow, just discovered that my first film camera (Canon EOS Elan 7) costs about the same as a '70s low-end Nikon. No love for old autofocus bodies, wow.

An Elan 7 (autofocus, autoexposure, a pretty decent viewfinder) and 50/1.8 together would run about $125, by the look of it. In your position, I'd lean toward any combos like this I could acquire, as I'm not sure I'd want to spend too much time teaching kids the ins and outs of match-needle exposure - with program modes or auto, you can focus on creativity.

 

[Pundit]

Check out the old Canon AE-1 and AT-1, they are probably in your price range and were solid cameras.

 

[michaeljkrell]

Originally Posted by milosz

FWIW, I no longer have any film cameras to donate, but maybe we could get a Styleforumgives thing going for this? Buying from a reputable used outfit like KEH (keh.com - the absolute best, their bargains are equivalent to Ebay 'Mint!!!!!'), it would only take a few hundred bucks to get a small group of good camera/lens outfits.
Yeah, that is a good idea.

Originally Posted by hamish5178

Well in terms of fully manual I'd reccomend a Fujica ST-605, they are awesome cameras and can be found for around $30 on ebay, I don't know much about autmatic though. Good luck!
I decided to pick one these up. I saw a sample photo album or two from this camera and was really impressed. I think I may pick up an AE-1 body if I spot a good deal to use my 50mm and 35mm canon lenses.

 

[michaeljkrell]

Is there a particular place you guys send your photos to be developed?

 

[matadorpoeta]

Originally Posted by michaeljkrell

Yeah, that is a good idea. I decided to pick one these up. I saw a sample photo album or two from this camera and was really impressed. I think I may pick up an AE-1 body if I spot a good deal to use my 50mm and 35mm canon lenses.
you did not say what type of canon lenses you have. if they are "ef" they will only work with autofocus cameras, in which case i recommend a used elan 7 or, even cheaper, a rebel t2. if they are the old manual "fd" lenses, they will only work on the older manual cameras, like the ae-1.

Originally Posted by michaeljkrell

Is there a particular place you guys send your photos to be developed?
the best deal for this is to go to bhphotovideo.com and buy some of the a&i mailers.

 

[michaeljkrell]

I'm not too bright. I actually have old Nikon lenses (I use them on a 35mm adapter for my video camera). So I got a Nikon F2 Photomic from KEH for around $70 shipped (it was bargain priced and has an engraving). I am really excited to use that one.

I just found out my dad has a Kodak Retina IIc and it works like a charm. I can see that photography can really be a bad habit. I have an Olympus XA on my wish list now...

 

[grimslade]

Originally Posted by michaeljkrell

Yeah, that is a good idea.



I decided to pick one these up. I saw a sample photo album or two from this camera and was really impressed.

I think I may pick up an AE-1 body if I spot a good deal to use my 50mm and 35mm canon lenses.

You won't be able to use modern lenses on an AE-1. For that, you need an EOS camera. The EOS 650 was a very early model, and while primitive, is built like a tank. Heck, I think I have one, and if you want it, it's yours for $50.