Posted on 08/07/2005 4:03:11 PM PDT by 6ppc
My son has signed up for a photography class and I need to buy a 35mm SLR camera capable of manual operation.
My limited experience with 35mm photograph was a Pentax Spotmatic F I owned in the 70's and 80's. It was an excellent camera, but is no longer alive.
I want to buy him a good quality camera and have been shopping on Ebay, but really do not know enough about 35mm SLR cameras to know which ones are the best buys. I was hoping some freepers could clue me in on which of the following cameras are good/better/best etc.
Requirements include through the lens metering and ability to operate in manual mode. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Here are some examples of the brands and models I'm considering:
Canon AE-1
Canon A-1
Canon EOS 650
Canon EOS A2E
Canon T-70
Canon EOS Rebel
Nikon N-70
Nikon Nikomat
Nikon N-80
Nikon FM
Pentax K1000
Pentax SF1
Olympus OM-1
Olympus OMG
Olympus OM-2N MD
Minolta Maxxum 7000
Minolta Maxxum 450si
Minolta XG-se
Minolta SRT MC-11
Minolta XG-A
Minolta Maxxum 4
Minolta Maxxum 5
Minolta X-700
Not if you're planning a trip across country. But if you are a car enthusiast, learning how a model-T works might prove very interesting.
What he said!
Jeez Louise!
That's far out.
Pentax K-1000
It's used as a standard in many photography courses.
I bought one long ago and it's going strong.
It's a workhorse.
Go here, http://www.steves-digicams.com/
This guy covers everything. He actually uses them and tells you if your finger tends to get in the way, etc. A real comprehensive review.
We bought our kids each a Sony DSC-F717. It is a great camera with Zeiss lens, 5 megapixel. Takes awesome pictures. Can be automatic or manual.
Wow... is it still 2001?
Progress in digital cameras has burst way beyond your outdated assessment....
Catch up
I've been very happy with my Canon A-1 and EOS Rebel. I bought both of them for less than $75 each.
Here is another way I look at it- Given the choice to go sailing or out on a speed boat, I would choose sailing. Sure, the speed boat is faster, but what's the hurry?
I have a Nikon F that I still use occasionally. No meter, no auto anyhing.
You are obviously into photograghy far more than I...this Nikon FE2 at 1/4000 can stop the propeller of an airplane and I can prove it. It is a fun camera and the add-ons can provide some beatuful (almost microscopic (slight hyperbole))close-ups as well as some long distance photos.
I am not heavily into digital but from my limited experience with three P&S with 5 and 6 MP sensors, they will beat a 35mm right up until they start to break up due to pixelation.
What I mean is they look better, the color looks sharper and the image looks sharper.
This is a bit misleading as the 35mm technically has more detail but it just doesn't look like it.
I did notice in Pop Photo a month or two ago that they said the 20MP (or something close to that) Canon will actually beat a 35mm using good high quality film.
I'd say to go for just about anything out of the Canon EOS line. I myself do not use 35mm any longer, I currently use a Canon Digital Rebel XT (which I highly recommend).
LOL. The joy of sailing. Hours of sheer boredom broken by moments of stark terror.
Gotta ask.. where did (or do) you sail?
LOL!
We went sailing on Lake Travis.
When your boy sees that 500mm GUN he's going to go nuts. Warn him you can't shoot one of those things hand held unless you have like 1000asa film. He'll need to lay it down on a bean bag or you will have to get him a STURDY tripod.
I know if I had got my hands on a big lens like that early it would have serriously rocket boosted my interest in photography. Serious nature shot machine! Gets the girl's notice as well. Works like a porche.
His photog teacher may not have much use for it though. They like to start kids with 'normal' perspective lenses which for the 35mm format is 50mm. Its called normal cause it sees about like the human eye does. Little or no distortion too whereas the greater the variation from normal one goes, either way, the greater the distortion of the image.
Beautiful area. I've never been sailing there, but back in another life, friends and I would sail from Clear Lake into Galveston Bay, then into the Gulf and up and down the Texas coast. Sometimes for just the day, sometimes for a couple of weeks.
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