A good 35mm SLR for a beginner?

Question

Hi ... I would like to enter the world of photography and am considering learning the basics on a 35 mm SLR and doing a begineers course. I'm looking at buying a 2nd hand one and maybe buying lenses I can use when I also eventually find the money to upgrade to a good digital.

Can anyone recommend a good 35mm SLR for a begineer that I can learn the basics on and that will last me for a bit as I develop my skills. I'm not bad with good automatic digital camera , but want to learn how to take better shots. (advice on lenses apreciated too) Price between 50 pounds - 250 ish body only

Answer 1

For that price you can get a nice camera. However, the more basic your camera is, the more you will learn in a class. If the camera focuses for you, even if you can turn it off, you will be tempted to use the auto focus. If it has automatic film loading you will never learn how to load your own film. Etc,, etc. Also, most modern cameras have an infrared sensor, which doesn't matter unless you want to experiment with infrared film, which is really cool stuff. So, I would go super basic and used. Try a photoshop that trades in equipment because they usually won't sell you something that is broken, whereas a pawnshop will. I would look for these characteristics, brand matters very little, as long as it works.
You want an adjustable shutterspeed with a bulb option, so that you can have long timed photos
You want at least an apeture range of 3.5-22, but the larger the range the better (this is more for the lens)
A strong body, so that if you drop it, it doesn't shatter, I prefer metal bodies.
I have about five cameras, all of them are very different and I use them all, but my favorite was bought in 1980 and is a Pentax K1000, I have had no problem with it in 25 years. It is a great camera.

Answer 2

Well, I took basic photo last semester, and got a Vivitar V3800N, which I love. It is completely manual, and the light meter isn't advanced, so it can be harder at first to get a well exposed shot. It's a great size though, and took some really nice pictures.

As for lenses, a fixed focal length is really the best. Zoom lenses are less accurate, and to get the flexibility of range you sacrifice a nice sharp picture. the grain with zoom is larger and the image fuzzier. It's also a lot easier to learn the appropriate f-stop, shutter speed, and their relation on a fixed focal length. I suggest 50 mm. That's standard, and won't distort the image like a very wide or narrower focal length will.

You might want a filter for the lens too, skylight is good, to protect the lens.

I absolutely adore Godfrey (yes, I named my camera) and he served me very well -- I got a A in the course. Photography takes a huge amount of work, if you're planning to develop the negatives and prints yourself. It's worth it, you get a great product, but if you're taking this course in school make sure it's with an otherwise not too strenuous semester!

Digital is nice, but the control you get on a manual SLR is absolutely amazing. If you want auto/manual, which is really nice because the camera tells you what to do if you want it, I'd suggest a trip to whatever camera store is near you (I live near New York City, so I go to B&H, but I don't know any UK stores!) and ask the experts there for an opinion. They'll probably know exactly what you should get based on price, your experience, and what you're looking for.

Have fun!

Answer 3

The Canon SLRs -- the lenses for the 35mm cameras can be transitioned to the Digital SLRs and they have so many different lenses available.

For me, I started with the old Canon A series (35mm Cameras), and a couple of years ago -- got my 1st Digital SLR from Canon. I enjoy all my Canon Cameras, and still even use my A Series when I am out and about -- but not quite as much as the Digital SLR.

This is a sturdy camera series, it has taken a lot of abuse, and I've had them for a good long time.

Answer 4

Donna's right about the K1000...a totally manual workhorse that can still be found. Nikon FM is also a good manual 35mm SLR. Battery isn't needed except for the light meter. Either would be a good choice to learn the basics.

But remember...it's not (necessarily) the camera...learn to use what you've got...practice and experiment...play around and see what you're capable of. Great thing with digital is if you totally blow a shot, just delete it and try again. No waste except for a little time.

Answer 5

I think when taking a photography class especially for beginners "less is more" the student gets more out of the class learning HOW the camera works if it has LESS automatic features and settings. So, probably buying a used manual camera would be your best bet... You may want to try local camera shops/pawn shops and in the local classifieds to find a truly manual student camera. An FM series Nikon would be great if you can locate one.. Or even a Canon AE-1 all popular back in the 1970's you may be able to find one at at local garage sale/tag sale or estate sale..Also, ask family members/relative and neighbors some people have such camera's lurking in their attic/basement since everything is automatic these days.. Look in the Classifieds and see if anyone is selling "old" camera equipment.. Since the "digital" revolution manual camera's have since become a "thing of the past" so students aren't getting the full benefit of learning how to take/process pictures.... It's all fully automated... Maybe, if your student can wait a quarter/semester to take the class you would have time to find the right camera. An FM-10 is resonable for a newer student model camera it retails for around $300. I have both an AE-1 I got for FREE from my uncle and a PENTAX K-1000 I picked up at a yard sale for $10 w/ lenses and I have a Nikon FM I got from my grandfather (FREE).. So, the camera's are out there just look. Good luck

Answer 6

As you already know, digital cameras are steadily overtaking film based SLR's, so there are a lot of good bargains in regular film SLR's today. Below is a link for a Canon setup with lenses and other accessories on ebay, just as an example. Hunt around and you'll find a good deal. Good luck!

Answer 7

if you want a manual slr. i would suggest the nikon fe2. the metering very good. it also has ttl (through the lens) flash capability. and it will continue to take pictures with no batteries. the meter does not work without batteries though. its a great camera. for a beginner, i would also suggest the nikon 50mm f1.8 lens. they can be had pretty cheap for a manual focus version. i have the set-up i just suggested. it words pretty good. also the lenses will work on a nikon digital slr as well. someone told me that canon changed their lens mounts in the 80's. so if you get a canon ae-1. you may not be able to use that lens on a canon digital rebel. check with a reputable camera store for that answer.

Answer 8

Old manual-focus Nikon gear is just about the best there is, and it's ridiculously cheap these days. In that price range, you can probably get an FM-2, which is absolutely a brilliant little camera.

The best standard lens, if you can find one, is the 50mm f/2 Nikkor. It's slow for a normal lens, but very sharp and with beautiful background rendition.

Old Nikon stuff is solid. You really can't go wrong, provided that you buy from a reputable source.

Answer 9

I learned with a Pentax MX and a text-book by Charles Swedlund. The Pentax MX was a fully manual camera, with a great depth of field preview (really necessary for learning the basics of speed/aperture/focal length relationships.) You might be able to pick up something like this used, preferably reconditioned. Make sure it accepts a lot of different lenses. Plenty of K-mount lenses are around for the older Pentax, Vivitar, and other models, but you won't go wrong with the Olympus or Canon lines . Nikkon, even used, is still pricey. If you want to learn the basics, stick with a fully manual (where you control the shutter speed and the focus and the aperture). Get a good textbook and shoot lots of frames.

Answer 10

If you're asking about an inexpensive film camera, you have several choices but I would venture to mention only one: The Nikon N80 (also known in Europe as the Nikon F80).

Aside from the fact that Nikon is the only camera brand that has the same lens mount since 1959 (and the only brand where ALL the lenses, auto-focus as well as manual lenses can fit the camera's mount), this camera also has three kinds of light metering capacities: spot metering, average (or centre-weighted metering as it is also known) and 3-D matrix. It also has a pop-up built in strobe light. It has extra features (like the on-demand grid lines for landscapes and seascapes to help you keep the horizon level). It has a no nonsense feel and is ergonomically designed. It has many of the features of the more expensive Nikon F100, which is a professional level camera, and it also has the distinct advantage that you can use this camera in full manual for Beginner's classes and if you have poor eyes, it has a diopter correction lever to help you see better through the viewfinder. Oh, yes, you can also use the camera in manual mode AND auto-focus or manual focus, and you set the aperture and shutter speed. You can use the camera in aperture priority (with or without auto focus) where you set the aperture you want to use and the camera will set the shutter speed for you automatically; or shutter speed priority (with or without auto-focus) where you can select the shutter speed you want the camera to shoot at and the camera will set the aperture for you automatically. This is the camera that you will not easily outgrow. You DO need to get the instructions manual and you really should understand the "jargon" used in photography.

You can get this camera in great shape and at a great price at www.keh.com and you may also get to get the lens there, too.

Insofar as the lens, first and foremost there's the most versatile and popular lens made by Nikon: the Nikkor AF 28-105mm f/3.5-5.6D. This lens can be used as a wide angle lens (great for landscapes, seascapes, cityscapes, etc) and you can use the same lens as a "regular" lens from 45mm to about 55mm, and as a very short telephoto lens (60mm to 90mm) or a portrait lens (85 to 90mm) or as a medium telephoto lens at 105mm, and as a macro lens (for extreme close-ups of flowers, insects, small objects such as stamps, etc) by turning a switch on the barrel.

Another lens that I will suggest that you buy for low-light situations is the other popular lens: Nikkor AF 50mm f/1.8D. It is a prime lens but it is very fast and the quality of images is really on the money! This lens can be bought used and in great conditions for about $70/$75 and you will find that it will help you out in low-light situations when you least expect it.

Stay away from generics! They use inferior glass formula and skimp on other materials which is why they sell so cheap (you will get what you pay for). Also, Nikkor lenses retain higher resale value (superior build, superior lens formula).

Stay away from those super-zoom lenses that are all-in-one! Those are meant for vacationers and once-in-a-while photographers that are not concerned with the same level of quality that avid hobbyists are concerned with. These super-zooms are notorious for aberrations and distortions at both ends of the barrel... stay away.

If you cannot afford the Nikkor 28-105mm f/3.5-5.6D macro, then go for the older version which is equally as good (but make sure it says "macro" on it) Nikkor AF 35-105mm f/3.5-5.6D macro lens. Check with www.keh.com and see what you can find and once you find the camera and the lens, be sure to jump on it and buy quickly... the cameras and lenses do not last long on their shelves. If you do not see what you want, go back the next day and continue going back until they have what you want.

I do hope this helps you out.