Which film SLR to learn on?

Question

Hi,

I currently use a small digital camera, and have recently became more interested in photography, after using flickr....

I would like to gain a better understanding of all of the different settings and how they interact with each other.

Would I be right in thinking, that using a film SLR would be a good idea?? If so, what Camera + Lense/s would you recommend, preferably not too much money (i.e. 2nd hand from ebay).

Thanks for your help,

Ucayman

Answer 1

Pentax K1000 is the least expensive readily available Film SLR you can find, probably.

The Nikon FM/FM2 series of manual film cameras is also excellent, but a maybe bit more expensive/harder to find. Of course in this new digital era, all film cameras are a lot cheaper than before.

Check with a camera shop or find photographers selling off old gear, so you be sure they're in good working condition.

Don't worry about brand-name if you're just getting a camera to learn on. Most of the high-end digital SLRs from Nikon & Canon use newer AF (auto-focus) lenses that you wouldn't purchase for your manual camera anyway. Just get a camera body with a 50mm lens- those are fast enough for you to experiment with low-light photography.

For a zoom, maybe an inexpensive 28-135... That covers most focal lengths, from wide-angle to mild telephoto. But I'd save that money and put off buying a zoom until later, when you finally get a digital SLR. Right now the Nikon D50 is the best buy (most bang for the buck) DSLR at around $600. The Canon Digital Rebel XT costs a little more, and other Canon models are great choices near the $1000 mark. Nikon's D200 is the best camera at the high end, but it's $2000 (yikes)

Anyway, by the time you take the digital leap, there will be new models from all manufacturers, and who knows which will be best... Good luck!

Answer 2

Even though I agree with the others that a digital SLR might be the way to go, the difference in price is still quite large. So if you only want to spend somewhere between $100-200 let's say, you will probably have to go with a film SLR.

I think you have two choices. Either get a really cheap used film SLR with a lens, or get a more modern one like the Canon Rebel film SLR's. With those you can get auto focus lenses which will also work on a digital SLR if you decide to switch one day.

If you go with the old used film SLR option, you can pretty much look for any brand. Nikon FM/FM2/FE/FE2 are great for manual learning. Of course there are tons of others like Canon, Pentax, Olympus etc. If you can get one of those cheap, that would be great. Be careful buying on Ebay though, lot's of things can be wrong with old cameras. Have a look at a local store, although they may be on the expensive side. Maybe ask again here before you make your final decision.

If you go with a more modern camera, look at the Canon Rebels, I think they give you a great bang for the buck. And they will let you use lenses which you can use on a digital SLR one day. (You can get the same type of thing from Nikon and some others too.) Only problem with those I see is that they all have automatic modes along with manual, and are not as good for learning about manual metering. You may be tempted to use the Program mode and not really get around to learning all about exposure...

Good luck making your choice. Below is a link to an online camera dealer I found, they seem to have some good prices, at least for your reference...

Answer 3

go to ebay and look up nikon or canon or any other model, read some of the features and pick one. If you choose nikon, the best learning one would be an f3 manual SLR so you could learn about all the features a good camera can give you. Of course my preference is for Nikon given I own both an F3 and a D50 digital. One reason you get a Nikon is because of the lenses, some of the best lenses in the world are coming out of Nikon.

In the end there are many to choose from and some have better features then others. Look around at different sites and read reviews, or call a local college and see if they have a photography class and which camera's they would recommend.

Answer 4

one of the best ways to learn photography is by processing and printing your own B&W photos.
every 35 mm camera made is a better digital camera than 95% of the digitals on the market. Simple matter of scanning the neg a low res scan will give you 6.5 meg off a 35 mm neg and it can get far better depending on the scanner. The digital cam is what it is the max gives you fewer photos but better quality.

Should there be anyone around in say 100 years who has the least interest in your work ie family if you leave negatives odds are great they'll be viewable. Leave CD's ,memory cards and the like history shows us even if the data remains unaffected by age or delamination it is unlikely one will find the hardware to operate the antiques you are now making. Digital is great for anything which will have no value in 30 or so years.
yes there are the prints if you spend the bucks on a good quality print and if you store it properly . The thing about photos is people dont care how cruddy they are they want to see even the ones you dont feel fit to print. Bad pictures excite us every bit as much as works of art just look how excited people got over those cave drawings.

Answer 5

Any 35mm SLR digital camera will paintings, however you are going to get essentially the most significance out of an older totally handbook SLR, just like the Pentax K1000. Unfortunately, your lenses out of your t3i will in general now not paintings on 35mm considering the fact that they're absolutely EF-S lenses for cropped sensors. They will bodily have compatibility and in general shoot, however will vignette or blacken the corners of the body. You will in general desire a digital camera with a pleasant rapid top lens considering the fact that you cannot difference movie ISO and also you perhaps taking pictures interior with out a flash. I began with a Minolta XG-one million with a 45mm f/two Rokkor lens and it taught me plenty approximately pictures.

Answer 6

the prob with any film camera is the cost of film and developing, not to mention, you have to wait till they get back

how much are you planning to use it?
check out the cost of 1 roll of film, and 1 developing

now mutlitply that by how much you expect to use it

how long before you've paid for a digital slr ( I know they are expensive) but if your gettin $2 for film, and $2 to develop
25 sessions are $100.
verses 0$ seeing them on the pc,
and then you can print the best photos for as low as $0.08

Answer 7

Get a camera from a maker of good lenses - Canon, for example. You might be better off going to a good camera shop for advice and information, rather than buying blind from eBay.