I'm looking for a good film camera, any suggestions?

Question

I love photography and am actually going to college for it in the summer, but all i have right now is a digital camera. What I really want, and need for school, is a film camera. There are so many out there though, I don't know what would be best. Of course, I don't want it to be super expensive either. Any suggestions on what to get?

Answer 1

35 mm Film Camera for students

Buy either a Nikon or Canon camera, such as a Nikon N-80 (autofocus), Nikon FM-10 (manual focus), Canon EOS Elan 7N (autofocus), or one of the Canon Rebel cameras.

Get one "general purpose lens" of a wide-to-tele zoom of the same brand as your camera in the 35-105 range.

The Pentax K1000 is certainly a proven student camera that would serve you well, but you'll have to shop used, as I don't think it's a current model. It has been replaced by the KX-M, which looks like a good student camera.

Here are a couple of suggestions from B&H Photo and Video in New York that fall into your price range..

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=319781&is=USA&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=199516&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=165829&is=USA&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=145120&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

My reasons for suggesting Nikon or Canon is so that you can have the widest possibile selection of high quality lenses available to you. Once you have really gotten into photography, you will have a few lenses and then you can keep your top quality lenses and upgrade to a more expensive camera in the same line. Pentax is another fine camera with a huge line of lenses and I always owned Pentax film cameras, but I think you have even more to choose from in Nikon and Canon, so these are the brands I have recommended to my own children.

You might also ask the instructor if he/she has a favorite camera for student use. It will help not to have to translate too much from one brand to the other.

Also, if you ever go pro, you will sometimes find Nikon and Canon on site at different events and if you have the right credentials, you can sign out a lens for the day!

Answer 2

My first SLR was once a Pentax P30t. You can nonetheless select them up on eBay for no longer plenty of cash. They're utterly manually too. Just a speedy appear on eBay and you'll be able to discover hundreds of thousands of 35mm cameras on the market. If you dont wish an SLR however whatever smaller then there are a few top pleasant 35mm compacts round, a few nonetheless disturbing £three hundred or extra! At the less expensive finish of the size the Olympus Trip 35 is a beautiful digital camera, simply make certain the aperture blades are not sticking.

Answer 3

A Nikon FM series camera would be good, all manual everything.
However, you should be able to find a Nikon F100 for around $400, in mint condition. Better metering, ability to use auto-focus lenses, built like a tank, and can take advantage of Nikon's excellent flash system.
The FM3A was Nikon's newest manual camera, and it is a dream, but has become very expensive since it was discontinued.
My first SLR was a Canon AE1 in the early 70's. And while it was a great camera, to find one now it would be old and maybe nearing the end of its lifespan.
Good luck!
PS About the new FM10:
It is not a Nikon, it is actually made by Cosina and branded with the Nikon name. Build quality is rather flimsy and all of plastic, including, I believe, the lens mount. Nikon has discontinued all its line of 35mm film cameras except for the flagship F6, their top of the line pro SLR, and the FM10,. If you want a manual F model, look for one of the older ones.

Answer 4

I recommend a Nikon FM-10
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=112196&is=USA&addedTroughType=search

Its a great camera, its small. Everything is manual on it. Its really great for college classes so you can learn everything about cameras with out the aid of electronics. Plus its cheap :)

"As for the Comment below mine" Yes the FM10 is made by Cosina they have been making cameras since the 1960s. As for the MOUNT, NIkon has been using the same F Mount since they first started making cameras and they still do on there DSLRs

Answer 5

Get a good manual SLR, like a Pentax K1000, Olympus OM-1, or Nikon FM. You'll learn more when you have to set exposures yourself than if you get an auto-everything camera. Check ebay (no kidding)...great deals can be found there, if you deal with a reputable seller. Dirt cheap, too.

Answer 6

Better go for Canan,olympus or Kodak.Now film cameras are much cheaper than previous because of Digital Cameras arrival.

1.canan
2.Olympus
3.Kodak

Answer 7

It probably can't be found, but untill last week I was using a Nikpn FE 2. It can be fully auto or manual. Sorry, not completely manual you either set it for aperature priority of shutter priority.