What's a good camera, 35 mm, for a beginner's photography class, with zoom and lenses?

Answer 1

If you’re looking for the best SLR 35mm film camera money can buy for learning purposes and you're also looking for a very reliable and versatile film camera, nothing beats a Nikon N80 with the Nikkor AF 28-105mm f/3.5-5.6D lens for beginners and advanced beginners and semi-pros (great and reliable back-up camera, too). You won't find another camera with the same features and robust build for the price as the Nikon N80 SLR film camera.

Set the Nikon N80 on manual mode and it is no different from those older manual cameras but once you learn how to operate a manual camera, you may also want to move up to a little automation. One of the best features is that it has three kinds of built-in meters and a built-in strobe light.

The N80 is also very popular amongst those taking formal photography classes because it can be used manually (you set the aperture and the shutter speed with either auto-focus or manual focus), semi-automatic (either in aperture priority or shutter speed priority; with manual focus OR auto-focus), or in total automatic mode where it sets the aperture and shutter speed, either auto-focus or manual focus. The N80 sets the film's ISO for you automatically, and advance the film as you take an image and rewind the roll as you take the last image. The N80 is ergonomically made and is a sturdy camera with a no-nonsense feel and also has three metering modes (center-weighted, spot metering as well as 3-D matrix metering). The options and features are similar to the more expensive pro-level camera, Nikon F100, but at a much more affordable price tag for a sturdy and ergonomically built camera.

I recommend the Nikkor AF 28-105mm f/3.5-5.6D zoom lens, the most versatile lenses put out by Nikon, which can be used as a wide angle, a regular lens, a portrait lens, a short telephoto lens and as a macro-lens, too. Nikkor lenses are known for their superior build and superior glass formula. An alternative lens is the Nikkor AF 35-105mm f/3.5-5.6D(macro) lens, a bit older, more affordable but equally as good.

If, you can also afford to get the Nikkor AF 50mm f/1.8D lens (about $70-$75 used), you will also have an excellent emergency lens for low-light situations that is easy to carry and will save the day when you most need a fast lens; this lens is also good for portraits and yields tremendous image detail quality.

You will NOT outgrow this camera or the recommended lenses anytime soon. The features are there to help you, not to confuse you and they are easy to find and use; an additional feature is the on-demand grid lines to help you keep the horizon level when shooting landscapes and/or seascapes.

Be sure to also get the instructions manual and Hogan's book on the N80, which is also very, very handy and most helpful.

When you buy a camera, you're buying into a lens system for future purchases, and some camera brands change their lens mount every few years, which limits the camera owner and his/her creative needs; Nikon has NOT changed its lens mount since 1959 and has no plans on changing it, either. So, you can, basically, mount any lens made since 1959 and those to be made in the future, with the only restrictions that you cannot get auto-focus from manual lenses or metering from those without the contacts to send info back and forth to the camera. Lenses normally outlast cameras unless submerged in water or dropped on a hard surface or deliberately abused/misused; so, don't hesitate to buy a used if the lens is good quality (no dents or obvious signs of abuse/misuse) from a reputable place.
Try www.keh.com for the N80 camera and the suggested lenses; if you don’t see what you want, go back in a couple of days but be ready to buy once you see what you want because their merchandise does not last long on their shelves. Good luck and best wishes.

Answer 2

It depends up on your pocket. If you want to buy a manual film camera brand new, then Nikon FM3A is better or little bit advanced is Nikon F80, in America it is N80(both are same)and Canon 300v is also good Or if you need a second hand camera, it will be more good for a bigginer to play with.If you go after cheaper cameras, Yashica FX3super2000 is enough or vivitar.All the 35-105 of any camera is the best zoom lens you get cheaper.Or you want a digital camera, Canon 350D is the less expensive one.then Canon 400D is better.Nikon D70s and D80 is also better cameras.Use a good wide angle 17mm or zoom lenses like 17-40, 18-55 or 28-135,etc.. but the class lens is 70-200 f2.8 L of Canon and 80-200ED f2.8 of Nikon without a tripod collar. 85mm f1.8 of each company are good portraite lenses.

Answer 3

I would look for something that is very good, inexpensive, and has a large number of lenses that can be used for it. I would always recommend a totally manual camera for beginners

Personally, I think the OM1 is the best - all manual, has internal meter, but you can click it to manual and disable that, it is light, smaller in size than the corresponding Canons and Nikons and the glass from Olympus is incredible.

There are many others to choose from. Pentax Spotmatics are great, their K1000 is great, Canon's A1 and AE1 are both good solid cameras, and Nikon is always in the picture.

Manual cameras will give you what you need to know about the relationship between shutter speeds, stops, and film speeds, things that you don't get on automatic cameras which do all of your thinking for you.

When I taught photography, I would not allow a light meter. You should learn to look about you and determine the shutter speeds and stop you should use in the conditions you are in. If you need a flash, those are available.

Answer 4

I took photography years ago, and had a used Pentax K1000SE. Was a simple camera, no fancy extras, just a basic 35mm camera that took excellent photos. Had a flash and zoom lens to go with it.

Answer 5

Olympus OM-1

Answer 6

1

Answer 7

Ask the person who will be teaching your class for some input, then shop prices. Try KEH.com for good used prices with a great return policy.

Answer 8

Nikon N80. probably a bit expensive but used ones are good.