Amateur Question: What kind of non-digital camera should I use?

Question

I have always used digital (and disposable) cameras.. It's a question that I'm sure will require a rather long answer and for that I apologize. What's a really good non-digital camera to use that will take professional looking pictures? An "old-fashioned" kind that actually uses film? The kind that photojournalists use? I know nothing about it but I would love to take pictures with a camera. I want something that I can zoom really well and focus. If I wanted to take a picture of a flower and really zoom in on it I could. I got a digital camera for Christmas and tried to take a close up picture this morning and it wouldn't focus. I tried to search for cameras but honestly, I have no idea what half of the lingo means. Please help!! Lol.. I don't know what I'm doing!

Answer 1

I use a Kodk P-850 digital camera. It has all I need for what I use it for. In my opinion the Cannon rebel is the best buy for the money in digital cameras. I wouldn't start out messing with 35mm. You'll spend a fortune on buying film and getting it developed. Then you have to wait a week to see the pictures you took. Get a digital and you can print the picture a few minutes after you take it...............

Answer 2

Actually, the answer to your question doesn't have to be as long winded as SOME PEOPLE always turn it into.
I'm a landscape photographer, and currently I use nothing but 35mm SLR's; both of which are made by Pentax. One of them I've had for more than 20 years.
What you might want to do is, go to a camera shop ( not a Ritz, or whatever ) but a real, old school style camera shop. You may have to do some searching, but they do still exist. Take a look at their used stuff. Usually you'll see a lot of older models, and for the most part they'll all be in good shape, but check them closely anyway. Canon AE-1, Pentax K-1000, Pentax P3 or P5 are all good recommendations. I don't remember the models, but Nikon, and Minolta are also good. You'll probably want to start with something that has both manual and auto features.
As far as lenses are concerned, start with a zoom that's in the 35-70, or 35-105 range. Tokina makes the best lenses in the business, but Pentax makes some very fine optics as well. In fact, I've heard that they make optics for a lot of other companies. Tamron, and Sigma are good also.
For film, I'm an exclusive Fuji user. Their colors are very saturated, and they also make an excellent b&w film. For color I use their Reala; b&w I use their Acros. But experiment with everything that's out there. You'll find that Ilford, and Agfa are pretty good to. Have fun.

Answer 3

IF you're after an affordable film camera with features LIKE a pro-level camera, I'd suggest the Nikon N80 because of it's many functions and features like its big brother, the Nikon F100, a very popular film camera known for its ruggedness and superb build that includes seals to withstand sandstorms and the worst humidity levels.

So, if you're after an inexpensive camera with great features (3 different great metering modes, auto-focus, auto-exposure, manual capacity, etc) I'd recommend the Nikon N80; if you're looking for a rugged pro-level camera that has a stronger focusing mechanism than the N80, I'd urge you to get the Nikon F100.

Alternatively, you may want to check out the pro-level camera that was Nikon's finest hour in photography: the Nikon F5! I own two and when I use the Nikkor AF f/2.8D lenses (or the Nikkor AF 50mm f/1.4D or the Nikkor AF 85mm f/1.8D), they SNAP to focus and the quality of images has no comparison!

Today, you can get one of the above cameras for a fraction of what they were going for a few short years ago, and they are STILL the same great cameras they were then. I recommend that you check with www.keh.com and be ready to buy as soon as you see what you want because the merchandises there do not stay long on the shelves. IF you do not see what you want, go back in a couple of days and look around again; they get new merchandise every day of the week.

Insofar as lenses are concerned, I own and use only Nikkor AF f/2.8D lenses (20-35mm; 35-70mm; 80-200mm) and I don't feel that there are any better insofar as quality of image detail. Lenses normally outlast cameras by a few years unless dropped on a hard surface or submerged in water, so by buying used, you safe money, get a great quality lens KNOWN for its quality, and will have many years of good use from a quality lens that will yield you great image detail. You can find a these at www.keh.com at the most competitive prices around.

I would recommend that you visit a camera shop and hold these cameras in your hands and FEEL in your hands, look through the viewfinder and see for yourself. You mentioned that you "have no idea what half of the lingo means;" send me an email and let me know that you're having difficulty with and I'll try to explain it to you as best as I can.

I hope this helps; good luck and very best wishes.

Answer 4

You could try finding a good quality 35mm film SLR camera to use. You might even find one second hand now at a reasonable price as people move to digital.

It won't guarantee you that you'll get better pictures though. That takes a bit of skill as well as a good camera. One downfall to getting a film camera is that you will not be able to see how successful your pictures are until after you get the film developed.

If you want to get good flower pictures, it is macro mode you are looking for, not zoom.

Answer 5

I have a Canon EOS Rebel 35mm. Though I'm itching for a digital, it's still a great camera, and I've done far better with it than I have any other camera I've owned.

Answer 6

Buy a Canon EOS Rebel G
best camera out there.

Enjoy

Answer 7

you should go to a used camera shop like i did...get a canon AE-1
its a nice 35mm non digital camera...we develope our own picture in a dark room...and all the pictures ive developed that i took with the canon AE-1...they all turned out GREAT...hope this gave you something to look into