What is a GREAT flim camera to buy (off ebay)?

Question

I am looking to purchase a professional SLR film camera off ebay to replace my Nikon N65 (that was stolen on a trip). I really like shooting black and white on film (even though I know film is obsolete). I figured since film cameras are so cheap now... I could probably afford to get a very nice one for really cheap. I am not partial to any particular brand.. What camera (and type of lens) should I get? What types of lenses should I stay away from.

Is there a better camera than a Nikon N65 that would make sense for me to get because the price is just as cheap?

Thanks,
Scott

Answer 1

Why not get another N65, you can pick up a good one from KEH.com for about $100.00. KEH.com has a lot of great used equipment, they stand behind it, and what they list is what you'll get. http://www.keh.com/OnLineStore/home.aspx

Answer 2

My favorites for film are the Nikon F100 & F6. The F6 will run you about the same as a nice digital but the F100, which is almost as good, is in the $300 range last I checked. The F100 is more of a pro setup, but there are so many great cameras out there and they all go cheap. I can barely give away my film cameras. I would stick with either Nikon or Canon just because of lens compatability and availability. I find lots of old lenses in thrift shops and they are mostly Nikons or Canons. Don't get an off brand like Ricoh or Minolta because finding the lenses can be a hassle. Nikon has the highest compatability as almost all their lenses made in the last 50 years will fit just about any Nikon camera whether it be film or digital. This means that you can find a 50mm 1.4 MF for $30.
As far as what type of lens to get? It all depends on your shooting style. For portraits go for a 50 or 85mm 1.4, landscapes, a much wider angle like 18mm. Sports, a big zoom lens. It's still a matter of personal preference. I think lenses are a lot like shoes; either they fit you just right and you can feel comfortable enough to not think about them or they're too tight, too wide, too something and that is the one aspect you think about.

Answer 3

Given the cost of film cameras nowadays, if you're into Nikons just get an N90s and be done with it. It's a camera that performs on par with the professional versions, it just doesn't have the all the heavy duty construction but will still take pretty much all the abuse normal use will subject it to. People will go oh, this is this and that is that-just get the N90.

If you stick with a Nikon body, stick with Nikon lenses unless you are really on a tight budget. Nikon is all about optics-why buy a Nikon body and then stick lesser glass on it?

Other than Nikon, you can hardly go wrong with Canon, they're both great. I shot professionally for 8 years with Canon and then for 8 years with Nikon (in 35mm). Any other brand in 35mm, especially used, I'd blow off, there isn't much else that really qualifies as 'great.' And I wouldn't TOUCH anything in 35mm with a power zoom on it.

If you lean more toward portraits and landscapes, I'd tilt you more toward Nikon, if you are more into autofocus sports photography and are looking for an alternative to the Nikon, I'd probably nudge you more toward Canon. An EOS Elan is a good, versatile and durable choice.

Answer 4

Yes, the Nikon N80 or the Nikon F100 are better choices, so I would go with either of those cameras over a replacement N65.

As for lenses, try the Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 lens. Great range. I also am partial to the Tamron 24-135mm SP lens too. Of if you want a prime lens, get the 50mm f1.8, probably the best bargain in lenses at $125.

Answer 5

Well if you have several Nikon lenses you'll want to stay with Nikon. If you aren't Nikon lens-poor then there are several choices. Personally, I've been shooting with Minolta for 36 yrs. now. I have far more lenses than I care to admit. One of my favorite Minoltas is the XE-7. Manual metering or Aperture Preferred and a feature I use often - a lever for intentional multiple exposures. If you sit the XE-7 beside a Leica R-3 you'll notice an uncanmny resemblance. That's because the Leica R-3 is really a Minolta XE-7.

An XE-7 with a Minolta MC ROKKOR-X 50mm f1.4 and a Minolta MD 35-70mm f3.5 and MD 70-210mm f4 constant aperture zooms makes a nice package. (Leica sold the two Minolta zooms as their Vario-Elmar series.) The Minolta MD 100mm f4 macro lens is a good choice if you like macro photography.

No doubt you'll get plenty of suggestions for Nikon or Canon. Both excellent cameras.