2007-09-27 06:08:25 · 6 answers · asked by tbittner17 1 in Consumer Electronics ➔ Cameras
The Pentax K1000.
A veritable "tank" of a camera because they are so hard to break. You probably can pick one up at a pawn shop for less than $100 and they are easily serviced by anybody that knows anything about cameras (and some who don't). Their mounting system for lenses is pretty much universal. Shutter-speed only goes to 1/1000th sec, but you can compensate for that. As well, the metering and exposure systems are not electronic, so batteries aren't an issue. A lot of pros have them for "backups" to their high-dollar units. I am a novice shutterbug, but my buddy teaches photography and swears by them.
2007-09-27 06:19:23 · answer #1 · answered by ranran4 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well I'll show my bias - I swear by my Minoltas. Used them since 1971, have more lenses then I care to admit. My oldest is an SRT-202, bought new in 1973 and serviced for the first time this Feb. I'd recommend an SRT-202 to anyone who wants a completely manual camera with no bells and whistles. These days most of my shooting is with an X-700 or an XE-7. The XE-7 was sold by Leica as its R-3. The Minolta XD-11 (world's first multi-mode 35mm SLR with both Aperture & Shutter Priority and Manual Metering) was sold by Leica as their R-4 & R-5.
Note to "ranran4" - the Pentax K-mount is NOT "almost universal". The K1000 was Pentax's first bayonet-style lens mount, replacing the venerable screw-mount they had used for years. The K-mount is now being used by the Pentax DSLR line - K100D, K110D and the latest K10D.
2007-09-27 14:37:41 · answer #2 · answered by EDWIN 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a pretty wide choice of 35mm SLR cameras on the secondhand market, but there are a few traps.
Lens mounts are not universal. Nikon, Canon and Pentax all use different mounts. You can get adapters but in general, once you have decided on the body, you have also decided on the rest of the system. These three makers' mounting systems have stood the test of time, and been around for at least 20 years.
Other makers made their own mounts, or used the earlier M42 screw thread mount. You will still find M42 lenses relatively easily, but may have difficulty finding lenses for film cameras from smaller makers who are no longer manufacturing.
That said, the Pentax recommended is not a bad choice, but its features are as basic as it gets. It is a manual focus camera with manual exposure only. Like the Nikon FM10, it was aimed at student photographers who needed to learn how the whole process worked. There is nothing wrong with that, but you might want to get a camera with auto-exposure or program modes as a minimum, and autofocus.
Ken Rockwell's article on why its not the camera is worth reading. I have provided the link.
2007-09-27 14:05:39 · answer #3 · answered by DougF 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Pentax K1000, Konica T3N, Olympus OM-1, Nikon FE2, Canon AE-1, Minolta XG-M all produce fine images. None of them take really good pictures. That is up to you.
2007-09-27 19:55:10 · answer #4 · answered by Bob 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
99% of SLR cams are always good and have a life cycle of abt 15 yrs.... i still use a nikkon SLR and the result is always gr8....
2007-09-27 13:12:04 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
mamyia rb67 pro s has always done well by me...mine is 30 yo
2007-09-27 13:15:46 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋