Where can I find a manual 35mm camera?

Question

I need help. I want to get a 35mm camera. I have heard that manuals are better. I was wondering if they realy are better, what are the basics on working them . and where i can find one.

Answer 1

Nikon still makes a 35mm camera so you can buy new. I applaud your desire to actually learn photography by using a 35mm manual camera. The used market is a true "buyer's market" now as people get rid of perfectly good cameras and switch to digital.

My suggestion would be:

Minolta SRT-202

Pentax K1000

Canon FTb

Get a 50mm f1.7 lens with them and you're good to go.

These are all totally manual cameras so you set f-stop, shutter speed and focus yourself.

Answer 2

Film will give you a better image than digital, nonetheless there are some great digital SLR's that are giving film a run for it's money. People have been sounding the death knell of 35mm photography for a few years, it ain't happening. Consider that there are still people making daguerreotypes, 35mm photography will be around for a long time to come.

I would suggest you take a look at the used equipment market. There are some great buys. One company I have dealt with and have had no problems with is KEH.com. They carry an extensive line of used and new equipment. They also have an excellent return policy and a warranty on their used equipment. You can go to their website at: http://www.keh.com/OnLineStore/home.aspx

Nikon, Canon, Olympus, Minolta, Pentax all make excellent 35mm cameras. I have been shooting Nikon for over 35 years, so naturally I would give Nikon my highest recommendation.

Answer 3

I think just about any camera store would have them. Are they better? You mean better than something like a digital? Yes and no. They are less confusing to operate, but I like my digital better. You can see the picture you took right away and if you don't like it erase it. On a digital you also get a lot more pictures, iff you set the camera right, you can get up to 300 + on some of them, where as with film I think 36 pictures is the most I have ever seen. The basics of them, all I ever did really, besides put in batteries and film was point and click.

Answer 4

You can go to www.ebay.com and find a few older film cameras there - they are extremely cheap compared to Digital.

The only issue I have is that if you are new to photography I would go for digital, as you can make a lot of mistakes, and you don't have to worry about the expenses of film.

Any SLR camera is manual, you can get a film SLR for a fraction of the price they cost new (on ebay) and they have far superior quality to non-SLR cameras (due to the fact they have better lenses and are more guaranteed to be precise in their timing (shutter speeds etc) and usage of film.

The basics of working them is quite different to a point-and-shoot, but if you put it into AUTO mode, it practially becomes a point-and-shoot with a lot more functionality.

Talk to personell in a camera store, especially if there is an older second-hand camera store nearby, they generally have a wealth of information and are quite willing to chat to you about it.

But don't go overlooking digital SLR cameras (same as film SLR, just digital) - they have amazing quality nowadays, and some of the higher end ones (Canon EOS 1Ds M3 etc) are as good as (if not better) than expensive film.

Even the entry level (Canon EOS 400D) D-SLR cameras have amazing quality.

I apologise to any Nikon fans out there, but I only know the Canon cameras.

For specifications on digital SLR cameras, go to www.dpreview.com - they have great reviews :)

Dale.

Answer 5

No way. These are quite outdated now and don't make this blunder to invest in non-digital camera now.

Answer 6

Target or walmart and then when you are there there are people who work there so tell them to show you how to work it and there will defintly be instustions insid of it to show u how to work it