camera's anyone?

Question

I am starting a photography course in Ja nuary and I need a new camera for it. It the city and guilds one at the city college. Can any help me on finding a camera? It says it has to be film I think but I need a proper camera.

Answer 1

Get a Canon Eos Rebel SLR (35mm) - a great camera for the price.

Answer 2

For a photographic course it will need to be an SLR (Single Lens Reflex) as they are the most versatile.

Pentax K1000 is the classic student basic SLR 35mm camera. Cheap to buy , very good build quality, lots of affordable lenses available. Check out eBay. Make sure it comes with at least 1 lens (usually 50mm). As with all things second hand, condition is everything. Expect to pay less than £100.00 for a good example with several lenses. Pentax made these for over 30 years (1974 till the late 1990's)! So some older examples may need new light seals, easy and cheap to do (if you know how!) There are even some brand new in box examples out there.

Don't rule out the ME Super, or more up to date models.

Your tutor will want your camera to have a Manual Mode (not just Auto)

Good luck with your course, but be warned photography is addictive!!

Chris

Answer 3

The biggest bang for the buck has to be the older Canon cameras that use "fd" mount lenses. All are manual focus and though most have some sort of auto exposure they can all be set manually. The AT-1 is a match needle system (no auto exposure), the AE-1 has Shutter priority and the AE-1 Program added a Program mode. The A-1 was the top of this line with Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority and Program Mode. I can't leave out the professionals workhorse the F-1, still a great camera that is still being used by some pros. The "L" lenses are the best and still command high prices, but the better non "L" lenses are also great lenses that are available at very reasonable prices. It's true you have to do some searching--eBay, KEH, etc., but you can get a great camera that you can keep or sell for what you paid for it after you're finished with the class. Check out the link below for information on Canon cameras and lenses. Good Luck.

Answer 4

You are going to get as many people's opinion on brands and models as they have cameras. (You may have noticed this already)

Call the instructor and get their recommendations. If they are unwilling to commit, at least ask for what specific settings you will be asked to be able to use. Then ask them for a syllabus of the course. This should give you an idea of the what activities and technical issues will be covered that could effect your camera selection.

Take all of the above information to your local camera store (hopefully they have both new and used equipment that will satisfy the requirements). Let them make recommendations within your budget. Then look at each camera in your price range and discover its compatibility (intuitive layout) with yours.

Keep in mind, this is going to be your first sojourn into a life-long discovery of a very quickly changing technology. What you buy today will be obsolete very quickly so only consider purchases where lenses and will have some degree of transfer as your experience and needs grow.

Answer 5

Go for any second hand SLR that you can afford. If you don't know what SLR in the context of photography means then maybe a different course?

It means single lens reflex and may be what you refer to as a proper camera.

Digital cameras are good but your course will involve developing and printing which is why you will need a film camera.

I used to have an OLYMPUS OM10 which is a very good basic SLR, though you won't find one much under twenty years old now.

PRACTICA cameras (made in Russia) are cheap but they use non-standard sizes for filter rings, tripod mounts etc.

If you have the money, go for MINOLTA or NIKON.

Answer 6

Get any name brand camera - Nikon, Canon, Minolta, whatever. Make sure that it has full manual mode available. Get either a short to medium zoom or else a wide angle lens (24 - 28 mm) and a short telephoto (like 105 mm).

The cameras should be a dime a dozen on eBay at this point. Few people want a film camera anymore and they're looking to sell them. Older lenses should also be available because they don't support all the fancy new operations that the new cameras have.

Hopefully, your instructor will be having you use full manual, so you won't need anything fancy or recent.

Answer 7

go for a Canon the Rebel mentioned by others was available in the USA in UK its called the Canon, 1000 fn ,and was a great we 35mm camera for students and you will need 35mm film camera if your learning photography and learning to do your own developing and printing,I gave my niece my 1000fn when she started a photography course at college 2yr ago,but you should pick up a very good used one very cheap as most people are being forced onto using digital which is easier but not as rewarding, good luck with your course

Answer 8

Nikon FM10, a film camera, is inexpensive.

You have to set everything yourself, including focus, aperture, speed shutter and advancing the film. In return, you will think about all the settings (aperture = depth of field, speed shutter = freezing the action, and so on), and you will be in complete control of the results.

When you move on to an advanced camera, digital or film, you will probably put it in AUTO mode, but you will be able to override it at any time, and you will usually know how the photos will come out.

Answer 9

Get a film SLR.

I'd stick with Nikon or Canon.

A Nikon N90s can be found for under $200 with a lens in most cases...the Canon EOS Rebel can still be found new in some places for $200 with kit lens.

Answer 10

go to jessops , there used to students coming in , because students get a discount there. ( you'll get your student card , signed by your tutor when you start )

anyway go in there ask them what they have in the way of 35mm slr cameras , they normally have secondhand cameras in too , they will at least be able to advise you on what you need even if you end up buying one else where .