An SLR for the wife, help needed!

Sewin · Apr 18, 2015

Hello All,

My better half uses a simple digital camera for photographing her work.

I'm slowly trying to convince her film is the way to go, also it would be another camera for me to play with .

She won't use my 35mm cameras, too heavy and too many controls!

I'm thinking along the lines of one of the last made consumer SLR's in the price range of say Canon T50, a bit ugly or maybe a Canon T70 with a decent 50mm prime lens, something auto with a manual option for me.

I know nothing about the last plastic SLR's made by Canon, Nikon etc. and have never considered them.

Could only find information the Canons and Nikons when I googled, did Minolta do one? So is there is a sleeper out there I should also consider?

Any help would be appreciated, make doesn't bother me and I'd quite like one to play with too.

Thanks.

Sewin

GRHazelton · Apr 18, 2015

Maybe a Pentax ME Super? Aperture preferred automation, but can adjust shutter. Wonderful viewfinder, good handling, small, solid, metal, 2 fps winder easily found, excellent K mount lenses. Sync at 1/125. Uses easily found button cell, NOT mercury. ME Supers are usually available inexpensively. Check user reports at http://www.pentaxforums.com/camerareviews/pentax-me-super.html.

benjiboy · Apr 18, 2015

I wish I could get an SLR for my wife

bernard_L · Apr 18, 2015

I'm slowly trying to convince her film is the way to go

Probably not what you want to hear, but... people like us stick to film because we value the act/process of photography. When the criteria are decent results, convenience, time, d*****l is preferable (pls note that I avoid using superior). Disclosure: I own and use a number of film cameras, and own zero d*****l camera.

Gerry M · Apr 18, 2015

Maybe consider a Nikon F80. Small and light with minimum controls to contend with. AFD & G lenses are very affordable. The bonus; You may like it also!

rbultman · Apr 18, 2015

Canon A1 has full auto exposure plus aperture priority or shutter priority or full manual. What about autofocus? You might consider a Canon EOS if you want autofocus. I have no experience with the Canon EOS film camera models so I can't recommend a model.

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Sewin · Apr 18, 2015

bernard_L said:
Probably not what you want to hear, but... people like us stick to film because we value the act/process of photography. When the criteria are decent results, convenience, time, d*****l is preferable (pls note that I avoid using superior). Disclosure: I own and use a number of film cameras, and own zero d*****l camera.

I know what you mean, all of my cameras are film, I don't use digital.

As my better half's work is creative / design, artistic etc she understands the basics of film, so any excuse to buy one for us "both" to use would be good.

Sewin · Apr 18, 2015

benjiboy said:
I wish I could get an SLR for my wife

It's hard work, but I'm working on it but I'll have to use it a lot.

The Canon and the Pentax are both fine cameras, I've often fancied an A1.

However I think they might be classed as looking too much like my cameras! Hence the reason at considering the last generation of SLR's such as Canon T70's etc which are styled slightly different.

Perhaps the Nikon F80 or something similar.

MattKing · Apr 18, 2015

benjiboy said:
I wish I could get an SLR for my wife

Ben:

Aren't you the one who always posts that they don't need to change or add to the cameras you have?

You know, don't you that this hasn't been posted in the "[Classifieds] For Trade" sub-forum.

MattKing · Apr 18, 2015

Sewin said:
It's hard work, but I'm working on it but I'll have to use it a lot.

The Canon and the Pentax are both fine cameras, I've often fancied an A1.

However I think they might be classed as looking too much like my cameras! Hence the reason at considering the last generation of SLR's such as Canon T70's etc which are styled slightly different.

Perhaps the Nikon F80 or something similar.

If you were nearby, I would happily give you one of my Canon Rebel 2000s with a kit lens - light, reasonably small and can easily be used as an autofocus point and shoot, or as a fully featured manual focus, manual exposure camera.

antmar · Apr 18, 2015

My wife is very pleased with her Nikon EM, very small and light, easy to use, reliable and cheap.
Not enough for me but perfect for my wife.

RobC · Apr 18, 2015

Contax Aria

Small and light camera.

I recommend the Vario-Sonnar 35-70 F3.4 lens which makes a really nice combination with the Aria.

Sirius Glass · Apr 18, 2015

Nikon N75, N80 or N90 will fill your/her needs.

PentaxBronica · Apr 18, 2015

Pentax P30n or P30t (pretty much the same camera, minor detail differences).

Both are compact and fairly light, but have a metal chassis under the plastic panels and can use any K mount lens covering full frame. You get aperture priority auto, metered manual, or program mode (the last only with lenses which have an "A" setting). Power comes from a couple of button cells, winding and focus are manual, you get a DOF preview lever, self timer, standard cable release socket, and that's it. Shutter speed is displayed in the viewfinder with the recommended speed flashing and the selected speed steadily illuminated. As the collectors aren't that interested in them prices are low, and they don't usually need new light seals or much maintenance due to being far younger than ME Supers and the like. Just clean any dust or dirt off, fit new batteries, load a film and shoot.

The only criticism I've ever heard of them is that you can't override the ASA setting on the film as they use DX coding. Not that hard to modify the sticker on the film if you're determined to push or pull it though. They are battery-dependent but a couple of spares take up next to no space in your bag or pocket, and they last for years anyway.

The earlier P30 is also great, but lacks Av mode and some examples don't have a cable release socket (seems to have been a late production upgrade as I have two without it and one with).

carousel0 · Apr 18, 2015

Last summer I got my son a Pentax P30 w 35-70mm when he turned 5... it had been lingering on C/L for just $20. Looks good, light seals intact, works great!

Given all the info though, I'd probably look out for a Nikon N2000/N2020, as well as the aforementioned N80... And if lots of little buttons are okay (not so much for me), the N90s.

cliveh · Apr 18, 2015

Many years ago I bought my wife a Nikomat, which she used for many years before switching to digital.

M Carter · Apr 18, 2015

My wife thinks 60's rangefinders are adorable. Hell, I do too. If she's got a bit of the fashionista in her, show her some retro stuff. The Minoltas I own are very good performers, and they do great on full auto, very accurate, nice glass, easy to give an initial service to. Only go to 1/500th, so super-bright days can be a problem with the wrong film. I really like shooting with my metal and plastic Nikon SLRs, but this is the camera I reach for on a trip - just some kind of mojo I connect with.

I want to recover one with ostrich, or maybe a gray-green leather. Go full-on-fashion with it.

ME Super · Apr 18, 2015

GRHazelton said:
Maybe a Pentax ME Super? Aperture preferred automation, but can adjust shutter. Wonderful viewfinder, good handling, small, solid, metal, 2 fps winder easily found, excellent K mount lenses. Sync at 1/125. Uses easily found button cell, NOT mercury. ME Supers are usually available inexpensively. Check user reports at http://www.pentaxforums.com/camerareviews/pentax-me-super.html.

I second this one. My first 35mm SLR was an ME Super. One dial to select between Lock (locks the shutter), Auto (aperture priority autoexposure), 125X (flash sync), M (manual), and B (bulb). Two buttons control the shutter speed when in M mode. Control the aperture from the lens. Another dial lets you set film speed and exposure compensation. And the shutter speed displays in the viewfinder - very handy feature, that one.

GRHazelton · Apr 18, 2015

ME Super said:
I second this one. My first 35mm SLR was an ME Super. One dial to select between Lock (locks the shutter), Auto (aperture priority autoexposure), 125X (flash sync), M (manual), and B (bulb). Two buttons control the shutter speed when in M mode. Control the aperture from the lens. Another dial lets you set film speed and exposure compensation. And the shutter speed displays in the viewfinder - very handy feature, that one.

I
I have one in basic black, with the winder. A real pleasure to use, and if I drop it no enormous loss, as would dropping my LX be!

Jim Jones · Apr 18, 2015

Sewin said:
. . . I know nothing about the last plastic SLR's made by Canon, Nikon etc. and have never considered them. . . .

Years ago I bought a new Nikon FM10 for a friend. It soon developed several problems, and we went back to using Nikon F and Nikkormats.

RobC · Apr 18, 2015

APUGuser19 said:
Golf is just stupid.

It's better paid than potography if you're any good at it.

darinwc · Apr 18, 2015

I'd say a Nikon fe or fe2.

Or another vote for the Pentax me super.

Sewin · Apr 19, 2015

MattKing said:
If you were nearby, I would happily give you one of my Canon Rebel 2000s with a kit lens - light, reasonably small and can easily be used as an autofocus point and shoot, or as a fully featured manual focus, manual exposure camera.

Matt,

That is indeed a really appreciated very kind offer, as you say if only I was closer !

Many thanks all for the responses, wasn't expecting so many replies.

I've considered some of the cameras mentioned, but there's a few listed that hadn't crossed my mind.

Also wise words to let her select the camera, just like buying houses, wifes cars etc!

Many Thanks all.

paul_c5x4 · Apr 19, 2015

MattKing said:
If you were nearby, I would happily give you one of my Canon Rebel 2000s with a kit lens.

As soon as I saw the title, I was going to suggest a Canon Rebel. Shop around and you can find them available for as little as £5, but do watch out for the Canon Wheeze (the foam around the shutter blades goes sticky and gums up the works).

trythis · Apr 19, 2015

Nikon fg or canon ae-1p
Both are cheap and full auto. You Just have to focus.
Want autofocus? Nikon f80, or f75.
Any canon eos rebel film body.

Typos made on a tiny phone...

An SLR for the wife, help needed!

Sewin

GRHazelton

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Gerry M

rbultman

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