Are 1990s SLRs the top value in 35 mm film cameras today?

[Smaug01]

There likely are empty-batteries dumps for recycling available to most of us.

Yes, in Europe and the UK, it is illegal to throw batteries away. In the US, battery recycling is available, but one has to look for it. Most people here just throw out disposable batteries. :-(

We recycle batteries through my work, so I bring them there. Most people are not going to save batteries and recycle them once a year. It should be mandated that every place that sells batteries has to take them back for recycling. (as in Europe)

 

[benveniste]

Good point about the N75, however, does it have the screw drive for older AF lenses?

Yes. IIRC, the biggest limitation of the N75 was that it always read the ISO from the DX coding of the film cartridge, so unless you had DX stickers you were stuck with external metering for bulk loading or odd film. It also lacked a DOF button.

 

[Angarian]

I think so. They are practically free on ebay, and with smart shopping on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. I find that sellers on those last two sites often don't research market prices, so sometimes, things are very overpriced and sometimes they are underpriced.

I completely agree.
There are currently so much excellent bargains on the used market concerning the latest generation of film SLRs (late 90ies, early 00ies).
Just some examples:
Canon EOS 1N, EOS 3, EOS 30 / 33, EOS 30V / 33V, EOS 300X.
Nikon F90X, F100, F4, F5, F80, F75.
Minolta Dynax 600si, Dynax 700 and 800, Dynax 7, Dynax 9.

Now is the time to pick up one of these from your favourite system. It will not get cheaper, used prices will rise in the coming years, including these cameras.

 

[Jack Bulkley]

In the nikon Range, if weight does not matter, or if it's wanted to balance big lenses (and to stabilize shots), the Nikon F5 (1996-2004) rocks, single issue is that it's not i-TTL flash compatible like the F6. The F5 is a full featured war machine to shot hard with it, it also starts VR function of modern lenses.

I got a nice F5 for $225 last year. It is new enough to work well with my modern lenses. I really wanted to be able to use the glass I already had. When I want to go old school, I have a Canon rangefinder.

 

[138S]

I got a nice F5 for $225 last year. It is new enough to work well with my modern lenses. I really wanted to be able to use the glass I already had. When I want to go old school, I have a Canon rangefinder.

When a F5 body falls to the ground the single thing that's at risk it's photographer's feet

One interesting thing of the F5 is that shutter is auto-calibrated, a sensor measures the efective shutter speed and makes necessary corrections.

 

[Cholentpot]

I just got an N80, also known as the F80.

After cleaning off the goo I was pleasantly surprised how feature rich this camera is and how nice it feels. It came as part of a collection, along with an N70 and a 8008s. I need a new battery holder for the 8008s though, can't judge it yet.

 

[138S]

I just got an N80, also known as the F80.

After cleaning off the goo I was pleasantly surprised how feature rich this camera is and how nice it feels. It came as part of a collection, along with an N70 and a 8008s. I need a new battery holder for the 8008s though, can't judge it yet.

I use the F80 a lot, full featured and lightweight. Gallen Rowell used it a lot https://www.mountainlight.com/rowell/gr_camera_bag.html

"A lightweight camera with virtually all of the important features that an advanced photographer could ever want–this may be the best value in a 35mm SLR. Galen used the N80 extensively on treks, climbs, and trail runs, and a number of images made with it grace our gallery walls."

 

[Cholentpot]

I use the F80 a lot, full featured and lightweight. Gallen Rowell used it a lot https://www.mountainlight.com/rowell/gr_camera_bag.html

"A lightweight camera with virtually all of the important features that an advanced photographer could ever want–this may be the best value in a 35mm SLR. Galen used the N80 extensively on treks, climbs, and trail runs, and a number of images made with it grace our gallery walls."

The only downside is it can't meter manual lenses as far as I can tell. That can be very annoying to me.

 

[138S]

The only downside is it can't meter manual lenses as far as I can tell. That can be very annoying to me.

True...

https://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/htmls/models/specroomy2k/f80/index1.htm

 

[Cholentpot]

True...

https://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/htmls/models/specroomy2k/f80/index1.htm

View attachment 240324

Good think I got a bundle of lenses with it. 24-70 2.8, 24-50 3.5-5.6, and an 80-300.