Bargain SLR

connie2 · Sep 10, 2009

Can anyone recommend a 35mm autofocus Nikon or Canon SLR camera - as there are so many "bargain" cameras out there and not knowing which one to choose from. Have seen a few Canon Eos 1 vhs but still cost a fair bit secondhand
:confused:

Warren T. · Sep 10, 2009

hi, depends on what you consider a bargain and also what level of camera you want (pro, pro-sumer, amateur, entry, etc.), but N80 or F100 may work for you.

--W

connie2 · Sep 10, 2009

What i meant by a bargain is that some film cameras can be bought relatively cheaply to that of digital ones. My first slr was a canon 500n.

Sirius Glass · Sep 10, 2009

N-70, N-75, N-80, N-90, F-100 are all AF and would meet your requirements.

Steve

maciekz · Sep 10, 2009

Canon Eos 650 or 630 would do. Watch out the tar on shutter blades. These are built to professional quality standards though are not packed with features. They will last ages and cost only $20-$30.

doomtroll · Sep 10, 2009

If you are looking for a "TRUE" Bargain 35mm SLR, look at Manual focus m42 mount cameras. They are fairly cheap and are easy to find lenses for. Even a Pentax K-mount system would be a great budget camera.

glockman99 · Sep 10, 2009

...An autofocus Nikon 35mm camera at a bargain price?...Take a look at the N90s, or for even less $, the Nikon N8008s.

mudman · Sep 10, 2009

Very true. With more modern styling (i.e. similar to digital beasts) N80, N75 would fit the bill. The N90s is a feature packed camera, often available for less then $50 nowadays (over $900 when new).

Admbws · Sep 10, 2009

I must second the Nikon N90S/F90X. Keep in mind though that the Nikon and Canon AF lenses have held their value due to also being usable on digital SLRs, and this may betray the body's "bargain" status.

Chan Tran · Sep 10, 2009

The Nikon F5 is a bargain although you would have to pay between $300 to $500 for it but it's a bargain.

nyoung · Sep 10, 2009

Just so you know, brand new in the box N80s may be out there in the world. I saw two in a a going-out-of-business Ritz location in May.

darkosaric · Sep 10, 2009

if you really want manual nikon: FG and FG20 are cheapest that have full manual control. Before realising what is nikon F3 - I had both of them; they are very nice cameras

Mark Fisher · Sep 10, 2009

Since no one is mentioning Canon autofocus.....I can highly recommend a Canon Elan. I've used the Elan, the Elan II and the Elan 7. Of them, I preferred the 7. They are probably the quietest autofocus, auto advance cameras around. They also balance well with the wonderful Canon prime lenses.

cooltouch · Sep 11, 2009

Chan Tran's sure right about the F5. It's amazing to me how much its price has fallen. Canon's equivalent, which I'm thinking is the EOS 1n RS, seems to be going for about the same price. Just amazing. Meanwhile, clean examples of old classics like the Original Canon F-1 and Nikon F2 seem to be increasing in value. Probably the best values in AF Nikon and Canon, in terms of the amount of features you get for the price, I believe are the Canon EOS 3 and the Nikon F100. Both fantastic cameras at almost sinfully low prices.

+1 on the quietness of the EOS Elan. I own a II and a IIe, and the drives really are quiet. Great prices on these cameras too. I paid like $250 for my Elan IIe with 28-80 zoom about five years ago, and the camera body now goes on eBay for what? $30? $40? Unbelievable.

-M

Ektagraphic · Sep 11, 2009

The N80 is a really great camera!

Mike P · Sep 16, 2009

Most film SLRs can be found at bargain prices these days...it is literally possible to pick up equipment which originally cost almost a month's salary for the price of a few beers. Amongst the gems that have not yet been mentioned in the thread are the Pentax M42 screw bodies, but take your pick!

Christiaan Phleger · Sep 16, 2009

I just got a nearly perfectly mint N8008s for around 20.00, great little camera, only 2nd to the F4 at the time. Seen a few others on Ebay go for about the same.

viridari · Sep 17, 2009

connie2 said:
Can anyone recommend a 35mm autofocus Nikon or Canon SLR camera - as there are so many "bargain" cameras out there and not knowing which one to choose from. Have seen a few Canon Eos 1 vhs but still cost a fair bit secondhand
:confused:

I picked up a Canon EOS Rebel G for $40 including the battery grip. I've seen them a little cheaper without the grip. It works fine.

FilmOnly · Sep 17, 2009

A Nikon N80 is definitely a bargain. For $100 or so, you can find a nice one. The N75 could be had for even less--and it is a good camera--but not as nice as an N80. I have owned three or four N80s, and they are very good AF cameras. The Canon EOS 3 is also a bargain. The EOS 3 will cost you less than an F5, and should also cost less than an F100 in comparable condition. The F100 is a very fine camera. It is perhaps my favorite AF body. Interestingly, I have owned all of the above AF bodies, and gave all of them up for MF bodies. I now own two Canon F-1n bodies and a Canon A-1. I know it sounds strange, but it seems I can do more with these MF boies.

PS: the only shortcoming I can cite in my present stable of cameras would be flash sync speed. I would rarely have a need for a 1/250th sync speed, but it would be nice to have. Perhaps a Canon T90 is in my future...

Paul Jenkin · Sep 18, 2009

For sheer value, it's hard to beat the Nikon F100. Very well built, extremely good meter and not much lower specification than the F5 - but at a fraction of the cost. If you can afford the F5, though, they are the daddy...!

paradoxbox · Sep 22, 2009

i bought an n90s (F90s here in Japan) for 1,900 yen or about 20$ US a few weeks ago on auction. that camera was packed with features but I sold it for profit since it was worth more than I paid.

Other great bargains are Nikon F4's or F5's. You can get F5's for under $300 if you buy one from Japan.

Pumal · Sep 22, 2009

F4's and F5's are dirt cheap now a days.

Cliffy13 · Sep 23, 2009

Picked up an EOS 10 recently for £25 ($40) and its a real beauty

///alpinepower · Sep 24, 2009

nyoung said:
Just so you know, brand new in the box N80s may be out there in the world. I saw two in a a going-out-of-business Ritz location in May.

I actually just found a new in box N75. It seems ok.

timk · Sep 24, 2009

Nikon F90/F90x/N90/N90s would probably be my recommendation also. There seems to be a price jump between that and the F100 and from memory there isn't much that the F100 has over the F90x to justify it. The F90 variants have a faster shutter (1/8000) and better autofocus than the earlier models, I'd definantly consider this over the F80, 8008, F70 etc.

If you want a pro model, a BGN F4S ($165US) or a BGN F5 ($254US) from KEH.com might be within reach. I've had good experiences buying BGN stuff from KEH.
A BGN F90x is $39US on KEH as a comparison... Prices go up for EX and EX+ condition of course.

Bargain SLR

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