Bargains in the 35mm SLR world? (Least expensive SLRs?)

[elekm]

Except for the meters. K1000's are just as bad.

I've had good luck with the Pentax cameras, except for the ME. Only had one good one so far.

I like the Minolta XD-11, anld two were bad out of the (postal) box, and all had really bad body covering. Sweet cameras, when they are working correctly.

 

[removed-user-1]

I once picked up a used EX condition Canon EOS Rebel XSn for $17 (plus shipping) from KEH. There are other variants of the Rebel that go for similar prices, and a basic 35-80mm zoom lens can be had for as little as ~$25 if you aren't picky. I tell my students to get one of these instead of a digital SLR, and use the savings to buy and process film.

 

[Pioneer]

There are still lots of inexpensive SLR options. In Minolta manual focus I have picked up SRT201 models for $25 to $40 with lens, usually the 45/2. Excellent deals to be had but prices are going up just a little bit.

Minolta Autofocus Maxxum 5, have bought four for no more than $15 each and ended up with three good ones. Lenses are also inexpensive, especially the slower kit zooms. If you are patient you can frequently get camera and lens together at a very nice price. I buy these and give them to the grandkids with expired color film and they use the daylights out of them. They look cheap but they are actually pretty tough. Focus is slow but if you can live with that these are great cameras. Excellent exposure systems.

The Pentax P3 camera series are still very inexpensive. My latest example cost me $20 two months ago. If you can live with the 50/2 lenses, which are absolutely great, then you can expect this combo to be in the $40 range.

 

[viridari]

I've gotten several Canon EOS Rebel bodies with low end lenses for $0-$30. I've been pretty happy with the value from them.

 

[Newt_on_Swings]

Any of the double digit om bodies, really cheap, and the great 50mm 1.8 is usually on them as a package. the om-40 or the om pc is the latest and probably the best choice.

 

[pen s]

Ricoh KR 5 models, and their clones (think Sears KS 500). Fijica ST 605n. Bought both for $25 and the Ricoh/Sears included the standard 50mm f2 lens.

 

[hdeyong]

I've picked up 3 Canon EOS 300's, and 1 Elan II, for an average price of about $10 each, in excellent condition. I have OM-1's and Olympus glass, so I use them on the Canons with adapters, and it works perfectly. When a Canon body dies, (only 1 in 4 years), it goes into a junk drawer, and I buy another 1 or 2. CR2 batteries are cheap in bulk. A good, cheap, LIGHT, setup.

 

[Excalibur2]

I'd vote for the Canon T70 if you are an ordinary amateur as they go for as little as £10. Out of my sixteen cameras from MTL3 to T90 it's the one I use most as for that price I don't worry if it was stolen, dropped, or ruined on a sandy beach with salt spray esp on holiday.

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/canon/fdresources/SLRs/t70/index.htm

 

[Peltigera]

I just bought a Canon EOS 650 for £4.50. No lens but I already have several EOS lenses.

 

[Chan Tran]

Ah the 650 one of the first EOS. Nice camera.

 

[Marvin]

I like the N75 and N80, I also have battery grips for them so I can run them off of AA batteries.

 

[nicholai]

OM-10/20 and probably the 30 and 40 too, these cameras are super common, especially the first two and very damn cheap. I usually get them for 20-30 dollar with the 50 1.8 MIJ and sometimes even databacks and whatnot. They're good working horses, image quality (of course) on par with the OM-1/2/3/4, OM-20 has aperture priority AE and full manual controls, whilst the OM-10 needs the manual adapter for the latter. Real bargain!

 

[cliveh]

Pentax K1000. Built like a tank, last you a lifetime and great value for money.

 

[JBrunner]

The best bargain is the one you use. So, my F2, and for macro, my K1000, because I scored macro stuff with it.

 

[Ricardo Miranda]

^Same here: both my F75 and F80 (N75 and N80 for you) have the battery packs. And the MB-18 for the F75 gives you a nice shutter button. One thing that makes me enjoy more the F75 over the F80 is the fact that I shoot most of the time in A mode, so the main dial on the back is used to change apertures, while the F80 always uses the dial on the front for the same: not as convenient as on the F75.
As a curiosity both cameras, as well as the F65, are well furnished in the flash capabilities. Although the F75 and F65 don't have flash exposure compensation on the body, if you use a SB-26 or any flash with flash exposure compensation on it, they will use it. The earlier F401, F50 and F60 can't use Rear curtain synch or flash exposure compensation, even if the flash has them. They will also not communicate with the flash display, so you have to set the display to show correct information.
The top of the range F4, F5 or even the F100 don't have flash exposure compensation on the body. They rely on the flash to have it. The F90 or the F90X don't have it either on the body, unless you use the fiddly MF-26 which has it.

 

[Shootar401]

nikon N90 or N80. awesome cameras for under $50 on craigslist all the time.

If I remember correctly the N90 was unofficially considered the little brother of the F4 and now sells for pennies. I know a few retired SI photos who had the N90 as a backup to their F4 and later F5. Awesome film camera even today, and worth every penny.

 

[parkpy]

Despite how ugly it is, the Nikon N8008 is a great deal. For a few dollars more you can get the N8008s. I wouldn't spend more than $35 for any n8008. But what you get with either is a BIG viewfinder that is just as big as the one found in an F3HP or F100. It is very comfortable to shoot, also meters manual focus lenses, has good illumination in the viewfinder during low light situations, an accurate meter, and top shutter speed of 1/8000s.

Great camera, great value. Just ugly.

I haven't come across a better deal in 35mm cameras.

 

[elcabezagrande]

Nikon EM or FG with the E series 50/1.8 lens. Seriously. You almost have to pay money to give an EM body away.

 

[GarageBoy]

Does the N8008/N8008s have a split image finder?

 

[Ricardo Miranda]

No. Saying that, Beattie Screens made one for it. Search for it and you'll find it.