Best "newer" Film SLR ?

[dana44]

Since manual cameras and I don't get along very well, I was looking at getting a newer film SLR, Only thing I mainly like to do is manual focusing, What is the best newer film SLR, and what lense should I get with it?.

 

[reub2000]

Canon ELAN 7 with the sigma 105mm f/2.8 macro is a combination that I like. Every poster here will give you a different answer.

 

[copake_ham]

My picks for AF film cameras are....

If you have about $300 - get a Nikon F-100

If you have about $500 - get a Nikon F-5

Remember, with any camera - the real money is what you spend on lenses - not on the bodies.

 

[dana44]

If you have about $300 - get a Nikon F-100

If you have about $500 - get a Nikon F-5

Remember, with any camera - the real money is what you spend on lenses - not on the bodies.

eBay? Because there is only 1 camera shop around me

 

[Tom Stanworth]

I would recomment the Canon EOS series. An EOS 3 is a superb camera which is not bettered IMO by anything on the market except the very most expensive pro cameras such as EOS 1 V. You can pick up MINT Eos 3s for $300-350.....as for lenses pick your focal length. The Nikon f100 I am sure is another great bet for similar money, but a touch more I suspect.

 

[Travis Nunn]

Rather than going through ebay, give KEH a look, they're one of APUG's sponsors and they are the best to deal with.

Tom is right, the EOS 3 is a superb camera. I've had mine for two years now and its a joy to shoot.

 

[Petzi]

Since manual cameras and I don't get along very well, I was looking at getting a newer film SLR, Only thing I mainly like to do is manual focusing, What is the best newer film SLR, and what lense should I get with it?.

Leica R? Contax/Zeiss? Or a Canon or a Nikon, if you turn AF off?

 

[Anupam Basu]

F100 or EOS3 would be it, unless it is a f5 or eos 1v

 

[film_guy]

If you want a Canon film SLR with a really quiet shutter and newer flash technology, I strongly suggest going with the Elan 7N/7Ne cameras. They are so very quiet and you can hardly hear the film rewinding. If you want durability and pro-body functions like weather-sealing, 45-point AF, spot metering, the EOS 3 is the best bet right now. You can't really go wrong with either both of them.

 

[Jeremy]

not sure you would consider it a new body, but in the 90s Nikon released the F4 which I would consider (from what I've used) the best 35mm manual focus camera ever marketed.

 

[jgjbowen]

Nikon FM3A....fully manual... will work at all shutter speeds without the batteries...so if you find yourself shooting in VERY cold weather....

 

[gr82bart]

What is the best newer film SLR, and what lense should I get with it?.

Nikon F6 with Nikkor 28-70 AF-S f2.8D. That should pretty much get you started.

I've also heard good things about the Pentax *ist film camera. In which case, I'd get the SMC-PFA 28-70 f2.8 lens.

The Canon EOS-1v with an EF 24-70 f2.8L or the EF 24-105 f4L lens sounds like a good combination, but I have never shot or held a Canon, so I wouldn't know.

Regards, Art.

 

[Pinholemaster]

Nikon F6

Nikon F100

 

[timbo10ca]

I would recomment the Canon EOS series. An EOS 3 is a superb camera which is not bettered IMO by anything on the market except the very most expensive pro cameras such as EOS 1 V. You can pick up MINT Eos 3s for $300-350.....as for lenses pick your focal length. The Nikon f100 I am sure is another great bet for similar money, but a touch more I suspect.

I agree- I got a mint one off ebay last year for this price range and I love it.

 

[timbo10ca]

Nikon FM3A....fully manual... will work at all shutter speeds without the batteries...so if you find yourself shooting in VERY cold weather....

You can get a fully manual Pentax MX far cheaper, and it's also fully loaded with all the features (even has mirror lock-up once you learn the "trick"). Pentax put out some *superb* glass that you can put in front of this camera CHEAP!

 

[unohuu]

Minolta Maxxum 7. A beautiful camera with no further support. Has a wonderful viewfinder and access to simple but wonderful glass.

F100 since I am now shooting with Nikons.

 

[PhotoJim]

It depends on how much you want to spend, of course... and what you want to shoot.

I chose Nikon for a few reasons... excellent AF (arguably the best in the industry, parallel with Canon), and manual compatibility (the vast majority of the system will work on both AF and MF gear, so you can use manual Nikkors on AF bodies and AF Nikkors on manual bodies... a real boon if you want a mechanically-timed camera that doesn't require batteries, excellent in severe cold, and fun too ) ...

I have a huge system (this stuff is cheap), but my primary system is the Nikon F5 and the Nikon F100. Neither is expensive anymore. The F100 is probably the best bang for the buck in the Nikon line.

If you want a great body that isn't super-great at AF (but is still good) and is really cheap, look at the F90/F90x series (N90/N90s in the US). I just sold an F90 for around a hundred bucks - that's all you can get for them these days - but they are still excellent bodies. I still have an F90x because of the bang-for-the-buck factor, but I couldn't justify having two when I have the two cameras listed above.

Add an FM2n (or FM3a, if you can afford one) for severe weather photography and you're good to go.

 

[HerrBremerhaven]

If you are looking at Nikon, then the F4 (or F4S or F4E) will allow matrix metering of non-chipped (no electronic contacts) manual focus lenses. In fact, this particular Nikon body probably allows usage of the widest range of Nikon lenses over any other Nikon body. Prices on EBAY are all over the place, so I suggest looking at the selection at Dead Link Removed, if you decide to get one.

Ciao!

Gordon Moat
Dead Link Removed

 

[ehparis]

Nikon F3HP. Autofocus with the F4 is too slow and will disappoint. The F3HP is the ultimate manual focus camera made by Nikon. About $300. at KEH.

 

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

For a real bargain, you might still be able to find the Cosina/Voigtlander Bessamatic TM, which is the functional equivalent of the Pentax Spotmatic. Sure, it uses stop-down metering only, but it also allows you to build a stash of lens cheaply and quickly.

 

[Confusion Circle]

If you are looking at Nikon, then the F4 (or F4S or F4E) will allow matrix metering of non-chipped (no electronic contacts) manual focus lenses. In fact, this particular Nikon body probably allows usage of the widest range of Nikon lenses over any other Nikon body. Prices on EBAY are all over the place, so I suggest looking at the selection at Dead Link Removed, if you decide to get one.

Agreed! I have a F4s and it is a great camera...quite heavy though. I also have a Minolta Maxxum 7. It is a very light camera but is full of handy features, and the viewfinder is excellent.

 

[gr82bart]

Ummm people? Not to rain on a nostalgia parade here, but I believe Dana asked for a "newer" (newer = latest) camera, not good deals on an "older" camera. I mean I love my three F4e's too, but if someone asks me for a newer camera, I'd recommend the F6. Hands down.

Anyway, back to the thread ...

Regards, Art.

 

[25asa]

If you insist on shooting inch by inch and a half film - the Nikon N-80

 

[PhotoJim]

Ummm people? Not to rain on a nostalgia parade here, but I believe Dana asked for a "newer" (newer = latest) camera, not good deals on an "older" camera. I mean I love my three F4e's too, but if someone asks me for a newer camera, I'd recommend the F6. Hands down.

Even people who want a new camera have financial constraints. The F6 is the most expensive SLR you can buy... is it the best value?

I wouldn't refuse one if given to me, but I just bought an F5, so you can infer my answer to the value question.

 

[Woolliscroft]

If I read the original post right, he wants an auto camera, but wants manual focus, which might leave out all the new Nikons and any EOS. Yes I know you can focus them manually, but they often don't have the right viewfinder screens to do it properly and might not have changeable screens. Plus why pay for auto focus when you don't want it.

That pretty much leaves you with Leica or something not brand new. On the latter, I have a lot of time for the Contax 167MT. It's light, fast, has less mirror/shutter shock than virtually any SLR I have ever met and takes some of the best lenses ever made.

David.