Cameras for a 5th through 8th Grade B/W Photography Class

ww12345 · Jan 18, 2016

I've been lucky enough to have been given the option to pick an elective to teach at my school. My colleagues picked stuff like art or sewing, but I thought I could show my love for photography by stepping up and doing a full B/W photography class. My 5th graders are already experienced with photography, as we've been working on it all year. However, the 6th-8th will have a bit to learn, although I don't think it'll be too big of a learning curve. However, I'm kind of at a loss as to which cameras to buy. My preference is Nikon, but I'm really just looking for a good manual focus camera with cheapish lenses (I want to get them used to a 28, 50, 105, and 120/135 lenses). Any suggestions? I believe I have the budget to buy about 15-20 if I can get the price of the camera down to about $15-30 plus up to like $10-15 for lenses. I know it's a tall order, but I'm hoping you can help me out - I usually buy at the higher end, but somehow I don't think the school will spring for 20 Leica M2s!

Paul Howell · Jan 18, 2016

Used Canon Fd or Minolta MD, as both Canon and Minolta moved to AF their lens do not work with the newer AF bodies. Other option is Pentax Spotmatic, but M 42 lens have gone up as Pentax Digital cameras will mount screw mount lens with an M42 to K mount adapter. You will not get a 105 or 120 for 10 to 15.

Check KEH for prices.

ww12345 · Jan 18, 2016

I had looked at the Canon Fds. Between the two which do you think is better?

I know that some lenses will be cheaper and others will be more expensive - I think I'll just need a class set of 50s with a few wider and a few narrower.

mr rusty · Jan 18, 2016

I would say Minolta MD. The X300/370 is a great manual/aperture priority auto and should fit your budget. Also sold branded as Centon df300. The minolta lenses are just fine and again available at budget prices. I think you will struggle with Nikon/Canon. or even Olympus to get near your budget.

antmar · Jan 18, 2016

I think that Nikon FG with an E-series lens is a quite affordable choice, easy to use and very light weighted and compact.

AgX · Jan 18, 2016

ww12345 said:
I had looked at the Canon Fds. Between the two which do you think is better?

You mixed up cameras. The proposal was at the Canon family that used the FD mount (many cameras).
You were seemingly thinking of the FT models (part of that family).

The AE-1 would be a good choice. Cheap, rather common battery, and switchable to manual mode with needle meter.

cliveh · Jan 18, 2016

Pentax K1000, the best student camera ever made.

AgX · Jan 18, 2016

I do not share that view.

AgX · Jan 18, 2016

Another thing to consider would be one separate meter, just for teaching.

The Gossen Luno Pro SBC (or its sister model with flash capability) is a great, intuitive tool to learn about exposing.

Sirius Glass · Jan 18, 2016

I think that www.keh.com would be able to work something out for you. Great ideas. Thank you.

gone · Jan 18, 2016

Take it from someone who, like most of us, has bought lots of used cameras....20 used cameras means you'll have 5 or 10 properly working cameras. If you're lucky. Old, inexpensive usually gear has old problems. If you can get 5 reliable cameras (no shutter capping, no light leaks, etc) you can have 5 students use them one day on a shooting project, while the others do other types of photography related stuff. In 4 days everyone has their shots, and from then on the cameras can be checked out on a rotating basis. You won't need 20 35mm lenses, 20 50mm lenses, etc. Just 5 of your chosen focal lengths. Wide angle, normal, a telephoto and a long telephoto should cover things for 5th graders. Nothing wrong w/ zooms either.

I would look for cameras w/ electronically operated shutters to prevent exposures that are all over the place through no fault of the students due to camera variations. Something like a Nikon FG that has AE and full manual control. They're small cameras for small hands.

Paul Howell · Jan 18, 2016

Just to add your issues to sort out, as you want a range of prime lens start with finding a lens mount you can afford. Some have suggested Nikon and Pentax, 50mm are not too expensive but the other primes are likely to be a deal breaker. Look for 3rd party lens. Older cameras took 1.3 v mercury batteries that are no longer made, but a zink air hearing battery will work.

Rounding up 15 to 20 cameras, the same brand same model, in working order that will be a trick.

Chan Tran · Jan 18, 2016

I think an old (circa 70's or 80's) 35mm SLR is best. Newer ones too complex. SLR is great for learning. I started using a rangefinder when I was 10. But my dad showed me a borrowed SLR at the time and I fell in love with the SLR back then. Didn't own one until I turned 22.

trythis · Jan 18, 2016

Contact the filmphotographyproject.com

Mickeal Raso gives away cameras to classes, you have a budget so help them out a little. They test all the gear first.

Sent with typotalk

Ko.Fe. · Jan 18, 2016

ww12345 said:
....My colleagues picked stuff like art or sewing, but I thought I could show my love for photography by stepping up and doing a full B/W photography class....

Does it really have to be between sewing and art? Like, how to use SLR and all kind of lenses? I guess, next to it is automotive class...

bvy · Jan 18, 2016

Have you considered homemade pinhole cameras and paper negatives? Making the camera is half the fun (I suggest cylindrical oatmeal boxes), plus the kids can work under a safelight and see their images come into being. They can even contact print those to make positives. Might be a little easier to get off the ground, and a little more gratifying for the kids. Just a thought. Trying to line up 15 to 20 working SLR's sounds like a bit of a nightmare.

Neal · Jan 19, 2016

Dear ww12345,

Consider Yashica FX-2s with YUS or DSB series lenses. Keep in mind that any old cameras will likely need to have the light seals replaced.

Good luck,

Neal Wydra

Rick A · Jan 19, 2016

Just about any manual focus, mechanically operated 35 mm camera with a 50 mm lens, no need for tele's or WA's. Basic course should be composition and exposure control.

removed account4 · Jan 19, 2016

good luck with your class ! i sometimes teach cyanotypes
at the local gramar school. bare bones photograms and the results are fantastic.

rather than using film and 35mm cameras ( seeing it is a crap shoot getting working cameras )
i'd get a bevy of box cameras and make paper negatives.
fun to watch turn into negatives, and easy to watch turn into prints.
any paper will work and you can roll your own paper negative rolls.

have fun !
john

John51 · Jan 19, 2016

4 OM1n bodies, two 50mm f1.8, a 28mm and a 135mm. Add in a handful of dirt cheap/free P&S compact cameras and a 6x9 folder for impressive contact prints. Students can first shoot a roll with an automatic camera and compare it to a later roll shot with manual only. Lets them think about composition before dealing with exposure calculation. Lots of laughs and oopsies with the missed frames and accidental double exposures from the folder.

Also, a bulk film loader and a couple of 100 foot rolls of say HP5.

imo, it's the sort of project where more gets spent on film and paper than cameras.

Hope it goes well for you and it would be cool to have their results posted here.

mgb74 · Jan 19, 2016

I look at it this way: there's what you aim for and what you accept. You accept pretty much anything that will work and has an accurate meter.

You aim for bodies that are inexpensive, have match needle or LED mode, don't have common electronic faults (like the Minolta x-700), use readily available batteries, and have inexpensive lenses. That tends to exclude Pentax screwmount, Minolta SRT and x700, Olympus and Nikon. (Sure,there will be exceptions. But do you want to count on finding 15-20 exceptions?)

K-mount cameras, especially the non-Pentax brands, may offer the best potential: Ricoh, Vivitar, Chinon. It seems to me that K-mount lenses tend to sell for less than Nikon and Olympus. Don't know enough about MF Canon to know how they might fit in.

As to lenses, if you're sticking with prime lenses, 100/105mm and (to a bit lesser extent) 28mm lenses will blow your budget. I'd stick with 35, 50, 135mm.

I like the idea of bulk loading short lengths of film. You want quick feedback (from the developed film) and shorter rolls will help teach them to be a bit selective.

Sirius Glass · Jan 19, 2016

Rick A said:
Just about any manual focus, mechanically operated 35 mm camera with a 50 mm lens, no need for tele's or WA's. Basic course should be composition and exposure control.

At this point everyone will jump in and recommend their favorite cameras. Talk to KEH and other sellers to see what deals you can leverage.

ww12345 · Jan 19, 2016

I agree about the odd focal lengths - those are what I use and I forgot there are more "standard" lengths. Will take that into account and stick with the default 35-50-135 (if I wind up using more than one lens).

Good point about the K mount system - I will look into that. As it turns out, with 15 cameras each student will have their own, so I do feel a little better about that. Was also thinking of bulk-loading short rolls - it will help them hone their eye rather than forgetting what they have even shot.

I emailed the Film Photography Project and am awaiting a response. It would be great if he could even point me in the right direction, if he doesn't have any to sell or donate, as my luck with B&H and KEH was not the best (the bulk same model cameras cost about $80 each - out of my budget). I will definitely take into account the off-camera meters. IMHO, that's some of the best practice you can get - metering a scene and setting it all manually.

Thanks for the advice - if anyone else has advice with how to proceed (it is an 8 week course and I intend on having the first two classes be setup (exposure, controls, etc.) and the rest being actual photography, with the class culminating in making a print) that would be awesome. Thanks for all your help!

Cameras for a 5th through 8th Grade B/W Photography Class

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