Choosing my first camera

[Naples]

I recently took my Nikon F100 with Kodak T-Max 400 film hiking in the Appalachian Mountains of North Georgia. Results could be my best ever. Not that that necessarily means much .

 

[Theo Sulphate]

I recently took my Nikon F100 with Kodak T-Max 400 film hiking in the Appalachian Mountains of North Georgia. Results could be my best ever. Not that that necessarily means much .

If you are pleased and encouraged by the results, that's all that matters.

 

[wahiba]

No doubt after all these replies you have decided to use you mobile phone!!!

However, while I suggested the Rollie 35 earlier and while it is compact and ideal for your needs it does have a serious omission with no self timer. For a tour alone, or in a small group this facility on a camera is probably essential.Not all the fancy cameras suggested actually have this facility. The K1000 does not (well the one someone gave me yeterday as they were moving house and wanted rid) does not - surprisingly. [there are mechanical timer add ons, but you are a beginner and they are not the easiest things to use, or find today.]

Whatever, have fun, enjoy the trip.

 

[Chan Tran]

No doubt after all these replies you have decided to use you mobile phone!!!

However, while I suggested the Rollie 35 earlier and while it is compact and ideal for your needs it does have a serious omission with no self timer. For a tour alone, or in a small group this facility on a camera is probably essential.Not all the fancy cameras suggested actually have this facility. The K1000 does not (well the one someone gave me yeterday as they were moving house and wanted rid) does not - surprisingly. [there are mechanical timer add ons, but you are a beginner and they are not the easiest things to use, or find today.]

Whatever, have fun, enjoy the trip.

It's a problem using the self timer with a compact camera that is you bring a compact camera because you don't want to weight and bulk but without a tripod it's kind of hard to use the self timer.

 

[StepheKoontz]

Everyone is talking about an SLR. If I was cycling I would want something small and light. If they are using print film, setting exposure using sunny 16 or the box instructions should work fine. I'd carry something like a Vito II or a retina folding 35mm.

 

[Ste_S]

Everyone is talking about an SLR. If I was cycling I would want something small and light. If they are using print film, setting exposure using sunny 16 or the box instructions should work fine. I'd carry something like a Vito II or a retina folding 35mm.

View attachment 222080

Funnily enough I use a Vito II when cycling, fits nicely in a jersey pocket (wrapped in a sandwich bag to keep it dry, natch).
If cycling I'd always recommend a compact that can go in a jersey pocket over an SLR, no need to take a back pack or bike packing luggage to carry the camera. Earlier recommendations for an Olympus XA is a solid one.

If the OP is dead set on an SLR, there's probably too much overthinking going on. It's hard to get a bad one from Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Minolta, Olympus etc. Just pick something that's available locally that's at a good price and fits your size/weight criteria.

 

[AgX]

However, while I suggested the Rollie 35 earlier and while it is compact and ideal for your needs it does have a serious omission with no self timer. For a tour alone, or in a small group this facility on a camera is probably essential.

I only few times ever used a self-timer and then only to not introduce release schock. Alternatively for this use one can use a sufficient long cable release. For selfies there is a choice of used (german) mechanical self-timer attachments.

 

[runswithsizzers]

Great choice and you got it for a great price.
Pick up some cheap film and learn to use it so that you are really familiar with its functions and abilities.
Now that you have your camera and are/will be familiar with it, the next thing to consider - and the most important - is what film will you use in it.
Here in Oz - C41 colour negative film is the cheapest to have processed - even cheaper than monochrome - unless you are going to process the film yourself.
Colour slide film is expensive to have processed by comparison.
Colour negative film also has a wider dynamic range than colour slide film.
Have some great trips and experiences.
You go girl!

I agree with everything you say about C41 color negative film.

A beginner who is trying to learn how to expose film should be aware of the fact that modern film labs can often make acceptable prints even when your negatives are somewhat under or over exposed. In other words, just looking at the prints may not tell you if you have a consistent exposure problem (unless your exposure is way off). When you pick up the prints, ask an experienced lab employee to look at your negatives and give an opinion about whether they are correctly exposed. This will be somewhat subjective and depends on the experience of the employee.

Compare that to color slide film which will very emphatically provide unequivocal feedback about the accuracy of your exposures! Might be worth the extra cost to try a roll or two of slide film as a more precise check of exposure technique and camera function.

 

[M-88]

film advance is not as smooth in comparison to OM-1

If coffee grinder-like film advance of OM-1 is smooth, I imagine what a terrible lever Praktica must have

 

[baachitraka]

OM-1 is pretty smooth after CLA. But I still rate Optima Sensor 200 as the smoothest among the cameras I own.

The coffee grinder is OM-2sp (not CLAed) and it feels like rubbing pieces of glass.

Leica could have been in different league.

 

[baachitraka]

If coffee grinder-like film advance of OM-1 is smooth, I imagine what a terrible lever Praktica must have

Its not pretty and so is the release button. If someone prefer industrial+brutal design then those Prakicas are for them.

 

[M-88]

Its not pretty and so is the release button. If someone prefer industrial+brutal design then those Prakicas are for them.

Funny. I always thought front-mounted release button was something practical. Prakticas are the only brand which is widely available over here except for Soviet cams but their boxy look never appealed to me. In fact I got used to OM design so much that I had to try my best to get used to Nikon FE, Pentax ME Super and Ricoh XR7. All of which have better film advance (esp. Nikon) than my OM-1, 2 and 4 ever had.

I was very close to getting Pentax Program A / Program Plus, which OP acquired. So happy clicking!

 

[baachitraka]

Apart from OM, spotmatics attract me for its humble look. Drooling since years and let past many black spotmatics in auctions. Meanwhile, strongly bitten by Zuiko f/2 lenses.

 

[M-88]

The only thing that stops me from getting M42 Pentax is a barely used Zenit-11 that sits on my shelf.

Can't comment about f/2 Zuikos as I'm not rich enough to have any. However, latest 50 mm f/1.4 is good, MIJ 50 mm f/1.8 is great and pretty much every f/2.8 lens is outstanding, yet so compact. Form factor of Zuiko lenses keeps me firmly glued to OM system.

 

[baachitraka]

I am not rich either. Some 10 years ago (when not married) I got 85mm f/2 and rest in the batch are > f/2.

- 28mm f/3.5, 50mm f/1.4 or f/1.8, of-course 85mm f/2 and the stunner 135mm f/2.8 (I shoot at @4.0 or smaller depending on the subject distance) are some of the best lenses.

But 35mm f/2.0 went past for just more than €100 (later versions) in auctions and so is the 28mm f/2.0. I guess they won't outshine theirs little siblings in terms of performance.

- 21mm f/2.0 or 21 f/3.5 are always expensive and I am not really interested that wide. I can't justify getting 100mm f/2.8 and 180mm f/2.8 could be interesting.

 

[M-88]

I Sold (ironically, when I got married) 135 mm f/2.8 and 50 mm f/1.8 with OM-4 and 28 mm f/3.5 with OM-1. I've read that 28 mm f/3.5 is superior to 28 mm f/2.8 in terms of image quality, but I have never tested it. Right now I only have OM-2 with 50 mm f/1.4 (1101xxx), never-ready case and varimagni viewfinder, all of which I use purely for recreational purposes. Nikons get most of the job done.

 

[StepheKoontz]

I've read that 28 mm f/3.5 is superior to 28 mm f/2.8 in terms of image quality, but I have never tested it.

The OM 28mm f3.5 is much better than the f2.8, but then the f2 version is a stunning lens, better than either IMHO but at f8 and smaller, hard to tell apart from the f3.5. The 24mm f2.8 is a really good one too. And I'm sure most agree the 50 f1.8 is better than the 50 f1.4 as well. Can't let this discussion go by without say how great the OM 50mm f2 macro is. Not only is it crazy sharp, but lovely bokeh.

 

[M-88]

The OM 28mm f3.5 is much better than the f2.8, but then the f2 version is a stunning lens, better than either IMHO but at f8 and smaller, hard to tell apart from the f3.5. The 24mm f2.8 is a really good one too. And I'm sure most agree the 50 f1.8 is better than the 50 f1.4 as well. Can't let this discussion go by without say how great the OM 50mm f2 macro is. Not only is it crazy sharp, but lovely bokeh.

There was a 24 mm f/2.8 for sale here. For as low as 8$. The owner clearly had no idea what he was selling. Unfortunately someone else did as they took it before me. Does 50 mm f/2 do well at infinity too? 50 mm f/3.5 had no noticeable difference in prints compared to non-macro fifties.

 

[StepheKoontz]

Does 50 mm f/2 do well at infinity too? 50 mm f/3.5 had no noticeable difference in prints compared to non-macro fifties.

Yep, works fine at infinity. Can't say I ever tested it against say the 50mm f1.8 at that distance. But the 50mm f2 does have a noticable difference to the look of the images from the other 50's IMHO, the bokeh is WAY smoother than what the 50mm f3.5 produces.

 

[baachitraka]

There is 90mm f/2 to complement 50mm f/2.

Other legends are 100mm f/2, 180mm f/2...

 

[Ariston]

I don't know if anyone has mentioned it, but the Nikon N90S is pretty much a pro camera at a dime-store cost. With your budget, you would have a lot left for a lens or two. It isn't shiny or pretty like the older cameras (which I also love), but man, what a value. And what a viewfinder!

And it runs on AA batteries. No VR support, though.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Everyone is talking about an SLR. If I was cycling I would want something small and light. If they are using print film, setting exposure using sunny 16 or the box instructions should work fine. I'd carry something like a Vito II or a retina folding 35mm.

View attachment 222080

That was my first serious camera. I added a range finder to the cold shoe and carried a light meter. I still have one.

 

[M-88]

I don't know if anyone has mentioned it, but the Nikon N90S is pretty much a pro camera at a dime-store cost. With your budget, you would have a lot left for a lens or two. It isn't shiny or pretty like the older cameras (which I also love), but man, what a value. And what a viewfinder!

And it runs on AA batteries. No VR support, though.

I think the same can be said about F-801/N8008 and it doesn't seem to suffer from sticky back.

 

[wahiba]

It's a problem using the self timer with a compact camera that is you bring a compact camera because you don't want to weight and bulk but without a tripod it's kind of hard to use the self timer.

I have one of those G clamps. Always a fence or branch to clamp it too.

 

[Skeeterfx20]

Just curious, Maggi how do you like your new Pentax?

Chan Tran do you still have that Nikon FM? We did a trade many years ago. I got the Besler Enlarged from you. It is still going strong after 15 years or more.