college film photography class camera help

tedsiciliano · Jul 4, 2015

Hello everybody I am taking a film photography class this fall in college and need a "manually adjustable camera" I have a minolta maxxum 5 already with a decent amount of lenses that work in manual focus but they dont have an aperature ring will that work for my class or should I buy a lens/ camera with an aperature ring? If I need another camera I was thinking about a minolta 202 what do you all think? Thanks for your help!

Les Sarile · Jul 4, 2015

The class I took allowed the use on an EOS with no aperture ring as long as the camera can be used to manually expose the scene. You might get clarification on that.

Sirius Glass · Jul 4, 2015

Welcome toAPUG

I reccomend the Minolta X-700 for your class.

septim · Jul 4, 2015

I'm not a Minolta man, but looking at the Maxxum 5 it looks similar to the Pentax MZ-60 and so I think I can still give relevant advice. Immediate red flag is the lack of manual aperture control, generally this sort of camera in full manual mode still isn't full manual and still relies on an element of computer control. If you wish to stick with Minolta the SRT202 (assuming this is the 202 you mean?) seems to be a fairly solid manual camera with a TTL light meter, though the viewfinder is said to be the weak point of the camera. If you wanted to change systems (in this example to Pentax) the manual K1000 is a solid camera (ranging between about $150-$300) and so is the slightly more modern Program Plus (my personal SLR, ranging between about $75-$175). People with more experience please correct me if I'm wrong!

(edit: my prices given are in AU$)

tedsiciliano · Jul 4, 2015

Awesome thanks for the help! I will email the teacher to see what he says. I was also thinking about a nikon f3 as another option any opinions?

Paul Howell · Jul 4, 2015

On the cheap a Pentax Spotmatic, Minolta 101 or 202, Canon FTb, Konica T, T3, TC, Nikromate, You can also upgrade your Maximum to a more advance camera.

Les Sarile · Jul 4, 2015

tedsiciliano said:
I was also thinking about a nikon f3 as another option any opinions?

Only negative about the F3 is that you can't use your current lenses on it.

Bill Burk · Jul 4, 2015

This is what your teacher wants you to have... If you get the f/2 55 Super Takumar and the camera, the Pentax SL you will have a manual camera that will work just fine. It has no meter. Your teacher will give you a meter I'm sure (If I were your teacher I'd have a meter.) Optional pick up the 35mm wide angle.

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Chan Tran · Jul 4, 2015

septim said:
I'm not a Minolta man, but looking at the Maxxum 5 it looks similar to the Pentax MZ-60 and so I think I can still give relevant advice. Immediate red flag is the lack of manual aperture control, generally this sort of camera in full manual mode still isn't full manual and still relies on an element of computer control. If you wish to stick with Minolta the SRT202 (assuming this is the 202 you mean?) seems to be a fairly solid manual camera with a TTL light meter, though the viewfinder is said to be the weak point of the camera. If you wanted to change systems (in this example to Pentax) the manual K1000 is a solid camera (ranging between about $150-$300) and so is the slightly more modern Program Plus (my personal SLR, ranging between about $75-$175). People with more experience please correct me if I'm wrong!

(edit: my prices given are in AU$)

I must disagree. Although a camera is totally computer driven it's still consider manual if it allow you to set the aperture, shutter speed and focusing manually. You meant something like a Nikon F6 isn't capable of manual operation? Also if the OP want to use the same lens there is no choice because all Minolta's with A mount are computer controlled. The Minolta like the SRT series doesn't take the same lenses, they need SR mount lenses. The Pentax K1000 is a bad choice. It's the camera that Pentax made cheaply because they wanted to sell it cheap but now it became one of the more expensive one because of recommendation like yours to newbie who never had a 35mm camera in the 70's and 80's.

Karl K · Jul 4, 2015

I teach a film photography class. Your camera is perfect. You can shoot completely on manual...just read your instruction book.

tedsiciliano · Jul 4, 2015

I don't mind paying extra for a lens or two or even changing to a different brand, thanks again for the help!

mehguy · Jul 4, 2015

there are loads of manual cameras to choose from. Id recommend the pentax k1000 simply because they dont use the mercury batteries and they are very plentiful. Id also recommend the canon AE-1 but that has a shutter priority mode on it, other then that its fully manual.

Also if u want a brand new manual film camera, Nikon still makes the FM10's. But it is a little pricey at 300 bux...

http://en.nikon.ca/Nikon-Products/Product/Film-Cameras/FM10.html

trythis · Jul 5, 2015

Use what you have, save the money for film and paper

Typos made on a tiny phone...

pbromaghin · Jul 5, 2015

Karl is right. The Minolta 202 is a fabulous camera and is comparable to the Pentax K1000, which is the go-to beginner film photography camera. I am a Minolta man, in that I use Minolta X-700, X-570 and X-370 for my 35mm work. I started on a K1000 and used a ME Super for 20 years before switching, but only because my ME Super died and I inherited Minolta equipment. Any of these cameras will serve you well and will be capable of taking the word's best photograph, if you are able.

You have all the equipment you need for a beginning film course.

Xmas · Jul 5, 2015

pbromaghin said:
Karl is right. The Minolta 202 is a fabulous camera and is comparable to the Pentax K1000, which is the go-to beginner film photography camera. I am a Minolta man, in that I use Minolta X-700, X-570 and X-370 for my 35mm work. I started on a K1000 and used a ME Super for 20 years before switching, but only because my ME Super died and I inherited Minolta equipment. Any of these cameras will serve you well and will be capable of taking the word's best photograph, if you are able.

You have all the equipment you need for a beginning film course.

All these are system cameras that you might have shot semi pro.
If you want to learn a P&S with no meter is better.

You would eg learn about using a table for exposure, apparently an invention of the devil to some.

Cheap of a charity shop or junk stall.

If you ask your tutor how you use the zone system on a Weston II he will know you mean to try hard.

A Weston II of a junk stall needs testing but mine all still work.

Paul Howell · Jul 5, 2015

mehguy said:
there are loads of manual cameras to choose from. Id recommend the pentax k1000 simply because they dont use the mercury batteries and they are very plentiful. Id also recommend the canon AE-1 but that has a shutter priority mode on it, other then that its fully manual.

Also if u want a brand new manual film camera, Nikon still makes the FM10's. But it is a little pricey at 300 bux...

http://en.nikon.ca/Nikon-Products/Product/Film-Cameras/FM10.html

The K1000 is great camera, but I think overpriced, Chinon CM 4 uses standard batteries, can take a film winder and can be had for a lot less than a K1000. The Chinon CE 4 has manual as well as aperture preferred exposure mode with any K mount lens.

pbromaghin · Jul 6, 2015

Xmas said:
All these are system cameras that you might have shot semi pro.
If you want to learn a P&S with no meter is better.

You would eg learn about using a table for exposure, apparently an invention of the devil to some.

Cheap of a charity shop or junk stall.

If you ask your tutor how you use the zone system on a Weston II he will know you mean to try hard.

A Weston II of a junk stall needs testing but mine all still work.

All good ideas. I learned a lot with my Zeiss Ikonta and Mark-1 eyeball light meter.

MartinCrabtree · Jul 6, 2015

So how'd it turn out?

Paul Howell · Jul 6, 2015

pbromaghin said:
All good ideas. I learned a lot with my Zeiss Ikonta and Mark-1 eyeball light meter.

In that case you may want a Spotmatic, does not matter if the meter works or not, leave out the batteries, a 50mm 2.0 or 1.8, an old Sekonic meter, if you don't mind investing in lens even 3rd party a 28mm and 105mm or 135mm.

On the other hand for the price of the Spot and lens you can buy a Maxumm 7 or 9 and shoot in manual for class. The 7s and 9s were state of the art, lots of features something to grow a system around.

cliveh · Jul 6, 2015

The best student camera is the Pentax K1000. Fully manual, easy to use, built like a tank and will last a lifetime.

college film photography class camera help

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