Digital to Film! Which small SLR?

[Paul Howell]

The Pentax's mentioned are fine as well, but not quite in the same class as the OM1/2.[/QUOTE]

The OM system was disigned as a full system with both winders and a drive, the one Pentax that was a full professional camera was the LX, I almost traded in my F2 for a LX, but at the time most Camera Shops rented Nikon lens that I only used on occassion. The LX value has held up over the years.

 

[OPTheory]

Pentax ME Super for the small-SLR win! I love that little camera. It just feels right in my hands.

 

[donbga]

Go to a used camera store.

Do you actually think they still have those?

 

[Sirius Glass]

OT. Did anyone notice that (there was a url link here which no longer exists) now has a better self portrait in his avitar?

Steve

 

[Jersey Vic]

I love Zeiss glass too. Have you held a Contax Aria? Tiny, lite..nearly rf sized with auto advance and 5 kinds of metering. Sharp little guy.

 

[Mike Chini]

Yeah, the Aria's nice. I prefer an older-style SLR though. The Aria's viewfinder is not as nice as the RTS II and the RTS II is smaller and quieter. I have tried a bunch out at camera stores and I love the OM's and Contax's. Ideally I'd put a Zeiss lens on the OM2 or OM1!

 

[Jersey Vic]

The RTS II is smaller and quieter than the Aria? I need to get one!

 

[copake_ham]

Yeah, the Aria's nice. I prefer an older-style SLR though. The Aria's viewfinder is not as nice as the RTS II and the RTS II is smaller and quieter. I have tried a bunch out at camera stores and I love the OM's and Contax's. Ideally I'd put a Zeiss lens on the OM2 or OM1!

Mike,

Just keep in mind one thing - we're talking about a camera here. It's not like choosing a life event (e.g. Which college should I go to? Should we make a baby? etc.).

You'll go crazy if you start fantasizing permutations and "what ifs".

Figure how much you want to spend and get a decent kit that fits your key requirement (which is apparently the VF factor) and start shooting!

It's not like this is RFF where next thing you know - someone will start a friggin' poll!

 

[waynecrider]

I've been watching Pentax lens prices and I've got to tell you their not going down. With the last two Pentax digital models out the lenses are definitely being sought after. I can buy cheaper Nikon glass.

Btw, the little N80 Nikon is small, light, has good metering, and a nice screen. Not robust like a F3, but if you watch you can buy a minty example pretty cheap; say around a $100 or so. If you want to pound a tent stake with the camera tho you'd be better off with a metal body. You might consider repairs and parts availability on anything used. Cla's are getting pricey from what I see.

 

[snegron]

F3HP is rather small, very well built, accurate, and has a solid feel. Nikon optics are true gems as well. The cool thing about an F3HP is that if it feels too small you can always attatch the MD4 motor drive. As far as batteries go, they seem to last a long time with the F3. I am still amazed at how two little button-type 1.5V batteries can operate the shutter and meter for so long! For even more battery life, the AA's in the MD4 operate the camera as well.

Out of all the cameras I have owned throughout the years, the only ones I would not part with are my three F3's. I like my F, F2A, F100, FM2N and even my N80 bodies, but there is just something about the F3 that feels incredibly right in my hands. Maybe it's the 100% viewfinder. Maybe it's the extremely accurate metering system. I can't pinpoint what it is, all I know is that the balance is perfect and it is a joy to use!

 

[film_guy]

What about an EOS 3? It's almost the same size as your 5D but lighter and slightly thinner. It comes with 45-point AF, 4fps (which I think is overkill for film and non-sport events), weather-seals and spot metering plus tons of other bells and whistles. And you can use your Canon lenses too.

The only bad thing I can think of the camera is its insanely loud shutter. I like mine though, and if you want a mint Canon Elan 7N with battery grip I have one for sale.

 

[Silverhead]

If you have a thing for older-style SLRs, I personally love my old Honeywell Pentax Spotmatic. It's wonderfully compact, and Pentax made some great lenses for it...their Super Takumars were fantastic. Great camera for street photography, and you can find a wide variety of bodies and lenses out there on the used market & eBay. Plus, here's a surprise...Zeiss is now making lenses with the old M42 screw mount that the Spotmatic has!

 

[dynachrome]

Small SLR Camera

If you are mostly going to shoot with one lens on the camera then I would recommend a Bronica ETRS or ETRSi with the waist level finder, regular crank and a 50mm f/2.8 wide angle. Be sure to get the correct Bronica strap so you can hang it on your neck. If you are stronger then an SQ-A or SQ-Ai with a waist level finder, regular crank and 50/3.5 wide angle is also very nice. You will get nice big negatives to work with and the choice of 120 0r 220 film. In b&w you will have only TXP to work with in the 220 format but that will give you 30 shots on a roll with the 6X45 format.

 

[Paul Howell]

Plus, here's a surprise...Zeiss is now making lenses with the old M42 screw mount that the Spotmatic has![/QUOTE]

If you like Zeiss lens you can get an rather inexpenisve Yaschia FX or FR and use Zeiss lens.

 

[Donald Miller]

I will second what Victor has said about the X700 Minolta. I have had mine about the same length of time. I also have an older XD11 which is capable of multiple exposure (the 700 is not) The XD11 has a metal shutter while the 700 has a cloth shutter....but more to the point of your situation, have you read the part in your 5D manual that allows you to customize the parameters of your exposure with your digital camera? It may be that a review of that section (page 50 or thereabouts, as I recall) will save you another expenditure. Good luck no matter what you decide.

 

[cygnet]

a vote for the OMs

I just got referred over to this site from another forum, Texas Photo Forum. There was a discussion of what other forums folks visited. And sure enough, the first thread I looked in on was this one, so I had to register with y'all too.

I've had OM stuff since the late 70's, due specifically to their size. I was backpacking and bicycle tripping all over the world, and wanted lightweight but bulletproof equipment. Currently my OM-1 and OM2n don't receive much use due to a Mamiya 6 I got a few years ago. I recently sold another OM2n body to a high school student with the 50mm f1.8 lens for $50, since she was just starting out and I had 3 bodies.
I'll have to say that everytime I scan one my old negatives from the Olympus cameras I'm just blown away by how good those lenses are. And since they are not readily compatible with new digital stuff, they are cheaper than the old Pentax and Nikon stuff. My absolute favorite lens is the 28mm f2.8. I think the one I have is as good as my Mamiya 6 lenses, and that's saying a lot.

 

[mabman]

My Pentax ME Supers arrived late last week - on the thread topic, I am extremely surprised at how small and light they are. I shot some film with one of them this weekend, with a Jupiter-9 and Volna-9 (with an M42-mount adapter) - it was very nice to have it fit so well in my hand. The only problem I can see is that if I use a neck strap my lenses may unbalance it and cause some issues - but heavy Russian lenses aren't the camera's fault

 

[Paul Howell]

Jupiter-9 and Volna-9 (with an M42-mount adapter) -

You need to be careful when using a wide angle lens with an adapter as some (I think including the Pentex brand) block the internal light meter on the ME with 28mm and wider lens.

 

[Markok765]

Get a holga for street stuff!

 

[Woolliscroft]

I'd be another vote for the OM system. I've been using it since the 1970s and find them light, user friendly and very reliable and the glass is great. I have been gradually going Leica over the last two years, but my OM-2n's and OM-4Ti's are still in almost daily use. The only proviso is that I'd avoid the straight OM-4 (not the Ti version) which has a deserved reputation as a battery eater. I am told that the OM-2 spot has the same problem, but I have never had one and so can't comment.

David.