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Finding the "Right" Cheap SLR

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Mastrianni said:
Miroslav Tichy Homemade camera and work
Click to expand...

thank you !

people forget often times the camera has nothing to do with the photographs
its a box with a shutter to regulate light.
all the bells and whistles aren't going to save something awful from being exposed
whether or not it is a fantastic camera, the best ever made or a cardboard box.
all too often people put too much faith &c in to the camera being used ...
 
Theo Sulphate said:
No aperture readout on FTb or FTbN.

FE also allows use of pre-AI lenses and can meter them in stop-down mode. FE2 cannot.
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Yep, Theo, and your last comment is one reason why I think the FE is an important camera. (the FM too for the same reason) i have several pre-AI lenses so I can still use them on my FE. I own an FE2 also, and I like it for its extended capabilities, but I consider the FE2 to be an addition to the FE and not the other way around.
 
I think that, In General, Minolta is underappreciated. In terms of MONEY.....Their XG-M is almost worthless. I bought one with a 50/1.7..... all in good shape, for 30 bux. I hope to be able to Sell/Give it to one of the students in my Photo Class.
Do not know if this Minolta would be "The Right"...cheap, SLR. But it certainly deserves a look.
Born in 1960, I cut my teeth on the Canon AE-1 and AE-1P. Circa 2015 i prefer the Minolta X-570 to those Canon Cameras.
I have their SRT-202 and XD-11. I am in process of selling my AE-1P and A-1, which are Awesome Cameras, because i have grown to prefer Minolta.
My F1-New would be the Canon Vs Minolta exception. :smile:
good luck
 
CMoore, I am in agreement with almost everything you wrote. The sole exception is I would prefer the SRT-101 over the 202. The reason being that almost all 101s have a mirror lock-up function, whereas the 202 does not. I'm not all that acquainted with the various XG models, but I do know that some of them will not meter in manual mode, making them almost worthless to me. I wouldn't give it to a photography student, however. Not doing them any favors.

The X-570 is the real sleeper among the X-series ranks. It may not have the X-700's program mode, but it is a real pleasure to use in manual and is a better camera than the X-700 in that regard.. It is for similar reasons that the A-series Canons are not as effective in manual mode as the X-570. With Canon, choices are slim. The old FTb and origina F-1, New F-1, and the rather obscure AT-1 are the only FD Canons that have fully coupled meters like the X-570.

I would probably be more enthusiastic about Minolta and my X-570 and XD-11 if I had a larger collection of Minolta lenses, but I don't yet. I have a large collection of Tamron lenses, which makes up for the shortfall by a significant amount..Like you, I cut my teeth on A-series Canons and I've subsequently accumulated a rather large collection of FD glass. And even though I prefer using my F-1s and FTbs over my A-1 and AE-1P, I will not sell my A-series Canons because of their historical significance and importance.
 
cooltouch said:
. I'm not all that acquainted with the various XG models, but I do know that some of them will not meter in manual mode, making them almost worthless to me. I wouldn't give it to a photography student, however. Not doing them any favors.
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The XG-M has an "A-Mode" and an "M-Mode".
The meter functions in manual mode.
I find it strange that a camera Would NOT meter in Manual Mode. but it would in Auto Mode.?
Manual is when you Need The Meter most.......:wondering:
 
You've gotten so many good replies. You need to narrow them down and handle them in person next. Find a used camera dealer with a good selection or join a camera club. Ergonomics is important and something that you can't get from a forum post...how well you can see through it. All brands are not the same, our eyes are different. While I could see fine through a Minolta or Nikon I couldn't focus properly with a Olympus. Not the cameras, it was me.
Last, pick a brand that you can grow with, a brand that offers the lenses and accessories you need.
 
cooltouch said:
... Canons are not as effective in manual mode as the X-570. With Canon, choices are slim. The old FTb and origina F-1, New F-1, and the rather obscure AT-1 are the only FD Canons that have fully coupled meters like the X-570.
...
Click to expand...

Also the Canon EF - the black beauty.
 
CMoore said:
The XG-M has an "A-Mode" and an "M-Mode".
The meter functions in manual mode.
I find it strange that a camera Would NOT meter in Manual Mode. but it would in Auto Mode.?
Manual is when you Need The Meter most.......:wondering:
Click to expand...

I knew I remembered this correctly, I just wasn't sure which models were not metered in manual. It would appear to be the case that the XG-M was the only camera in the XG series that was metered in manual mode. The XG-E, XG-1, XG-1n, XG-7, XG-9, XG-SE -- any others? -- none of these meter in manual mode. See:

http://camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/Minolta_XG_series

Yours is a great question, by the way, and one I always wondered about myself.
 
Apart from being a Nikon user I have long had a soft spot for Minolta. I presently own a black XE1 and a SRT101b and both are super reliable and a joy to use. Minolta lenses, especially the short zoom standard type with constant aperture are also second to none, especially the 24/35 and 35/70 lenses. Both F3.5.

If the XE1 was good enough for Leica to adopt the body, make slight alterations including a spot meter feature and then call it the R3, then for me it is a good design. Even the 35/70 zoom was cloned by Leica.
( I also know where a chrome XE1 is for sale so may add to my collection.)
 
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cooltouch said:
I knew I remembered this correctly, I just wasn't sure which models were not metered in manual. It would appear to be the case that the XG-M was the only camera in the XG series that was metered in manual mode. The XG-E, XG-1, XG-1n, XG-7, XG-9, XG-SE -- any others? -- none of these meter in manual mode. See:

http://camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/Minolta_XG_series

Yours is a great question, by the way, and one I always wondered about myself.
Click to expand...
That IS odd. :wondering:
I had NO idea about any of that stuff when i got this M-Model. Just lucked-out i guess.
It really is a fine camera. Hopefully it goes to a student in need.
Thanks Again for the info.......
 
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