First film camera recommendations?

[KerrKid]

True, trouble is that are so many good cameras, figuring what to get is splitting hairs.

That's why I advised to get one of each.....like you have.)

 

[MattKing]

It might be more productive to determine what is available to you and seems to appeal to you and then ask here about those choices.
Personally, I'd be all in with the Olympus choices.

 

[Duceman]

For first cameras, I'm a big fan of Minolta (that was my first SLR). If you're looking for a Minolta, I could possibly hook you up with one.

 

[rickylc]

yeah, but for $40 for camera and lens, how can you go wrong with an N80? I mean, really? and if you don't like it you will get your investment back. unlike buying more expensive manual cameras. I just went through this as I started film in january and spent a bunch of money on several nikons (FE, FA, FG) and a cannon AE=1 program. Then I found the N80 and was able to pick up three (some for my kids) with lenses for less than I paid for one of those other cameras. I am now trying to get my investment in the other cameras back and I will be lucky if I get 40% back of what I paid. May well end up just keeping them because i will loose so much otherwise.

 

[KerrKid]

It's also important to note that the prices for the N80 and N75 are going up. They are still a screaming bargain at $50, though. Much less for just a body.

If I was going to get one, it would be now. I wouldn't wait.

 

[annowl]

Upon debating to post this question to the community, I do understand people will have their biases and favs, but seeing as its not easy (to my understanding) to simply find cameras to test out or handle, it is why I chose to get insight from the community. At the end of the day I know it is my personal choice, but I think getting feedback like this is helpful compared to just reading up or watching videos about top 35mm camera and what not

As a side if there are places where I could check out cameras physically in the LA area I'm all ears/eyes - from what I can tell on the website of Samy's Camera they don't have slrs in store but maybe I'm wrong

 

[annowl]

yeah, but for $40 for camera and lens, how can you go wrong with an N80? I mean, really? and if you don't like it you will get your investment back. unlike buying more expensive manual cameras. I just went through this as I started film in january and spent a bunch of money on several nikons (FE, FA, FG) and a cannon AE=1 program. Then I found the N80 and was able to pick up three (some for my kids) with lenses for less than I paid for one of those other cameras. I am now trying to get my investment in the other cameras back and I will be lucky if I get 40% back of what I paid. May well end up just keeping them because i will loose so much otherwise.

I get the N80/N75 is a bargain, but if I know I'm not gonna like how it feels to hold upon shooting with it (it looks similar to dlsr bodies, and I had always felt tired using them, the weight issue aside) why should I consider putting any money towards it when I can use it to invest in a camera I would more likely enjoy using. I'm just trying to enjoy photography in another format. Like with the many opinions of preferences, to each their own. I don't really see it as a loss of investment to be looking at other options instead. I'm just trying to do as much research as I can before I commit to purchasing something.

Best of luck in selling what you don't want if you do continue to do so.

 

[Finny]

Haha… endless discussion!
For me the Minolta SLRs worked very well. Especially the XE5/XE1 or the SRT 303/101
But also the cameras from Pentax (MX, LX) are great. And of course the old mechanical Nikons (F3)
Leica SL/SL2, Olympus of course (OM1/2/3), Konica T3…. for me… no Canons… don’t ask. I even don’t know why…
And, the most important thing that is always forgotten in the end, are the lenses!
Here there are excellent (Minolta, Pentax, Nikon). And here again: supply and demand. The prices are partly too high (Niko), or rather scared (Minolta, Pentax).

As you can see, endless discussion;-)

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I gotta say upon looking at the Nikon N80 also the F100, although great budget wise I've never been much of a fan of that kind of body, the grip is usually too clunky/big for me. The Nikon FM/FE seem nice though on the pricier side of things.
this search just seems to get more difficult

all name-brand cameras and lenses are good these days. To make it easier to pick the best. Manufacturers agreed to print the word 'Nikon' on those!

 

[Chan Tran]

I gotta say upon looking at the Nikon N80 also the F100, although great budget wise I've never been much of a fan of that kind of body, the grip is usually too clunky/big for me. The Nikon FM/FE seem nice though on the pricier side of things.
this search just seems to get more difficult

If you pick the FM instead of FM2, FM2n or FE2 then it's not that expensive. For me I have no use of the 1/2000 and 1/4000 shutter speed. Higher flash sync speed is not important to me either. Another thing. if you're willing to pay shipping I would let you have my FM which has something in the vewfinder that I can't get rid off. Other than that it works.

 

[Mogens]

I gotta say upon looking at the Nikon N80 also the F100, although great budget wise I've never been much of a fan of that kind of body, the grip is usually too clunky/big for me. The Nikon FM/FE seem nice though on the pricier side of things.
this search just seems to get more difficult

I’d advise you to make the trek out to a store that sells used cameras, seeing as you‘re in S. California. That way you can find something you know you’re comfortable with and buy it from a place that will warranty it for a month or three. The truth is that you really can’t go wrong. Pentax, Nikon, Minolta, Olympus, etc. all made incredible cameras in the 70s and 80s. I’m a Nikon guy myself, but I could easily be happy with any of the others (except Canon, just kidding). I think if you hold these things in your hands, you’ll find yourself connecting with something. And what really makes a difference (they all made amazing lenses, etc.) is how fluidly you use the thing.

 

[Kino]

I gotta say upon looking at the Nikon N80 also the F100, although great budget wise I've never been much of a fan of that kind of body, the grip is usually too clunky/big for me. The Nikon FM/FE seem nice though on the pricier side of things.
this search just seems to get more difficult

Just buy one that looks good to you. It's not a life or death decision...

 

[xkaes]

I swore I would not buy another Minolta MAXXUM 5 -- even in MINT condition with a lens for more than $20. My last find was one with a 28-80 zoom and 75-300mm zoom for $25.

Sure, the MAXXUM 5 the smallest, lightest, most full-featured 35mm film camera on the planet -- with manual & auto-focusing, manual and several auto-exposure modes, built-in flash & TTL flash hot shot, built-in motor drive, etc.

BUT I just got another one with a 28-80 macro zoom & roomy system case -- for $14.99. How could I resist? It even has a data back, battery, and the 200-page user manual.

Maybe I should drop my limit to $10.

This is crazy. Pretty soon they'll be giving them away.

 

[Chan Tran]

Just buy one that looks good to you. It's not a life or death decision...

I second this. I don't like ugly camera regardless how well it works. But then if something looks good it is good. That's my opnion

 

[gbroadbridge]

Hello! I'm a bit of a lurker and a casual hobbyist so sorry for any ignorance.

But I'm wondering if I could get some recommendations on a first 35mm camera and lens pairing. I had taken a intro to photography class back in uni and I remember loving the film half of the course - we got to rent cameras if we didn't own one, but unfortunately I don't remember what I had used back then. I had always been interested in photography but when I bought my first camera a few years ago I went with a mirrorless (got a Fujifilm XT20, love all the knobs and such and manual finicking of settings--hopefully this gives some insight on what I may enjoy?). Recently I hung out with a friend who brought a Nikon film P&S with them and gave us some of their prints, and it made me remember how much fun I had shooting film, plus all the fun in the darkroom.

So I found myself diving into the world of 35mm cameras, but honestly I'm a bit overwhelmed since unlike my decision making before in choosing a camera I can't exactly go to a store and pick up and play around with the different options.... so I'm hoping if I could get some insight in good options to get into the analog world.

I had done some research and I thought I was leaning towards the Olympus OM1/n or 2/n but then I see people talk about other cameras like the Pentax or Minolta....I become hesitant on my choice yet again. Also I thought about the Canon AE-1 but I wasn't a big fan of it being mostly made of plastic, so I'm hoping for options that have less of that. For lens, I'm most likely to just use a prime and leave it on the camera (its what I've been doing with my Fuji, if I go out I just have the 7artisans 35mm 1.2 on and I enjoy just shooting with that, though I admit I have been on and off looking at other primes but I have been greatly distracted...).

Upon looking at Ebay and some used camera sites, I'm thinking my budget is about $200USD for both a body and lens, I don't mind potentially going over but I may limit it to about 300-350....

Any and all help would be much appreciated , hopefully my mention of what I use digitally can be a reference Thank you

You really can't go wrong with any Canon Camera which has an EF mount.

There are zillions of bodies and lenses to suit any budget.

I'm Canon biased as that is the go to gear downunder, but pretty sure the folks in NA will tell you which Nikon to get
I always find I'm the limiting factor, not the camera body or lens..

 

[xkaes]

Tell me where I can get a Canon with an EF mount and a zoom lens in mint condition for $15.

I'm interested -- and I'm sure everyone else is too.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Tell me where I can get a Canon with an EF mount and a zoom lens in mint condition for $15.

I'm interested -- and I'm sure everyone else is too.

Downunder they're a dime for a dozen. Not sure why anyone would want a zoom but that's another issue.

Nikon on the other hand, you'd be paying $500 plus for a body, maybe $1500 for a body with a decent Zoom lens.

Nikon is not cool downunder, we're all Canon folks.

 

[4season]

Don't sweat it too much. If you're new to this and don't have the opportunity to examine the goods in person, try to find a seller who knows a thing or two about cameras, maybe even has performed some maintenance. eBay product photos should be well-exposed and show plenty of detail, camera itself should appear reasonably clean.

Camera bodies: You want a viewfinder which is bright and clear, battery chambers free from corrosion, and slower shutter speeds and self-timer all working as they should.

Lenses: Clear, with no significant haze or fungus. Controls should turn smoothly without undue effort. Aperture blades should have a nice snappy action, and be grease-free.

Most OM1/OM2-era cameras are sold with the original factory foam light seals around the door, and mirror cushions. These were already iffy in the 1990s, and time hasn't improved them. Fortunately, this is one bit of camera service that the average (if patient, with halfway decent craft skills) can do at home. Precut foam replacement kits with instructions can be had at modest cost.

BTW, If you don't really care about motor drives or chasing down old dedicated TTL flash units, then pretty much any OM-1/2 variant ought to serve nicely.

 

[Chan Tran]

Don't sweat it too much. If you're new to this and don't have the opportunity to examine the goods in person, try to find a seller who knows a thing or two about cameras, maybe even has performed some maintenance. eBay product photos should be well-exposed and show plenty of detail, camera itself should appear reasonably clean.

Camera bodies: You want a viewfinder which is bright and clear, battery chambers free from corrosion, and slower shutter speeds and self-timer all working as they should.

Lenses: Clear, with no significant haze or fungus. Controls should turn smoothly without undue effort. Aperture blades should have a nice snappy action, and be grease-free.

Most OM1/OM2-era cameras are sold with the original factory foam light seals around the door, and mirror cushions. These were already iffy in the 1990s, and time hasn't improved them. Fortunately, this is one bit of camera service that the average (if patient, with halfway decent craft skills) can do at home. Precut foam replacement kits with instructions can be had at modest cost.

BTW, If you don't really care about motor drives or chasing down old dedicated TTL flash units, then pretty much any OM-1/2 variant ought to serve nicely.

One thing about the Olympus OM-1/OM-2 is that they may be for sale without the hot shoe.

 

[MattKing]

One thing about the Olympus OM-1/OM-2 is that they may be for sale without the hot shoe.

Or with a hot shoe with a disabling crack in it - small cracks seem to be okay.

 

[KerrKid]

One thing about the Olympus OM-1/OM-2 is that they may be for sale without the hot shoe.

I took the hot shoe off the minute I got my first OM2n. I haven't bothered with the second one. Neither are cracked very much, but I think the hot shoe messes up the look of the camera.

 

[DF]

MINOLTA X-700 IS the camera you WANT!
It was a premier professional level camera back in 1984 when I bought one at Shutan's here in Chicago for roughly $450 including standard 50mm 1.7 MD lens.
The used market is FLOODED with them. In fact, Craigslist your area and you're bound to find atleast a few you could get nearby.
I still use mine together with my much older Minolta SRT 101.
Minolta MD & MC Rokkor lenses are superb optical quality - ALL interchangeable.

 

[Chan Tran]

My offer to the OP again in case he missed it. This FM has problem with the viewfinder as you can see in the pictures but it's functional. Shutter speeds tested and meter tested good.
It's free all it cost about $20 for shipping within the USA.

 

[annowl]

My offer to the OP again in case he missed it. This FM has problem with the viewfinder as you can see in the pictures but it's functional. Shutter speeds tested and meter tested good.
It's free all it cost about $20 for shipping within the USA.

O: If I may ask but what is the cause of the lines in the viewfinder, though weirdly it seems to act as a grid

 

[Chan Tran]

O: If I may ask but what is the cause of the lines in the viewfinder, though weirdly it seems to act as a grid

I don't know the cause.