First SLR

xkaes

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138bb said:
Any recommendation on what to check?
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The first thing I notice is the self timer is in the COCKED position. Too often this is the case because the shutter is stuck! I hope that's not the case for you. Press the self-timer release --the tiny button next to the lever -- when you get it. If the self-timer releases that GOOD. If nothing happens BAD.
 

removedacct2

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138bb said:
I finally decided to get a Fujica because M42 lenses are cheaper here.
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there are tons of M42 lenses and the older soviet SRL (Zenit-3/3M) lenses in M39 (also ZM39) can be adapted with a cheap ring. In the 70's most people on a budget bought Zenit or Praktica, M42 for long time, so this is the most common mount with the cheapest lenses.

Now that you have a camera with a lens, you can start thinking about the next step: buy film, chemicals, and how to get positives from the negatives
 

xkaes

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Right!!! Now that you finally have a camera, you've got to start spending some REAL money!!!

FYI, these "guys" have only just begun to spend your hard-earned cash.
 

KerrKid

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Congratulations on your entry into the SLR world. Yes, you can get that Minolta SRT-101 or one of its siblings any time in the future.
 

RalphLambrecht

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I'd stay away from Praktika. They are very unreliable, especially when forty years old. On the other hand, Nikon's manual SLRs are built like tanks and still work perfectly at that age. You should find Nikon FMs in good shape for around $100 and with reasonably reasonable care, they will last you a lifetime.
 

Chan Tran

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My first SLR was the Nikon F2AS back in 1977. I never had a P&S or any camera before that. It doesn't make sense to start with cheap stuff.
 

Hassasin

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Chan Tran said:
My first SLR was the Nikon F2AS back in 1977. I never had a P&S or any camera before that. It doesn't make sense to start with cheap stuff.
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And of course between cheap and top shelf there is a plethora of high quality choices.
 

Chan Tran

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Hassasin said:
And of course between cheap and top shelf there is a plethora of high quality choices.
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I made my decision back then and I stick to it. I decided that I never need larger than 35mm and I don't want a rangefinder. So far I stick with that.
 

Hassasin

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Chan Tran said:
I made my decision back then and I stick to it. I decided that I never need larger than 35mm and I don't want a rangefinder. So far I stick with that.
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That's great and perfectly understandable. Top shelf camera is not everyone's cup of coffee, especially these days when learning film shooting may not be a better form digital option. One needs to find out. So going top gear vs. very good one does not affect the experience.
 

KerrKid

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It's not surprising to stay with what we had back in the 70's. Most of us (with hair) still wear the same basic hairstyle. Nothing wrong with that and knowing one system well beats knowing multiple systems poorly.

I've stayed with 35mm because that's what I know, but I have bought some rangefinder and zonefinder cameras to compliment my vintage SLR's. I've also bought a few P&S cameras and inherited a few. It's nice to have options.

I agree that buying a poor-quality camera for your first one would be a bad idea. Better to save enough money to buy one that will give you years of service and that you won't outgrow.
 

Sirius Glass

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My first slr was the Minolta SR7.
 

redbandit

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Just confused as to why everyone recommends late era film cameras that NEED 25-30 dollar batteries, that to qoute the canon eos manual, last 20 rolls of 36 exposure film.
 

Nicholas Lindan

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KerrKid said:
I agree that buying a poor-quality camera for your first one would be a bad idea. Better to save enough money to buy one that will give you years of service and that you won't outgrow.
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As someone who bought a whole slew of poor quality cameras when starting out I can second (and thrid, fourth and fiifth) this advice. Save up for another few months or year or so until you can get a quality camera - you will then have to make a judgement call on which system you would like to buy into: Nikon, Canon, Leica, Pentax... I would stay away from the likes of Topcon, Miranda, Kowa, Petri ... finding someone who can provide service to these brands is a real problem and reliability is poor compared to the top tier. And stay away from the dinosaurs - Exakta, Praktica, Zeiss.
 

KerrKid

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I was fortunate to have bought a Minolta SRT-101 for my first camera. I got it from a pawn shop so, being a broke teenager, price probably had everything to do with that decision. You are right on the money for suggesting the first time SLR buyer stay with the "big dogs".

The strange/good thing is that today some really really good cameras sell for the same or less than some really really bad cameras. The Nikon N-series and Minolta Maxxums, for instance, would make great first cameras and cost very little. How long would it take to save <$50 for one of these? No, they sure don't compare to the aesthetics or build of the all metal vintage cameras, but they offer a much bigger bang-for-the-buck IMHO and may make it easier for a first time SLR user to take better pictures and stay engaged in the hobby.
 

Les Sarile

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When it comes to these "old" cameras, make sure it is cheap enough that you don't care or that it comes with some warranty.

Looks like a good sample but I hope that self timer lever not in the starting position is not an indication of a problem . . .

If you didn't already know, this is a good site for manuals -> Butkus camera manual library
It has a manual for that camera there -> https://www.butkus.org/chinon/fujica/fujica_st705/fujica_st705.htm
 

MattKing

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KerrKid said:
It's not surprising to stay with what we had back in the 70's. Most of us (with hair) still wear the same basic hairstyle.
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You clearly haven't seen my student photo ID from my first years at University!
Or this, from about that time:

If only that was still possible!
 

redbandit

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MattKing said:
You clearly haven't seen my student photo ID from my first years at University!
Or this, from about that time:
View attachment 335868
If only that was still possible!
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Alot of dudes are out and about dressing like ladies and even doing the lady style hair cuts. Ive seen a few dudes at work with that particular haircut in fact. So its still more then possible for ya
 
OP
OP

138bb

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Thank you all for the recommendations! I still haven’t received the camera. It says it will arrive this friday.

I didn’t notice the self timer when I purchased it on ebay. And now I’m kind of nervous about it. I really hope it doesnt mean the camera needs to be fixed… Anyway, I made some research and I found a shop specialised in fixing analogical cameras and lenses. It seems reliable but I hope I don’t need to use it for now
 

xkaes

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I hope it is simply "cocked" and needs to be released. But most of the time I've seen that, it means it is stuck. You'll find out soon! It's an easy repair -- for someone who is familiar with these cameras -- but not something you were expecting. If it does need to be repaired, you should contact the seller and request a return -- or a refund for the cost of the repair.

Please let us know how it goes!!!
 

KerrKid

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It may not be a big deal. I've had cameras like that and shutters that were jammed, etc. that weren't difficult to work out. Sometimes it isn't much.
 
OP
OP

138bb

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I’ll let you know as soon as i get the camera in my hands
 
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