Good Cheap 35mm Camera

brofkand · Nov 17, 2008

Hey all,

I'm looking for a good cheap 35mm camera. To give you an idea of what I am looking for, I want something like a Yashica Electro GS or the like. I don't really care if it's a rangefinder or an SLR or whatever, as long as I have a meter and some kind of focusing convention.

I also want to keep my budget around the price of a GS on eBay, so ~$30-40 with a fast 50. If an SLR is the recommendation, I'd prefer to go with Nikon since I have a D40 now and will have the ability to share lenses. I don't have any primes as of yet (I made the foolish decision to sell my EM and "move up" to a Canon Rebel 2000...my mom now owns that camera).

Thanks for any opinions!

Markok765 · Nov 17, 2008

How about a Zorki 4 with jupiter 8 and the D40 as a meter?

AZLF · Nov 17, 2008

I'd go with the Yashica. One of the apug members (b1bmsgt) reconditions and sells Electro 35's. I don't know what he has on hand at the moment but I got one from him some time ago and it has always worked flawlessly. Easy to use. Quick to focus and they have a lens that is very sharp. Even smaller would be a Zorki 2c. Copy of the Leica sm rangefinder body. If it doesn't come with one find a Industar 61 50 mm lens. Very sharp and contrasty. They are somewhat of a pain to load but they are a sturdy 35 mm camera.

Oops. I forgot you wanted some metering capability. The Zorki has no meter. It's never made any difference to me as the sunny 16 rule works quite well no matter what the local.

brofkand · Nov 17, 2008

Well, a meter doesn't really matter that much. I've used non-metering lenses on my D40 before, and I've had little to no problem getting a properly exposed frame. Sunny 16 works well. Especially with B&W neg film, where you have a decent amount of latitude to play with.

Markok765 · Nov 17, 2008

brofkand said:
Well, a meter doesn't really matter that much. I've used non-metering lenses on my D40 before, and I've had little to no problem getting a properly exposed frame. Sunny 16 works well. Especially with B&W neg film, where you have a decent amount of latitude to play with.

The lens doesn't meter at all? Even if you manually stop down?

Poohblah · Nov 17, 2008

I suggest you stick to Nikon SLR's in the event that you ever upgrade to AF SLR's or you ever upgrade your digital SLR in the future.

You can find a whole slew of Nikon manual SLR's out there, it just depends what's on your local Craigslist and KEH at the time. You should be able to find an EM with a 50/1.8E or something along those lines for not a lot of dough.

brofkand · Nov 17, 2008

Markok765 said:
The lens doesn't meter at all? Even if you manually stop down?

Nope, unless the lens has a chip in it, the D40 won't meter with it. I believe you have to step up to the D300/700/3 range to get metering with manual-focus lenses.

brofkand · Nov 18, 2008

Are there any alternatives to the Olympus Trip 35 that aren't so expensive? I understand the Trip 35 has become somewhat of a cult classic.

Also, the Zorki 4's are a tad expensive on eBay...they're all coming from the Ukraine.

Paul Howell · Nov 18, 2008

brofkand said:
Are there any alternatives to the Olympus Trip 35 that aren't so expensive? I understand the Trip 35 has become somewhat of a cult classic.

Canon QL 1.7 fast lens, manual and shutter speed priority.

Anscojohn · Nov 18, 2008

brofkand said:
Are there any alternatives to the Olympus Trip 35 that aren't so expensive? I understand the Trip 35 has become somewhat of a cult classic.

Also, the Zorki 4's are a tad expensive on eBay...they're all coming from the Ukraine.

******
Fed 2s are cheaper, and the Tessar formula lens can be very good.

Jeff Searust · Nov 18, 2008

My suggestion would be something with an m-42 mount. The most common, the most adaptable and the the cheapest type of 35mm camera. This is the workhorse.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M42_lens_mount

Here is a cool site with complete list of nearly 500 different lenses that are m-42 mount:

http://m42.artlimited.net/site_lenses.php

2F/2F · Nov 18, 2008

The D40 won't meter or stop down a manual lens. The upside is that it takes the original Nikon F glass ("NAI") without the lenses having to be AId, which the higher-end Nikons do not. This provides a great selection of low-cost glass, and the digital pix still look like they were taken with original uncoated F glass, which is one of my favorite looks. Ironically, you get more functionality by adapting the F glass to a Canon digital body than you get by using it on a Nikon digital. You still lose auto aperture, of course, but the meter does work. Fat lot of good an in-camera reflected meter does, though. The manual aperture is more of a hassle than that.

I would suggest a Canon QL17 or a Yashica Electro 35. I think the Canon is better, but my Yashica works fine. You just have less manual control, and have to build a simple battery adapter for it to work. Don't pay more than $25 for either of these, in any condition.

You also might score a Pentax Spotmatic or a Minolta SRT with a 50mm for within your budget, that is if you are patient. You also might find a Nikon with a 50.

There is also this kit which I have listed in the classifieds: (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

I was selling it, but decided to keep it for a while since I like it so much. I would sell it, though, if you wanted it. It is over your budget, but not by all that much, and it comes with two lenses.

bobwysiwyg · Nov 18, 2008

Paul Howell said:
brofkand said:

Are there any alternatives to the Olympus Trip 35 that aren't so expensive? I understand the Trip 35 has become somewhat of a cult classic.

Canon QL 1.7 fast lens, manual and shutter speed priority.

Click to expand...

+1 It has a very quiet, unobtrusive shutter sound as well.

PhotoJim · Nov 18, 2008

There are Nikons in this price range. The EM, FG, N2000/F301, N2020/F501, N50/F50 and a few others are all in this price range easily. All of these but the F50/N50 will work with an inexpensive 50/1.8E. The latter will work but will not meter.

A Canon QL is a nice camera but it'll take some doing to get it at a price within your budget. Most of the ones I see approach $100.

The Soviet rangefinders, if in good repair, are solid choices. I have a bunch of them.

mudman · Nov 18, 2008

The N2000 is a good camera. For a little more you could even pick up a beater FM or FE body, but you'd have to find a lens for it for more $$.

brofkand · Nov 21, 2008

I got a FG that looks to be in new condition, an SB-15 flash, 50mm 1.8E lens, Soligor 28mm 2.8 lens. I'm just waiting on it to arrive.

Here's the link to the auction I got it from: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&item=310100441316

I feel like I got a really good deal. I used to own an EM, so if I were to go with a Nikon, I want something similar in size and shape to that camera. I'm really excited to get this one in! The only problem is the flash's battery contacts are corroded. I have a Vivitar 283 that I will probably use more than this flash, but if i can clean it I will definitely use it.

Chaplain Jeff · Nov 21, 2008

Check out the Minolta XG-1 with the standard 50mm, f/1.7 lens (filter thread 49mm).

It will be within the price parameters you have set. Great camera too. Shoots in Aperture Preferred and fully Manual.

Good luck and let us know what you get.

brofkand · Nov 21, 2008

Chaplain: Look directly above your post

I won the auction last night.

Chaplain Jeff · Nov 21, 2008

Oh. Congrats! FG is a good camera.

Have fun!

SilverGlow · Nov 24, 2008

I'm currently using a Contax 167MT, with a Zeiss F2.8 45mm prime. It's wonderful. However, I miss the realtime exposure gages in the view finder, that my Canon EOS 3 provides. So I would suggest a used SLR that provides more helpful exposure gages like the EOS 3. All the major makes have such features, and you can get a used one for a song, in perfect condition. A realtime exposure gage can help one apply appropriate exposure compensation, and I personally think this is very helpful.

Good Cheap 35mm Camera

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