Help me find my perfect camera please

zilali · Jun 19, 2014

Hi all,

I recently shot four very important films in my canon A-1 which all came out blank (something wrong with the shutter it seems). This is my third A1 to break in a short period of time so I have decided to ditch the A-1 and go for something new. I was wondering if any of you could recommend a camera to suit my needs..

So my preferences are- 1) Something reliable- i.e won't break after a few films. 2) Fast-ish shutter speed (I shoot lots of low depth of field portraits so it would be nice not to have to rely on ND filters when shooting when the aperture is low). 3) Smallish - which I guess excludes a lot of the autofocus cameras. 4) Cost to be less than say $200 (I may be able to increase this)

Can any of you think of any good cameras that fulfil all or most of the above criteria?

thanks

miha · Jun 19, 2014

A Nikon FM2 is as reliable as it gets. Or perhaps a late Canon EOS like the EOS 30V / Elan 7N if you want auto-everything.

zilali · Jun 19, 2014

mmm FM2 looks nice, the only draw back is I have never used manual exposure, is this a bit tricky to get right? Ideally if I could get something with aperture priority that would be great.

EoS looks good but it's unfortunately a bit to bulky for my liking.

thanks

bernard_L · Jun 19, 2014

Then, Nikon FE or FE2?
Or, if you do not mind sarcastic remarks from purists, Nikon EM. Possibly a bit smaller.
As far as I'm concerned, I would not trade my FM2 for an electronic fantastic auto-something, FE or EM.

miha · Jun 19, 2014

FE2 offers aperture priority but is otherwise identical to the FM2. Manual exposure is no more tricky, it just takes a bit time as it requires the photographer to set all the parameters.

horacekenneth · Jun 19, 2014

If you haven't yet try getting your camera from KEH or someone who will check it out and rate its quality.

Alan Gales · Jun 19, 2014

zilali said:
mmm FM2 looks nice, the only draw back is I have never used manual exposure, is this a bit tricky to get right? Ideally if I could get something with aperture priority that would be great.

EoS looks good but it's unfortunately a bit to bulky for my liking.

thanks

If you want to get the most out of your camera then you need to learn manual exposure for when you need full control. It may seem tricky at first, just like learning to ride a bicycle, but once you figure it out you will wonder why you thought it was so hard to begin with!

Like mentioned earlier the FE2 would fit your criteria.

MattKing · Jun 19, 2014

A Canon 7e may look bulky because of its shape, but it is actually smaller than an A1.

I would recommend an Olympus OM2n.

Sirius Glass · Jun 19, 2014

I would recommend the Nikon F100, which is the best film camera they ever built in my not so humble option [IMNOHO].

wy2l · Jun 19, 2014

Nikon FM3A. Very simple, sounds like a swiss watch. An absolute joy, lets one focus (ignore the put) in the image and not the technology.

Hatchetman · Jun 19, 2014

wy2l said:
Nikon FM3A. .

Jeez, why are these things so expensive?

Regular Rod · Jun 19, 2014

zilali said:
Hi all,

I recently shot four very important films in my canon A-1 which all came out blank (something wrong with the shutter it seems). This is my third A1 to break in a short period of time so I have decided to ditch the A-1 and go for something new. I was wondering if any of you could recommend a camera to suit my needs..

So my preferences are- 1) Something reliable- i.e won't break after a few films. 2) Fast-ish shutter speed (I shoot lots of low depth of field portraits so it would be nice not to have to rely on ND filters when shooting when the aperture is low). 3) Smallish - which I guess excludes a lot of the autofocus cameras. 4) Cost to be less than say $200 (I may be able to increase this)

Can any of you think of any good cameras that fulfil all or most of the above criteria?

thanks

Have you got some Canon lenses for your A-1? I used to use the old Canon F-1 (not the F1n but the old type). It never went wrong and you could have knocked nails in with it as it was so strong. Very simple to use. No programming. A high quality camera that would let you benefit from your old FD etc. lenses.

RR

Alan Gales · Jun 19, 2014

Sirius Glass said:
I would recommend the Nikon F100, which is the best film camera they ever built in my not so humble option [IMNOHO].

Yeah, but it's not a Blad!

Chris Douglas · Jun 19, 2014

I like the FE2 because it has up to and including 1/250 shutter with flash X synchronization.

Paul Howell · Jun 19, 2014

In my way of thinking a perfect camera is a package. Body, lens, winder or drive for older cameras. If you want to move to auto focus N90, F100, Canon EOS 3 or Elan 7, as already mentioned, Pentax PZ 1, late model Minolta 7 or 9. Lens, a set of zooms to start followed by primes if needed, with a flash, and a battery grip for extended shooting. Manual focus, Konica FT-1 motor for FS -1, or the shutter speed preferred exposure but non electronic shutter the T 3, with 28mm, 58 1.8 and 135 3.5, Nikon FE, or FA, Canon T 70 or T 90, set of prime Canon FD lens, Minolta XG 9 or similar with set of primes with a winder.

Of the lot, as you have some canon FD glass I would look up the T 70 or T 90.

John Koehrer · Jun 19, 2014

I'm curious about your blank film.
Is it unexposed but does have the edge markings?

Sirius Glass · Jun 19, 2014

Alan Gales said:
Yeah, but it's not a Blad!

Let them get taken in. Then the GAS will strike. Besides this is a 35mm thread.

alinnman · Jun 19, 2014

I just bought a Nikon F5 which fits two of your criteria. Price is however closer to 400 USD and it is by no means "smallish" ;-). But it is an *awsome* camera. Reliable, quick, and well balanced in my hands. The Nikon F100 is an alternative. The late high-quality 35 mm film cameras from the 90's are fantastic.

Alan Gales · Jun 19, 2014

Sirius Glass said:
Besides this is a 35mm thread.

There is always the Xpan!

Jeff Kubach · Jun 19, 2014

Regular Rod said:
Have you got some Canon lenses for your A-1? I used to use the old Canon F-1 (not the F1n but the old type). It never went wrong and you could have knocked nails in with it as it was so strong. Very simple to use. No programming. A high quality camera that would let you benefit from your old FD etc. lenses.

RR

+1

Jeff

Nick Merritt · Jun 19, 2014

The first suggestions were the best ones -- FM2N or FE2. Utterly reliable.

largely · Jun 20, 2014

If you've already got Canon glass in FD mounts get a T90. You'll never be sorry.

trythis · Jun 20, 2014

For smallish. For cheap. For ease of use, nikon n80 / f80. It just can't meter with manual lenses.
Stick with FD? Why not go ae-1p? Newer, cheaper.

sent from phone. excuse my typing.

markbarendt · Jun 20, 2014

Sirius Glass said:
I would recommend the Nikon F100, which is the best film camera they ever built in my not so humble option [IMNOHO].

Yes, the F100 is truly a special camera.

zilali · Jun 20, 2014

John Koehrer said:
I'm curious about your blank film.
Is it unexposed but does have the edge markings?

Yes it was a little strange. The film was not exposed at all but did have the edge markings i.e the darker bit where i rolled it on. The film definitely wound on as when I reached 36 exposures it wouldn't shoot any more. I concluded that when shooting the shutter must have not been opening despite making the sound. Either way this is just one of many problems i've had with my A1s. They all seem to suffer from shutter squeak and eventually jam up so I am done with them.

I've considered going for a T90 so I would not have to swap lenses but I have to say it just seems a bit too big and ugly for my liking, much like a lot of the newer autofocus SLRs... yes I know I am very superficial.

Anyway thanks everyone for all of your helpful replies. I think the nikon FM2 or FE2 fulfils all of my criteria I will start looking at some prices.

Somebody mentioned KEH as a good source for buying second hand cameras. Unfortunately I am from the UK, does anyone know of any good sellers in the UK that are reputable?

Help me find my perfect camera please

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