Help Me Spend My Money

ongakublue · Sep 20, 2015

Hi everyone

So I have about 1000 dollars to spend on photo gear. I'd like some advice...

First off about 100 will be spent on developing stuff. Which leaves 900. So I have just contradicted myself. I have 900.

Secondly, I am interested in Nikon. I have no camera bodies and no lenses of Nikon yet.

I don't want or need a lens wider than 35mm. I am principally a portrait photography but also take the occasional street picture.

Finally, I generally buy at the 'going rate' for particular cameras and lenses. I know bargains can be found if you hunt but I am more interested in the average prices.

OK thanks a lot for your thoughts and if you have more questions to narrow things down just ask.

darkosaric · Sep 20, 2015

Nikon F3 + nikkor HC 50mm f2 + nikkor 105 f2,5 + nikkor 200mm f4.

BradleyK · Sep 20, 2015

darkosaric said:
Nikon F3 + nikkor HC 50mm f2 + nikkor 105 f2,5 + nikkor 200mm f4.

+1. Although I might be tempted to search for a 50mm F1.4 Ai instead.

MattKing · Sep 20, 2015

What, if any compatibility do you expect to need with digital capture?

EDIT: When I saw this thread title, I thought "boy, has this poster come to the right place!"

Bill Burk · Sep 20, 2015

No advice to pick up an original Nikon F and then send it off for a good CLA?

removed account4 · Sep 20, 2015

go to KEH camera brokers
and browse through their listings.
they are pretty much the largest
used camera dealer there is,
and have a return policy too.
i have bought mainly "bargain" items from them
35mm lenses as well as PC and large format lenses
and cameras ( p/s ) since the early / mid 90s
and would not hesitate to buy or suggest friends / family
browse and maybe buy what they have to sell ...
good luck !
john

Richard S. (rich815) · Sep 20, 2015

We could all throw our opinions out but other than saying you want nothing wider than 35mm it's won't mean much. Instead of throwing my own personal preferences into the mix I'd rather recommend you spend some good reading time at this website below and it's many links to lens info, etc. Great site:

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/nikkoresources/

OldBodyOldSoul · Sep 20, 2015

Manual focus or AF?

Manual focus:
35/2 + 50/2 or 50/1.8 "longnose" + 105/2.5 + 180/2.8 ED
if you want fully manual body - F, F2, FM2N
if you like aperture priority - F3, FE2

Auto focus:
F5 or F100, depending on the size of your biceps, + 35-70/2.8 + 85/1.8

ciniframe · Sep 20, 2015

First, just because you have a budget of $900 doesn't mean you must spend that much.
Second, a question. Have you used 35mm before?
Third, for what ever body you choose I'd only get a 50 to start out. There is a reason they are called 'normal'. Use the 50 at least for several weeks or months. If you find you are always backing up to get more in the frame then look at a wide angle as your second lens. If, on the other hand you find you are always trying to move closer to get the framing you want then look at a longer lens.

How come wide angle lenses are called 'wide angle' but longer lenses are not called 'narrow angle'?

fotch · Sep 20, 2015

Shop this sites classified and maybe 50% or so. Just be sure the seller has a return policy if something is wrong with the camera. I think there was a Nikon F3 here at APUG for around $500 or less. Nikon medium priced or the pro models are usually solid cameras, great lens. Good luck.

4season · Sep 20, 2015

This:
http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/filmcamera/slr/fm10/
It's compact, lightweight and may be all you need. Should be able to pick up a nice secondhand body + 35-70 zoom lens combo for $250, and all are new enough that rotting foam should be a non-issue. Apparently they have been in production for 20 years and counting! Must be doing something right.

Spend the remaining $650 traveling and taking great photos!

Yeah I've done the high-end camera thing before and it's been okay but it's taken me decades to appreciate the beauty of a good cheapie.

ongakublue · Sep 20, 2015

Hi guys,

Thanks for the advice.
I have found a good price on a Nikon F3 (170 dollars. I hope it's OK but the same store has one with the motor drive for only around 350) and 50 f2 ai in the local store. That's not even half the money used but I think it's a good start. I am now looking at the 35-70 2.8 or 85 1.8

analoguey · Sep 20, 2015

ongakublue said:
Hi guys,

Thanks for the advice.
I have found a good price on a Nikon F3 (170 dollars. I hope it's OK but the same store has one with the motor drive for only around 350) and 50 f2 ai in the local store. That's not even half the money used but I think it's a good start. I am now looking at the 35-70 2.8 or 85 1.8

Fantastic!
Buy a spare f3, if you like it. I would suggest pick up a 135 f2.8, for headshots type of portraits. And get a compatible flash or two.
Remaining money, maybe get good dev tanks & an enlarger (or two - if you live around where they are being given away)

Sirius Glass · Sep 20, 2015

I echo going to KEH and eBay KEH. I recommend the Nikon F-100 which is lighter than the F5 and F6 and yet has all the best features.

Enjoy your GAS!

ongakublue · Sep 20, 2015

analoguey said:
Fantastic!
Buy a spare f3, if you like it. I would suggest pick up a 135 f2.8, for headshots type of portraits. And get a compatible flash or two.
Remaining money, maybe get good dev tanks & an enlarger (or two - if you live around where they are being given away)

I am also tempted buy the fm2 as a back up. they are a bit cheaper and might be more convenient for carrying in my back to and from work, rather than the more bulky f3.

135 2.8 sounds nice yes.

bdial · Sep 20, 2015

I bought a Nikon N75 with it's kit zoom lens for $6 USD a few weeks back at a thrift store.
That would leave you with 894.00 to buy film with.

cuthbert · Sep 20, 2015

ongakublue said:
Hi guys,

Thanks for the advice.
I have found a good price on a Nikon F3 (170 dollars. I hope it's OK but the same store has one with the motor drive for only around 350) and 50 f2 ai in the local store. That's not even half the money used but I think it's a good start. I am now looking at the 35-70 2.8 or 85 1.8

The 85mm f1.8 is a nice lens, you need one that got Ai'd as they terminated the production in 1977.You can get the 85mm f2 AI that it doesn't have such a nice bokeh but it's much small and as sharp as its predecessor.

Also, if you are lucky you can find the "superzoom", Nikkor 35-200 AIs, I have it and it's an excellent lens that can be very useful leaving the 85mm to more specialised work (when you need a thin DOF).

For the body, to be honest I would have recommended a F2A or AS or a FM2n, but if you are set up with the F3 congratulations.

Alan Gales · Sep 20, 2015

Sirius Glass said:
I echo going to KEH and eBay KEH. I recommend the Nikon F-100 which is lighter than the F5 and F6 and yet has all the best features.

+1

Or buy an RZ67 with 110 and 180. Great for portraits!

whlogan · Sep 20, 2015

Good advice. Thr Nikon F3 with the Motor pack is the best advice you may ever get. Do it. Never, NEVER sell it. NEVER. Got it. NEVER>

Logan

horacekenneth · Sep 20, 2015

I know the F3 is great but there's something magical about a fully mechanical camera. F, F2, FM2, FM3a, Nikkormats

Sirius Glass · Sep 20, 2015

Sirius Glass said:
I echo going to KEH and eBay KEH. I recommend the Nikon F-100 which is lighter than the F5 and F6 and yet has all the best features.

Enjoy your GAS!

Alan Gales said:
+1

Or buy an RZ67 with 110 and 180. Great for portraits!

Even better buy a Hasselblad with the 80mm and 250mm lenses.

Peter Simpson · Sep 20, 2015

Love my F3. The 35-70/2.8 is nice, but weighs more than the F3. I like the 35-105/3.5 as a walk around lens. The 50/1.4 is a classic and I second the recommendation on that.

You'll love the F3. It's just right. And buying from KEH has never caused a problem for me, they're good people.

trythis · Sep 20, 2015

You can buy 4 or 5 different nikon bodies and a few lenses with $900.

I'd just get an FE2 (or an FA) and a F100 and get a SB-28 flash then buy a few good lenses.
The F3 is a fine machine, I like mine but flash sync is slow and the TTL is crude.

Just buy lenses that are between AI and AFD so they work on any body you end up with.

Sent with typotalk

Alan Gales · Sep 20, 2015

Sirius Glass said:
Even better buy a Hasselblad with the 80mm and 250mm lenses.

I think that would blow the OP's budget of $900 though.

I do prefer the RZ for studio portraits. The Hasselblad is better for everything else. I've owned both.

Kyle M. · Sep 20, 2015

Alan Gales said:
I think that would blow the OP's budget of $900 though.

I do prefer the RZ for studio portraits. The Hasselblad is better for everything else. I've owned both.

I have also owned both and I personally find the image quality of the Mamiya glass more to my liking, as much as I like the Hasselblad and know how great those Carl Zeiss lenses are I still like the Mamiya better. Heck I'd even rather carry the Mamiya around than the Hasselblad, never really thought that it was all that heavy. But of course this is all just opinion.

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