Help Me Spend My Money

[frank]

If you are physically robust enough to handle it, the Nikon F4 is a heck of a camera with manual focus lenses. The only aspect where it falls short by modern day standards is in auto focus speed, which with manual focus lenses is a moot point. IMO, it is a great camera. The controls are mainly traditional, have a nice feel, are well placed and logical. The camera itself, specifically the manner in which it handles and exposes film, is confidence inspiring. It never let me down or got in the way, even during high stress situations like shooting weddings.

 

[bernard_L]

Everybody (almost) proposing their favorite camera.
Do not rush to spend all of your money. It may take you some use to find out that your favorite portrait focal length is 85, or 105, or 135. And that you favorite street focal length is 35, or 28, or 50???
Top-level decisions:
- do you want auto-exposure?
- do you want auto-focus?
More or less seconding the good advice from Richard S., OldBodyOldSoul, and ciniframe on the first page of this thread

 

[aRolleiBrujo]

You should also get a Polaroid back medium format camera, to practice with and to take fantastic photo's.

 

[Jim Jones]

I bought a Nikon F in 1967 and never felt a need to own a later model. The monstrous meter often found on a Nikon F is best replaced by a plain, but expensive, prism finder unless one needs a built-in meter. The Nikkormat is compatible in most ways, and is quite reliable. There may be a problem finding the right battery for the early Nikkormats. The Nikon FM10 is a renamed lesser brand. The one I bought new for a friend was unreliable. Nikon made a similar mistake years earlier with the Nikkorex. Most lenses from these early Nikons can also be mounted on Nikon digital cameras with the loss of some advanced features.

Nikon make some highly regarded lenses for their 35mm cameras. The f/2.5 105mm and the 55mm Micro-Nikkors are two of the best. For the technically inclined photographer, the range of accessories seems endless.

Other brands may serve the OP just as well as Nikon. I suggest getting one body and one lens to begin with. With experience, choose to expand that system or try another brand.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Everybody (almost) proposing their favorite camera.

That is what we do. Each of us thinks that we are the smartest people in the world. Why should we be different than everyone else?

 

[darinwc]

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

The Nikon f3 is not my favorite of all cameras. The poster asked specifically about Nikon cameras, had a sufficiently large budget for a top of the line camera, and asked about lenses. One thing he did not mention was auto-focus or manual-focus lenses. That would make a big difference.

 

[Alan Gales]

That is what we do. Each of us thinks that we are the smartest people in the world. Why should we be different than everyone else.

 

[elcabezagrande]

Nikon F2AS and any or all of the lenses mentioned in this thread.

 

[Ricardo Miranda]

There may be a problem finding the right battery for the early Nikkormats.

Jim
You can use a hearing aid battery (ZA675) and use an O ring to centre the battery. They are the correct voltage.
Or you can use a silver oxide SR44 battery, again an O ring to centre it and then adjust the ASA to allow for the higher 1.55V.
Or use a Wein cell MRB625 which is the right replacement.
I use a hearing aid battery as they are cheap and easily found in chemists.

 

[Paul Jenkin]

Nikon F2 (SB is my choice) +35mm/f2 + 85mm/f2 (Ai or Ai-S, both are excellent) = nice carry round kit. The 105mm/f2.5 is probably sharper but the extra focal length always made me feel I was standing a little too far away from the subject when it came to portraits.

 

[ksa66]

That is what we do. Each of us thinks that we are the smartest people in the world. Why should we be different than everyone else?

Yes thats where "smartphones" come in picture and all "smart" produkts for "smart" people. We are so smart.:confused: