Looking for small light cheap SLR with zoom lens

[Bobkins]

Hi guys

I have an Olympus cameras:
OM 1 camera - for fun
XA2 -for compactness
Muji Zoom 35 -150 - for zoom and compactness

want to try some SLR

checked on ebay - something like Minolta Maxxum, Pentax ZX 5n, Nikon N65, Canon Rebel

what do you recommend?

I need

- abitility to manually set ISO (for pushing film, I think Nikon N65 doesn't support it?)
- small, light, cheap camera
- fast zoom lens (I think fastest starts from f3.5?)
- use Manual Focus
- perhaps buy 50mm prime lens later

and how about IQ, maybe this SLR doesn't give much difference in terms of IQ if compare with e.g.
P&S Muji Zoom 35 -150?



thanks!

 

[Rick A]

It's only $50 plos postage for the kit.
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[Theo Sulphate]

I highly recommend the very inexpensive Canon Rebel G, which is both extremely lightweight and offers a lot of control:

http://w3.marietta.edu/~mcshaffd/macro/canonrebg.html

They can be found for $10-$20. I have three of them (also known as Canon EOS 500N).

 

[Paul Howell]

Minolta 7000 with 35 to 70 3.5 AF. Uses AAA batteries, very bright viewfinder, good manual controls.

 

[faberryman]

The Pentax ME is only very slightly smaller than the OM1 (131 x 82.5 x 49.5mm vs. 136 x 83 x 50mm); however, it is about 10% lighter (460 grams vs 510 grams).
The Canon Rebel G is larger than the OM1 (145.7 x 92 x 61.9mm vs. 136 x 83 x 50mm); however it is about 20% lighter (400 grams vs 510 grams).
The Minolta 7000 is also larger than the OM1 (138 x 91.5 x 138mm vs. 136 x 83 x 50mm); it is also about 10% heavier (555 grams vs 510 grams).

In other words, you're probably not going to find a significantly smaller/lighter SLR than the OM1.

 

[Ap507b]

For Nikon I would go for an F80 over an F65. F80 allows manual ISO adjustment. F65 is DX only as you said. I own both. F80 weighs 515G. I normally have a 28-100 AFG Nikkor attached to mine. Lens seems quite good for a budget lens. Neither the F65 or F80 is great with manual focus lenses as AI won't meter with them. CPU lenses are needed to meter. Nothing to stop you manually focusing an AF lens but the focus throw is short. You should have a focus confirm LED to help. F80 can be had for around £30 on ebay in the UK. Found it too small to sit comfortably in my hand so added an MB-16 to mine. This allows it to run off AA batteries.

 

[Bobkins]

thanks guys for replays!

looks like my favorites for now

- Pentax MZ-3, MZ-5n - but not many available on ebay and more expensive

- Minolta Maxxum STsi, Htsi, Xtsi

as I get Qtsi doesn't allow manual ISO adjustment

 

[ac12]

What is wrong with your OM-1 ?
Unless you are talking about a different camera, the Olympus OM-1 is a film SLR camera.

 

[klownshed]

I was going to say the same thing.

Just buy a zoom for your OM-1

 

[Alan Johnson]

I have an OM1n but the camera I generally use for 35mm is this, light on weight and pocket, Canon Rebel Ti + 28-90 + 50mm:

 

[blockend]

Most manufacturers made something to fit your requirements, and they're nearly all inexpensive. Kit AF zooms are okay but slow in terms of f-stop and especially focusing speed. Prime lenses are priced according to whether they fit DSLRs, which may be a consideration. For an entry level SLR with kit zoom expect to pay from £10-30, only going higher for something mint or unusual. Cameras that have auto ISO can usually be overridden via the exposure compensation dial.

 

[farmersteve]

Just like the video above, go get a plastic SLR with autofocus and kit lens and you can start shooting film for under $50. Simple as that... of course you might want a higher quality camera eventually but this will get you going quickly and cheaply.

 

[Alan Johnson]

Support for high speed sync is useful for fill flash outdoors with shallow depth of field.
Compatible Canon bodies are listed near the end of this page:
Dead Link Removed

 

[mgb74]

I have a cheap ME super in the classifieds, but even I would suggest your OM-1 with a Tokina ATX or Tamron 28-85.

 

[nsurit]

The OM 1 should do the job. Olympus made several respectable light zooms. If you want fast, you are going to add weight.

 

[thuggins]

Gotta repeat the same question others have noted. You already have a camera that fits every one of your requirement --> the OM1. Why don't you just use that one?

 

[NoClewAtol]

There were less expensive bodies made for the big name 35mm SLR that were packaged with decent zoom lenses. I think that they were all the same and just had the lens mount to suit the system it was sold into. I have the OM-1 system so I bought a OM2000 and there really is nothing wrong with it or the OM mount lens that it came with. You might look for these zooms on the used market. Since they aren't collectible they are nearly free and you could get one to use with your OM-1. Or just buy a OM-2000 kit used. Considering what I have spent on CLA and repair of my OM system that OM2000 works very well.

 

[Alan Gales]

My daughter owns an OM-1. Besides the 28mm and 50mm primes, she owns a Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f/3.5 zoom. The zoom works great.

You could also look at Tamron, Tokina, and Kiron.

 

[MattKing]

An OM-G with one of the less expensive Zuiko zooms.

 

[cooltouch]

For Nikon I would go for an F80 over an F65. F80 allows manual ISO adjustment. F65 is DX only as you said. I own both. F80 weighs 515G. I normally have a 28-100 AFG Nikkor attached to mine. Lens seems quite good for a budget lens. Neither the F65 or F80 is great with manual focus lenses as AI won't meter with them. CPU lenses are needed to meter. Nothing to stop you manually focusing an AF lens but the focus throw is short. You should have a focus confirm LED to help. F80 can be had for around £30 on ebay in the UK. Found it too small to sit comfortably in my hand so added an MB-16 to mine. This allows it to run off AA batteries.

I agree with this, although I must do a bit of translation. Over on this side of the pond, Nikon decided to give their products different names. Thus the F80 is the N80 over here and the F65 is the N65.

I've owned a few N80s and I must say that I like them a lot. They can often be found on US eBay for $40 or so. Sometimes less. This camera was Nikon's last advanced amateur camera before they switched over to digital, and sold new for over $300. So the prices it gets on eBay are a remarkable deal IMO. My current N80 has the somewhat hard to find MB-16 battery extension pack. I like the MB-16 because it allows me to use regular old "AA" batteries instead of the CR123s, that at times can be hard to find. It also makes the camera easier to use for me because my hands are on the large side.

The N80 is fairly compact, although it has a largish hand grip because of the built-in motor drive. But it is very light and very quiet for an SLR.

The OP mentions that he wants a camera that will manual focus. One of the things I like about my N80 when using it with Nikon's AF-D lenses is these lenses still have decent-sized, well-damped focusing collars, so they work well as manual focus lenses. Of course manual focus AI and AIs lenses can be used on the N80 as well although the meter won't work.