Reccommend a 35mm camera to me

[lxdude]

Yes, there is. From A to Z. They cheat a little with the "X", calling the multiple Minolta X-somethings by their second name.

The problem is that as everyone knows, X is for xylophone.

 

[ntenny]

My Camera Blue Book shows a manufacturer for every letter in the alphabet.

What are Q and X? I think those are the only ones where I got stuck.

-NT

 

[RabbitHeartedGirl]

Wow, thank you all for your many many reccommendations! I really should have been more specific, but to be truthful I have no idea where to begin! I currently use a Diana and I love the simplicity of it, but would like to start learning more about photography and the settings on a Diana are pretty limited. I haven't really got a brand preference, I've always used Canon digital cameras before and found them to be very good but does that transfer to analogue?
I'd be interested in an SLR, but I think I'd rather have something compact that will fit in my bag easily - I'm quite an impulsive photographer and like to have my camera at hand.
I haven't read every single post yet - I've been so busy at work that I pretty much pass out the moment I get home and I want to read them properly. Thank you for your welcome messages and I hope you'll excuse me for being completely new and totally inexperienced!

RHG

 

[maderik]

I'd be interested in an SLR, but I think I'd rather have something compact that will fit in my bag easily - I'm quite an impulsive photographer and like to have my camera at hand.

OK, compact to fit in a bag. Now you need to decide what (if any automation): full-manual, aperture priority, full-auto only. Scale focus, rangefinder, or auto-focus.

These are some of the smallest with excellent lenses:
Auto-focus, auto-exposure: Olympus Stylus Epic (aka mju-II)
Rangefinder, aperture-priority: Olympus XA
Scale focus, program AE: Olympus XA2, XA3.
Scale focus, aperture priority: Minox Gx series
Scale focus, manual, mechanical: Rollei 35, Petri Color 35

A bit larger:
Rangefinder, shutter priority or manual: Olympus 35RC, Ricoh 500G
Rangefinder, fast lens: Olympus RD/DC, Yashica Electro 35 CC, Canon G-III 17

A decent (but highly opinionated) overview can be found here.
http://www.cameraquest.com/com35s.htm

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Yes, there is. From A to Z. They cheat a little with the "X", calling the multiple Minolta X-somethings by their second name.

There is more than one 'X' camera, the XIT.

 

[ntenny]

I haven't really got a brand preference, I've always used Canon digital cameras before and found them to be very good but does that transfer to analogue?

If you've used Canon DSLRs, the lenses are the same for their autofocus film SLRs (except for the recent "EF-S" lenses, which are digital-only---they won't cover a full frame of film). Canon compact digitals, as far as I know, share no particular DNA with any of their film cameras (except maybe for the all-auto point-and-shoot ELPH cameras, which probably aren't what you want).

I'd be interested in an SLR, but I think I'd rather have something compact that will fit in my bag easily - I'm quite an impulsive photographer and like to have my camera at hand.

There were a lot of compact rangefinders with fixed lenses made in the 70s, some of which were extremely good cameras, most of which didn't suck. The most desirable ones---those with exceptional lenses, full manual control, and so on---can get fairly expensive, but you should be able to get a decent compact one with partial manual controls---a Canonet 28 or Hi-Matic F or something---for a song.

Someone already posted a link to the CameraQuest article, which is good but restricts itself to fast lenses---something you may not need and which adds some combination of bulk and price. (It's kind of a "fast, small, cheap: pick two" situation.) There are some interesting reviews also at http://www.photoethnography.com/equipment.html from a different, perhaps more low-end-friendly, perspective.

-NT

 

[lxdude]

There is more than one 'X' camera, the XIT.

Would that be pronounced "exit" or "zit"?

 

[blockend]

but would like to start learning more about photography and the settings on a Diana are pretty limited....I'd be interested in an SLR, but I think I'd rather have something compact that will fit in my bag easily -

Sounds like you've narrowed it down to a compact or small rangefinder with auto override and/or manual settings. That's trimmed the choice down from hundreds to a handful! How about an Olympus XA

edit: maderik beat me to it.

 

[olleorama]

Konica Hexar. Already told her so!

 

[fotch]

Even though a SLR is going to be bigger, you may have more of a learning opportunity with one. A Nikon FE or FM or an Olympia equal might serve you better. After you learn the basics, you will thing get more out of the real compact Olympia XA or Minox G series camera.

JMHO

 

[mopar_guy]

I believe that it has been previously posted, but I think it should be repeated; It would be a good idea to actually handle some of the cameras which have been mentioned. Written advice on an internet forum will only be a starting point.

 

[lxdude]

Hey, Fotch- Olympia? That's a beer. Had a couple?

 

[Jeff Kubach]

Hey, Fotch- Olympia? That's a beer. Had a couple?

He ain't the only one!:confused:

Jeff

 

[fotch]

Hey, Fotch- Olympia? That's a beer. Had a couple?

That is what happens when you don't own one. Now, feel free to send my your Olympus XA to make me a fan.

 

[maderik]

A Nikon FE or FM or an Olympia equal might serve you better.

Hey, I have an Olympia - the Olympia GM8426 with a real optical lens (says so right on the front!)

But the only thing it serves is toy camera plastic goodness/badness.

 

[Les Sarile]

Given your additional criteria of SLR and fits in the bag - but undefined regarding auto or manual focus as well as auto and/or manual exposure controls - just that you need more control, then I would suggest looking into the Olympus OM2 and Pentax ME Super. As can be seen below, not only are they clearly the smallest SLRs with Aperture Priority and full manual, but generally speaking their lenses are also smaller then their other counterparts.

Link for larger (130KB) version image --> http://www.fototime.com/0ED07BD66F97FD8/orig.jpg

This next picture shows how much "fatter" the Rebel is compared to a Pentax MX (similar in size to the ME Super but full manual only) as well as an AF lens compared to a manual focus lenses.

Link for larger (50KB) version image --> http://www.fototime.com/830F3004AD36257/orig.jpg

I don't have an interchangeable lens rangefinder to compare to but I suspect a Pentax M series with a pancake lens compares favorably in size.

 

[waynecrider]

If you absolutely need to keep it in your bag, I would probably opt for a brand that has a Pancake lens available. (A pancake being a very flat lens.) It will be less bulky and easier to pull out when needed. Still the body and lens will add a pound to what you carry especially with an all metal camera. Here is a list of choices in Pancake Lenses for brands. http://www.beanos.com/~tsoutij/wp/stuff/index-of-pancake-lenses

I will say that carrying a film SLR camera all the time is something that I don't do unless I'm out sight seeing or out looking for pictures. Having one always available in a car is something different, and even then I don't take one due to the temperatures a car can get in the summer, especially in the deep south where I live. My pants pocket carry camera right now is a fixed lens Olympus Stylus for the moment. If I had an opportunity to choose another it would be a small fixed lens high end point and shoot. That would encompass the Konica Hexar, Nikon 35TI, Contax T2, T3, Minolta had one, the TC I believe. For an interchangeable lens camera the rangefinders, Contax G1 or 2, Leica or Cosina are smaller more expensive choices. In the end I would suggest giving up on a always carry SLR body and buy one to have available to explore photography when you have time or opportunity. Then you can buy an inexpensive but good body with a short zoom lens and have a great walkabout camera.

 

[WetMogwai]

but I think I'd rather have something compact that will fit in my bag easily - I'm quite an impulsive photographer and like to have my camera at hand.

Coming from SLRs, that is what attracted me to rangefinders to begin with. Interchangeable lens rangefinders are great for this. Some are quite small. You can get lenses that collapse into the camera's body when not in use, so they are really good for portability. I use a Voigtländer Bessa R. Lenses are cheap and plentiful. The Leitz/Minolta CLE might be a good option for you. It has the newer M mount and is very small.

 

[Robert Budding]

RHG

Welcome to APUG. Without mentioning your area of photography and if you have a preference for automatic, manual, rangefinder or SLR, these types of requests don't work very well. You will undoubtably get as many recommendations as there are cameras.

Used analog cameras are cheap these days. Pick a name-brand model and start with the focal length equivalent of what you used with your MF camera. There isn't much you can do wrong and the financial investment will be small. If you don't like it, you can sell it again.

Now watch and see how everyone promotes what they use or have:

This played out exactly as predicted.

 

[RabbitHeartedGirl]

Thanks again everyone for your advice, I have just found out that my mother in law has very kindly offered to give me an SLR that belonged to someone close to her, I don't know anything about it yet other than that it is about 10-15 years old and a Canon. I would still like something compact for my bag so I will be researching as much as possible and I have taken onboard the advice given to me by you all. I am going to find a second hand camera shop so I can have a look at cameras too.

Thanks again!

 

[mikecnichols]

Simpler is better, so start with an all manual camera. The one that gets mentioned the most often is the Pentax K1000, but I also like other Japanese models, including a Nikon FM or the Nikon FE (if you want autoexposure).

With most Japanese cameras, if it's from the 1980s or earlier, you'll want to have those foam seals replaced.

I would recommend the FG over the FM.....I'm switching from the FG to FE right now, and I think the features of the FG are great for the beginner yet allow you to grow as a photographer in terms of taking chances and learning all you can. The FM is a very limiting camera versus the FG, though still a great model. I'm beginning to dive into my FE and once again, I'm falling in love with experimentation on a more "oooo, this feature does this, that feature does that" level. The FE is definitely more advanced and does offer the semi-automatic feature with the MD-12. As for the K1000, you can never go wrong with these. This was my first SLR and I learned a great deal with it, but is very limiting to some degree.

 

[mikecnichols]

You know, I've noticed that you almost never hear anyone say "I started with camera X, but it wasn't a very good starter and I wish I'd used camera Y instead". Everyone likes whatever their first "real" camera was. There must be exceptions, but there don't seem to be many of them.

From this I conclude that it doesn't much matter where you start, and that "get something that seems like a good idea at the time" is probably good general advice.

-NT

I was thinking about that when making my last reply....I was contemplating about jumping into a camera with a readily available and semi-cheap lens series. It got me thinking about jumping from Pentax to Nikon changed everything. For a little while, I did the whole "two cameras" thing, but eventually the Nikon won out and I almost want to say I wish I originally started with my FG than with the Pentax. At the same time, I am really happy to have used the Pentax and have it in my arsenal still. I might even bring it out once and awhile now.

 

[paulfish4570]

Fujica 605 and Pentax Spotmatic are classic compact SLRs but weigh 20 ounces body only. Add 10 for a lens, and you're toting almost 2 pounds.
If you are talking available in your purse, I'd suggest a 35mm rangefinder: Konica C35, the Olympus RFs others have suggested, the little Rollei scale focus RF. What is your budget?

http://www.cameraquest.com/rol35se.htm