What 35mm?

[Pumal]

If your budget allows it; get a Nikon FM, FE, FM2 or FM3A. If your sight is failing; calculate distance or use Hyperfocal Distance.

 

[lns]

I'm not clear whether you want autofocus or manual focus. If autofocus, I'd recommend a Nikon F100, a recent model which can be found lightly used at a very good price but has most of Nikon's modern metering and flash options. You can also use manual focus lenses on the F100.

If you want only manual focus, I'd go for an Nikon F3 or F3HP, which is a pro camera, built like a tank, also widely available for a good price.

If you want light and portable instead of heavy and solid, a Nikon FM2 or FE2.

The F3/F3HP and FM2 are manual cameras; the F100 and FE2 have automatic exposure as well. The F100 and FE2 are (much) better for flash. All these cameras are available for less than $300 in great condition.

I like Nikon for its vast system, but if it's not the brand for you, you couldn't go wrong with a Pentax K1000, which is very cheap and all manual.

-Laura

 

[totalmotard]

Since I own a fair number 35mm SLRs I can give you my impressions of each from favorite to least.

Nikon N80, easy to use, lots of control, good auto-focus when locked on center spot. Spot, Matrix and Center-Averaged metering always accurate. Fits nicely in my hand. Auto focus fast enough for small children.
Nikon FE, small, compact (especially with 50mm 1.8 series E) and rugged. Nice match-metering needles, lots of info available in viewfinder.
Canon AE-1 Program, nice to hold with grip, large bright viewfinder, easiest to manually focus. Metering works well, auto-exposure very good. Not as rugged as Nikon FE.
Nikkormat FTn, indestructible, center-weighted metering works well. ISO change and shutter speed on ring around lens mount kind of weird.
Canon Rebel Sii, metering works well, auto-focus slow, too big in my hands compared to Nikon N80.

 

[LeicaTravel]

Buy one or two clean Nikkormat FTNs and a few venerable AI Nikor lenses, and never look back!

 

[RPippin]

The deed is done. I feel like I just burned my bra. Where the 50D used to reside, there is now a sweet little F3HP with a power winder and a 105mm 1:2.5 lens. Let the games begin.

 

[clayne]

That 105 is a great lens. Ditch the power winder though. It balances nicely but it's just unnecessary.

You should be able to feel in that body what manufacturers have taken away from all of us in the last 30 years.

 

[Les Sarile]

Nothing like a dressed up F3 . . . ;-)

 

[Sirius Glass]

The deed is done. I feel like I just burned my bra. Where the 50D used to reside, there is now a sweet little F3HP with a power winder and a 105mm 1:2.5 lens. Let the games begin.

Enjoy your camera. You will take different photographs with it than you will with your medium format or large format cameras.

Steve

 

[2F/2F]

Interesting choice for someone who stated "I can live with manual focus."

 

[Les Sarile]

The F3HP is an easy choice really . . . it is something rugged, somewhat professional.

Not a bad first pick. The question is, what will be the next . . .

Click for larger version -> http://www.fototime.com/A965FC4E11B00C4/orig.jpg

 

[clayne]

The F3HP is an easy choice really . . . it is
something rugged, somewhat professional.

Not a bad first pick. The question is, what will be the next . .
Click for larger version -> http://www.fototime.com/A965FC4E11B00C4/orig.jpg

Notice it all ends around '83 - when plastics started to dominate in mass production and everything started getting stamped out and injection molded with increasing frequency. That was the beginning of the end.

We're here now, 30 years later - with what to show for it? A lot of expendable crap.

 

[keithwms]

Richard, Richard, Richard!

Well it's a fine piece.

 

[lns]

The F3HP is an easy choice really . . . it is something rugged, somewhat professional.

Not a bad first pick. The question is, what will be the next . . .

I predict a 50mm lens. Oh, and then a 28mm, or a 24mm.

It's a great pick. And I agree that you can ditch the power winder. Enjoy it.

-Laura

 

[RPippin]

You forgot the 85mm. Any thoughts on a fish eye?

 

[Pumal]

You should have a 28mm, 50mm and 85mm at least. As fast ( the lens) as you can afford them. Cheers,

Puma.

 

[Les Sarile]

Why not a fisheye . . . circular or rectilinear?

How about a PB4 bellows for far greater magnification with your 105mm macro? Or make most any other lens a supermacro mounted reversed on the bellows.

 

[RPippin]

Just to say thanks to everyone for your help. I just had a roll of Fuji Velvia 50 processed in the lab here in town and I have to say I'm very pleased with the results. Bill at Pro Camera here in Charlottesville VA has been super in setting me up with great deals on lenses and he also has the PB4 bellows set aside for me. I picked up a 35mm and a 50mm and should be souping up the black and white this week. I'll post some of the shots sometime next week. Love my Nikon, and that's coming from someone who mostly shoots 4X5.

 

[j-dogg]

The deed is done. I feel like I just burned my bra. Where the 50D used to reside, there is now a sweet little F3HP with a power winder and a 105mm 1:2.5 lens. Let the games begin.

Good job! You're gonna love that 105, superb lens!

 

[Adrian Twiss]

I would go for a Canon F1 or F1n. I have both these cameras an prefer them to any of the Canons I own including my T90

 

[RPippin]

I've started posting some shots I scanned from the roll of Velvia from Roanoke Virginia. Their in the gallery.

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

The advantage of shooting film these days

You should have a 28mm, 50mm and 85mm at least. As fast ( the lens) as you can afford them. Cheers,

Puma.

Because of the digital craze, people are dumping their old 35mm gear for low prices. The old gear is better built than the new gear and the lenses are every bit as sharp. So treat yourself and buy what you want.

 

[Pumalite]

I'm doing it!

 

[Timestep]

I regularly use a Nikkor 35mm f/2,5, which was purchased in 1957, with regrets that I coud not afford a, then new F/1.8. I t took several years to realise whagt a great lens I had.

See Ken Rockwell to find out how good this lands actually is,

 

[sbJerseygirl]

Why would I recommend a camera I know nothing about?

(In response to "Why not recommend something you don't own?")

I do like my Nikon N75 as a great carry-around.

 

[ulysses]

If MF, Olympus OM-2n or Nikon FG/FE are very nice, or FM2n if you want full manual. If AF, N90/N90s or F4s. If you go with Nikon, you can use most AI or AF lenses with any of the Nikon bodies I mentioned. The OM-2n, FE/FG/FM are very compact, with the OM-2n being the most "pro" level of the group. The N90s was "pro-sumer" and the F4s is, of course, pro. The F100 is also pro-sumer, but I don't own one so I can't speak to it. N90/N90s bodies and older AF lenses can be had for a song. The F4s is the most compatible with MF/AI Nikkors, but is also big and heavy, not much different from my ETRS. I have all of these cameras (and more) and these are the ones I tend to use most for casual shooting. Check out Ken Rockwell's site for more info on the Nikon stuff (http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/index.htm). Hope this helps.

Ulysses