35mm SLR

juancarlos66

juancarlos66

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Christian
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Hi all. Over the years I have used 35mm compacts and digital compacts but would like to have a play with a SLR (both manual and automatic settings). I can't afford a DSLR so have opted to go for a second hand 35mm one.
Now which should I be going for? ie Canon, Nikon or other? I have seen quite a few decent priced ones on Ebay.

Sorry for the vague question. :)
 
Hi Christain , Welcome to TP ,you can pick up a starter DSLR for around £200 second hand , if you way up the cost of film and processing you will start to save more in a short time ,
 
How spooky...some one up this late, and also in Bolton !!!!

Thanks for the rapid reply. What brand/model is the best to go for in my position?
 
You can pretty much get a film SLR for a tenner! A relatively modern DSLR can be picked up certainly for £200-300.

If people start posting which ones it will turn into a Nikon v Canon debate but something like a D40x/D60 Nikon or a 350D Canon would come in under £300. To get under £200 you would need to look at something older such as a D100,D1x,D50,D70 with an 18-55 or something like that.

(cheeky plug but I am selling a virtually as new D40x in the classifieds and I'm just round the corner too - see my sig :))
 
The good thing about shooting film is that all that really matters is the lens and the film itself. There are many beautiful and sought after SLR bodies from Nikon, Canon, Pentax etc from the 60s and 70s, but they won't improve the final outcome of the picture (although the feeling you get from shooting with an old classic manual SLR is great).

The SLR bodies from the 90's - early 2000s are a safer bet in my opinion. The meters are more advanced and accurate, no problem with old battery types, great functionality (some Canons have eye control focusing) and the best thing: cheap! I currently use a Canon 500n; I'd much prefer a Canon EOS 3, but for £20 it does me well.

If you see a camera you like the look of on ebay, do a google search on it. There are tons of reviews and comparisons out there.
 
When I first got into photography, I had a 35mm SLR. Loved it to bits. Shortly after DSLRS became available and I saved up for a Fuji S2 pro and a second hand copy of PS6 to process my captures. I love digital and all the advantages it has over film.

However, film SLR's are great. I am waiting to get my mojo back, and when I do I'm going to use an ebay purchase of a Canon EOS1 35mm as much as possible.

If you choose 35mm, check to see if your local college do Darkroom courses as a leisure/learning course, great stuff!
 
If you are tempted to buy a film SLR with the intention of buying a DSLR in the future, or the other way round, it is wise to remember that you are not buying a camera but buying into a 'system' of compatible lenses, too. It is therefore a good idea to choose an SLR camera that will use lenses compatible with a modern range of DSLR cameras.

Simply put, buy a Canon EOS, or late Pentax autofocus film camera like one from the MZ/ZX series. That way, the lenses that it uses will be compatible with either the modern Canon EOS Digital cameras, or the Pentax DSLRs.
 
Digital has just killed 35mm film photography. Superb cameras and lenses that cost many hundreds of pounds not that long ago, and still working like new, can be had for song.

I don't miss film in the slightest but if you really want to learn, arguably the hard way, then a maual SLR and a two or three prime lenses will certainly do that for you and produce excellent results.

It's not that you can't learn with digital, far from it, but everything is so automated and of course if you don't like the result, you can do it again instantly. There is almost no need to understand what the camera is doing. No such luxury with film, you have to take care to get it right first time.

Anything from the Big Five will be pretty good - Nikon, Canon, Olympus, Pentax and Minolta. Those brands all had several models, dozens between them. From those, I think only Nikon and Canon still now make a film SLR, just one top-end model each.
 
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there's an almost unused sony a200 here in classifieds , almost for fish and chips. won't find anything cheaper. the a200 sort of kills film slr as it's fast etc not to mention all the digital possibilities.
I'm going to film for different reasons than to save money. you're not going to in long term. unless you reallly now what to photograph.
 
I was of the same view as you Christian when i was looking for my SLR.

My local London Camera Exchange were selling D350 Canon's for about £275/£300 which were just out of my price range. They then got a silver D350 which they said were harder to sell on so offered it to me for £225.
It is mint, with all its books etc and it hasn't done more than 250 pictures before i got it.

keep your eye out, sometimes there are bargains out there ;)
 
Thanks folks for all the helpful info and advice. I didn't realise I could pick up a DSLR for that kind of price, thought I would be looking at near £700/800.
Does the Canon 300D have any great advantage over the Nikon D40 or vice versa ?
 
There's nowt to choose between Nikon and Canon as far as the quality of the pics you get.

You should make your choice based on how the camera feels in your hand, how useable you find it, does the positioning of the controls feel good to you? Do you like it?

It's entirely personal, choice of camera is. My ex wife bought one solely because it was pink! Not much one can say to that really.....
 
There´s a second hand D60 going for 180 quid in the classifieds, worth a look in. I still use my D60 and hopefully won´t need to upgrade for a while yet.
 
The D60 is sold but thanks for the heads up. Will keep my eyes open for a bargain D40/60 or a 300D.
 
HoppyUK said:
Digital has just killed 35mm film photography. Superb cameras and lenses that cost many hundreds of pounds not that long ago, and still working like new, can be had for song.
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Yes, that's why 35mm is just so impossibly hard to get these days. And the prices? Phwoar!

I am of the opinion that digital has changed photography, particularly 35mm film photography. Less popular as it used to be, it is also more accessible and affordable than it ever used to be thanks to the prices of the superb cameras (not so much lenses any more) being driven down to mere quids. Just don't ask about buying a brand new, modern-manufactured 35mm cam :|

To answer the original question, I am gonna agree with those who say to buy something that is still supported today. Pentax AF, Canon EOS and Nikon F are the way to go - you can use the old lenses on modern cameras and in many cases vice versa. Of course, I'm gonna recommend a Nikon, but then I would.
 
Plenty of 35mm bodies available at most decent retailers who stock 2nd hand kit, so the OP's best bet would be to get to a decent sized retailer and have a fondle of their 2nd hand stock to see which body feels best in the hand.

35mm film is still easy to get in most areas of civilisation - Boots, Smiths, Supermarkets, not to mention camera shops and D&P shops. Online retailers such as 7day and Mailshots also seem to have stocks of the popular varieties, often on special offer or at clearance prices. Don't forget to factor in the cost of D&P - it can add up if you're impatient, the 1 hour services aren't cheap. (Don't forget to get the images scanned to a CD at the time - it's a lot cheaper than getting it done at a later date).
 
Nah the 1V is no longer in production, as far as I can tell. It was until recently though, which admittedly up until 5 minutes ago I never knew.

Don't know about Nikons.
 
HoppyUK said:
I thought you could still get an EOS IV or is that dead now? :( And a Nikon F-summink? No? :'(
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I thought they had now stopped selling the F6. Well it is that if they are still selling one :). Oh and I want one!
 
They've stopped making the F6, but there is still stock to buy, so it's not quite over yet.

The FM10 and FE10 (Nikon but manufactured by Cosina) are still in production though, last I heard.
 
I am looking at a Canon 20D and a 350d. Would I be right in asuming they have built in focus drive motors? On a limited budget (£200) which would be a good start?
 
juancarlos66 said:
I am looking at a Canon 20D and a 350d. Would I be right in asuming they have built in focus drive motors? On a limited budget (£200) which would be a good start?
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No Canon cameras have built-in AF drive, it's in all the lenses.

20D is a significantly higher spec camera than the 350D.
 
Thanks Hoppy. It's taken me all night to find that out :thumbs:
 
Hoppy does the same apply for Nikon cameras?
 
juancarlos66 said:
Hoppy does the same apply for Nikon cameras?
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No, the D40, D40x, D60, D3000 and D5000 models have no in-body motor and need AF-S lenses with in-lens motors or equivalent from 3rd party suppliers.
 
Thanks for clearing that up for me Andrew. I've finally took the DSLR plunge and gone for a D3000.
 
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