Camera suggestions?

moomike

moomike

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I don't usually shoot much 35mm stuff, most of my images are taken on medium or large format - but I recently aquired a bulk loader, some reloadable film cannisters and armed with some Tech Pan, proceeded to annoy everyone with my camera.

I have come to realise that Tech Pan is insanely sharp and there's practically no grain at all!
I usually use rather grainy films, but this film may well be changing my mind entirely! Am already searching for any available films that even come close for when my stock runs out.

With this in mind, I am looking into buying a slightly higher end 35mm camera than my old beaten up Minolta SRT101 and wondered if anyone had any recommendations? I don't need Leica or Contax level, but my experience of 35mm is rather limited compared to medium format, so wanted to ask those of you in the know :) It'll mostly be used in the Studio for portraits but occasionally for walkaround stuff too.

I believe the Nikon F4 are very highly thought of - AF would be novel, but I'm fine without it too. No preferred brand either.

Thanks in advance to anyone that may offer any suggestions, much appreciated (y)
 
The Nikon F4 is very useful as it can use old Nikon lenses (pre AI) as well as AF and if you are a Nikon digi guy could use some of those lenses as well. If you don't want an over load of suggestions it would be better to narrow down exactly what camera you prefer to use e.g. manual only or electronic or only SLR etc etc.
If you have any M42 screw lenses then a Canon AF camera can use them with an adapter (Nikon can't)...using some of these old screw lenses can give very good results for portraiture, not necessarily for razor sharp shots but some thing that's different.
Forgot to add:- your Srt 101 can use the excellent range of Minolta lenses (and they are VG but more expensive) after all with film cameras the lens can be important if you like very sharp pictures
 
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Contax 139 Quartz, this one has the Yashica zoom which is great but the Zeiss lenses are stunning, Mrs Snap has this and the Zeiss 50mm f1.7 which is spectacular.
https://flic.kr/p/K1i1ho
View: https://flic.kr/p/K1i1ho

I know you said not Contax level but the 139q is insanely inexpensive for its type and the Yashica equivalent lenses are still very affordable and nearly as good as the Zeiss versions, especially if you go for the ML type.
 
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Do you have a digital AF camera, there may be 35mm bodies that would use the same lenses? I got myself a Canon EOS 1N just for that reason, all my lovely lenses and flash work with it. One thing Canon managed is complete backward compatibility with everything produced since 1987.
 
Best bang for buck for a 35mm SLR is probably a Canon EOS 30. Yes, it's one of the latter day AF film SLRs but the spec for what you pay is amazing, plus is works with every Canon EF (not EF-S crop sensor) lens ever made with full functionality (unlike some Nikon SLR/lens combinations), including image stabilisation and the latest nano-AF ones. Plus it's got a 35 zone metering system, built in motor drive, pop up flash (for emergency use!), etc. and a 7 zone eye-controlled AF system - you simply look at one of the 7 AF points in the viewfinder and the camera tracks your eye and will instantly select it for you! This is a great feature and works for most people with this particular camera, but even if it doesn't work for you, then you can turn it off and use the camera as you would any other AF SLR. It's also one of the quietest auto-wind 35mm SLRs I've ever used.

Expect to pay between £60 and £80 (body only) for a mintish one in full working order. As well as being quite inexpensive, they're small and light too, so you could buy and carry two bodies, giving you the benefit of colour and B&W or two different speed films when walking around with them.

So if you're not bothered about a retro silver and black look then perhaps think about the EOS 30 instead of putting all your eggs in a more expensive or exotic basket. :)

PS If you do go down the Canon EOS SLR route then I can recommend the Canon EF 40mm STM pancake lens, which is very good value for money and pretty damned sharp... it's also tiny and a really handy focal length, being neither too wide nor too 'tight' as a 'standard' lens, unlike a 35mm or 50mm. Expect to pay around the £100 mark for a mintish used one, which has got to be great value for a Canon EF lens.
 
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Mr Badger said:
If you do go down the Canon EOS SLR route
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....if you don't want to spend much money the EOS 300 is VG or better still is EOS300n...not so long ago, at the bootie, people were selling plenty of bodies for peanuts and bought my two to play with and in a few tests was impressed by what they can do. It might be worth comparing the EOS300 range to the EOS 30 to see what you get (or would use) for the extra cost.
 
moomike said:
@Mr Badger I have bought an Eos30 so that should hopefully be here by the end of the week. I'm going to pick up the 40mm too, I've used that lens before and was very impressed with it. Thanks again for the advice (y)

Thanks again everyone for the advice (y)
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I hope it's a nice one when it arrives, I'm sure you'll like it if it is. It'll make a very compact and lightweight set-up with that 40mm pancake lens too. Take your time to read the instructions on how to clear/reset, then calibrate the eye controlled focus feature, I find it's a very useful function and wish they'd bring it back on the 5D range. Best of luck and don't forget to share some of the photos you take with it. (y)
 
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