I need advice on what to buy!

[madamelemon]

I am shooting my work mainly on film. I have a very basic vivtar camera which has a light reader and thats about it. Is there any need to get a better camera!?
Can anyone reccomend a camera where if there are any automatic settings they can be easily turned off!
Hope that's clear enough!

 

[ekimeno]

As luck would have it, someone in this forum is looking to sell their Canon EOS 500 35mm camera and lens. Nice little SLR that's easy to operate and can be used in manual mode.

 

[Nicos Rex]

I am shooting my work mainly on film. I have a very basic vivtar camera which has a light reader and thats about it. Is there any need to get a better camera!?
Can anyone reccomend a camera where if there are any automatic settings they can be easily turned off!
Hope that's clear enough!

If you are happy with what you have then there is no need to get anything "better".

However, having said that it is possible to pick up cameras that were out of most people's financial reach a few years ago for next to nothing nowadays, particularly if you don't mind manual focus.

Classic Nikons such as the F3, FE or FA spring to mind or for a little more you can get yourself an F4 which has autofocus as well.


If Nikon doesn't rock your boat then there are plenty of others to choose from by the likes of Olympus (light weight and lovely lenses) or Pentax.

Older Canons haven't aged so well but there are still bargains to be had.

Depending on the type of photography you are into you may be better advised looking at a larger format, MF gear has become astonishingly inexpensive compared to what it used to cost when some of us bought it!

 

[percymon]

EOS500n bodies sell for under £20 on ebay, not the worlds best camera (designed for family holiday use) with only 3 point AF, but very capable for the money. Has aperture and shutter priority modes as well as full manual and full auto.

There are plenty of bargains around - i picked up a EOS30 with battery grip for £50 5 months ago. Its mint condition and functions as well as the day it left the factory 8 or so years ago.

There are some bargains in older Canons such as the AV-1 and AE-1/AE1-P. Some weeks they go for peanuts, others times there seems to be a huge interest and prices get silly. Lots of FD bayonet lenses available for very low cost if you opt for a AV/AE series camera.

You could pick up something like an AV-1 with a prime and zoom lens, plus flash gun or teleconverter etc for under £60.