Need a decent film 35mm SLR Camera for two years at college

Deano

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Anybody got any recommendations? At college they are using a Pentax K1000 35mm but i was recommended a Canon EOS 500N. I dont want to spend more than £100. Any help or advice gratefully received. Dont really need any fancy lenses as far as i know.
 
I presume you'll be buying lenses as well so I'd look at what options you have afterwards.

With the Canon you will be able to get a Canon DSLR body and it will use the lenses you've bought. Not sure about the Pentax - worth checking.

I'd also consider looking out for Nikon as their lens mount hasn't changed in the last 50 years and any lens you buy (whether Manual Focus or Auto Focus) will fit on any Nikon DSLR (althoug unless you are using the upper range you probably would be restricted to what sort of metering is possible.
 
I seriously doubt you'll regret it as the K1000 is a fabulously simple and elegant bit of kit to use and the ME Super is really sweet too.

I should probably add that I don't know the seller at all :lol: but used both cameras back in my school days and would have loved to have found a reason to by that kit myself.
 
Yeah well they have them at college and they can be hired out for the day but to be honest i will need one for the next two years so i really want my own. With it being all mechanical i think i will learn loads more. Also, its another excuse to spend money on photography equipmment.
What are the main differences between the K1000 and ME Super and which is considered to be the better camera?
 
What are the main differences between the K1000 and ME Super and which is considered to be the better camera?

Pentax produced the first Aperture Priority camera - the Pentax ME. It was purely Aperture Priority and had no other modes or manual override. The ME was a real landmark camera and other manufacturers soon followed suit with AP cameras.

The ME Super was the successor to the ME and whilst still an Aperture Priority camera, you could override the settings manually.

Both the ME and the ME Super are totally battery dependent - without a battery they make good paperweights.

The Pentax K1000 was produced virtually unaltered by Pentax from the late 70s till the late 90s. All the shutter speeds are mechanical - the battery only powers the meter.

The ME Super marked the start of push button interfaces on cameras - the apertures were still set via an aperture ring on the lens, but shutter speeds were changed by push buttons.

The K1000 has the conventional aperture ring on the lens and a good old shutter speed dial. It's an ideal camera to learn on. ;)
 
The Lads got a bargain :) with a lightmeter added to boot cause I can't find the flash bracket :)
Hope you have as much fun out of them as I have.
Did several weddings with them both.

I can see my 24/105 L getting closer :)
 
You should have bought my Canon 1N .. it,s for sale in the "for sale" ads.....
 
The Nikon F90x is a serious bargain at the moment, it was the semi-pro camera of it's day and can be got for around 60 to 100 quid. A lot of pro photographers used them as back-ups so there are a lot of them around and they're solid.

Plus, any lenses you get for it can be used on modern digital bodies... bonus.


EDIT: nevermind, too late.
 
The thing is that all film cameras are pretty good really as they didn't actually have anything to do with the photos you took with them.
 
Deano, any of your mates want a full pro Canon 1N for £125?? its the bargain of the century!! (well sort of..)
 
To be honest im' well happy with the deal i have been offered. Obviously i will refer any other students on my course to the site.
 
Thats a great idea Deano, there are some great bits of kit offered on these forums, and the students won't get better prices anywhere else.
 
Old film camera's are sooooo nice to use, there is somthing about a well engineered solid mechanical camera!

Love my OM-1MD! :clap:
 
If you are interested there is a member on here who has a ME Super with (I assume) a standard 50mm lens.

He was willing to give it away and I told him I would at least cover his postage to S.A.

As much as I would love to have it, it sounds like you will actually use it and so you are welcome to it if OK with him.

In my house it would just sit on a display next to my 2 K-1000'S AND WILL RARELY GET USED!:bonk:

Will scratch for his name and post/pm you!:thumbs:
 
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