Want to start using Film, choosing an SLR 35mm

DropDead

DropDead

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Jake Lewis
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Hey everyone, after only using digital im also looking to bust out some film.. For my own personal use.

I was looking about to see if there was any companies making new 'cheap' film SLR's but all i've come across is the Vivitar v3800, which looks good to me! With a Pentax lens mount. Is this a good camera to start off with?

Or shall I be looking at the 2nd hand market, i'm looking to spend about £100 but nothing more than £200

Cheers,
 
There are loads on the second hand market. You can get something pretty swish for £100 these days.

Look on Ffordes, mifsuds and harrison cameras and see what they have in their second hand section.

If you have a dslr what make is it? It's usually easier to stay with whichever one you're already used to.
 
You'll get many different SLR + 50mm prime combinations for your £100 budget. Many of them are good, and any recommendations you'll receive here will be mostly based on people's personal preference and what they have owned in the past - so bear that in mind, there are more than just those cameras.

And with that in mind - the classic basic and rugged 35mm is the Pentax K1000. However, what features do you want in your 35mm? All manual? Aperture priority? Compatibility with a particular digital lens mount?
 
DropDead said:
I was looking about to see if there was any companies making new 'cheap' film SLR's but all i've come across is the Vivitar v3800, which looks good to me! With a Pentax lens mount. Is this a good camera to start off with?
Cheers,
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Firscall photographic sell Phenix cameras too available in Pentax and Nikon Mount bodies. Can't comment on how good they are, though.
 
All the newly manufactured k-mount bodies offer very poor value - £180 would get you a Pentax MX, money for a CLA, and a set of 28mm, 50mm and 135mm primes, and probably a bit of change leftover if you played your cards right.
 
freecom2 said:
All the newly manufactured k-mount bodies offer very poor value - £180 would get you a Pentax MX, money for a CLA, and a set of 28mm, 50mm and 135mm primes, and probably a bit of change leftover if you played your cards right.
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I agree. You will get some guarantee with a new camera, but it will lose value straight away, but the OP did mention buying new.

There's perhaps a bit more of a gamble with second hand kit, but you can pick up a replacement body for most mounts for around £20 or get a CLA. If you get a working one and you don't lke it, there's a good chance you can sell it on for the purchase price.

The classifieds here seem to have something that'd fit the bill!
 
Well I use Nikon for a start..

Full manual.. As i'd like to use it to aid my digital work, wouldn't mind AF. But MF is fine.
 
Does budget include lens? (bear in mind that you'll be able to use AF-D lenses on many of the older Nikon models with no modifications at all)
 
Recently bought an Olympus OM10 body from Ffordes, absolutely mint condition with six months warranty for £60. They have others, including a brand new one, never previously sold, for about £100. Added a 50mm 1.8 Zuiko lens off eBay, also like new, for £35 including p&p. Need some film now :)

Al
 
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Nikon F/FM/FE/Anything F. I have an FM and FE and they are in my top 5 cameras I own (out of about 30). I prefer the FE because it has aperture priority, m90 & speeds up to 8sec
 
I've been browsing the ffordes, really good site! I really want the F5 haha!
 
You have a decent budget - is that to include lenses as well?

Any 35mm film camera body over £40 is expensive, and that usually means it's a sought after model!
 
blow the budget buy the F5 and job done, you have the dogs danglies of film cameras and a catalogue of lenses to use of your current digital.

if you want something more retro I'd suggest get down to a dealer and try some in your hands, find something you like the feel of. fwiw I get on with old pentax slrs, hate their dslrs, I don't like the olympus OM (I have an OM2 with 28, 50 and 135mm lenses) which many people on here love, for some reason it just doesn't do it for me. See what suits you.
 
puggie said:
blow the budget buy the F5 and job done, you have the dogs danglies of film cameras and a catalogue of lenses to use of your current digital.

if you want something more retro I'd suggest get down to a dealer and try some in your hands, find something you like the feel of. fwiw I get on with old pentax slrs, hate their dslrs, I don't like the olympus OM (I have an OM2 with 28, 50 and 135mm lenses) which many people on here love, for some reason it just doesn't do it for me. See what suits you.
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Good general advice and it's worth remembering with a film camera it's only as good as the lens (and of course the photographer), so if on a tight budget e.g. a top Nikon lens on a cheap Nikon camera will give the same result as the same lens on an expensive Nikon camera....for most general shots.
 
As has been said previously mucho choice out there but if you already have Nikon lenses then an F3 for fully manual would be my choice. Stunning camera and built to last.

Andy
 
Joenail said:
Nikon F/FM/FE/Anything F. I have an FM and FE and they are in my top 5 cameras I own (out of about 30). I prefer the FE because it has aperture priority, m90 & speeds up to 8sec
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I concur, I recently got a near mint condition FM2n to augment my battered FE. I love Nikon SLRs and the price of manual glass is great.

If you want to go for something with AF etc. then the F5 would be a good choice, but with film I do like having total control myself. I feel AF on film just feels wrong.

I'd also recommend Olympus SLRs the OM-10 etc. just seem to have great viewfinders.
 
Hi Why not the excellent 801s. I bought mine new and after 30odd years it's still going strong.
Does almost everything, I can use manual and autofocus lenses, also it's worth nowt even in near mint condition.
Built like a tank and the backup of many a pro.
 
F801 is brilliant (I have one myself) but it won't work with Nikon's new G lenses (the ones without aperture rings). An F4 will do it all, without being as over the top as the F5.
 
Whilst the F4 and F5 are incredibly capable cameras, they are staggeringly bulky and heavy for what is still a 36x24mm frame. And besides, I know this is personal preference but the last thing I want is a film replica of my Nikon DSLR. The Nikon FM(2)/FE(2) and related models are great, if you want to look Nikon.
 
mustanir said:
F801 is brilliant (I have one myself) but it won't work with Nikon's new G lenses (the ones without aperture rings). An F4 will do it all, without being as over the top as the F5.
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F4 with MB21 and sigma zoom going for £70 not far from me, but it doesn't wind on but seller says it can be repaired easily. Well I don't really want another Nikon but wouldn't mind playing with it, if I could fix it myself.
 
excalibur2 said:
F4 with MB21 and sigma zoom going for £70 not far from me, but it doesn't wind on but seller says it can be repaired easily. Well I don't really want another Nikon but wouldn't mind playing with it, if I could fix it myself.
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Saw that as well, but it's potentially a motor drive problem which may be tricky - and could be from pro usage.
 
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