Need help determining if this camera is what I need for class

[dmargrave]

Hello all!

My name is Daniel and I am senior at Berry College in Rome, Georgia.

I am taking a black and white film photography class this semester and I need some help determining if a certain camera is the right one to buy.

My only requirments are: 35mm, SLR, adjustable shutter speed and f/stop (aperture) settings. Basically we will be shooting in full manual.

The camera I found a good deal on ($99) is described here: http://www.nikonlinks.com/unklbil/n5005.htm

It comes with the Body, Quantaray - NF AF 35-80 mm Lens and Vivitar Electronic Flash 2000 Automatic Module, strap, and bag.

Will this camera meet my class requirements? My professor and friends that are camera people are hard to get ahold of.

Your quick help is greatly appreciated as the ebay auction is ending today.

Thanks!
Daniel

 

[Rob]

Yes it will probably meet your course requirements, but I wouldn't personally recommend it. It's got a very very very crap lens with it - I found the auction pretty easily.

IMO... Don't buy it. Buy either a Pentax K1000 or a Pentax Spotmatic or a Nikon FM2n. All of these cameras are better built and with the standard 50mm lens are infinitely better than your option.
FM2n:
http://cgi.ebay.com/NIKON-FM2N-35mm...78715388QQcategoryZ107925QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/Nikon-FM2n-MD-1...79345866QQcategoryZ107925QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Spotmatic:
http://cgi.ebay.com/HONEYWELL-PENTA...578711014QQcategoryZ15240QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Pentax-...578742520QQcategoryZ15240QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem (this one's got an awesome lens on the front! f1.4 50mm)

K1000:
http://cgi.ebay.com/PENTAX-K1000-35...7578291633QQcategoryZ3334QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

These cameras are all made of metal and will be much more robust, probably easy to use (from a tutor's p.o.v.) and will be worth the same when you sell them. Which you won't!

Good luck,

Rob

 

[Oldfireguy]

I have been a Nikon user since the mid 70's so I am partial to them.

A working Nikon with extras for $99! It should work fine for what you are going to do with it. It does meet your class requirements.

Just make sure the seller will stand behind it if there is anything wrong with it and has good feedback.

 

[dmargrave]

I have been a Nikon user since the mid 70's so I am partial to them.

A working Nikon with extras for $99! It should work fine for what you are going to do with it. It does meet your class requirements.

Just make sure the seller will stand behind it if there is anything wrong with it and has good feedback.

Rob and Fred,

Thanks for the swift replies! I just recieved word that my grandfather is sending me a Pentax KX1000 SLR for the duration of the semester.

Sound good? This way I can save my money for a Digi-SLR in the future.

Ever heard of Mr. Eaves and His Magic Camera? That is my grandfather FYI.

http://www.brucedale.com/Farrell/default.htm

Thanks,
Daniel

 

[Rob]

A working Nikon with extras for $99! It should work fine for what you are going to do with it. It does meet your class requirements.

It's a plastic Nikon, evolved from the worst model they ever made (4004), coming with a nasty lens and a nasty flash. It is very cheap though. There are many better camera bodies for under $100.

Just my opinion. :mrgreen:

Rob

 

[Rob]

Rob and Fred,

Thanks for the swift replies! I just recieved word that my grandfather is sending me a Pentax KX1000 SLR for the duration of the semester.

Sound good? This way I can save my money for a Digi-SLR in the future.

Ever heard of Mr. Eaves and His Magic Camera? That is my grandfather FYI.

Thanks,
Daniel

Never heard of the KX1000, the KX and the K1000. Both are great cameras, utilising Pentax's K-Mount which is interchangeable with most of their lenses.

As for Mr Eaves, yes I've heard of him. Man who dropped a digital camera and turned it from a point and shoot digi to an "instant art" camera as I recall!

Rob

 

[dmargrave]

Never heard of the KX1000, the KX and the K1000. Both are great cameras, utilising Pentax's K-Mount which is interchangeable with most of their lenses.

As for Mr Eaves, yes I've heard of him. Man who dropped a digital camera and turned it from a point and shoot digi to an "instant art" camera as I recall!

Rob

Maybe he said k1000, I might have recalled incorrectly.

Yes, he is the one who dropped his Nikon CoolPix 990 into the Pecos river and dried it out by tying it to his car's windshied wipers.

That's really cool that you have heard of him!

Thanks,
Daniel

 

[markc]

I remember that!

The K1000 is one of (if not the) most highly recommended starter cameras, and you won't outgrow it anytime soon.

 

[Don Simon]

Definitely can't go wrong with the K1000, considering the build quality and amount of lenses available. I'd like to own a Nikon at some point (ashamed as I am to admit it ) but pretty much nothing could persuade me to buy any Nikon at that price point. Because everyone wants a Nikon or Canon, even their worst models, in poor used condition, sell for well above their real value. And the N401 sounds like a particularly bad one. "This body does not meter with manual focus lenses"? Er, no thanks!

 

[Oldfireguy]

Hmmmm! How did we ever survive before the digital age?

 

[Don Simon]

Of course you could use a handheld meter, but why bother when for the same price you can get an SLR from another company that's better built and does meter with manual focus lenses. Like say, a Pentax K1000...

 

[Oldfireguy]

Nothing wrong with a handheld meter. Pentax better than Nikon...... let me think about that........ still thinking........ maybe in this case if you compare cameras plus the K-1000 is free. That is better yet for a college student and the money he saves he can buy a Nikon!

Nikon never made bad cameras, some just were not as good as others.

I just love the fact someone is taking a B&W film class.

 

[Don Simon]

Nothing wrong with a handheld meter. Pentax better than Nikon...... let me think about that........ still thinking........ maybe in this case if you compare cameras plus the K-1000 is free. That is better yet for a college student and the money he saves he can buy a Nikon!

Nikon never made bad cameras, some just were not as good as others.
.

Exactly how much are they paying you? btw I never said Pentax were better than Nikon, I was talking about those specific cameras.

I just love the fact someone is taking a B&W film class

Got to agree with you there.