35mm Camera Recommendations?

[Will_Young]

Hi all and thanks in advance for any advice,

I'm a relatively knowledgable photographer but converted to film for self improvement purposes and I've been using a Canon AE-1 Program with 50mm 1.8 for the last year but it unfortunately met it's end after a recent motorbike crash in Vietnam..

However, it was about time for me to progress in film anyway- So i'm looking for advice on a replacement/ upgrade? Any recommendations?

Thanks, Will

 

[iPhoto17]

Pentax K1000, can't beat it, used it for years and years with no problems

 

[brunerww]

Hi Will - welcome to the forum! Sorry to hear about your AE-1, but every challenge presents a new opportunity

If I were buying a film camera right now, I would get the last, and arguably the best, pro 35mm film camera made - the Nikon F6. Sadly, there are none left at Amazon UK (as of this post), but there are always a few on eBay UK. There is one listed in Amsterdam right now as 'New in Box' (with the MB-40 battery pack) for £1295 pp (or best offer).

Here is what this camera can do: http://www.flickr.com/groups/nikonf6/

It is still in low-rate production at Nikon, but they are becoming more and more difficult to find.

If the F6 is above your budget limit, you can get an F5 for £345 - or, if you want something a little more compact, you can get the prosumer Nikon F100 for as little as £180.

Hope this is helpful and good luck!

Bill

 

[timor]

However, it was about time for me to progress in film anyway- So i'm looking for advice on a replacement/ upgrade? Any recommendations?

Thanks, Will

Hi Will and welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear about your accident. I hope only camera suffered and not you.

When comes to cameras there is still a plenty to choose from. which one depends on what do you expect from it and what is your shooting style. Do you shoot b&w or color ? Do you process your film yourself ? Tell us more about that.

 

[limr]

I think it also depends on what you consider an 'upgrade' - better lenses, more flexibility more auto settings?

I have to agree that the K1000 is a great camera. It's reliable, very capable, and can be had cheaply. It's also a tank. It's not that mine has been abused, but it has been used non-always-gently for 20 years and recently toppled off a ledge onto concrete (no more crappy tripods for me!) and suffered nothing more than a flesh wound. I love that it's a manual-only camera because I want a camera that will still work when the battery dies, but there are newer and better Pentax models that incorporate more automation.

If you want to stay with Canon - and SLRs - in particular, you can look into the professional F-series. If you are willing to think about rangefinders, my bf is quite in love with his Canon P system, which is compatible with some other lens mounting systems and so gives you flexibility.

 

[gsgary]

Leica M4-2 and a 35mm lens

 

[Nat.]

I have acquired a lot of 35mm SLRs and they're all functionally identical. It's just the later it was made the more frills it has. Light meters, priority modes, automatic film winding, those sorts of things.

 

[WhiteRaven22]

I like my Nikon FM2n that I bought second-hand. With a good assortment of lenses and a cable release, there isn't much I've found that can't be done with an FM2n. Plus, if you want high-speed, it has a top shutter speed of 1/4000 of a second. I haven't had any experience with the Canon AE or the Pentax K1000, but I've heard good things about them as well.

 

[Warhorse]

I really like my Canon F1n w/AE Finder and power drive. Since getting my Nikon D3200 it has not been out for any exercise.

Need to change that, and maybe get started with some B/W film just to see what I can come up with.

I would recommend a similar set up for you as well.

 

[minicoop1985]

Sorry to hear about your Canon. I've got an Olympus OM-1n and it's just fantastic. I would highly recommend an OM series single digit camera (the OM-10 and up were designed to be amateur cameras, OM-1 through OM-4 were designed as professional cameras per Camerapedia) if you enjoyed shooting manually with the AE-1. OM-1 MDs can be had fairly cheap (I sold one for $40 in pretty much mint condition to a film student) and have most of the functions of the OM-1n, but if you can hold out, find a 1n or 2n. And add a T-20 flash if you can find one. I know, I'm a bit of an Olympus fanboy now, but hey. There's a reason. If I can use this thing, I imagine someone with waaaay more experience can do some amazing things with one.