Beginner film camera recommendations

Artethepunk · Jul 6, 2023

Hello, I am just beginning, this would be my first film camera and was looking for a 35mm slr thatd be good at landscapes and portraits, I would love one that has a timer, light meter would be cool although not needed. I would like it below $150 although I can probably go to 200, probably used

bulldurham · Jul 6, 2023

Find a pawn shop that has a Pentax K1000. The meters are the best anyone ever offered in a 35mm and they are sturdy. I had them in my classroom for over 15 years and many thousands of students and they held up better than any of the Canons, Minoltas or Nikons.

Dale H. Cook · Jul 6, 2023

I will second buying a K-1000. I bought mine around 30 years ago, and plan on selling it in a yard sale later this summer (I replaced it with a K-70 in 2018).

webestang64 · Jul 6, 2023

Yes for sure K1000......!!!!!
Make sure you buy a pre-1990 as the post 1990 were made in China and are not built as well as the older ones.

Dale H. Cook · Jul 6, 2023

webestang64 said:
Make sure you buy a pre-1990 as the post 1990 were made in China and are not built as well as the older ones.

While the Hong Kong K1000s (which I have) were perhaps not as good as the Japanese production I think that quality took another drop when production moved to mainland China. I used my Hong Kong K1000 with no problems for nearly thirty years before I replaced it with my K-70. Certainly I have never had a "grindy" feel to the film advance lever on my Hong Kong K1000, which was a major complaint after production moved to the mainland.