If I was to experiment with getting (back) into film...

[jcdeboever]

The N75 I picked up from JC uses my 85 f1.8g with zero problems.

That was a good little camera but I just didn't use it because I prefer manual focus. I hope you use it more than I did.

 

[SoulfulRecover]

F100 and be done.

 

[bhop]

Agree with SoulfulRecover, F100s seem to average on ebay in the $150 range, well below the $200 limit and so worth it. With front and back wheels, it works the same as modern dslr Nikons.

 

[sniper x]

What about an F4s? Super cool camera and I think it'll take the G series lenses and it is available in good nick for under 200 dollars.....KEH or Ebay...plus it is BEAUTIFUL!
And....it'll probably be my FIRST Nikon, Well, second Nikon! After I get an F3......lol!

 

[Michael Mc]

I've owned several N80s and still own one. I've been able to find them around here for cheap and typically got about $40 each for them on eBay. They were all close to mint. One problem with the N80 is, if it hasn't been handled regularly, the body coating tends to get sticky. The easy fix to this is to lightly dust one's hands with talcum powder and then just "handle" the camera -- all over. This will permanently take care of the problem. I think that one reason why you'll often find N80s for cheap is because the've gotten sticky and the owner doesn't know how to deal with it.

I really like the N80. It's full featured, has a reasonably fast built-in motor drive, it's light, and it's very quiet. Yes, it isn't very robust, but that doesn't bother me particularly. I treat my gear with care. I don't abuse it. I owned a first generation Canon EOS Rebel and used it regularly for over 20 years. Sold it after I bought an Elan IIe -- it was still working perfectly when I sold it. So even cheap plastic cameras can last a long time if you take care of them. And I don't see any reason why a camera like the N80 won't last a long time as well if you take care of it. Nikon made an add-on battery pack for it. The MB16, I believe. It adds a bit of heft to a light camera (because of four "AA" batteries) and the batteries eliminate the need for the rather uncommon CR23s it normally calls for.

Reason why I like the N80 is because it was Nikon's last prosumer film camera before they switched production over to digital. So the N80 has the latest tech for Nikon film cameras (excepting the F6 I suppose).

The OP didn't mention a maximum to his budget, so I would also suggest the F4. I have an F4s. It's a great camera in terms of robustness and versatility. It's big and heavy, but feels good in my hands -- so good, I don't really mind the weight when I'm holding it. These days you can find clean F4s for $200 or so, sometimes less.

 

[smarty62]

What about an F4s? Super cool camera and I think it'll take the G series lenses and it is available in good nick for under 200 dollars.....KEH or Ebay...plus it is BEAUTIFUL!
And....it'll probably be my FIRST Nikon, Well, second Nikon! After I get an F3......lol!

Have an F4s LCD display failure.most of the F4 have problems with LCD.. and it's realy heavy. I put Lithium batteries to save weight.
Go for a F100! I bought one used for 90 Swiss Francs at a photo store. Will never give it away. Don't use the F4 anymore.
Just my 2 cents


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[smarty62]

What about an F4s? Super cool camera and I think it'll take the G series lenses and it is available in good nick for under 200 dollars.....KEH or Ebay...plus it is BEAUTIFUL!
And....it'll probably be my FIRST Nikon, Well, second Nikon! After I get an F3......lol!

... [emoji12] [emoji12] [emoji12] and here's my F3:

 

[smakelijk11]

I highly recommend the Nikon f100! I was lucky and picked mine up for $150 CAD. Try and see if you can get a good one off of E-bay for cheap.

 

[Vtec44]

Yep, F100. That's what I use to mount all my newer G lenses and older D lenses.

 

[smakelijk11]

Get the f100 and some Portra 400. This is the result.

 

[Steve Fretz]

Honestly, the cheapest way to get into film photography probably won't work with your G series lenses; start looking on Craigslist for older mechanical manual focus SLRs and Kiron or Vivitar Series I zooms, especially the 28-85 or 28-105 "stovepipe." But then the question arises, are you going to scan your negs, or work with them in the darkroom? If the latter, skip 35mm (until you get really good at darkroom) and look for inexpensive medium format stuff - MUCH easier to make nice prints from.