What camera do I buy? / general gear talk

What about an Olympus OM-10 or similar? They're reasonably priced and I've heard nothing but good things about them? (But never actually used one!)

Amey is right but only after youve got to grips with using SLRs properly. Ae1 is great for that but any basic SLR will work. Id try and spend under 100 for a cheap body and lens with manual control, bring it everywhere with you and shoot as much as you can till it breaks. Youll learn more from taking lots of photos with a cheap camera than taking few photos with an expensive camera you baby

Canon AE-1, A1 etc are great for starting off, pair it with a 50mm F1.8 or 28mm F2.8 where possible. They are starting to command a hipster premium though.

Something like this would also be great: https://wycameras.com/collections/canon-fd-cameras/products/canon-t70-w-tokina-28-70mm-f-3-5-4-5

I've had one and they're really nice to use and that's a really good bang for your buck proposition. Plus, ordering from somewhere like WY Cameras, you'll have comeback if anything is iffy with the camera when you get it and start shooting, which is a consideration when you start buying these older bodies.

@handtightenonly +1 for an Olympus OM-10 or 20. Very compact, very easy to learn with and use the amazing Zuiko lens lineup.

I'd buy this https://wycameras.com/collections/rangefinders-cameras/products/yashica-electro-35-chrome-exc

cc/ @Josh

Not way off at all. You should probably aim to spend as much/more on the lens, so about £70-90 on the camera and the same again on a 50mm or 35mm lens depending on what sort of photography you’re into.

Hard to argue with a Canon AE1. Basically, all you’re looking for is a camera that can take decent lenses and lets you explore manual settings but with some automatic settings as a fallback (the Canon has shutter-priority auto mode). The Nikon equivalent is the FE2 (which has aperture priority). Both as good as each other.

Personally, I use the Minolta X-700, but then I bought it new in 1982 🥴. Also has fully-auto Program mode, which I rarely use. I do sometimes use manual but 90% of the time it’s in aperture-priority mode.

For a more expensive and iconic camera, you might try Olympus OM2 (which has manual plus aperture priority). Lovely lenses though.

Ian

Interesting.

Interesting.

Fantastic little cameras. I'd pick that up. Little point at the moment mind you considering I'm not leaving the house.

Short answer - it doesn't really matter too much. All of the major Japanese companies made great SLRs and glass.

Long answer- do you want mechanical, electronic manual focus or electronic auto focus ?

Mechanical cameras don't have auto exposure modes, and some will need an external meter (iPhone app is fine). They're often old and even the shop bought ones may need a service. Slow shutter speeds are a common problem. Having sad that they're often the most beautiful cameras, from an age were everything was made from metal, and there's something quite satisfying about using a mechanical camera. Examples:
https://www.ffordes.com/p/COM-IV47BQ60948/pentax-m42/spotmatic-50mm-f14
https://www.harrisoncameras.co.uk/pd/used-minolta-srt101-35mm-film-camera-with-55mm-f17-lens_used-2641906-2740847

Electronic manual focus cameras are battery powered, normally with centre weighted metering and some form of auto exposure. Some of the cheaper cameras are auto exposure only and don't allow you to shoot in manual. These are the classic film SLRs. Examples:
https://wycameras.com/collections/nikon-mf-cameras/products/nikon-fg-w-50mm-f-1-8-exc-1
https://wycameras.com/collections/minolta-md-cameras/products/minolta-xg-1-w-50mm-f-2-exc

Electronic auto-focus cameras are what DSLRs are based on. These are the most modern cameras and have the classic PASM modes, matrix metering, TTL flash (often built in), built in motor drives and modern glass. They are for the most part a lot cheaper than the other types as they're not as collectable/fashionable. They also mostly come with a zoom lens rather than a prime.
Examples:
https://www.ffordes.com/p/SH-18-026812/minolta-af/dynax-5-28-80mm
https://www.ffordes.com/p/SH-18-029953/canon-eos/eos-300v-28-90mm

Personally I'd plump for the Nikon FG with 50 1.8 series E at WYC for £75.

Thanks for the advice everyone - my research continues but those up in West Yorkshire appear to have some cracking examples

I know. I am finding it hard not to spend money on stuff and not shooting the 7 rolls of film I have in the fridge around my house.

I suspect I may start shooting various pot plants around the house soon and/or pap’ing my cat.

Can cats be beatified?

https://www.ffordes.com/p/SH-18-026812/m­inolta-af/dynax-5-28-80mm

I have this, its a great camera, it occasionally overexposed in bright sun if left fully auto. The lens mount system was purchased by Sony and became the Alpha series, so any manual focus lens that fits the full frame sonys works on this as well. I guess it would work vice versa as well.

Its not collectable but was part of a successful system so second hand glass is easy (ish) to come by. The kit zoom is good enough for most people, but I found it really shines with a 35/50 prime and some Kodak Ultra 200 film. I also used to have a big 100-200 zoom, but passed it on to my brother in law as it works on his Alpha 7ii.

This is a great shout. Especially if you’re more concerned with getting pictures taken than learning on heavier, fully manual cameras.

There are loads of these around in great condition and you get your pick for £25. I’ve seen some in charity shops and bought a good one for £8 (my niece wanted and auto 35mm camera with a flash).

With a £40 prime lens they basically do what a Contax T or G does.

I honestly love the Dynax 5 it got me into photography, and its got a few really clever features that i love for an entry level, and lightweight SLR. The two metal strips on the grip and the eye sensor which mean the camera only auto focuses when gripped and up to your eye saves loads of battery. I also like the ISO override, which is so standard on digital you don't even think about it, but on a film camera is actually pretty clever.

I have never done it but I think you can do a multiple exposure as well without any faff with rewinding etc..

The minolta 50mm 1.7 was my lens of choice. It weighs very little and works nicely on the really light body.

buy a 35mm film slr camera with lens included, one that feels nice and costs less than £150
buy 80 rolls of decent 35mm film (ilford/kodak, iso 400)
pay for decent dev + scan at a decent lab
shoot all 80 rolls, carry the camera a lot
congratulations, you will be slightly closer to being a good photographer

Long after every other film camera has been sold there'll still be a mountain of Minolta AF cameras available.
AF SLRs just aren't fashionable I guess, and Minolta AF cameras less so.

If i didn't already have some Nikon AF stuff I'd pick up a Dynax 5. Looks like a great camera for no money.

Hey, still have this? Would be really interested?
On another note my x100 died so really desperately looking for replacement.
Does anyone have something to offer?

Don’t think he wants to sell it. I tried twice but never got an offer I’m afraid.

Thanks for the advice. I think...

no problem
you will notice of all decent photographers, they went through this stage at some point.

Just to add to all this - I just got a Canon EOS 650 for £25 in great condition from West Yorkshire Cameras - for some reason modern-ish autofocus SLRs are the one category of 35mm cameras that are still cheap.

I bought a 40mm f2.8 pancake lens for about double that and I have an SLR that can be fully manual or fully auto and is a tonne smaller and lighter than my Nikon DSLR with a zoom lens on. It's beautifully simple to use as well.

Caveat - not got anything developed from it yet but I have high hopes.

Got my daughter a Dynax 5, it's actually brilliant and so light.

recommendations for a macro lens to fit a nikon d7100 ? anyone got anything for sale ?

not too spendy, i was thinking of buying a new lens instead of replacing a point and shoot camera that has done me well for a good few years but has broken