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Getting a new camera

M

Mandos

Banned
So I posted for some advice on getting a new camera, and what I got was this..


If you want to take courses, then you definately need a manual body SLR with a 50mm f/1.8 lens. There is no discussion about that.
Some tutors will accept a new high tech cam that can be set to manual mode, but that's not very good.

The best is to buy a Nikon Fm2 or a Canon A-1 body with their respective 50mm lens. You'd better get the nikon because it uses any F-mount lens (that's important for the future)
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Now, the Nikon FM-2 is super expensive from what I've seen, near to 400$. The Canon A-1 is decent, but from what I understand the lens is like discontinued. Anyone have any ideas for me? I'd like the FM-2, but its so expensive!
 
just nuy a Nikon N80 and the 50mm lens you can get it for ~ 300 all together

the N80 has all thoes nifty new auto controlls and such but it you can set it to full manual mode

you dont need to but a OLD camera to do full manual stuff
 
There are shitloads of manual/semi-auto SLR cameras on eBay. I know I just sold mine for a ridiculously low price.
 
well if money is the biggest consideration, you could always try something like This

Edit: Hm.. I see A-1 combo's are going that rate too. Did you even look around for used yet?
 
I would say thats poor advice you got... Manual on a newer camera is not any different than manual on an older camera... it still requires you to understand the relationship between aperture and shutter speed. By going with an older camera, while some are built like tanks, you really lose out on the advancements in just about every area of function that modern cameras have advanced in.

Dave
 
Originally posted by: Buck_Naked
I would say thats poor advice you got... Manual on a newer camera is not any different than manual on an older camera... it still requires you to understand the relationship between aperture and shutter speed. By going with an older camera, while some are built like tanks, you really lose out on the advancements in just about every area of function that modern cameras have advanced in.

Dave
Click to expand...

Such as? My A-1 does everything I need, I really don't see any justification in spending more money buying something newer. BTW, I got the Canon A-1 with lens at a garage sale for $50, and that was over 10 years ago!
 
Originally posted by: OulOat
Originally posted by: Buck_Naked
I would say thats poor advice you got... Manual on a newer camera is not any different than manual on an older camera... it still requires you to understand the relationship between aperture and shutter speed. By going with an older camera, while some are built like tanks, you really lose out on the advancements in just about every area of function that modern cameras have advanced in.

Dave
Click to expand...

Such as? My A-1 does everything I need, I really don't see any justification in spending more money buying something newer. BTW, I got the Canon A-1 with lens at a garage sale for $50, and that was over 10 years ago!
Click to expand...

more/ better metering options (spot/ center/ matrix), autofocus for when you want it (SPORTS), sports and manual focus are a pain in the ass, Higher shutter speeds and/or longer speeds, ability to meter with newer lenses ( more of an issue for canon cause they changed their lens mount, any nikon made after ~73 will take any lens made today), availibilty of parts if something breaks, we have a old Nikomat from the late 60s hard as hell to find parts for, built in support for film ISOs over 1600, (they will meter for them without any issues)
 
higher shutter speed (that you pretty much won't use) is probably the biggest advancement. Metering may or may not have improved, depending on which models you are comparing. Everything else is one more thing that a beginner probably shouldn't have to deal with. Taking the aforementioned metering - it would be better for a beginner to learn to bracket, judge light conditions by sight .. I'd say push/pull film and print under/over negs, but that's pretty much dead, innit. IOW, a clunky camera will give you a better opportunity for your head to shape the images than your camera's processor.

I'm not saying used is the right way to go for the OP, but IMO it *is* the best way to learn.
 
Originally posted by: Anubis
just nuy a Nikon N80 and the 50mm lens you can get it for ~ 300 all together

the N80 has all thoes nifty new auto controlls and such but it you can set it to full manual mode

you dont need to but a OLD camera to do full manual stuff
Click to expand...


I second this. Nikon N80 has all you will ever likely need from a camera unless you plan to go into the world of photography and make it your profession (become a paparazzi)
 
Originally posted by: OulOat
Originally posted by: Buck_Naked
I would say thats poor advice you got... Manual on a newer camera is not any different than manual on an older camera... it still requires you to understand the relationship between aperture and shutter speed. By going with an older camera, while some are built like tanks, you really lose out on the advancements in just about every area of function that modern cameras have advanced in.

Dave
Click to expand...

Such as? My A-1 does everything I need, I really don't see any justification in spending more money buying something newer. BTW, I got the Canon A-1 with lens at a garage sale for $50, and that was over 10 years ago!
Click to expand...
If it does everything you need, then your set... but if I had a choice between an A-1 and a EOS Elan, why would I limit myself to the A-1? The added functionality of the Elan gives you the ability to take pictures that are much more difficult if not impossible with the A-1... Think sports or wildlife... like it or not, there are certain situations such as trying to focus on a moving subject while trying to maintain composition or exposure that are much more difficult to do with a camera such as an A-1 vs. a newer camera...

 
Canon AE-1 with a 50mm off Ebay for less than a 100 bucks... thats everything you need to learn about the technical aspects of photography. The Canon AE-1 and Canon AE-1 Program (slightly more expensive) are still two very highly regarded cameras - even though some are over 25 yrs old. Thats what I use today (I have two bodies, one has BW and one has color film in it).

Thats not the only camera (manual) that meets your needs, but its a good one. The nice thing about getting a fully manual older camera vs. using a newer camera in manual mode is that the controls on the older cameras (IMHO) were geared towards manual use - where as with the newer cameras, its a little cumbersome to use them in fully manual mode.

 
To clarify that last thought .. as a photographer with limited equipment (or any other field, I would suppose) you are forced to find novel solutions to problems that would not occur if you buy the fancy version. A little duct tape and all that. I dunno maybe that's fanciful thinking, but if you give someone a camera with a 1/500 shutter, and they are trying to take fast close action shots and they get blur, they will have to think about it (or seek an answer) and they will learn to pan the camera to follow the motion. Maybe they will notice that the subject comes into focus and the background blurs - Hey! That looks cool! I want to try it at 1/125 or 1/60!

If you gave them a camera with a 1/2000 shutter, they would just snap away, and the only way they would ever even know this is if they saw a picture they liked, and said "Hey, how can I do this?"

Sure, the manuals are all there, but IMO, not only does serendipity play a role in aesthetics, the experience of discovery also enhances enjoyment of the field. If all it comes to is following a couple hard rules and puching a button, who the hell will want to take pictures anymore (or look at those pictures).
 
Originally posted by: Anubis
Originally posted by: OulOat
Originally posted by: Buck_Naked
I would say thats poor advice you got... Manual on a newer camera is not any different than manual on an older camera... it still requires you to understand the relationship between aperture and shutter speed. By going with an older camera, while some are built like tanks, you really lose out on the advancements in just about every area of function that modern cameras have advanced in.

Dave
Click to expand...

Such as? My A-1 does everything I need, I really don't see any justification in spending more money buying something newer. BTW, I got the Canon A-1 with lens at a garage sale for $50, and that was over 10 years ago!
Click to expand...

more/ better metering options (spot/ center/ matrix), autofocus for when you want it (SPORTS), sports and manual focus are a pain in the ass, Higher shutter speeds and/or longer speeds, ability to meter with newer lenses ( more of an issue for canon cause they changed their lens mount, any nikon made after ~73 will take any lens made today), availibilty of parts if something breaks, we have a old Nikomat from the late 60s hard as hell to find parts for, built in support for film ISOs over 1600, (they will meter for them without any issues)
Click to expand...

Blah, all those are insignificant details. If you want precise metering you get a hand-held meter. Higher shutter speeds? How often are you going to need that? Never in my book (I don't go to races with my $50 A-1). The only thing I don't like about the A-1 is the OEM flash. I would like to get one of those dual flash heads, but they are damn expensive and a pain to lug around.

The truth is, these old cameras are excellent and tough. Because they don't have any of these newer features, they will teach you the important facts about photography, ie exposures. Most important of all, they are cheap if you can get one at a garage sale. Spend the money you save on accessories, such as tripods and lens. That way, if you decide you like photography, you can get a "better" camera and still use the accessories and be only short of 50 bucks.
 
It doesn?t mater which manual cameras you get, because a camera is just a black box with a pin hole to expose the light to film.

An older Nikon is nice because the lenses can be use on the newer bodies. IMHO, you should put too much important on the make of camera just yet, because you will grow out of the camera and would want something better.

As others above had mentioned, you should get a used camera with 50mm f:1.8 lens for class. It is inexpensive, you will not worry about losing it or damage it, and it can do the job that other fancy cameras can do.

I have won several photo contests locally and nationally with photographs that taken with a used Canon AV-1 (purchased for $200.00 CAD with 3 lenses), used Canon AE-1 ($50 CAD), and EOS 10s. I also have had Canon A-1, Canon F-1, EOS-630, Pentax PZ1, Pentax K1000, Mamiya C330 medium format, and Linhof large format camera.
 
Theres alot of excellent points in here. I'm confused as hell now, hoever. I think I'd like to go with the N80, if I can find a good price on it.
 
Originally posted by: myusername
To clarify that last thought .. as a photographer with limited equipment (or any other field, I would suppose) you are forced to find novel solutions to problems that would not occur if you buy the fancy version. A little duct tape and all that. I dunno maybe that's fanciful thinking, but if you give someone a camera with a 1/500 shutter, and they are trying to take fast close action shots and they get blur, they will have to think about it (or seek an answer) and they will learn to pan the camera to follow the motion. Maybe they will notice that the subject comes into focus and the background blurs - Hey! That looks cool! I want to try it at 1/125 or 1/60!

If you gave them a camera with a 1/2000 shutter, they would just snap away, and the only way they would ever even know this is if they saw a picture they liked, and said "Hey, how can I do this?"

Sure, the manuals are all there, but IMO, not only does serendipity play a role in aesthetics, the experience of discovery also enhances enjoyment of the field. If all it comes to is following a couple hard rules and puching a button, who the hell will want to take pictures anymore (or look at those pictures).
Click to expand...

I like the point yoiu make here. What camera would YOU suggest me to get, with a few good lenses for ~200? I want good features too, however. Maybe an auto feature, that I can use just to take a pic at moments notice if need be
 
Originally posted by: Mandos
Originally posted by: myusername
To clarify that last thought .. as a photographer with limited equipment (or any other field, I would suppose) you are forced to find novel solutions to problems that would not occur if you buy the fancy version. A little duct tape and all that. I dunno maybe that's fanciful thinking, but if you give someone a camera with a 1/500 shutter, and they are trying to take fast close action shots and they get blur, they will have to think about it (or seek an answer) and they will learn to pan the camera to follow the motion. Maybe they will notice that the subject comes into focus and the background blurs - Hey! That looks cool! I want to try it at 1/125 or 1/60!

If you gave them a camera with a 1/2000 shutter, they would just snap away, and the only way they would ever even know this is if they saw a picture they liked, and said "Hey, how can I do this?"

Sure, the manuals are all there, but IMO, not only does serendipity play a role in aesthetics, the experience of discovery also enhances enjoyment of the field. If all it comes to is following a couple hard rules and puching a button, who the hell will want to take pictures anymore (or look at those pictures).
Click to expand...

I like the point yoiu make here. What camera would YOU suggest me to get, with a few good lenses for ~200? I want good features too, however. Maybe an auto feature, that I can use just to take a pic at moments notice if need be
Click to expand...
It doesn't really mater, because most manual cameras have shutter and or aperture priority. They are all good for any task at any given moment, and once you learn to use depth of field & distance scale it would be just as quick to take pictures as an auto focus camera. Learning depth of field and distance scale will also help you to take picture in dificult lighting and under water.
 
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