Camera Help Please

[AndySPS]

Looking for advice from all you camera experts . My partner has started a full time photography course at college to further her hobby , hopefully into a buisness. Cutting to the chase she needs a 35mm film camera for taking black and whites. I presume the course starts here so students gat an appreciation of film and the pro's and cons. Looking for something second hand. Is it worth buying something half decent at this stage . What should she go for? Ebay ? Any advice appreciated .

Oh yes nearly forgot , she has a Canon Digital SLR. is there any milage in buying something with compatible lenses . Think it has a 18 to 55 mm lens as standard. DOH?

Andy

[Steve748]

The Canon A1 would be a good quality camera to start with as it can be used on manual as well as having a few programs like shutter or aperture priority. They can be picked up cheap on fleabay and the lenses are quite cheap as well. I don't know about the compatibility with the digital SLR as they might have a different mount. The whole point of starting with a basic camera is so that you learn how the different exposure settings affect the picture and it's easier to understand depth of field works with different apertures.

[Screwy]

Agree with Steve , The canon A1 used to be the dogs dangly's in it's day or maybe a Nikon if you want to spend a bit more , Also don't forget the Russian Zenith range of cameras , dirt cheap but usually ruggedly built (especially the early ones) and if it breaks bin it and buy another ;)

unfortunately digital rules all now except for anoraks like myself who still use film :rolleyes:

Have a look on Ebay (http://photography.search.ebay.co.uk/canon_Lens-Mounts-Adaptors_W0QQfromZR4QQsacatZ30059QQssPageNameZWLRS) for Adaptors for the Canon digital camera , She may loose the auto focus feature on the digital but it does open up a world of high class lenses for very little money especially in M42 mount .




Paul

[239desmo]

Olympus OM1 & 2 were good in their day as an alternative.
The most important part of the camera is the lens and with the advent of Digital you can probably pick up a good 35mm for next to nothing.
The impression I have is that until recently with Digital most serious photographers used the makers own lenses rather than the aftermarket ones as the quality tended not to be as good.
This seems to have changed in the last few years but perhaps getting a complete outfit with all the lenses may be the way to go.(Seems many people going for digital dumped the 35mm lenses along with the body.)
Perhaps something like a 28-80 zoom and a 80-200 would cover most of her needs?

[Screwy]

Or go totally retro and pick up a Russian rangefinder plus a selection of lenses and a light meter , photography at it's most basic :D you don't get the Slr,s depth of field preview or a massive selection of lenses ,just 28mm , 35mm , 50mm , 85mm and 135mm .


Paul

[239desmo]

Or go totally retro and pick up a Russian rangefinder plus a selection of lenses and a light meter , photography at it's most basic :D you don't get the Slr,s depth of field preview or a massive selection of lenses ,just 28mm , 35mm , 50mm , 85mm and 135mm .


Paul

Dust in the camera didn't seem such a big deal with 35mm. Now you change lens in laboratory conditions with a digital! This is all progress......

[Biscuit]

Got a Canon EOS1000 with a few bits n bobs, Polarise filter, bag etc. any use give us a shout. programmable and preset modes, AF lense with manual mode too.