Second-hand SLRs

DadaKopf

I'm thinking of getting a high quality, old, manual SLR for travelling and generally to enjoy that sound only a manual camera can make before they disappear altogether.

I want to get a Nikon specifically. What is a good, reasonably priced one and what's the story with lenses? Does Nikon have a standard lens system for all their cameras? Budget-wise, I'm thinking in the region of €200.

Thanks for the help.

CrowdedHouse

I managed to get a Nikon F4S recently for €200,it was their top of the range pro model in the late 80/early 90's.

It's built like the proverbial brick outhouse,you could drive nails with it !

I think it will work with practically any Nikon lens ever made although obviously the DX series lenses will not.The newer G type lenses work but you only have program and shutter prioity modes.
It can also 'talk' to my current model Nikon Speedlight for TTL flash control.

One caveat - it is big and very heavy,it weighs 1.5kg without lens or batteries(6XAA),a 4 battery grip is available to make lighter/more compact but this seems to be scarce and/or expensive.

The F80/N80 is also an excelllent modern film SLR,seems light and plasticy but works very well.
If you are used to the D70/50 you'll feel at home with one on thes.

saltie

Have a look at this and see what you think, its in very good condition

http://www.adverts.ie/showproduct.php?product=495&cat=32

dalk

Hi. I picked up a Nikon FE2 with a f1.4 50mm lens for less than €170 (or thereabouts, can't remember) off ebay a few months ago...

Great camera. Its a mostly manual camera with the benefit of an aperature priority mode. Not too heavy. Very well built. Good bright viewfinder.

My (limited) knowledge of Nikon lens is that they are basically in four groups.

Group 1: Old manual focus lens (pre-AI). Cannot be used with any automatic camera mode.
Group 2: Manual focus lens referred to as AI or AIS, which can take advantage of certain cameras that have some form of automatic exposure (like aperature prority). These are the lens i use with the FE2.
Group 3: Autofocus lens with onboard processing. There is number of types too.
Group 4: The newer digital lens which are not suitable for 35mm cameras.

Most of the time lens will work with any of their cameras, but different feature will dissappear. You can stick an autofocus lens on an FE2 and it will work (you wont be able to autofocus obviously). Likewise you can stick an AI lens on D70 and it will work (but you'll lose some camera modes).

johnny b

all nikon lenses fit all nikon cameras (which is great if you love nikon like me;) ) that is unless you buy a really old nikon like a f2 or sumthing cos then they need the clip on for the aperature ring on the mount of the lens.

i would reccommend an F3 or and Fm2 - super cameras(dont have built in motordrives,so nice and small,and light, although the F3 is a wee bit heavier) and can be found for cheapish if your not in a rush and do a bit of lookin.ive gotten photography stuff from ebay and found it great.but that cud just be my luck.

good luck lookin:)

DadaKopf

Thanks, folks. I was definitely looking at the FE2. Started looking at the F2 etc, but I particularly want to get the camera my Dad had before it was stolen in the 1980s. I think it was an FE2.

Prime lenses seem reasonable - so I'll start with a 50mm and 28mm or 35mm.

My work might take me to the developing world and it makes sense that I would need a rugged camera and lenses that aren't entirely battery dependent.

DadaKopf

Turns out my pops had a Nikkormat EF. Anyone know anything about it. The FE2 still seems rad, though.

Zombrex

CrowdedHouse wrote:

It's built like the proverbial brick outhouse,you could drive nails with it !

Sure didn't a Nikon F series camera (the F2 or something) stop a bullet in Vietnam from killing a reporter once. Now that is a well build camera!

Not sure my Canon EOS 300 would do the same for me.

DadaKopf

Hmmm, stopping bullet potential could be useful in hairy situations.

Seems like the FE2 is a good bet, even if the F, F2 and F3 are massively heavy.

Fajitas!

There's nothing wrong with a weighty camera in my opinion. I find it easier to hold still, plus your gonna know if it goes missing. Plus...If your going to be in any dodgy situations, a swing of something as heavy as that might do you some good (or bad...depending on which end of the swing you're lying)!

DadaKopf

Hehe, totally, unless you're trekking. I read that the F3 is 1.5kg without lenses!

That's nearly the same as a 6x7 Mamiya!

Still, rugged is good, I'll give you that!

Fajitas!

Definitly. I promise you, it'd last longer than a D50 or D70!

And 1.5kg ain't all that bad if it's slung around your arm. A 50mm prime and a telephoto and you're set!

FinoBlad

DadaKoph, any interest in this?
http://www.apug.org/classifieds/showproduct.php?product=1662

I'll be divorced if I buy another camera but would buy this in a heartbeat.