File camera advice

i71jskz5xu42pb

OK looking to get into photography in the new year. Doing the DCC beginners course in Jan. I've had the Digital vs Film debate and decided to opt for an old film manual SLR so I a) can learn the basics first b) don't have to make a huge upfront investment in case photography does not agree with me. So that's that question answered.

So I am now looking around for second hand film SLR. Anyone have any recommendations on particular models/makes? Specifically any thoughts on these: Pentax ME Super, Nikon F301, Canon T90?
All the cameras in eBay seem to be from the 80's - will that be a problem assuming they have been maintained well?

I'll give some of the shops around Dublin that do second hand a look but any advice from here would be appreciated.

(Completely unrelated but am I missing something with the search function - a search for "film camera" seems to bring back posts with either film or camera)

georgey

Check ebay for avalilability of lens for each of these camera's, I am familar with the t90 and some of the canon eos film camera's, you could try AP magazine for reviews of these older camera's I am sure they do old issue's and everyweek they look at older gear. I think the main thing of concern is the condition of the shutter curtains and of course shutter speed accuracy.

snellers

From a personal standpoint I can give a thumbs up to the Pentax Super ME (which I still use on occasion) - solid as a rock and can produce excellent images. I can recommend the 50mm 1.4 prime that I use mainly which some of the Super ME's actually came with as standard. Bear in mind that the camera has built in light meter and manual everything else. Not sure about the others. (If you do get the Pentax download the manual online as it has important info with regards to loading film and the dial settings needed to ensure correct ISO selected)

Whatever you purchase I can strongly recommend you make sure that one of your lenses is a prime (fixed focal length) - the inability to zoom really makes you think a lot more about composition and 'getting it right' - more often than not the prime lens image quality exceeds that of it's zoomier cousins also!

Best of luck on your course!!

magicbastarder

as regards reliability - i'd be more comfortable buying a 30 year old manual focus film SLR than i would buying a secondhand DSLR.

the film SLR will be cheaper, as you point out - running costs higher, but then the camera will hold its value better.

RoryW

i can vouch for the Nikon F-301 which I have still (in pristine condition together with various manual lenses - Bell & Howell 35-70mm, Tokina 70-210mm, Nikkor (nikon) 50mm 1.8, sigma 28mm, Sigma 400mm 5.6, Kiron MC7 2X Teleconverter

not used anymore due to D80

Might be tempted to sell together for the right price.:D

i71jskz5xu42pb

RoryW wrote: »

i can vouch for the Nikon F-301

Great, cos that's what I picked up yesterday!

RoryW wrote: »

Might be tempted to sell together for the right price.:D

The right price would have been sometime last week I'm afraid.

Thanks for everybody's help