Question about 35mm SLRs on Ebay

dmohalloran

Hi,

I am looking to take my photography to a higher level, and have been looking at getting a good quality SLR to improve my skills.
Now digital SLRs look to be a bit out of my price range, and I have been checking out ebay, which seems to have a lot of 35mm film SLR cameras for sale for less than 100 euro, including a standard 50mm lens.
My main question is is there any guidance or rules I should follow. Some of the cameras are models from the mid 90s, but in their day would have been top of their range. Most of the cameras seem to be used, I know digital SLRs can get specks of dust on the sensor which can spoil photos, is their any similar wear and tear that i should look out for?
Finally, is there any recommendations for models, I am looking towards Canon, as they seem to be the most reputable make.
Thanks

delly

I picked up a Canon Rebel XT which was about 6 or 7 years old on ebay. I paid about €60 which included a standard lense and have had great results for so little money. Obviously i was lucky to get a good camera, but it just confirmed that I now want to move onto a dSLR, more than likely a 400D

bren2002

If you can get for reasonable money the Nikon F100, is (IMHO) probably the best 35mm SLR ever made. Features, value, build quality, extensive range of lenes. I have an F90x and I have to say it's the best camera I've ever owned (K1000, LX, F60 & F90x).

That said though, if you are only getting into Photography, don't go film. It's becoming a pure enthusiast medium and as such will become very expensive very quickly. Even now, getting decent B&W film is getting difficult and expensive to print. Go digital, it's cheaper when you make a mistake and you will probably use the camera more. For you, film is a false economy.

duffarama

:rolleyes:

Shooting film is a lot of fun and if you can find a good cheap film SLR and enjoy using it then you'll know you're ready for the big step up to a DSLR and be better able to work out how much you want to spend on one.

I'm currently going backwards, I bought a DSLR last summer and have since bought 2 film SLR's!!

I'd recommend a good quality Olympus OM-10 with standard lens or a Pentax ME-super. They're decent quality cameras and are available quite cheapy around the internets, should be able to get one for anything between €70 and €100

ThOnda

Well, you can get good older cameras, like Pentax ME-Super, K1000, P30 and so with excellent lenses like 50/1.4 and so.
The lens is what makes the picture.
Although I have only film cameras now, I really recommend some cheaper DSLR and good lens. The film processing is very expensive and slow. Having DSLR you have immediate response about exposure, you can change ISO and you are shooting for free.
So I recommend you buying didjital SLR.

*Dallas

Few tips for buying on eBay:

If it is the first thing you have bought,

read the description fully- watch out for scratches etc - also do they take returns

make sure they post to Ireland and check how much postage is- make sure you pay for registered post that way if the item doesnt arrive you can claim your money back

Check the seller's feedback, watch out for things like "poor communication".

If it is an auction listing, ask the seller all questions before placing your bid.

The majority of auctions end at the weekend, so don't place a bid until the last day - be it a Friday Saturday or Sunday!

Good Luck!

unreggd

I got the Eos 3000 for 45 euro with no lens, and its class

I already had the 350D and it takes EF lenses so I was sorted

The one thing i like is the film roller. Most cameras take a photo and roll out the film, but this one rolls the film out before u start shooting, so when you take a photo, it gets rolled back into the tin, class!!!!

peasant

bren2002 wrote: »

That said though, if you are only getting into Photography, don't go film. It's becoming a pure enthusiast medium and as such will become very expensive very quickly. Even now, getting decent B&W film is getting difficult and expensive to print. Go digital, it's cheaper when you make a mistake and you will probably use the camera more. For you, film is a false economy.

I'd second that.

I've had a nice Nikon F60 sitting in the corner mostly unused for months now as shooting film / diapositive is just waay to expensive and cumbersome these days.

Especially if you're still learning and experimenting ...it just takes too long until you see the results. By that time you've forgotten what you've done and what your intention was in the first place and you end up looking at a collection of similar shots of the same subject, half of which are no good and will have to be thrown away (after having paid good money for them)

Up you budget slightly and get a used digital SLR ...possibly one that will take old "analog" lenses.

Mellor

I would be new to photography (compared to people here with 10 years+),
I bought a pentax film slr off a friend in work, and after a few rolls of film, i had decided that a digital would suit be far far better in the long run.

It doesn't take many rolls of film to get from a film to digital slr,

so after getting the digital, i don't use the film slr,
but I am very glad that I bought the film first, and then moved on,

I still have the film slr, and It was on adverts for sale, but no luck

ThOnda

What Pentax do you have? I am looking for spare body again...

Hugh_C

Last camera I bought was a 50+ year old medium format film camera, got it for about 75 quid including postage off eBay. Well worth it, love the results. Not for everyone though - I'm reasonably confident about what I do so I don't worry about the expense too much. I have a dSLR too, a compact and a few other film SLRs.

Go for it! Make sure it's clean and check out the terms so you can return it if it isn't sound.

Hugh

Mellor

ThOnda wrote: »

What Pentax do you have? I am looking for spare body again...

http://www.adverts.ie/showproduct.php?product=43264


Thas the adverts page,
MZ 50, 28-80mm lens, new batterys etc

humberklog

Rather than e-bay I'd have a look around adverts. It's a bit 'safer' imo. I picked up a canon A1 with a 50mm and 70-200lenses for e100. Perfect. Then i picked up a 20mm for e25. But the others are right in the sense that film is a false economy for you if you're looking to save money. But janeymack you can't beat the feeling of bringing the arm back,pressing the button,listening to the mechanism catching light in a box. A big boo when your taking roll out and realise you've had it on the wrong IS. Carry a spare leg to kick yourself regularly with.