Beginers camera ?

havok*

For any1 that knows a bit on cameras.
Would yaz have any suggestions to whats a half decent, fairly cheap film camera to start off with?

ta

Sibeal

Canon EOS 3000 (I have the 300 - the 300 is about €500, 3000 is cheaper) or a Nikon/Minolta are also good. (Dont know model no's)

Samson

My advice would be to buy a good second manual camera such as a Canon AE1/A1, or a Nikon FM2.

Buy 2 lenses, a 28mm and a 50mm (avoid cheap zooms).

The reason I say this:
if you were to buy a Canon EOS 3000 (or any other modern auto focus etc. camera), the danger is that you will get lazy and stick it on "auto everything mode", therefore you will learn fúck all about exposure, apertures, depth of field etc.

Plus, these type of cameras tend to come packaged with the most awful cheap zoom lenses.

logic1

Originally posted by Samson
My advice would be to buy a good second manual camera such as a Canon AE1/A1, or a Nikon FM2.

Buy 2 lenses, a 28mm and a 50mm (avoid cheap zooms).

The reason I say this:
if you were to buy a Canon EOS 3000 (or any other modern auto focus etc. camera), the danger is that you will get lazy and stick it on "auto everything mode", therefore you will learn fúck all about exposure, apertures, depth of field etc.

Plus, these type of cameras tend to come packaged with the most awful cheap zoom lenses.

Yeah also don't ever buy a car because there's a danger you'll stop walking. :rolleyes:

.logic.

Samson

Originally posted by logic1


Yeah also don't ever buy a car because there's a danger you'll stop walking. :rolleyes:

.logic.

Did you bother to actually read my post ?

When one has these (auto) features available, one will use them.
With a manual camera, you have to actually think about what you are doing, this in turn helps with the learning process.

And NO I am not a Luddite.

P.S. Havok, it will be cheaper too.

Sibeal

Well the AE-1 last made in 1981, so it'd be a bit of a search to get one. Its even harder to get canon fd fit lenses although sometimes ebay has sigma etc fd fit lenses. The AE-1 is a good camera & has a good exposure system but I have used both & the EOS metering system is better. Its difficult to have to learn exposure, reprosity law faliure, tricky metering, focusing and composition all at the same time. At least if HAvok has auto focus/exposure he can learn stuff bit by bit and not be thrown in a the deep end altogether. He seams to have an intrest in photography so I doubt he'll always use auto. It would also be easier to service a newer one cos I dont think theyll even look at the AE-1 anymore or if they do itll cost a fortune. Check out these 2 I took on my EOS 300 (taken on the manual mode with manual focus, reading taken off a neutral density grey card)

Hav - if youve any questions re this or photography in general mail me.

Waterfall
Boat

adnans

i have an EOS 3000 and its perfect. you dont get lazy at all. its got manual and automatic focus so you can choose your weapon carefully. once you whiz around it for a while you can photograph naked people too with simplicity and style.

havok - if you have any questions re this or photography mail Sibeal

adnans

beaver

Yeah also don't ever buy a car because there's a danger you'll stop walking.

Stupid analogy.

A more accurate one would be don't buy an automatic car if you want to learn more about how cars work and react.

Saruman

I got a Pentax MZ-50 back in late 00 for £250 or so in Dixons.. fantastic entry level SLR.

jArgHA

Go for a second hand camera body. You can pick up an old camera body in Buy and Sell or some camera shops for 150-200Euro and then get one lens - the standard 50mm type is probably yer best bet.

Getting an older camera first is the best decision as you are forced to do everything manually - none of the autofocus, autoexposure, auto aperature business, where all you have to do is point and click and don't know what your final picture is gonna look like.

Once you understand the basics (depth of field, exposure etc.) by using the manual camera, you can then decide whether you want to buy a more expensive one, that will do some of these things for you. If so, at least you will understand what the automatic is doing for you, rather than using it like a compact 'point and click' camera.

I have owned a fairly old manual Minolta (got it 2nd hand) for the past few 5 years and its one tough camera - still as good as when it was bought.