want to learn...

[cutestlilmnky]

So, I am really interested in Photography and have started thinking about taking some classes. I have looked around and all the beginner classes have a requirement of "35mm camera with lens interchangeability." Some of the classes also prefer that the camera have "the ability to manually control lens focus and film exposure."

Anyone have any suggestions on some fairly cheap (yet decent) cameras to start out with?

 

[Piano Player]

So, I am really interested in Photography and have started thinking about taking some classes. I have looked around and all the beginner classes have a requirement of "35mm camera with lens interchangeability." Some of the classes also prefer that the camera have "the ability to manually control lens focus and film exposure."

Anyone have any suggestions on some fairly cheap (yet decent) cameras to start out with?

Check out some of the deals on E-bay. A good friend of mine bought an old screw mount SLR for $20 with a couple of lenses for $10. If you can spend more, you could even buy a new SLR such as Nikon or Canon. A Nikon N-80 and lens would run about $400. The automatic settings can be turned off, and everything done manually. In the used department, I am partial to the old Canon FD system. Some real bargains in lenses, and a used F-1N still has lots of mileage on it.

 

[The_White]

So, I am really interested in Photography and have started thinking about taking some classes. I have looked around and all the beginner classes have a requirement of "35mm camera with lens interchangeability." Some of the classes also prefer that the camera have "the ability to manually control lens focus and film exposure."

Anyone have any suggestions on some fairly cheap (yet decent) cameras to start out with?

Honestly I would suggest starting with digital. If you invest in a decent digital camera it will allow you to do a lot of fiddling with different ideas and techniques without the cost of buying film all the time, in the long run it will end up cheaper. I mean, the reason I only just took up photography is because I wanted to experiment and take 20+ pics of the same subject to see what works and simply could not afford to keep putting in the money for film and developing. My family chipped in and got me a $500(aussie) camera for my 18th and I have taken something like 2000 photos experimenting of which maybe 100 are any good and 20 I would be willing to get developed.
Once you get the basics with your digital camera you can always advance to a higher quality film SLR if you still want to use film (which I think gives a great feel that digital cannot re-create yet) or a good quality digital SLR using the same reasoning as for starting with digital.

That said, I can recomend the Olympus C-760 Ultra Zoom or similar as a starting camera. (have a look through the photography forum, there is at least 1 thread asking for opinions on digital cameras)

 

[Piano Player]

Honestly I would suggest starting with digital.

Like cutestlilmnky's experience, the serious photography classes I know around my area all require a 35mm camera. Such a class is the best way to learn photography. You will learn the basics of depth of field, exposure contrast, and composition. Considerations of lighting, lens choice, shutter speed, aperture selection, and hyperfocus will also be covered. Only the higher end digital cameras can easily do all these things.

A good class will also cover darkroom techniques such as push processing, pull processing, dodging and burning.

Most classes involving digital cameras usually only talk about operating the controls, and if your lucky, composition.

 

[The_White]

Like cutestlilmnky's experience, the serious photography classes I know around my area all require a 35mm camera. Such a class is the best way to learn photography. You will learn the basics of depth of field, exposure contrast, and composition. Considerations of lighting, lens choice, shutter speed, aperture selection, and hyperfocus will also be covered. Only the higher end digital cameras can easily do all these things.

A good class will also cover darkroom techniques such as push processing, pull processing, dodging and burning.

Most classes involving digital cameras usually only talk about operating the controls, and if your lucky, composition.

Fair enough, I guess we have to use what is available to us
Good luck.

 

[cutestlilmnky]

thanks guys! i really thought about doing digital but it is as Piano Player mentioned: all the classes i've found around me have required 35mm to begin with. however, i will still look into digital photography! again, thanks!

 

[Southern Cross]

See below post! I deleted the text here to prevent a double posting!

 

[Southern Cross]

Many of the classes in my area are starting to go with digital SLRs, or at least allow them in the classroom. It's fairly short sighted for instructors to say digital is not up to par with film in a learning environment.

The reason a lot of schools still require the use of film cameras is because their photography instructors are advising them on course content from year to year. And most of those instructors have no idea what they're doing with digital and/or the school is not willing to designate the resources to deal with converting to a digital darkroom environment. There's a huge gap in the image editing software that comes with your camera and standardized software like Photoshop as well.

As a professional that used to shoot with film and who now shoots digital for most work, I'm a huge believer in digital as a viable medium for classroom work. You can learn just as much - and more - and faster - with digital. You just need a good curriculum and a good instructor who can train you the same way as they would have with film. I don't want to start a debate here on film vs. digital. We can save that for another thread .

If you are required to use film SLR (interchangeable lens) cameras, there are a number of good options available to you.

Nikon has plenty of older used and new film SLR cameras available. And they use F mount lenses - so you can **potentially** use autofocus lenses on manual bodies, or vice versa. This may help if you plan to go digital one day. My advice would be to purchase a film body like the basic FE, but use AF lenses. You can then use the AF lenses when you upgrade to an AF film body or a digital body. If you are allowed to have an autofocus film body, definitely look inot the N80. For the price (used on Ebay) it's a steal.

Canon and Minolta make excellent manual focus film cameras. The Canon AE-1 and AE-1P are great and the Canon FD lens series is very well regarded. The Minolta X-700 is very undervalued for all of the functions it offers, and the Minolta MD lens lineup is extensive. Of these, Minolta will offer you more bang for the buck on the used market. Note that neither Canon nor Minolta manual focus lenses can be mounted on their autofocus bodies, so upgrading to an autofosus SLR sytem or a digital SLR will require you to purchase new lenses. However, the low cost of used film SLRs these days shouldn't make that too much of an issue. I'm still watching the prices drop.

 

[Piano Player]

The Canon AE-1 and AE-1P are great

Be careful of the AE-1, AE-1P, and A-1. All have a known shutter problem that starts with a little "squeak" as the shutter goes off. Given the age of these cameras, and the cost of this repair, you should avoid them. An F-1N was a professional grade camera designed for the worst conditions, and currently available for bargain prices. Avoid the original F-1 as the mercury battery (although not really necessary for the camera to operate), can't be found, and replacement batteries are getting scarce.

Canon F-1, F-1n, and F-1N are difficult to tell apart. The F-1N does not have the mirror lock-up lever on the right side. They all say "F-1" on the body.

 

[Southern Cross]

Yes, he is right, Canon's famous shutter squeek leads to bigger problems down the road. Also be careful of the door and mirror foam on some of the older manual focus bodies. If it looks like it's flaking away or if there's fine black foam dust particles in the camera, stay away or be prepared to spend $50-$100 to have these foam components replaced and the camera cleaned, lubricated and adjusted (CLA'd).

If I was taking a class where a manual focus film camera was required, I'd go for the Minolta X-700, a 50mm MD f1.7 lens, a 28mm MD f2.8 lens, and a 135mm f3.5 MD lens. That kit can be found for around $200-$250 used. The Minolta 280PX flash is a great autoexposure flash, and it's relatively cheap. Anyway, if you don't overpay, you can always recoup your money if you want to sell it down the road. That's the nice thing about buying used equipment.

 

[thriftstoregirl]

I have a Nikon N55. I paid just under 200$, but I'm sure if you look around online, you may be able to find it for cheaper. It's a GREAT beginner camera! I LOVE it! I even prefer it over my digital camera. Good luck!

 

[cutestlilmnky]

thanks! you all have been a big help!