I'm one of these guys that went straight from APS-C film cameras to P&S digital to APS-C digital. I know it's sort of a devolution but with the prices of used film cameras dropping was curious enough to want to try out the 35mm film experience.
I figured I'd get a used film camera on EBay, and if my curiosity ran out, then resell it for a bit of a loss. I'd want something that had good metering, auto focus, and used the EF system.
I was looking at the Elan 7, but wanted advice from people here. Definitely want to spend under $300.
I have both a Rebel G (~$30 mint/used) and the EOS 3 (<$300 mint/used) and love both for different uses. The Rebel with a small prime is featherweight and can match anything for results and the 3 is great, focus system and feature set is tops (easily is a "professional" camera in spite of what Tri Tran says... a working pro travel magazine photographer sold me his backup body since he was mainly going digital for work).
The EOS-3 camera is amazing. With a PB-E2 on it it can and will do basically everything you through at it. Definatly a great cam for the price. The only thing that I've noticed with mine is that it doesn't have the best battery life.
From what I have read in this fourm the EOS 3 is a very popular film camera around here. I also use the Rebel G and EOS combo and it has worked out very well for me.
If you want to do the whole hang-the-lens-plan-out-your-shot-before-you-hit-the-button thing, get an old Nikon F or F2. It'll last a couple of centuries.
I'd suggest the 1N also, but not because of bells and whistles - compared to most of the digital cameras, it's downright simple. Great build quality too, like all 1-series.
The viewfinder, quality and ergonomics will spoil APS DSLRs for you.
python2000 wrote:
I'm one of these guys that went straight from APS-C film cameras to P&S digital to APS-C digital. I know it's sort of a devolution but with the prices of used film cameras dropping was curious enough to want to try out the 35mm film experience.
I figured I'd get a used film camera on EBay, and if my curiosity ran out, then resell it for a bit of a loss. I'd want something that had good metering, auto focus, and used the EF system.
I was looking at the Elan 7, but wanted advice from people here. Definitely want to spend under $300....Show more →
The Elan 7 is nice.
You might also consider jumping into medium format (or larger ). 4x5, 8x10 - options are limitless. What are your printing / scanning facilities?
If you're interested in film in any way, shape, or form, be sure to check out www.apug.org - it's like FredMiranda forums' evil twin sister.
Jon Buder wrote:
I'd suggest the 1N also, but not because of bells and whistles - compared to most of the digital cameras, it's downright simple. Great build quality too, like all 1-series.
The viewfinder, quality and ergonomics will spoil APS DSLRs for you.
Try 4x5 or something like a mamiya RB67 - then 1-series and APS DSLRs all seem the same: tiny!
If you want to try something a little different, the EOS RT or EOS 1n RS with the pellicle mirror is a nice camera as you don't get any mirror lockout, even during the exposure! Great for action or macro photography! (But just as good for anything else).
>>If the camera don't break the bank the film costs will...
Certainly you wouldn't want to shoot your high volume commercial events etc. etc. in film, but for creative and personal photography people rarely need to take thousands of photos to get the really good ones that they want (if they work on it instead of just taking the shotgun approach of shooting everything without thought and with the hope that they will accidentally snag an occasional great one) so film/developing is generally a non-issue. Costs about $10 for a film/dev/prints* and frankly, I rarely shoot a full roll every week for my personal stuff (over time I still end up with plenty of really good photos).
*once you factor in prints (which are actually nice to show friends and family sometimes) the cost goes down vs. digital as well...
