Help! First 35mm SLR for college freshman photo major

[ignite]

I'm a photographer that has pretty much only worked with my Canon Digital Rebel I bought a couple years back. I'm upgrading my digital to a Nikon D200 soon..

So I got accepted to quite a few art schools on the east coast. Where I'm going I have really no idea, but I know I need to purchase a 35mm SLR. Honestly, I've never worked with film before, besides a crappy photo highschool course where we accessed the darkroom once a week for 10 minutes.

I'd like to think I'm a pretty decent photographer, and I did get accepted to these schools based on an all-digital portfolio, but I'll obviously be working a lot in film come September, when my freshman year at college begins.

My question is, what kind of camera and lens should I be purchasing as a college freshman photo major? Price isn't much a worry, but I can't dish out 4,000 for a Leica. I was looking at the Nikon FM3a.. B&H sells it as a kit with Nikon 45mm f/2.8 P AIS Manual Focus Lens, for about 900 dollars. It looks like a solid camera..

Then there is the newer Nikon F100, an autofocus SLR.. a bit pricier, and I'd purchase a separate lens.

Any input would be great from ANYONE who works with film or has gone to art school as a photography major. I need to buy the camera to start practicing, and for a summer course I'm taking at the Maine Photographic Workshops..

[cyclohexane]

The FM3a is out of production, and I can't find the thing anywhere. B&H lists them as "backordered" but I doubt they will get any in. I wanted one for the film courses I'm going to have to take next year. Personally, I've been looking for an FM2, as all I'd lose is the aperture priority AE mode. Everything else would still work, and I'd just use the lenses I already have.

[blumesan]

Given the nature of the photography world today I imagine that you wouldn't want to invest much in film equipment just to satisfy the requirements of a few courses.* I myself don't own a digital camera; I'm a die hard film shooter.* But I would guess that someone just beginning a career in photography will not be using a lot of film as they advance in that profession.* A decent, reliable 35mm body with few bells and whistles and a couple of prime manual focus lenses should do the job very well and can be had for well under $500.*

My (very biased) suggestion would be to pick up a Contax 139Q.* This is an old but very sturdy and well made body with aperture priority exposure capability, a reliable metering system and very handy to use.* They have been going on eBay for between $75 - 125, but I suggest you try to obtain one through a reliable dealer like KEH or B&H.* They may charge a bit more but will back it with a guarantee (albeit limited).* Next you will need at least one lens or possibly two.* If only one, a 50mm is the obvious choice and a Zeiss Planar f:1.4 will cost around $175. (they used to go for even less until Canon owners began snapping them up to use on their EOS).* Yashica lenses are also available and are good quality at lower cost than Zeiss glass.* Otherwise make your own lens choices based on your experience with digital, making allowances for the crop factor.

To me it makes great sense to start off your formal education with a film camera, and better still, one with the fewest auto gizmos.* When you learn to use it well in manual mode only you will have come a long way and everything you learn will be directly applicable to digital photography.

Good luck,
Mike.

[dougjgreen]

If you know you're going to get a Nikon D200, I'd SRTONGLY recommend staying in the Nikon System: All of the lenses for the film SLRs will work on your D200, although the Manual Focus lenses will, of course need to focus manually - but basic metering is still preserved. Nothing wrong with Contax or Canon, but no fundamental reason NOT to get a Nikon, if you are already convinced you're going to get a D200. Similarly, if you knew you'd be getting a Canon 5D or a 20D in the digital space, I'd recommend a Canon AF film body.

Anyways, There are alot of options among film Nikons.:

If you want to buy New, you're basically looking at an F100 (autofocus) for around $650-700 and an FM3a (manual focus only) for around the same, but these are becoming very scarce.. A less rugged, but quite good new Nikon N80 could be gotten for under $350

But, given the huge amount of great used film cameras out there, I would go that route right now, as it's certainly a buyer's market:

If you want Autofocus, that same F100, near mint, will cost you around $450 or so. For no more than half as much, you could get either an older N90s, or a newer, but less rugged, N80.

Among manual focus cameras, the best used choices are basically an FE2, an FM2n, and an F3 (with prism or HP prism finder). Any of these could be found in excellent shape for under $300. The FM3a is basically a combination of the features of the FE-2 (aperture priority auto) and FM2n (match-LED manual). For a genuinely rugged pro-built camera, the F3 is also a fine choice. It's not as good a flash camera as the FE or FM series cameras, but it is a tank, with interchangeable finders, backs and pro-speed motors also available.

Now, if all you want the film camera for is to get through classes, you could go even cheaper than the choices I listed above. You could get an FE or an FM (predecessors to the FE2 and FM2n) for under $150 for a body, maybe under $100. These cameras are close to as good as their successors, but harder to get repaired, and missing a few features, like extremely fast shutter speeds, and TTL flash. But operationally, they are quite modern, and excellent ergonomically.

BTW, I have tons of film bodies in the Nikon system, and I would sell one for a fair price with a guarantee that it's working, as I am starting to downsize my film camera inventory, and I own two of each Nikon body I use - I'm getting ready to downsize that a bit.

I own 2 F3s, two N90s, and two FEs, and because I own two of each, I would sell any one of these bodies for a reasonable price. I've also got lots of Manual focus lenses I could spare one or two as well. If you are interested, PM me and I can give you a better idea about conditions and prices. But, in any case, figure starting under $100 for a VG condition FE, up to $300 for a VG condition F3 with an MD-4 motor drive, with the N90s in the $160-200 range depending on condition, and manual focus AI lenses starting under $50.

If you decide to get a really nice, really current camera like an F100 or FM3a, I can't help you other than giving you good advice on market values, but the reality is, the predecessors to those cameras are really very nearly as well featured, built to the same high quality standards, and quite a bit less expensive on the used market.

IMHO, the first thing for you to decide is if you want an Autofocus, or Manual Focus body. Then, do you want a really nice high end camera, or an inexpensive user body.

[badpickev]

keh has used nikons at a good price.

[dougjgreen]

I agree, if you want to buy a used Nikon from a dealer, KEH is the best around for value and reliability and who will stand behind what they sell and grade the condition conservatively and honestly. You will probably pay somewhat more than buying from a private party, but the peace of mind it gives you might very well be worth it for you.