Stan’s used film Camera Recommendations
Fall 2015
Leica:
Perhaps the best camera system
ever made in terms of quality and durability, especially the lenses. Up to 5
years ago, you could buy the lenses cheap, but when Leitz started making
digital bodies, the used lens market shot up. You might be able to get a good
deal on a used Leica body, but are you sure you can afford the glass?
Camera Bodies to consider:
M4 made from 1967-1975
M5 Many of this model had meter
issues.
M6 made from 1984-1998, last of
the mechanical M series
Nikon:
If there is an “iron man” camera,
Nikon and especially early F series Nikons are the ones that come to mind.
Solid, heavy, all metal designs mean you could almost use them as hammers. With
the models F, F2, F3, the year of manufacture is shown as the first two digits
in the serial #. All Nikon lenses are of three types, non-AI, AI and AF, all
will work in a fashion on all bodies, but it’s all about the meter coupling.
F, Totally mechanical, no batteries
needed, they did make a FTn with a light meter head, but the meter was for the
most part very poor. This camera used a unique method of removing the film back
for loading that either you love or hate.
F2, also a totally mechanical body, improved meter system,
traditional film back and the last hand assembled camera Nikon made.
F3, first Nikon with an electronic shutter, requires a battery to
work, some say the best film Nikon ever made.
F5, The penultimate film Nikon, all the features and technology of
a digital Nikon in a film camera, sold for $2,000 when new, you can still buy
them for $250-300.
FM & FE (also FE2), both of these would make excellent cameras
for the class, but are not considered “professional grade”. Both cameras are good
choices for this class however.
Canon:
Canon got into the professional
film camera game late, making solid consumer grade cameras for years. Canon
unlike Nikon has two distinct lens systems, the non-autofocus and the
autofocus, and they are not interchangeable.
F1, this was Canon answer to the Nikon F, it’s a pro body, all
metal design and very tough, not so many in used circulation.
AE-1, 1976-84 This was a prosumer body that had some nice
electronics in it and a decent meter system, they made a boatload of them for
years. Be aware the foam on the film door now is prone to falling apart and
some of the older ones leak light.
Pentax:
The workhorse camera of the photo
I class is without question the Pentax
K1000. It’s a no frills take care of business camera. Nothing special about
this camera and made as an inexpensive entry level camera. Made from 1976-97
and they made a lot of them. Buy them used for $75-150.00. Only limitation, not
a lot of used lenses for them out there. The ones made in Japan have more metal
in them than the ones made in China at the end of the production run.
