Ideal SLR camera for a student

[Browncoat]

And you believe that shooting film is the resolution to all of that? There is exactly zero that applies exclusively to film that can't also be taught via digital.

Just as a disclaimer, this is one of those moments where I'm poking the fire for the sole sake of discussion.

 

[Marcel]

Happy it is being repaired, but $250? Ouch! I love my X10, so i don't think i would give it up either. Yes, i saw that thread. I would swallow my pride and politely bow out. With the stage he is at in photography, what this "client" wants him to do will most likely not end well.

I know it's expensive, but otherwise it would have ended up on a bookcase as a decoration. Plus, I really like the little camera. I get super nice jpegs with it.

 

[John P]

Most if not all couses in my area start with black and white film in my area.
I personally believe this is the right approach.
It teaches how to fully understand tonal ranges. Which transfers over to color photography.
As far as a good SLR. I would look for a N80. Great film camera, and the controls and command dials are almost identically the same as nikon prosumer cams. D90 for example. Makes for an almost seamless switch to a modern digital camera.

 

[Marcel]

And you believe that shooting film is the resolution to all of that? There is exactly zero that applies exclusively to film that can't also be taught via digital.

Just as a disclaimer, this is one of those moments where I'm poking the fire for the sole sake of discussion.

To know where photography has come from YES I believe that an experience with film can be helpful.

Now I'm not particularly inclined to be the religious devout type so I'm not preaching or anything. But I'm sure conscious that what I've learned while using film as a main photographic medium is still helping me today with digital. And when you're accepted in a school and the requisites are that you have an SLR, you either go with it or find another school...

Reminds me of a monthly Assignment discussion about lenses...

 

[CERDelmege]

If you already know Olympus, there is this : Olympus OM 2 Spot Program OM 50mm 1 8 | eBay
I had one like that a looong time ago, and loved it.
It all depend on you're budget.

Good luck

 

[hark]

My daughter is starting her photography course in September. For the first semester they are using film cameras to "slow the students down" and make them think about what they are trying to achieve with their cameras. Then they can opt to stay on film or use a mixture of film/digital or go fully digital after the first semester.

Can anyone recommend a good student SLR. (I have always been an Olympus girl, so I dont know anything about the Nikon film cameras.)
What do I need to look out for/avoid?
Ideally I would like one that comes with a couple of lenses (ones that I could use on the full-frame DSLR I will be getting later this year would be fab )

Any advice/help/guidance would be great.

Many thanks

T

Tracey, you've received a few suggestions--are you looking for a camera that is more manual such as the older models (perhaps with match needle metering), or are you looking for a newer 35mm camera that has bells and whistles...such as AF capability and matrix metering? And do you have a budget?

The class sounds interesting! I learned on a Minolta 35mm camera. My local school district still offers an adult night class twice a year for black & white 35mm photography complete with darkroom access. I took the class a few times back in the late 90's. Reading your post makes me think back about the class. Walking into the darkroom waiting for my eyes to adjust to the safe lights, the smell of chemicals permeating the air, and the sound of trickling water as the photos finish in the wash--all good memories! I hope your daughter really enjoys her class! There will be no chimping with an SLR (looking at the image on the back of the camera). Most likely she will make mistakes, but she will learn from them. I definitely had missed opportunities when I thought I got a shot but didn't. The experience of using 35mm really helped me focus on what I was doing. We were also allowed to shoot 35mm color film because there are filters that can be used in the darkroom that will allow a decent black & white photo to be printed from a color negative (color film had to be developed at a lab although we could develop the B&W ourselves).

Please let us know if you are leaning more towards a manual type of camera without the bells and whistles or one with them. That will help to identify possible camera models.

 

[traceyjj]

Thanks for everyones replies, I will be checking out the links provided soon.

The course itself seems very rounded, which is why we chose this course. It has full darkroom facilities so the students are expected to process and print their own shots. One of the course tutors is a pro-tog, (the sports variety with the "white lenses" ) And it has multiple full studio facitilies. They do have a few SLRs to use, but with everyone wanting to use at the same time it could get messy.... AND if she decides she likes messing around in the darkroom, experimenting with processing then she would benefit from a camera of her own.
Now down to the camera.
I had hoped for a Nikon that has Autofocus, (so I can use any lens we need to buy after she has done with it) but beyond that I wasnt sure which model range would be suitable. Like anyone I want to spend as little as possible for something that may only be used for 12 weeks. I keep looking on ebay but the numbers/letters of the camera models mean nothing to me.
I will go to my local camera shop soon (hopefully soon they might have the D810 in for me to look at too ) and get their advice on an older camera body.

 

[CERDelmege]

If you want to go for Nikon, the F-801s is a great semi-pro body with AF.
Expensive in it´s time, but you can find it for allmost nothing today.
Have a look

Good luck


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