 Megan Thompson |
What is the best and cheapest camera Hi, I am really wanting to learn more about photography and I am wondering if anyone could tell me a good camera that is not very expensive. Because I do not have a lot of money right now, and I am trying to save up so that I can go to college for photograpy.
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doug Nelson |
If you are serious enough about photography to choose it as your college major, you can meet your need AND save money with a used all-manual SLR from a reputable store or take a chance using eBay. Using a manual camera will teach you what shutter speeds and apertures are all about. I got a student a workable Canon TX and a 50-mm lens on eBay for $40. Even if the camera ends up needing a CLA (clean, lubricate, adjust), it's only $80 more. If you'd prefer not to take a chance, see KEH.com, a reputable used camera broker in Atlanta. Do not hesitate to buy a camera or lens rated Bargain. The prices are fair, and the defects will be only cosmetic.
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John A. Lind |
I agree with Doug completely about getting a manual camera. If you are planning on studying photography at a college or university, you will NEED a camera that can at least operate under total manual control: focus, shutter speed and lens aperture. Reason? Your instructors will want you to learn the technical aspects of photography in great depth, as well as honing your artistic abilities. The technical aspects are "enablers" . . . the tools used to make an actual picture from the visualization of it in the photographer's mind. You will be studying technical aspects of the craft well beyond what the average non-professional knows about photography. The FIRST lens for it should be a 50mm standard lens. Doug mentions the Canon TX. Here are some others, the prices for which may be a bit higher, but they are all "classic" manual cameras, and are noted for their durability. A couple also have an auto-exposure mode, but they're all very easily controlled manuall. This means that one in good condition should work well for some time if you take care of it, in spite of being 25 - 30 years old. Add a 50mm f/1.8 or f/1.4 lens and you've got a basic 35mm SLR that can do 95% or more of general photography. Pentax K-1000 Notes: There's probably a model or two made by Minlota as well, but I'm not familiar with older Minolta equipment. BTW, I've bought an enormous amount of equipment from KEH over the years. They are a phenomenal used camera dealer and I trust them implicitly. There are other good dealers around, but with everyone else I inspect thoroughly before buying, or at least have a "no questions asked" guaranteed return period. -- John
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Megan Thompson |
Thanks Doug and John for your advice. I have always loved photography, and I am getting really serious about it, and like I said I am hopeing to be able to go to college next year. And I need all the advice that I can get :). Thank you so much!
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Maynard McKillen |
Dear Megan: Some Minolta options: (This list is far from exhaustive. Some models were sold by department stores, and had a slightly different designation. You might find, for example, an SRT-MC, which is probably an SRT-101, or very similar in features to it.) SRT-101 There were also models with XD- and XK- designations. I suspect they were produced in smaller quantities. These models offer manual exposure, some offer semiautomatic and program exposure, and some have depth of field preview levers, a feature that allows you to "see" in advance how much of the photo will appear sharply focused. You might want to see that feature in operation and see if it's one you'd like your camera to have. (It's possible the XG-A light meter only works in the "auto" setting, and will not work in manual.)
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John A. Lind |
Oooh . . . almost forgot: Some older cameras were designed to use the PX-625 (or PX-13) mercury cell. Mercury batteries are no longer avaiable; they were "banned" a number of years ago due to their mercury content. You should NOT use the alkaline replacement for them as it can throw the metering off; way off with some of them. While there are several alternatives, including the Wein air-zinc and hearing aid battery adapters, the best one I've found is this: http://www.criscam.com/mba.htm I have two cameras and one light meter that were made for mercury cells and use these adapters in them. Ensure you use silver oxide cells with these adapters. Other types such as alkalines do not work nearly as well and you will be replacing the batteries much more frequently. One other note about camera batteries. If it was made for silver oxide cells such as the MS-76/SR44 (very common), then use the silver oxide cells in it. They may be a tad more expensive than the alkalines, but as with the mercury cell adapter you will replace them much less often and the overall cost is much lower. -- John
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Will Turner |
If you're buying used, be sure to get an SLR body that has well-built internal components, so you won't be haunting the repair forums instead of taking pictures. I wouldn't recommend a Minolta body to anyone, especially a used body like the X-370/570/X-700. They are cheaply built internally (they used plastic in the film transport mechanism) and have exhibited a number of problems over the years. Dead circuit boards. Leaky capacitors. Shutter problems. Flash problems. Broken film advance and rewind levers. The newer Minolta AF cameras aren't much better when it comes to longevity, and they are a repairman's nightmare - way too many discontinued models, unavailable parts and oddball features.
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