quick question for you photography gurus

[96Stang]

I was wondering if it was possible to get a decent beginner Film SLR camera for under 200...I saw ones like the Canon EOS Rebel K2 at Circuit City for 200 but wasnt sure on quality. I really want to start getting into some light photography for fun and was wondering what would be best to start with under 200...I am going to be asking for this for christmas from my gf is why im keeping it under a certain price. Thanks in advance guys and girls.

[lawdogg]

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/shop/2...R_Cameras.html

Rebel K2 for about that price ... shop around. I wish I knew more about Film SLR.

[96Stang]

Originally Posted by lawdogg

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/shop/2...R_Cameras.html

Rebel K2 for about that price ... shop around. I wish I knew more about Film SLR.

thanks for the link...I have found the Canon EOS Rebel for under 200 that is not just the camera body but comes with the 20-80mm lens I believe. I may just go with that and play with it for a while until I get a little more practice under my belt. I would like to know anyones experience with this camera or any other just like it.

[thewake]

My film camera is a Rebel 2000. It was a fantastic place to start for me.

A film SLR is a good way to learn, film and processing is not expensive for color prints. You can play around with all sorts of settings with a Rebel film camera.

Film is the only way to really get good black and white photos, they need the film grain. Besides if you want you can develop and print your own B&W film too. It was fun to do when I took a couple of photography classes at the local community college. There is a good deal of satisfaction to be had with creating a film print by doing it all yourself.

The Rebel will allow you to use all the EF series of lenses from consumer to pro, wide angle, telephoto, macro, tilt-shift, fisheye, primes and zooms. Canon, Tamron and Sigma all make lenses that will fit the camera. It is easy to spend money on lenses.

Oh and one last thing, the batteries last forever compared to a digital camera.

[96Stang]

Originally Posted by thewake

My film camera is a Rebel 2000. It was a fantastic place to start for me.

A film SLR is a good way to learn, film and processing is not expensive for color prints. You can play around with all sorts of settings with a Rebel film camera.

Film is the only way to really get good black and white photos, they need the film grain. Besides if you want you can develop and print your own B&W film too. It was fun to do when I took a couple of photography classes at the local community college. There is a good deal of satisfaction to be had with creating a film print by doing it all yourself.

The Rebel will allow you to use all the EF series of lenses from consumer to pro, wide angle, telephoto, macro, tilt-shift, fisheye, primes and zooms. Canon, Tamron and Sigma all make lenses that will fit the camera. It is easy to spend money on lenses.

Oh and one last thing, the batteries last forever compared to a digital camera.

Awesome information! I think you just helped me make up my mind on going for the Rebel. Hope to be sharing some photos with you guys soon and learning some stuff from the big guys on here. Also, if I were to get the film camera, what would I have to do to share some of my pictures online to you guys? I have no idea unless I get them put onto a disk or something. Thanks again for everything.

[Chris_PA]

I got a used Canon Elan 7NE for like $140 (no lens)

It's pretty nice

[96Stang]

Originally Posted by Chris_PA

I got a used Canon Elan 7NE for like $140 (no lens)

It's pretty nice

I don't know much about photography yet...is that a film SLR I am guessing?? and how would I go about getting a lens and how much money for a regular one??

[thewake]

Originally Posted by 96Stang

Awesome information! I think you just helped me make up my mind on going for the Rebel. Hope to be sharing some photos with you guys soon and learning some stuff from the big guys on here. Also, if I were to get the film camera, what would I have to do to share some of my pictures online to you guys? I have no idea unless I get them put onto a disk or something. Thanks again for everything.

There are two basic ways to get the film photos digital, the first is to scan the negative. These scanners can be expensive. I believe this is how the 1hr processing machines scan them. Some newer machines use a digital printing process. The other is to scan a print on a regular flatbed scanner. If you already have the scanner then that would be nearly free. It is usually better to scan the film directly instead of a print. If you are going to scan a print then a larger print is usually better than a small one.

After that you will need a place to hold the pictures. There are several places that are designed to do photo sharing.

I have been getting my color film done at Target.

[TROLL]

if you're looking to get the photos online and edit them in photoshop, i would suggest just saving up for a digital slr. scanning negatives or taking them to get scanned is just kind of impractical unless you really have some other need for film.
some of the digitals arent too expensive these days, like i think i saw a nikon d40 package for $400 and it included a lens... dont quote me on that though. maybe you can get a gift certificate toward a camera and when you have the rest of the money you can get it. in the nikon family you could also look for a used d70 or d70s.
if you definitely want a film camera, thats awesome too... i just think for most people these days digital is more practical. you can go to a pro camera shop (allens camera in levittown, or new york camera video on street road) and check out both their used and new selection. talk to someone who works there, hold a couple cameras in your hand, and get a feel for them.

[96Stang]

Originally Posted by TROLL

if you're looking to get the photos online and edit them in photoshop, i would suggest just saving up for a digital slr. scanning negatives or taking them to get scanned is just kind of impractical unless you really have some other need for film.
some of the digitals arent too expensive these days, like i think i saw a nikon d40 package for $400 and it included a lens... dont quote me on that though. maybe you can get a gift certificate toward a camera and when you have the rest of the money you can get it. in the nikon family you could also look for a used d70 or d70s.
if you definitely want a film camera, thats awesome too... i just think for most people these days digital is more practical. you can go to a pro camera shop (allens camera in levittown, or new york camera video on street road) and check out both their used and new selection. talk to someone who works there, hold a couple cameras in your hand, and get a feel for them.

Thanks alot Troll!! My purpose for this camera isn't to share the images with everyone...I would just like to be able to share if I think I have something good or want peoples input on it. I have a point and shoot digital camera and that works decent for what I use it for...and that's just taking pictures out at parties or anything like that. I wanted to stay film on this and I would really like to learn how to do my own photos and actually producing my own prints but that would be later on down the road. New York Camera Video is right down the street from me so maybe I will swing by and see what they have. I believe my gf doesn't sound too into buying me one for christmas so I will probably end up waiting until late January to purchase one so I still have some time to go look and talk to people there. I appreciate the help and info from you guys and hope I can start taking some pictures soon worth showing on the boards.

[TROLL]

sure... one thing to know going in is that what film camera you choose isnt all that important. the layout and functions on them vary but they are mostly all capable of taking high quality photos. the quality of those photos is going to be dependant on the lens you're using, the film you're using, and your own skill. but when it comes to film cameras, lenses are more important than cameras!
with that said if you dont need autofocus, look into some older manual focus cameras. they are light weight, simple, and some of them are very good. i'd think about getting a simple body with just a 50mm lens for now... it is inexpensive and the quality is very good. once you use it a while then you can find out if you wish you had a wider or longer lens and buy the proper tools accordingly.

[96Stang]

Originally Posted by TROLL

sure... one thing to know going in is that what film camera you choose isnt all that important. the layout and functions on them vary but they are mostly all capable of taking high quality photos. the quality of those photos is going to be dependant on the lens you're using, the film you're using, and your own skill. but when it comes to film cameras, lenses are more important than cameras!
with that said if you dont need autofocus, look into some older manual focus cameras. they are light weight, simple, and some of them are very good. i'd think about getting a simple body with just a 50mm lens for now... it is inexpensive and the quality is very good. once you use it a while then you can find out if you wish you had a wider or longer lens and buy the proper tools accordingly.

That's good to know. I wasn't sure if there was a huge difference really between the different film cameras and all, but it is good that you said the lens makes the biggest difference on them. I will have to stop by New York Camera Video and see what they have used there and see what feels good and that they recommend also. I want to have fun with this but yet do it so I am achieving higher quality photos. I have always been big on art and think that this will be a different way to achieve some artistic goals so I hope I can learn quick and see what happens. I was also thinking about taking a class at Bucks County Community College if they have one but that wouldn't be right away beings that I have to worry about my actual schooling first. Thanks again for all the info and I will let you know what I get into when I go to pick one out.

[TROLL]

yes, thats another really valuable tip... take a intro to photography class that covers the basics like aperture, shutter speed, depth of field, film speed, composition, etc etc. and it would be even better if you found one that included darkroom time as well so you could learn that. i'm sure bucks offers classes like that and not only would it be fun but it will teach you the essentials, which you would be hopeless without.
the alternative is finding a good book that covers it all, but its hard to imagine a book that would teach it as well as a class would.

[96Stang]

Originally Posted by TROLL

yes, thats another really valuable tip... take a intro to photography class that covers the basics like aperture, shutter speed, depth of field, film speed, composition, etc etc. and it would be even better if you found one that included darkroom time as well so you could learn that. i'm sure bucks offers classes like that and not only would it be fun but it will teach you the essentials, which you would be hopeless without.
the alternative is finding a good book that covers it all, but its hard to imagine a book that would teach it as well as a class would.

Yeah that's the way I looked at it. I think the best idea is for me to take an intro to photography course but I also have to find time to fit that in unless there are weekend classes. I will look into it though.