Is it possible to get a cheap but good quality film SLR camera?

I already have a digital one but I think I'd improve my photography greatly by using film as it would force me to really think about what I'm doing and just not point and shoot.


Could anyone suggest any good quality but cheap film SLR cameras?|||Yes, but cheap isn't a real-world amount. How much do you have to spend? Do you have lenses you want to use on it? Are you sure you need a film SLR? What about a TLR, view or rangefinder? 35mm or medium or large format?|||In fact, you would.





One of the downfalls of digital photography is the instant gratification of a post shot view of your effort.





The use of film, preferably SLIDE film (very demanding stuff, that slide film), will not only force you to evaluate your exposures but also learn the quality of light.





Film favors the highlights and gives about 5-7 stops of latitude (margin of error for exposure) while film favors shadows and only gives 1-1.5 stops of latitude making it very unforgiving.





I learned on Nikon and can speak from my own personal experience that for durability, nothing surpasses them. I worked in a camera shop a few years ago during the Christmas Holidays and discovered that most other brands were coming in for repairs from drops and falls at an alarming rate of 4:1 over Nikon. I'm not saying the Nikon cameras weren't coming in but they still worked... cosmetics were the concerns.





If you look for an FE or FG you will find they are very inexpensive to get but are still quite durable and functional. I would suggest that you don't buy online though... used equipment, being what it is, is better inspected in person for shutter speeds, condition and metering,... the last of which, requires comparison to your own to validate to a reasonable certainty.





Glad to hear you are considering this venue,... you will become a better photographer because you are following this path,... I can promise that.





~Galan (Google me as G.Alan Fink)


.|||Ok- Here's what I suggest.... Go to an equipment store, or BestBuys or something... Speak with someone who knows their film stuff. Talk to them about good quality cameras - but don't buy it there! Just get the name and info of the one you like...





Then, go online and search for ebay bargains or something...





ALSO -- a lot of universities upgrade their equipment every year or so... so check with the Tech departments at local universities and see if they've got any equipment that they're selling pretty cheap. I went to film school and I know that they were giving away high quality SLRs to students for about 400 bucks or so. That's a pretty sweet deal ;) (I couldn't afford it at the time, but it's good to know that you can get good cameras that way.)





Good luck!|||well, in 35mm theres only really two choices, the Olympus Om range, thats om1n om2n om3 and Om4ti.. though the Ti, is still expensive, its a titanium body... mine is over 25yrs old... and still works like i just took it out the box. . and so does my om1n and om2 (om2sp and om2n) their metering system is FAR superior to nikons 35mm offerings. dont be confused the om10, om20, om 30, and Om40, were toys, the 1 2 3 4 were professional camera systems.





and although i havent used them in over 5yrs, ( i went digital, e500 / e510) ill never part with them... they put food on the table, and a roof over our head...





and dont buy junk from second hand shops, or car boots sales...|||I've got a Canon Rebel film camera, and picked up an Olympus OM-1 MD in mint condition for 30 bucks. Check out craigslist and ebay and any other local classified site in addition to pawn shops and charity/goodwill or a Deseret Industries if you can find one. I love the olympus OM line!|||Pentax K1000 w/50mm f1.7 lens and the Owner's Manual





Minolta SRT-202 w/50mm f1.7 lens and the Owner's Manual





Canon FTb w/50mm f1.7 lens and the Owner's Manual





Check here for safe buying:





http://www.keh.com


http://www.adorama.com


http://www.bhphotovideo.com


http://www.samyscamera.com


http://www.cametacamera.com





You can find good deals on eBay if you shop carefully and ask a few questions. Make sure you can return it if it doesn't work as advertised.|||You can find good Nikon and Canon 35 mm SLR's with standard zoom lenses for under $150 on craigslist in a city near you.





Sample near me.





http://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/ele/12鈥?/a>|||Olympus OM1N.


Pentax, Canon, Nikon.


You can get them at bargain prices.


Pentax still use the same mount for their DSLR's as they used with there 35mm SLR's.|||ebay and craigslist are full of them you can't hardly give them away so they are some good buys|||Try your local charity shops, they are a great source of unwanted SLR and accessories.