I'm new to your site and have enjoyed it for several days before I registered. I'm very interested in getting into photography, but there are so many different cameras I don't have a clue where to start. Can you recommend a good "starter" camera that isn't too expensive? Thanks!

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From ahriman/Angra (1,109) on January 31, 2002 4:32:20 AM CST Try looking out on Ebay for a working Praktica MTL - they usually go for about $20-40, and take the screw mount lenses which have probably the biggest and cheapest used market of any lens mount - even the kings of the screw fit lenses, the Pentax SMC Takumars, go for peanuts on Ebay, and are a serious match for the best of lenses today. The Praktica also features a flash sync socket (for off-camera flash or studio lights) *and* a live hotshoe (for on-camera flash), and even a depth of field preview, which gives you an idea of the effects of changing the aperture on a scene (which parts will be more in sharp focus).

From 169.v1/K (73) on January 31, 2002 6:05:36 AM CST That's a little bit of a broad question, so if you can give a little insight on what you will be photographing then looking into a camera system will be a lot easier. And when you say isn't to expensive, what exactly does that mean, $100, $500, $1,000

From 1263.v1/Becky (0) on January 31, 2002 11:17:53 AM CST Thank you both for your help. Keith, I am mainly interested in photographing nature. I guess the price range I had in mind was $200 - $300. Thanks again!

From 5353.v1/Dave (191) on January 31, 2002 3:15:30 PM CST Don't get hung-up on equipment Becky. Any cheap working camera will get you going, and enable you to learn the basic far quicker then any of us can tell you. After a month or so and a few dozen films you will have a much better idea of where you want to go. As ten of us for this sort of recomendation and I think you will get 10 different replies.

From 5353.v1/Dave (191) on January 31, 2002 3:16:57 PM CST Don't get hung-up on equipment Becky. Any cheap working camera will get you going, and enable you to learn the basics far quicker then any of us can tell you. After a month or so and a few dozen films you will have a much better idea of where you want to go. Ask ten of us for this sort of recomendation and I think you will get 10 different replies.

From leefur/Lee (95) on February 1, 2002 12:39:57 AM CST I am likewise a beginner, and now will check out that Praktica MTL as suggested by Angra. I won't name names, in case this gets a negative reaction :), but someone very respectable emailed me this when they read that I was looking for a camera (and that I was unemployed): I read that you are cameraless. Want a good cheap SLR? Go on eBay and search for "sekor 1000" or "sekor 500." These are the old Mamiya 35mm SLRs. There are always six or seven of them for auction, usually going for about $25. They have match-needle metering, so you'll learn all about setting your own exposure. Then buy yourself a 100-foot bulk roll of Tri-X and some canisters and load your own film. You can shoot Tri-X for about a buck a roll if you load them yourself. I'd also love some reactions to this (and I imagine 10 people will have 10 different opinions). But I think this may be a worthwhile subject for all of us that deeply want to explore our photographic potential. Thanks! Good luck Becky ... if you remember, let me know what you decide on

From jayson/Jayson (319) on February 1, 2002 5:44:34 PM CST I think this answer is the same answer for people looking to buy computers. I used to sell computers at a store in town here and when someone came in saying they wanted a computer I always replied with 'well what do you want to do with it?'. I PERSONALLY think that you go the opposite way that I did. I think digital is GREAT for beginners. It allows you to view the picture AS you take it so you'll get the pictures you see rather than waiting for the film to be developed. It's easy to learn the metering system and learn about F/stops and shutter speed when you can see it right away and not have to come back to the same location trying to get a decent picture. And that's my two cents *S*.

From 169.v1/K (73) on February 2, 2002 6:20:10 AM CST Having read what you want the camera for and a few of the replies here are my thoughts on buying a camera. I would probably try for a fully manual camera if nature, eg landscapes, macro is your thing. An old Nikon FM2 second hand and a good wide angle lens would do wonders for landscapes, but if you like the candid shot of kids, wildlife, birds etc then a AF camera will nail way more shot's than you would get if you had to manual focus all the time. As far as brands all the leading brands are good, I personally use Canon as I shoot birds and Canon's IS lenses are wonderful to do that with. A Elan 7 and a standard lens would be good if AF is the way you would like to go. Just remember it's OK to buy a cheap camer as some have suggested but you soon outgrow them and then they are dead money. Just my opinion

From willis/Willis (3,440) on February 2, 2002 10:11:06 AM CST Some people outgrow cheap cameras, but there's no reason why you couldn't shoot with a cheap camera for a very long time. It's not like they stop taking good pictures. And since 35mm SLR prices seem to bottom out at $25-35 for a body and lens, if you bought a camera for that much on eBay, as long as you didn't beat it up, you could sell it for essentially the same price as you paid for it whenever you want to upgrade. That said, I also use Canon AF equipment, which is very high-quality. Someone's probably going to beat me up for saying this, but the Canon Rebel 2000 is a real deal. Its less than $300 with a zoom lens, and of course you can upgrade all the way to the EOS 1-V and 1-D. I have one and used it all the time in preference to my bigger and heavier EOS 1-N.

From clchick/Cl (3,512) on February 3, 2002 11:21:20 AM CST I totally agree with Willis. In the beginning, the camera should not be of primary importance. Knowledge of composition, light...all the things taught in Art Class 101 is the important part. Another agreement, the Rebel is a great camera for the money.

From 169.v1/K (73) on February 3, 2002 5:42:39 PM CST Why I don't like cheap cheap cameras, My first camera was a Nikon F50, I could manual override everything and use it in manual and I did for about 4 months, then my creative side started to want to expolore other things and the camera although a good starter just would not do what i wanted, I couldn't even do ME, or DOF preview, so it was sold, I upgraded, to a F80 when they came out, good camera's have many features but can still be used in manual, fault of camera, can't use older manual Nikon lenses in which some of my friends had so camera given to my wife and I brought a F4s, great camera, fantastic for landscape and macro, usless AF system for birds, Sold the lot changed to Canon, I use a EOS 3 and my wife has a Elan 7. Now while I agree the camera isn't the begin and end all of what you take but just a tool you have to really work out what you want to shoot before buying a camera. Personally I wouldn't buy a camera unless it has DOF preview. I think that is a great learning tool. So Becky think long and hard about what you want to photograph, even if it means saving just a little longer

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