| Photography Forum: Camera Equipment News Forum: |
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Q. 35 mm camera advice
Asked by Alexandra Jasper
(K=0) on 6/1/2003
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my friend who is new to photography wants to get a 35 mm camera. any suggestions which is a good one to start with, eaysy to use?
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Chris Moore
(K=5591) - Comment Date 6/3/2003
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Hi Alexandra,
This is a bit of a difficult question to answer, which may be why you've had no answers yet! :)
The problem is that each of the major manufacturers makes a suitable camera for almost any needs or any budget, and they're all good, and generally quite similar. You've given us very little information to help us give you advice, so how about answering these?
1. Does your friend want to learn photography as such, or just want to get a camera that will take decent shots without getting into too much understanding/learning?
2. What is your friend's budget? Give us an ideal figure and a maximum.
3. Does your friend see this as the start of an ongoing investment in photography, or as a 1 off purchase? Does your friend have ambitions to go professional?
4. What sort of photography is your friend interested in? (Check those that apply: sport, landscape, portrait, architecture, nature/wildlife, reportage, closeup, etc etc
5. Would your friend consider second hand equipment?
Well, if you can answer as many of those as possible, we might be better placed to give you some advice!
Chris
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Jeroen Wenting
(K=25317) - Comment Date 6/3/2003
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Excellent answer from Chris.
As to ease of use, that's highly personal. Don't buy a camera from a picture or brochure, buy it from a store shelf after holding it and trying it (without film) in that store.
And do get it in that store, don't waste their time and expertise only to get it online somewhere where it's $10 cheaper... That kind of attitude in customers is destroying the small stores that really care about what you want and need.
Budget is important of course. If your friend has $200 to spend or $1000 the choice of equipment to choose from is quite different (as is the quality, obviously).
Intended use too is important. An SLR is extremely flexible but if your friend wants something small that fits in the pocket of a coat a point and shoot camera or (if (s)he is more serious) a rangefinder might be more appropriate.
For some purposes one type or the other might be the only choice (for example, there are no rangefinders and P&S cameras with 400mm lenses).
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Chris Lauritzen
(K=14949) - Comment Date 6/4/2003
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I will add one more thing here. Whatever your friend spends on the camera body spend at least that much on a lens. If you friend has $500 to spend don't buy a $450 body and a $50 lens. Buy a $250 body and a $250 lens, thier pictures will turn out that much better.
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George Marks
(K=15437) - Comment Date 6/4/2003
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I too ask this question about a month ago. I get much help from people here. I have limited budget, only $200, but I find old Olympus OM-1 with 28mm, 50mm, and 135mm lens. Everything is good condition, just the guy wanted to get rid of so he can buy new Nikon F100. I like camera fine. On tight budget I buy Kodak Gold 200 at warehouse store, 8 rolls for $12.00. I also process there at $3.25 per roll with 4x6 prints. Not too bad. I hate be cheap, but school, food, come first. Then come photography.
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