Looking for my first film camera...

[Gentile]

Any suggestions? I'm hoping for a really nice one.

[Grumbledook]

Depends what you are going for really.

You can go down the old school fully manual route like I did and get an olympus om1n, or another brand alternative.

Or you can get a more modern auto focus lens compatable body.

As I now have a nice canon and some EF lenses, I was considering getting a canon film SLR as well, cause then I can use the EF lenses on that as well. This may be something to consider when purchasing as you get twice the worth out of your lenses and won't have to spend out twice on them for both formats.

You will have to do a little homework though with regards to the lens mounts on the body you are buying if you go this route. Canon for exmaple have a FX lens mount which is older iirc, and the EF mount is the newer (current range). Also with the advernt of digital cameras and the crop body sensor (not full 35mm size) there are also different lenses which will physically fit on the same mount. For canon they are the EF-S lenses, as they don't need to focus the picture on a full sized sensor, the lenses are cheaper to make, but will only work with the crop body sensors. On the full frame cameras you will get a circle picture on the sensor/film. Typically the bundled lens with the entry/prosumer level DSLRs come with one of these style lenses.

I assume other manufactures have similar, though I am not up with those having bought into canon stuff.

Fully manual film camers will tend to be lighter and smaller and don't need a battery to operate (apart from the light metre). So its all really down to what kinda thing you are after.

I got mine off ebay, loads of people are selling off their older film gear now digital has taken over. Some really good deals to be had, sticking with the larger brands will open up a wider second hand market too. Of course the lenses that still fit the latest DSLRs as well have kept their price pretty well. Swings and roundabouts at the end of the day. Be interesting to know what you decide to go for too!

Think I rambled on a bit there, but hope it helped ;]

[DigitalViktim]

If you're looking for 35mm you can get amazing deals on an F5 and well, everyone knows what it's capable of.

I scored mine for $600.00, mint with a lens. It's just beastly, but don't use a low-end consumer lens on it, the AF will rip it to pieces. ;)