ATTN Photo gurus

[733SHiFTY]

Hey, fathers day is approaching and my 2 brothers and I are looking to get my dad a new camera. Back in the day he was very into photography, and to this day uses an aincient 35mm camera that weighs like 900 pounds and takes about 3 years to set up right. Anyway, he has been looking at new cameras recently, but is turned off by how dominant digital cameras have become (he asked me once if they still made film cameras, as he was flipping through a best buy ad).

Anyway, I'm just looking for some reccomendations for a nice film camera w/ lens, for around $300 (more or less). Suggestions?

 

[DavemanUT]

digital is the way to go..

 

[733SHiFTY]

Originally posted by: DavemanUT
digital is the way to go..

yeah, but my dad is a stubborn 55 year old who is still living in the 70s.

 

[DurocShark]

New or what? Does he want to stay 35mm? Or go to medium format? Auto focus or manual?

For 35mm I'd pick up a Canon AF camera kit like the Eos Elan 7n. About $300 with kit lens.

 

[DuallyX]

Does he want something classic--all manual controls? Or does he want auto metering, autofocus, etc?

 

[733SHiFTY]

Originally posted by: DuallyX
Does he want something classic--all manual controls? Or does he want auto metering, autofocus, etc?

manual, but dont most decent cameras these days come with a auto/manual switch?

 

[DuallyX]

Yes, but a Full Manual camera>auto camera in manual mode.
Something like this: http://www.nikonusa.com/template.php?cat=1&grp=6&productNr=1667

You could also hit ebay and get him something classic...a collector's camera, if you will.

 

[spikespiegal]

but my dad is a stubborn 55 year old who is still living in the 70s.

Unfortunatley most of the labs your dad brought film to in the 70's are either gone, or converted to digital processing.

You're not going to get lost of fancy manual controls for $300. Maybe a Panasonic LZ series, but that's it. The cheapest dSLR would be a Digital Rebel 300 and 50mm lens.

No offense, but you're an idiot to even consider a film based SLR unless you are doing your own processing and printing. Even the newer point n shoot digitals will destroy the quality of amatuer print film.

 

[tfinch2]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi...ame=MERC_VI_RSCC_Pr4_PcY_BIN_Stores_IT

 

[elektrolokomotive]

Even the newer point n shoot digitals will destroy the quality of amatuer print film.

It would probably have to be at least 8.3MP to achieve the quality of regular amateur print film. Using finer grained, slower professional films, consumer level digital cameras would be hard pressed to keep up on the resolution front. Additionally, digital cameras are sometimes challenged when faced with a wide dynamic range. Digital chips can't compare when it comes to subtle shifts in tone or color.