# Recommend me a new old camera? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 30, 2006, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-new-old-camera/350516 "2006-03-30T06:32:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-new-old-camera/350516/1 "2006-03-30T06:32:10Z")
So, after playing with my dad’s Pentax Spotmatic for a year or so, I’ve decided that I’d like to get a slightly newer camera. Something with bayonette mount, a built-in hotshoe, that nice reassuring “beat you upside the head with this” solid weight and construction, a built-in timer, and preferably manual operation (I like setting everything by hand). I’m looking at the Pentax KM (and to be honest, I’d rather stay in the Pentax camp, but I’m open to other brands if they’re affordable), but if anyone can think of something more in line with what I’m looking for, I’d appreciate it. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-new-old-camera/350516/2 "2006-03-30T17:51:58Z")
The Nikon F-2 is nearly indestructible. [Here’s one](http://cgi.ebay.com/NIKON-F-2-W-DP-1-AND-50MM-F-1-4_W0QQitemZ7603802978QQcategoryZ107925QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) up for sale on ebay. An equally tough customer is the [Canon F-1](http://cgi.ebay.com/Canon-F-1-F-1-F-1n-System-with-7-FD-Lenses_W0QQitemZ7603770088QQcategoryZ107919QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem). ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-new-old-camera/350516/3 "2006-03-30T18:06:10Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > I’m looking at the Pentax KM (and to be honest, I’d rather stay in the Pentax camp, but I’m open to other brands if they’re affordable)… If you’re looking at the KM, you might consider the K-1000. Personally I like the Olympus OM-1. The body is slightly smaller, and it has a timer. ---
**Author:** ![Bag\_of\_Mostly\_Water](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bag_of_mostly_water/32/1029_2.png) [@Bag\_of\_Mostly\_Water](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bag_of_Mostly_Water)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-new-old-camera/350516/4 "2006-03-30T18:25:25Z")
I have an OM-1N I bought over 20 years ago and still use regularly. (Yes, I feel old!) The OM-1 is small, light, flexible, easy to use, and takes outstanding photos. I use a film scanner to convert the negatives to digital form. The overall quality of the images is beyond what even the best digital cameras can do today. (Though the digital cameras are getting close.) It can be a bit hard to find an OM-1 and they tend to be more expensive than other cameras from that era. Here’s a reasonable [site](http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/olympusom1n2/om1/index.htm) on the camera. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-new-old-camera/350516/5 "2006-03-30T18:51:20Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > The Nikon F-2 is nearly indestructible. [Here’s one](http://cgi.ebay.com/NIKON-F-2-W-DP-1-AND-50MM-F-1-4_W0QQitemZ7603802978QQcategoryZ107925QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) up for sale on ebay. I think the Nikon FM2 is a much better choice for practical use. I’ve owned both and the FM2 is a more refined camera, and more compact too. It works with newer Nikon lenses lack the “rabbit ears” (protrusion on the lens that connects to the meter), and with currently available batteries. Shutter speed goes up to 1/2000, and flash sync speed of 1/250. It remained in production until the 90s so it’s easy to find a mint condition item for reasonable price, and it should be easier to get it serviced. I really love the FM2. It’s all metal and feels very solid, yet it’s not very heavy or bulky. Every control has a satisfying tactile feel. And it’s completely mechanical; remove the battery and everything except the meter works. It’s the only 35mm film camera that I can’t bear to sell, even though I haven’t used film since I bought a DSLR a couple of years ago. If you do get one, make sure you get an “FM2n”, which is a later variation. It doesn’t actually say that on the body, but it’s easily distinguished by looking at the shutter speed dial: the red number indicates the shutter sync speed, 125 for the old FM2 and 250 for the FM2n. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-new-old-camera/350516/6 "2006-03-30T19:45:23Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > and with currently available batteries. I wanted an FM2, but I got the FM3a instead. Anyway, about batteries: The OM-1 uses banned mercury cells. However there is a place that makes an adapter that allows the use of modern cells. It has a chip in it to match the voltage. I don’t remember the name, but I can look it up later if you’re interested. ---
**Author:** ![jakeline](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@jakeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jakeline)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-new-old-camera/350516/7 "2006-03-30T21:53:59Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > If you’re looking at the KM, you might consider the K-1000. Personally I like the Olympus OM-1. The body is slightly smaller, and it has a timer. I’ll check when I get home, but I’m almost positive you’re right about the K-1000 not having a timer. I have a K-1000 and like it so far. It is 100% manual, and I find that it helps me slow down and think about what I’m doing. It feels very comfortable and solid in my hands, and the controls look to be very similar to the Spotmatic. I’m not crazy about the meter, but it certainly does the job. The meter in the K-1000 is a needle that will show that the photo is overexposed or underexposed, but not by how many stops. On my Canon AE-1, it will show me at what aperature I should shoot considering my current shutter speed. It helps me move a lot faster when I’m trying to take pictures quickly, but I’m assuming the K-1000 doesn’t have this because it doesn’t have aperture priority like the Canon. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-new-old-camera/350516/8 "2006-03-30T22:02:00Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > I wanted an FM2, but I got the FM3a instead. Anyway, about batteries: The OM-1 uses banned mercury cells. However there is a place that makes an adapter that allows the use of modern cells. It has a chip in it to match the voltage. I don’t remember the name, but I can look it up later if you’re interested. [This](http://www.classic-cameras.com/MR-9.htm) is the adapter that is most commonly referred to. I need to pick up a couple for an old Gossen light meter that I sstill use. I have heard that it’s also possible to get new mercury batteries from overseas if you know where to look. As far as “beat you upside the head with this” construction goes, I just recently bought two [Speed Graphic](http://www.graflex.org/speed-graphic/pacemaker-speed-graphic.html)s. I’m having a good old time shooting 4x5 transparencies handheld, although the film cost may eat me alive. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-new-old-camera/350516/9 "2006-03-30T22:05:05Z")
> [@Pork Rind](#): > > I have heard that it’s also possible to get new mercury batteries from overseas if you know where to look. Not that I condone such a thing. Really. I’m either getting my meter recalibrated or buying the adapters. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-new-old-camera/350516/10 "2006-03-30T22:52:09Z")
> [@Pork Rind](#): > > [This](http://www.classic-cameras.com/MR-9.htm) is the adapter that is most commonly referred to. That’s the very one. I bought one for my OM-1N, and one for my old Sekonic underwater light meter. > [@jakeline](#): > > I’ll check when I get home, but I’m almost positive you’re right about the K-1000 not having a timer… On my Canon AE-1… My K-1000 is right here on the shelf. No sign of a timer. I also have an AE-1 Program. Good camera. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2006, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-new-old-camera/350516/11 "2006-03-31T21:00:24Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > My K-1000 is right here on the shelf. No sign of a timer. The K-1000 was my very first camera. It was very sturdy and dependable and I still regret selling it a bit, as it had been calibrated for zone system photography and that was fun. But lack of a timer eventually became an issue, as was the inability to attach a motor drive. It is, after all, a very basic camera. But a really good one for a beginner or someone who just doesn’t want any bells or whistles. I also very much liked the light meter that came on that camera. As a matter of fact, that type of light meter was the deciding factor when I then purchased an Olympus OM-1N, which I still have. Still works great more than 20 years later, and save for the fact that I had to buy a new hotshoe for it a few years back it has pretty much been trouble-free. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2006, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-new-old-camera/350516/12 "2006-04-01T01:47:51Z")
The Pentax Spotmatic SP4 was a good, solid, meat and potatoes camera. But you said you wanted bayonet. I love my Canon A-1 and AV-1, but they’re probably more modern than what you want. How about going retro with the boys who invented the SLR-Exakta? The VX series offers a fully manual SLR with lots of interesting features. Their bayonet mount was shared with a few other manufacturers and some of the optics (Carl Zeiss) are quite good. Vivitar and Soligor both made ‘system mount’ lenses which fit the Exakta/Topcon bayonet with appropriate adaptor. ---
**Author:** ![NicePete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee7513/32.png) [@NicePete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NicePete)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2006, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-new-old-camera/350516/13 "2006-04-01T03:12:42Z")
Another vote for the K-1000. I’ve had mine for 25 years now and it’s been through hell and highwater with me. Still takes great pictures (last time I checked, haven’t used it much since I went digital.) Absolutely no bells and whistle, just a very basic, straightforward, tough little SLR. ---
**Author:** ![Jman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jman/32/4416_2.png) [@Jman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jman)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2006, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-new-old-camera/350516/14 "2006-04-01T13:11:42Z")
If you don’t care about the lens system, or want a modern system with a huge lens selection, I’d go Canon or Nikon. Since I shoot Canon, and don’t know the pros of the Nikon bodies, I’d say go for the Canon EOS 3, or if that’s too pricey, find an Elan 7N.