NationStates Jolt Archive

Anyone here know which ones are good to get?
My Dad's decided to take up photography again (which is great news, as he needs a hobby - and this means he isn't drinking anymore) but can't use a computer to save himself. Which means digital is out.
So Mum asked me if I could look for a good quality 35mm camera to get him.

But I have no idea about cameras.

I figure I can afford around $300US. Would that get me a decent camera?
I'd consider going up to $400US if it meant a huge jump in quality.

Maybe even $500, because things are cheaper here in HK so a $500US camera elsewhere could well be lots less here. [What I paid for my 7.1 megapixel camera 8 months ago is still much less than the price of the lesser 5.1 version in NZ now]. But preferably around the $300US mark.


Well, any advice appreciated.

To be honest, film camera are dropping in price a great deal as Digital takes over the market. I'd be tempted to suggest looking on eBay and getting a second hand camera, as it will have less electronics and stuff on it (for the best of your Dad is a technophobe). Any SLR from a decent manufacturer (Nikon, Canon, Olympus, etc.) should be good. Which manufacturer you use is really down to taste.

Pentax makes a good, solid, dependable camera that can take a beating. Fully manual goodness!

What Splang said. I still shoot film, but I expect that in the next five years, it'll be a fetish hobby. Too many manufacturers are getting out of the business.

That said, this is a good time to buy a quality camera because most of the manufacturers are retooling or getting out of the business and moving exclusively to digital, so you can find deals. Just don't expect to be able to upgrade without dropping serious coin in the near future.