Choosing a Film SLR.

So, you've chosen to buy a 35mm slr. A good descision. But what should you get? Well, for beginners, there are a great amount of older manuel models to choose from. The Pentax k1000 is a favorite in amature photography classes, as you can get it cheap and it's *hard* to break. The k1000 uses Pentax K-mount type lenses. These are cheap and easy to find- and can also be used by Chinon cameras like the "CP-#" line. The Olympus OM 1 is also a formidable camera. A favorite among many amatures, it has recieved top raitings on websites like Camera Review [link] . Easy to use, the OM 1 is a good camera- it's been discontinued like most old cameras, but you can still find it (and even telescope lens mounts for it) on the internet.

More advanced users may wish for a camera with features like auto-focus or auto-wind. The Nikon N60/75s are good cameras, but it should be kept in mind that the N75 can't do infrared photos (unsure about N60). With 1.5fps and multiple picture modes, the N75 can do a lot that your average camera can't.

If you have the money to spend, but you still want a film camera, the Pentax *Ist line and Cannon Rebel lines are both popular. Being new cameras, they both boast a wide array of features and lenses. You can buy either one (and many others) at BHphotovideo [link] for a good price.

When buying your first SLR, consider what you want to do with it. Portraiture, landscapes, infrared, sports? Depending, you may wish to get a camera with a faster max exposure time. 1/4000, for example, is perfect for action photography, and many older cameras won't go that high.