I have been researching digital SLRs lately and have come to the conclusion that instant gratification doesn't justify the price tag.

I need speed and control over my camera and I have a little digi that does ok (slow as hell but it works).

I used to do a bit of amateur photography and it was all with 35mm SLR cameras, although it has been a while since I ggot serious.

So I am looking for a true SLR film camera that allows me multi frame shooting (seems to be standard), both auto and manual controls, adjustable aperature, and a range of lenses that won't kill me when I go to expand my collection.

One camera I have found that is looking good to me is the Nikon N80 which I can pick up with 2 lenses (28-90 and 70-300) for $529 (US) which doesn't seem a bad price considering it will shoot a full roll of 24 shots in les than 2 minutes if I choose to get happy on the trigger.

Anyone have any other ideas or suggestions keeping these perameters in mind?

 

http://www.beachcamera.com/shop/Prod...f=pricegrabber

 

Every modern SLR has several exposure modes:

Program - full auto selection of shutter speed and f-stop, some cameras allow you to turn a dial and shift to equivalent exposures
Shutter priority - manual selection of shutter speed, camera picks the proper f-stop
Aperture priority - manual selection of f-stop, camera picks the proper shutter speed
Full manual - self explanatory

There are other assorted modes but those are on basically every SLR. I'm partial to Canon cameras myself for a few reasons. One main reason is that Canon builds the motors that focus the lenses into the lenses themselves, instead of having the motor inside the camera itself that drives the lens through a "transmission" of sorts. They're about 10 years ahead of Nikon with the development of their auto focus chips as well. I have a Canon EOS A2 (it's since been replaced by the EOS 3) which came out in 1992 and can still focus faster than an N80.

The zoom lenses usually included in the package deals are kind of crap and they don't give you a very wide maximum aperture which is kind of a pain when taking action shots which is I presume why you want the fast focusing and motor drive speeds.

What kind of pictures are you trying to take and why do you think you need certain features?

 

http://www.usa.canon.com/html/camera...an7_index.html

I bought one for my girlfriend about a year ago and she's been thrilled with it. More features than I've even managed to read about yet.

 

Mostly race footage for both bikes and cars as well as a lot of random shots where speed could be an issue.

Hot shoe is nice but a built in would be good for family type pictures.

Digital SLR still has a ways to go because the wind speeds are still too slow for the amount you pay for the camera (900+ seems to be average) and they still shoot at 2.5 or so per second up to 4 frames at that price...not a geat deal if you ask me.

 

Well the N80 tops out at 2.5 fps when doing servo tracking AF and the Elan 7 can manage 3.5 fps. I would say if you're concerned about motor drive speeds you should try and get a used EOS A2, it can do 5 fps in servo tracking AF. It's a semi-professional camera and can do everything you ask of it. The alternative would be to try and find a used Nikon N90s, which is basically the equivalent Nikon to the A2. Either one is going to be better at high fps shooting in tracking AF than the N80 or Elan 7 which are more consumer-oriented.

*edit* The N90s can do 4.3 fps in continuous-shooting AF tracking shooting

 

Thanks for the recommendations Mike.

I don't suppose you would know an average for any of these choices on a used/new range do you?

 

i'm taking photography next semester, but i need to find a manual camera

 

Both the A2 and the N90s have been discontinued so you'd have to check ebay etc. I've had good personal experience buying used equipment from B&H Photo so you can check with them as well. That's one place that you really should call up and talk to someone because their salesmen know their shit. Their prices on the N90s run from $349 to $479 depending on condition, and the A2 is a bit cheaper. There's also a camera called the A2E which has eye-controlled focus. Basically there are 5 AF sensors which on the A2 are either manually or automatically selected; on the A2E you can manually select the sensor by looking at it. Kind of a gimmick but it does indeed work.

As for lenses, if you're going to be shooting trackside then you don't want one of the cheaper consumer telephoto zooms. Their maximum apertures are crap for action shooting especially when you get to the long end of their focal length range. I would go with a used fixed-length telephoto lens made by an aftermarket company like Tamron, Sigma or Tokina. That way you can get better optics and a larger max aperture for your money.

*edit* But um yeah, it'd still probably be a bit more pricey than you want. In the Canon area (since I haven't checked out Nikon lenses for ya yet), Sigma makes a 300 mm f/4.0 lens that is almost 700 bones new but you might be able to do a bit better used. Check the B&H used dept and see what they got.

 

Okay I found something worth lookin at for ya. :thumbup:

B&H has at the moment a selection of used Tokina tele lenses for Nikon AF cameras at pretty solid prices. They've got a few examples of the 400 mm f/5.6 for $269 and one 300 mm f/4.0 for $289. I'd go for the 300 mm for the wider aperture paired with an N90s and you've got a solid budget trackside wannabe-pro setup.