NON Digital SLR help required!

[Paul.B]

I am looking at doing a 34 week photography class at a local college starting in September. The course involves some B&W developing and some other dark room stuff. I love my D70 but believe it or not, it has limitations!!

Now, being a total numpty and selling all my film SLR's on Ebay about 3-months ago, can any one recommend a cheap good value secondhand buy?

I had a Nikon F50 and whilst OK I think there are better value for money option out there. So, which would you recommend. Budget £100ish. Prefer Nikon for obvious lens swopability reasons.


Thanks

Paul.B

[joust]

Ebay?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=30035&item=7525947490&rd=1

Loads more on there...

J

[simpo two]

There'll be loads. I'd plump for the Nikon F60; my g/f had one and in some respects I preferred it to the F70. Your lenses will fit and you'll be instantly familiar with the controls.

[manek]

Damn! I just sold my Nikon F301 on eBay -- would have been ideal for what you want. Great camera but I hadn't used it in five years, having been all-digital in that time...

[mekondelta]

Why not get an F80? It's what the D70 was originally based on so should feel pretty natural.

[_dobbo_]

Just out of interest, what limitations does a D70 have that (for example) an F50 doesn't? Other than it doesn't take film

[simpo two]

_dobbo_ said:

Just out of interest, what limitations does a D70 have that (for example) an F50 doesn't? Other than it doesn't take film

Don't know exactly but I'd say the D70 is more like the F80, like what the other bloke said. That's several steps up.

But for the purposes of the task, how much gadgetry do you need?

[Paul.B]

_dobbo_ said:

Just out of interest, what limitations does a D70 have that (for example) an F50 doesn't? Other than it doesn't take film

I was refering to the dark room excersises that are part of the course. I'd feel a bit silly dipping a printout from a laserjet printer.


Thanks for the suggestions. I'll keep an eye open for any F80's that surface and do a bit of research.

Paul.B

[murph7355]

Each to their own, but if I were doing a course these days I'd make sure it had a digital darkroom course.

[Paul.B]

murph7355 said:

Each to their own, but if I were doing a course these days I'd make sure it had a digital darkroom course.

It does!

Paul.B

[GetCarter]

I still think the darkroom soup has a lot to offer.

Have fun

...and buy an F5.

[simpo two]

F6 surely?

[neilr]

the digital equivilent of the F80 is the D100, the D70's film cousin is the F75.

I had cause to use my F100 the other day, not picked it up in ages and my god, looking through the viewfinder was just fantastic, id totally forgotten how much bigger it was than the digitals! Almost had impure thoughts about Canon full frame models!

[GetCarter]

simpo two said:

F6 surely?

I thought he was trying to save money

[Don]

Paul.B said:

I am looking at doing a 34 week photography class at a local college starting in September. The course involves some B&W developing and some other dark room stuff. I love my D70 but believe it or not, it has limitations!! Now, being a total numpty and selling all my film SLR's on Ebay about 3-months ago, can any one recommend a cheap good value secondhand buy? I had a Nikon F50 and whilst OK I think there are better value for money option out there. So, which would you recommend. Budget £100ish. Prefer Nikon for obvious lens swopability reasons. Thanks Paul.B

Blimey, Paul. Would you believe I'm looking into doing a Photography course this September too! Just been cleaning my old Olympus OM-10 which I didn't sell on Ebay (almost, though).

[simpo two]

neilr said:

the digital equivilent of the F80 is the D100, the D70's film cousin is the F75. I had cause to use my F100 the other day, not picked it up in ages and my god, looking through the viewfinder was just fantastic, id totally forgotten how much bigger it was than the digitals! Almost had impure thoughts about Canon full frame models!

You're right, the small viewfinder was the first thing I noticed about the D70. I'm sure they could put a magnifier etc in it? however I seem to be used to it now.

There are a few things where the F75 doesn't meet the D70 spec:

Shutter speed range: 30-1/2000s (D70 up to 1/8000)
Film advance 1.5fps (D70 3fps)
Flash sync 1/90sec (D70 1/500th)

But I'd have snapped one up in 1999!

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

Mate's got an F4. Had a play with it at FoS and it's great fun. Sooo many controls.

[Paul.B]

Don said:

Paul.B said: I am looking at doing a 34 week photography class at a local college starting in September. The course involves some B&W developing and some other dark room stuff. I love my D70 but believe it or not, it has limitations!! Now, being a total numpty and selling all my film SLR's on Ebay about 3-months ago, can any one recommend a cheap good value secondhand buy? I had a Nikon F50 and whilst OK I think there are better value for money option out there. So, which would you recommend. Budget £100ish. Prefer Nikon for obvious lens swopability reasons. Thanks Paul.B Blimey, Paul. Would you believe I'm looking into doing a Photography course this September too! Just been cleaning my old Olympus OM-10 which I didn't sell on Ebay (almost, though).

Which college Don? Basingstoke Tech?

[Don]

Paul.B said:

Which college Don? Basingstoke Tech?

Yup. BCOT. They do an 'A' level course over two years with an 'AS' at the end of the first.

Its not a certainty as I really need to make up my mind as to whether or not I have enough spare time to really devote to it. What with the IAM and work and PH there isn't a lot left over...

[te51cle]

Just thought, have you been keeping an eye on the refurbished stuff coming out of the Canon outlet on ebay ? http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Canon-Outlet_SLR-Cameras_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQftidZ2QQtZkm

They had some film SLRs at a giveaway price the other day. Only problem is that they only put their items up for 24 hours so you have to look frequently.