Relative Beginner's Camera

<p>For about the last 2 years, my now 12 year-old son has been learning to take pictures on my Pentax K1000 and doing pretty OK with it. I would like to get him an FD camera, so that he can have a slightly wider lens choice (currently a 50mm F2 and a 28-200 zoom) and take the next step automation-wise. <br>

I am after something pretty reliable and uncomplicated - not least so that I can pick it up quickly enough to be able to teach him how to use it - but also in terms of being able to buy batteries for it without having to rewire the camera. (The only FD camera I have used to date is the F1N - and, no, he can't have mine (yet)!).<br>

I am pondering an AE1 Program or an A1: it seems too soon for a T90, which usually cost more anyway. Any views on this choice - or any other suggestions?</p>

<p>I have and use both, but the A1 would be my choice. You can choose between aperture priority, shutter priority, fully programmed or manual exposure. Takes the same battery as your F1N. </p>

 

<blockquote>it seems too soon for a T90,</blockquote>

<p>You could get a T90 for yourself and let him have the F1N. ;)</p>

<p> </p>

<p>my Wifev who is instruction resistant and who wouldn't read a manual if it was required for winning the lottery. Shoots with a pair of AE-1P's The basic Shutter Priority and the Program modes appear to get her through almost any of the situations she gets into. So it must be an easy camera to use.<br>

The AE-1P is a light compact easy to use camera with little if any known problems (save the std A series Mirror dampener Squeal.<br>

They are dirt cheap easy to find a qualified service tech and plentiful. And they have a brighter viewfinder then all but the New F-1 and T series.<br>

The AE-1P uses a battery likely to be found at any drug/varity store. the LR-44 PX-28 with no preference to Alkaline Lithium or Silver Oxides.</p>

<p>I'd get him an AE-1, not an AE-1 Program. It's just my view that Program modes are useless at best, and discourage photographic thinking at worst. </p>

Do yourself a favor and get a T70. These things are practically being given away and the electronics/software algorithm was improved light years better than the A1 and AE-1/AE-1P. It has a built in motor drive, multi-modes, etc. Uses regular AA batteries. Uses any FD lens. The only problem these things ever seem to have is the battery door chips and then won't stay closed. Other than that, these things are great.

<p>Tom's right about the low market value of the T70. A few years ago I picked up a T70 w/ an FD 50/3.5 Macro (and Life Size Adapter) for $50. The camera was so ugly that I couldn't bring myself to use it, so I sold the lens for around $60 (I had another copy) and gave the body away.</p>

<p>I'd recommend the A-1. It still looks like a classic SLR but, as Stuart says, has switchable exposure modes, which I find to be very handy.</p>

<p>I have (worryingly) all of the bodies you mention - either the AE1 / AE1P or A1 will be great. Of the three I would suggest the A1 but this was my first real camera (in 1982) so I have a bias - I still have and use mine. One thing you should be aware of - kids and film cameras is very expensive. I have restricted mine these days to limit what they shoot - they no longer shoot velvia but are mainly B&W or print. Even with print you have to be careful. I am sure you are aware of this but just a warning - I do the B&W myself but they still want lots of prints! Add up the likely cost an it may be cheaper to go digital - I got mine a used Rebel for $200 and a $80 zoom from KEH. Later when I bought a 7D I took the 18-135 kit lens for an additional $200 and passed this on. I know this is heresy on the FD forum but with three boys the film and processing cost / effort was very high. Last weekend we went Kayak touring so they used film in a Nikonos V - now I have 4x36 print films that my wife just took for D&P - this is $64 in Canada (probably cheaper in the US).</p>

<p>I have picked up a few T50s for less than $15 with lens and flash. They would great but are only full auto.....but will handle any FD lens.....if the camera gets broken.....not a big deal, uses 2 aa battery's.</p>

<p>My suggestion is the AT-1. Usually cheaper than either the AE-1s or A-1s. Granted, it doesn't have an auto, but it is a great shooter.</p>

<p>If you really want an auto mode, then I would recommend the AE-1, A-1 and AE-1P in that order.</p>

<p>Ed.</p>

<p>Thanks all. Have decided to go for the A1 - a camera I coveted back in the day, and having the same battery as the F1N is the decider.<br>

You are right about the cost of film etc., Philip, but we operate a simple rule (same as applied to me at their age): the children pay for their own! Of course, there are exceptions ... but this is an FD, not a parenting, forum.</p>

<p>James - great choice there, though you couldn't go wrong with any of the choices above. Be warned that you might come across examples with broken battery doors - a common failure on these cameras, and the battery door can be expensive to replace. Should not affect performance - someone correct me if I'm wrong. Also, I'm sure you're already up to speed on this but its very common to find A1s with a shutter squeal. Nothing a CLA can't fix.</p>

<p>"...and take the next step automation-wise."</p>

<p>Is increased automation a positive or a negative step?</p>

<p>Good choice going with the A-1. Lately I've taken a break from my T-90 and have been shooting my A-1 with an MA Motor Drive. Tons of fun. Over the fourth I was taking some pictures of my girlfriends nephews, they always want to look at the film box tab holder to see their picture afterward and can't understand why there's just a piece of cardboard that says Kodachrome instead of their smiling faces there. Kid's are so used to digital now they have no concept of how a film camera works. Unfortunately mine has the weird battery drain problem so if I don't turn it to 'L' when I'm done shooting it will sap the battery in a day or so. Pretty annoying. I'm considering sending it off somewhere to get fixed or just buying another one and hoping for the best.</p>

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<p>"...and take the next step automation-wise."<br>

Is increased automation a positive or a negative step?</p>

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<p>Discuss. ;-)<br>

Not necessarily either: it's a question of what (if anything) you do with it. But automation is also, when one thinks of the cameras being made today, pretty much a fact of life. To get the most (or even something) out of whatever it might be that automation offers, it has always seemed to me that it is helpful to understand a little about the difference(s) that it makes - positively and disadvantageously. Hence starting with an all-manual camera and then taking "the next step".<br>

Of course, I can't ultimately predict or control what my children's predelictions, camera-wise (or anything else-wise) might be in the future. For all I know, #1 son will stick to 10x8 view cameras once he is old enough to make that choice. But if his tastes are more conventional, then hopefully he will be in a position to get a bit more from the technology, having learned - as most of us did - from some fairly basic principles.</p>

<p>Do you already have the FD lenses that he'd use for this camera? If not, it seems to me that it'd be less expensive to buy a few more lenses for the Pentax than to pick up a set of FD lenses for the new Canon camera.</p>

<p>In the interest of full disclosure, I recently picked up a K1000 SE for a song, although I really wanted to go the Canon FD route, but the Pentax came up first. I debated between just sitting on it and selling it later once I got an A1 or AE-1, but after comparing the prices of FD lenses on KEH to Pentax M lenses, I decided to invest in more Pentax lenses. I like it a lot, it's a fun camera. I suppose I could always sell the Pentax stuff if a good deal comes along on the FD side, and truth be told, I'd be sorely tempted. But for now, I'm happy with my choice.</p>

Must admit Jay has a point, and the Pentax Program A and Super A cameras are very good examples of the 70s/80s classic body multi-mode camera.

 

Back with FD... I'd also suggest that the AE-1P is a better camera, in some respects than the A-1. It is simpler, has a brighter (interchangeable) focusing screen. I prefer to use my AE-1P with grid screen in spite of my

general preference for Av over Tv modes!

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<p>Do you already have the FD lenses that he'd use for this camera?</p>

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<p>Yup. That was where I came in, really. But thanks for the thought.</p>

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<p>Get him a T90!!!</p>

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<p>Dont worry about too soon, the sooner the better. You should worry about too late</p>