Which film nikon body to buy? Advice needed please!

[andyedward]

I`m looking for a basic nikon film body and was wondering if anyone has any suggestions please?

It must have accurate metering, but I don`t need all the bells and whistles of an f6 - I just use the bare basics on my dslr.

I want to move to film and re-learn, then hopefully move to large format

[Attila]

any... I think all are excellent

in this case jump on 35mm and start with MF Pentax 645 my tipp.

[Excalibur]

erm people tell me that a digital camera is easier to learn the basics as you can see where you are going wrong straight away ....does it have to be a Nikon? if so, I've only have two but are not "old fashioned mechanical" so the Nikon guys here will give you the best advice.

[Nesster]

The way I went: the plain first gen Nikon FE. It has very good aperture priority automation and does manual metering like the best manual metering cameras. And it will do pre Ai lenses in stop down metering mode. That is if you remember how to do that when the time comes (ask me how I know that)... The plain FM does this also, although in all-manual mode.

Others will want to move you up in some way or another - fancy honeycomb titanium 1/4000 sec shutters, or big heavy Swiss Army knife cameras... and they are all good. But the FE hits a sweet spot.

[luisalegria]

Mainly I think you want a body that has manual aperture and shutter controls, no matter what other automation its got.

If its just for learning I don't think it matters all that much how sturdy it is or whether it can work without batteries. You can shoot a few rolls through any camera, it doesn't have to be built to survive WWIII.

Why a Nikon ? Do you already have lenses, etc. ? If so the type of lenses you plan to use may limit your selection.

[dof]

Nikon FM or FE series (FM/FE/FM2/FE2/FM3A)

Compact, good ergonomics, good meters, reliable.

[Yebisu]

I agree with everyone above about the FE or FM. I have a couple of FEs and both work perfectly. Aperture priority mode (marked auto on the dial) is excellent too.

An F80 is another cheap and reliable option. It's pretty similar to a d90 or d200. I picked one up for about 25 British pounds a couple of months ago.

[FluffPuppy]

[berraneck]

[Esox lucius]

[Attila]

[Orio]

I would buy an FM2, no doubt.

[IANUS]

I had and have several Nikon bodys which where all reliale up to now. Metering was allways accurate. So it simply depends on how much you want to spend and what lenses you want to use.

My favourite manual Nikon is the F3 and as light weight option I do have a FM. The finder of the F3 is much better and you do have auto exposure. The FM is full manual.

If you do want to use autofocus as well the best options are F5 or F100.

[martinsmith99]

Kiev 19!

[gaeger]

As an all-round elegant body, I don't think you can beat the FE. Its only drawback is that it requires a battery for its electronically controlled shutter (unless you only want to shoot at 1/90th). Since you're experimenting, buy the cheapest body you can. The FM fits that bill and doesn't need a battery to operate.

[polarhei]

Let me see, there are two models if you like to get low-costed body (I have to mention that the Lens are not low-costed)

FM10 (I only know Japan sill has some available,if you need new,However Even the used, still not in the low price,FM2 is the fastest mechanic one in the world,Suggesting using AF-D lens to suit all of the case)

F55(I don't know if there is such of the stuff bargained,however it is electronically controlled)

[Arninetyes]

Hmm. Can't speak for many of the Nikon suggestions, but I have four 35mm Nikon SLRs: F2A, FE, N65, F100.

The N65 works fine and is quite lightweight. Also, being as it's made of plastic, it's cheap looking, feeling, and isn't desirable, but that makes it cheap to buy. I don't use mine anymore. It works, but I don't like it.

The F2A is great. It's the best-built, highest quality camera I have and have no problem recommending it to anyone. Wonderful. But, it's fully manual.

The F100 is kind of heavy, works very well. It feels a lot like my DSLR, but with film. It will operate AF lenses and it has an auto film winder. I've used it quite a bit. If you want a film cam to supplement your DSLR, with controls most like the DSLR, this is a good choice.

The FE is light, but well made. It's a plain, yet classically designed and beautiful example of pre-plastic cameras. But is also has automatic exposure (sort of) and makes it much quicker to get a photo under rapidly changing conditions. It is my favorite to use.

Edit: oh, and the N65 won't work with MF lenses.

[LucisPictor]

Do you want the basic stuff, "Back to the roots?" - go for a Nikon F.
Do you want the "full monty" - go for a Nikon F4 or F5. (But be prepared to pay for it!)
The best compromise would perhaps be a Nikon FM2.

[hexi]

Most definitely an FM2, pretty, reliable has just the basics and metering is accurate. The viewfinder is also a pleasure.

[ellepi]

F100.
It's the only Nikon film camera that I know