recommend me a manual SLR

[glchua]

Although I'm a long time Nikon user, I seriously would not recommend a FE or FE2. No more parts is the most important reason. F3 is heavy, has slow sync speed and need the strange AS4 to attach a flash. I dislike the +- meter reading on FM2 as one previous post points out. Don't know how much the metering is off.


The reason I would rather recommend a Minolta X700 is that it still have spare parts and it is CHEAP. I have the good fortune of handling it when my friend gave one to me for free. It has the same "match needle" type metering as in FM3A, FE or FE2 but in an LED form!! At least I can see the meter reading when the ambient light is low unlike my FM3A. Its shutter also sounds more quiet than my FM3A. Just that I don't want to own another system so I finally gave it to my neighbour.

 

[jasonpgc]

FM2 is good,

FM3A has a different metering display in the viewfinder. If you take night shots, you'll not be able to see the metering needles.

For FM2, it is using LED, therefore you'll be able to use its meter day or night.

:bsmilie:

 

[overcrash]

guys
think i will settling on the minolta x700.
as of right now i just want a basic 2nd hand system.
as some bros here say, its not the camera, its the man behind it
thus i wish to reach that kind of standard

somemore like wat 1 bro say, the second hands lenses are easily available for x700 although current lines of lense can't be mounted.


Also due to budget constraint lah.

Maybe once I got the hang of it, I will upgrade to a new body and keep the x700 as spare.

guys any place that you recommend to get the x700 and some general lense?

 

[overcrash]

Originally posted by glchua
The reason I would rather recommend a Minolta X700 is that it still have spare parts and it is CHEAP. I have the good fortune of handling it when my friend gave one to me for free. It has the same "match needle" type metering as in FM3A, FE or FE2 but in an LED form!! At least I can see the meter reading when the ambient light is low unlike my FM3A. Its shutter also sounds more quiet than my FM3A. Just that I don't want to own another system so I finally gave it to my neighbour.

thanks man for ur reply.

anyway know where i can get an x700 with cheap cheap general lense?

 

[ckiang]

Originally posted by jasonpgc
FM2 is good,

FM3A has a different metering display in the viewfinder. If you take night shots, you'll not be able to see the metering needles.

For FM2, it is using LED, therefore you'll be able to use its meter day or night.

:bsmilie:

For FM3a, you just set it to aperture priority, put the thing on tripod and hope for the best.

Regards
CK

 

[overcrash]

Originally posted by ckiang
For FM3a, you just set it to aperture priority, put the thing on tripod and hope for the best.

Regards
CK

hahaha

i owned a G1 but think starting with conservative cams can get you the basic easier!

anyway any shops that sells 2nd hand bodies and lens?
good quality at reasonable price.

 

[kahheng]

Originally posted by glchua
Although I'm a long time Nikon user, I seriously would not recommend a FE or FE2. No more parts is the most important reason. F3 is heavy, has slow sync speed and need the strange AS4 to attach a flash. I dislike the +- meter reading on FM2 as one previous post points out. Don't know how much the metering is off.


The reason I would rather recommend a Minolta X700 is that it still have spare parts and it is CHEAP. I have the good fortune of handling it when my friend gave one to me for free. It has the same "match needle" type metering as in FM3A, FE or FE2 but in an LED form!! At least I can see the meter reading when the ambient light is low unlike my FM3A.

Those are very good points, though I just bought a used FE today for a friend who wants to learn photography. It's true what you say about the servicing of these cameras if the match needle goes south. You'd have to ship it to specialist repairs shops in the US or Japan to get them fixed.

I have used an X-700 in the past and I can assure you that Minolta lenses though underpriced, are pretty darn outstanding in performance. Better than Nikon I'd say (pity they don't market their products as well).:thumbsup:

 

[overcrash]

Originally posted by kahheng
Those are very good points, though I just bought a used FE today for a friend who wants to learn photography. It's true what you say about the servicing of these cameras if the match needle goes south. You'd have to ship it to specialist repairs shops in the US or Japan to get them fixed.

I have used an X-700 in the past and I can assure you that Minolta lenses though underpriced, are pretty darn outstanding in performance. Better than Nikon I'd say (pity they don't market their products as well).:thumbsup:

u selling ur x700 ? :angel:

 

[kahheng]

Originally posted by overcrash
u selling ur x700 ? :angel:

heh, it's long gone.

BTW, the other nice thing about the X700 is the brightness of the Acute Matte screen.

Lot's better than the FE I bought today (though you can use a later Fxx series screen on the FE with compensation)

Good luck.

 

[overcrash]

Originally posted by kahheng
heh, it's long gone.

BTW, the other nice thing about the X700 is the brightness of the Acute Matte screen.

Lot's better than the FE I bought today (though you can use a later Fxx series screen on the FE with compensation)

Good luck.

haha
u seen any X700 when u were buying the FE?

 

[ckiang]

Originally posted by kahheng
heh, it's long gone.

BTW, the other nice thing about the X700 is the brightness of the Acute Matte screen.

Lot's better than the FE I bought today (though you can use a later Fxx series screen on the FE with compensation)

Good luck.

Any idea which shops can do a good CLA for a FE? My 1/500 and 1/1000 not working well - blank frames. Below that, exposure seems pretty okay. Nikon refused to service and claim that it requires shutter replacement of which they have no parts for, TCW refused to service too.

Regards
CK

 

[hongsien]

yeah, I can also highly recommend Minolta MD/MC lenses and their cameras. X-700 is a good one too as well as those SRT cameras. The shutters are very smooth and quiet. Lenses are a bit harder to get here in Singapore. try eBay.

Don't also forget the Pentax manual camera line and lenses, these cameras can stilll accept their AF Pentax lenses (contrary to what a poster said before), again their top lenses are not easy to find.

Nikon manual cameras are quite expensive, not the FE/FM though. The FE is my favourite, but that's personal.

Good luck!
Hong Sien

 

[kahheng]

Originally posted by ckiang
Any idea which shops can do a good CLA for a FE? My 1/500 and 1/1000 not working well - blank frames. Below that, exposure seems pretty okay. Nikon refused to service and claim that it requires shutter replacement of which they have no parts for, TCW refused to service too.

Regards
CK

Hmm, not worth fixing if you ask me since the cost of repair will be around the cost of replacement. You need to send it to specialist shops overseas in the US or Japan.

Buy another one or just use it at the exposure settings that work.

A great time to buy a new toy and spend more money! :bsmilie:

 

[djchris]

is a x-700 and its prime 50mm worth fixing if it costs slightly less than $300?

 

[ckiang]

Originally posted by kahheng
Hmm, not worth fixing if you ask me since the cost of repair will be around the cost of replacement. You need to send it to specialist shops overseas in the US or Japan.

Buy another one or just use it at the exposure settings that work.

A great time to buy a new toy and spend more money! :bsmilie:

And I always thought shutter speed adjustments can be made relatively easily if you know how? That shouldn't necessitate a shutter replacement right? Just a normal CLA?

Regards
CK

 

[hongsien]

CK: Try the repairman of Camix, he is an older man that is very good with older cameras/shutters. I always sent him my lenses/shutters. Bought an FE from Alex with the 1/1000 speed blank and sent it back to Alex for repair, it is possible that he uses the same old man as his repairman. Anyway, it is possible to repair the FE shutter. If speeds are off, it needs resetting/calibration which can be done here in Singapore.

Do NOT use P&G, sorry, a nice guy but he charges too much sometimes. You can check with him though, he just sometimes charges too high.

Hong Sien

 

[hongsien]

Wah! Just realised that my home address is given at 'location' on the left now everyone knows where I live, hey, you are all welcome! Need to change my locaton thingy.............

Hong Sien

 

[kahheng]

Originally posted by hongsien
Wah! Just realised that my home address is given at 'location' on the left now everyone knows where I live, hey, you are all welcome! Need to change my locaton thingy.............

Hong Sien

Is that near the Char Kway Teow store HS?

 

[yellow_kiwi]

im also thinking of getting a manual slr. thot of getting the yashica FX-3 super from a fellow CSer. Alex sells it for $280 bundled with a 50mm f1.4 (yashica). the body costs $150... the leather is quite worn out though. This is a common problem for this cam.

online ratings for this cam is quite decent, typically 4+ out of 5. IMO, it's quite value for money (as im more budget constrained, im not considering FMs of FEs ). juz hope that i wont be too late!

hope this helps!

 

[zhoufang]

Originally posted by yellow_kiwi
im also thinking of getting a manual slr. thot of getting the yashica FX-3 super from a fellow CSer. Alex sells it for $280 bundled with a 50mm f1.4 (yashica). the body costs $150... the leather is quite worn out though. This is a common problem for this cam.

online ratings for this cam is quite decent, typically 4+ out of 5. IMO, it's quite value for money (as im more budget constrained, im not considering FMs of FEs ). juz hope that i wont be too late!

hope this helps!

And when you want to spent more on equipments, there's always 2nd hand C/Y mount Carl Zeiss T* lenses available at very affordable price, often not much more than Nikon MF lenses, but you get German optics instead of japs.