Hi, I am a second year student of Visual Communication. I have photography this year. I am thinking of buying an Automatic cum Manual SLR as it would be helpful for my course. So Please help me which camera should I buy. My budget is 25,000Rs. including the body, lenses, filter & flash. It would be very nice of u if u would reply to my mailbox. Thanx & bye! Vivek.R.Mardia

-- Vivek.R.Mardia (vivek_mardia@hotmail.com), July 29, 2001

Answers

Vivek, you don't really give us much information. However, if being a student of Visual Communication means you are learning about recording visual images, a manual 35mm camera would teach you the most. You can find such cameras in used condition. By setting your aperture and shutter speed manually, you begin to learn how light works and how to record an image you want. Automatic cameras won't teach you that. You can switch to automatic cameras when you go out into the working world.

My apologies, but your name and the currency abbreviation don't give me enough information to know where you are located. If you have a camera dealer nearby with used cameras, visit and ask questions. Don't buy the first time you look.

-- Jeff Polaski (polaski@Acm.org), July 30, 2001.

Look at major brands Canon, Nikon, and find one that you like not one that people tell you is the best. You have to be comfortable with the controls, where they are, and what the camera functions will do for you. Most importantly you must be comfortable using the camera and happy with your decision, don,t be pressured to jump at the first or second camera. Play with as many as possible.

-- john (dogspleen@juno.com), July 30, 2001.

Hi Vivek, The answer to all your queries lies at the site http://www.jjmehta.com. It has prices of all equipment that you need, wiil be helpful if you are in India, which I assume you are, as you have given your budget in Indian Rupees. My personal suggestion go in for a Nikon. An FM10 with 35-70 lens will cost you approx Rs 12,000/-. If you go in for an automatic version go in for an F65 or the F80. As far as lenses are concerned try not to go for third party lenses (Tamron/ Sigma). They are GOOD, but NIkon camera with a NIKON les is excellent. My personal advise, go for an F80 with a 50mm f1.8 AF Nikkor lens. Its a damn good combination. Its close to your budget figures too, could exceed by a couple of thousand Rupees, depending on where you get it from. If you are from Mumbai or close to Mumbai contact these shops to fulfil your needs - PHOTOGENIC Gaffar Bhai and Sona, 38 Manish Market, 1st Floor,Near Mumbai CST Station Station, Mumbai.Tele (022)2616768 / 2618461. or JJ Mehta and Sons, the details of whom you will get for the website address I have given above.

I hope my little advise will help you find the best camera for you.

Happy shooting. Bye Dinesh

-- Dinesh Hukmani (dineshhukmani@hotmail.com), July 31, 2001.

Leica R6.2 manual focus camera, 50mm/1.4 Summilux

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), August 01, 2001.

I was able to buy an R3 Leica for only $350.00 Canadian Dollars, then I proceeded to buy lenses for it 250mm, 35 mm, and 60mm macro. I can say without question IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GO WRONG WITH LEITZ!

-- David Tribbeck (datri@telus.net), August 16, 2001.

In response to the Leica lovers postings...

The Leica R6.2 is going for $1895 to $1995 in the USA, which equates to 89,160R to 93,865R -- body only. The Leica R3 body only, used, goes for about $695 US, which equates to $32,700R. A used 50mm Summilux f/1.4 is over $400 US, which is over 18,000R

If you look at 5th sentence of the post, Vivek has only 25,000R to spend -- for body, lenses, filters, flash, etc. $350 CAD still comes out to 10,720R for body only -- leaving Vivek 14,280R with which to buy Leica lenses, compatible flash, et al (and that's if by some miracle he finds a fully functional R3 at that price in his country).

The Leica/Leitz/German optics are truly renowned for good reason, and the R3 & R6 bodies manufactured by Minolta (to Leica specifications) are very nice. But it all comes at a price that does not truly fit the constraints of the poster's situation. Please do not let your devotion to a truly fine camera optics maker blind you to the requirements of others seeking advice. Or am I mistaken, and you were actually offering up your kits to Vivek for 25,000 Rupee (including shipping)? :-)

Vivek, the advice of the other posters are quite sound. A new or high quality used 35mm body from one of the major brands should do very well for a first camera. Sticking with the same manufacturer label is usually nice – but not always within budget constraints. Most importantly, take your time, educate yourself with the help of friendly and non-pushy salesmen, fellow students, and/or instructors. Don’t bring money with you on the first visit. Handle the cameras you are considering & even perhaps run some film through them. Get used to the various control layouts, and pick the one that most appeals to you. Something else to consider is how easily & inexpensively a camera can be repaired in your country. Very rare or very expensive cameras may cause you grief in the future.

-- Hung James Wasson (HJWasson@aol.com), August 17, 2001.

The "students" camera of choice has been the Pentax K1000 fully manual camera with a large assortment of K-Mount lenses. This camera is readily available as are the lenses which have been used by other camera manufactures on there cameara ; Ricoh,Chinon etc. I personally prefer the other Pentax K Mount camera in the same line up because some of them have added features such as Depth of Field and Mirror Lock Up. Check out http://www.bdimitrov.de/kmp/index.html for details. Need I forget the Pentax MX is also a great camera but with a smaller body then the K-line which includes the K1000,KM,KX and the K2. Good luck I suggest the SMC 1:1.4 Pentax 50mm lens. Mississauga Canada

-- Robert Retta (robertp@cybmermail.net), October 15, 2001.

hi there, i am hoping that i can use this site, to get my answer. where to look for lowest price on nikon F65. please i need it. thank you

-- alexandra (apanzalovic@serbiancafe.com), May 27, 2002.

nikon F65/N65 is costing Rs. 13,200/- i.e. $275/- i can get you from the US If you want. Please Mail me

-- Siddharth Tandon (djsiddharth@mailcity.com), July 10, 2002.