camera advice

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im buying my first SLR, and im thinking of buying an FM2. ive heard a lot of good reviews and i kind of like the idea of keeping a simple, but classic and reliable camera. im actually currrently using my boyfriend's FM2, and i like it, i like the weight and it's built like a tank. however, im also considering getting one of the more auto-everything cameras. i'd be very interested any suggestions you guys might have. i'd also be interested in finding out what your (filipino photographers and hobbyists) cameras of choice are. id also appreciate any information on where i can buy photography equipment. ive heard of a camera dealer called beth chu (spelling?)

thanks for your help!

-- jules bautista (scorcheress@hotmail.com), June 28, 2001

Answers

Hi Jules,

I must apologize for the incredible delay. I myself hardly go to this board anymore, and it suprises me when a new message comes in.

As for the type of camera you should get, it depends on what you want to shoot and the kind of results you are expecting. An FM2 is a nice classic, then there's also the FM3 now. Auto exposure and focus is only important if you are shooting dynamic events which you cannot control, such as weddings, sports, news, and the like. I know a great many photographers who don't use auto everything cameras. The flip-side is that AF lenses are more updated and in many cases, cheaper then the MF counterparts so maybe it would be more practical to get an AF body instead.

I personally use what's called a medium format camera, which uses 120 roll film, giving me exactly 10 shots per roll. This one is manual everything. I use it because I can get by without AF or AE and I believe the results from the larger format are worth it. All formats (35mm, Roll Film, large 4x5) have their own applications, and you should look into whether a 120 format or large format (4x5) or even a Digital camera is more appropriate for the type of work you'd like to do.

Don't let the local ubiquity of 35mm auto everthings make you think that that is the only valid camera for someone who wants to get into photography.

i'd be very interested any suggestions you guys might have. i'd also be interested in finding out what your (filipino photographers and hobbyists) cameras of choice are. id also appreciate any information on where i can buy photography equipment. ive heard of a camera dealer called beth chu (spelling?)

The places to go to are Hidalgo Street in Quiapo. Beth Chui has also sold a lot of stuff to people I know.

Hope this helps.

Tommy

-- Tommy (lensman_49@_hotmail.com), July 20, 2001.


F80 is an ok auto-everything camera; it's more reliable than the F100 which Columbia here sells for 91k (!) -- US listing prices it at roughly the equivalent of 50k here. F100 also has early rewind. I sent mine back to Columbia for repair after I got it from them at a discount (roughly 67k). It's only been 6 months and it has already conked out. The guys there at the shop think it must be due to mishandling and not factory defect (how did early rewind ever result from mishandling?). I never mishandled it in any way. These guys do not even want to replace it even if it's still under warranty! I'm taking the issue to the Nikon Japan to check what can be done.

Yeah, FM2 is good. So is FM3A. I'd go for a 120 format if I want to do portraits and contribute to glossy magazines or want to blow the image up to roughly the size of my wall. But for photojourn / travel / sports photgraphy, 35mm will do. If you're into landscapes, step right up to 120mm. 120mm also has snob appeal; people here often think you're a more competent photographer if you're armed with a 120mm and so ok a higher service fee for your work.

Yeah, Hidalgo in Quiapo is still the best dealer around. There's Avenue, Watson's, etc. Beth Tiu requires a downpayment first, then order from Japan, and hand you the camera after about a week after you placed the order. There's Manny Ang of Wells Photo in Makati for 2nd hand stuff; you better be good at haggling, though. He can be quite tough to crack. check out www.hungryalien.com. There's a good listing there of cam shops, labs, digital printing labs, album sources, etc.

Hope this helps.

-- k (ckasanchez@lycos.com), August 28, 2002.


if you're looking for a all manual camera but will let you switch to automatic whenever a shooting situation requires it checkout nikon f4. it builts like a tank and you might want to checkout f5 another good camera.

-- ray b. (aperture@sbcglobal.net), December 29, 2002.

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