Best 35mm SLR Camera for Beginners?

TibbonZero asks: "I've been thinking of getting into photography, but want to stay with 35mm film instead of going digital. Used 35mm SLRs seem to be the best bet, but which ones should I seriously consider? I would like to spend less than $200 on the camera itself, and start off with some cheaper lenses. It seems to me like there's still a lot more bang for your buck in film vs digital cameras at this point, even with film processing costs (I have almost a whole darkroom setup that my father used to use). I think I want a manual focus camera." Don't forget, a 35mm camera (film or digital) would make a nice Christmas Gift for that budding photographer in your life!

Canon

[Lordofohio]

I started with the Canon Rebel 2000 and I really liked it. I think the controls are intuitive and its got more focusing points than the higher level cameras like the Elan.

I saved money at first by going with Tamron lenses and I was also satisfied with that. And of course whether they're canon or Tamron, the lenses can be auto or manual focus.

Being an amateur photgrapher is also a great way to get girls to undress for you :-)

My Ask Slashdot

[Anonymous Coward]

Dear Slashdot,

What should I eat for breakfast tomorrow morning?

Re:Pentax K-1000

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah Pentax is going to rake in a lot of cash from a discontinued 1970-era camera, last made in 1997.

A camera is a good gift for a photographer?

[wackybrit]

Don't forget, a 35mm camera (film or digital) would make a nice Christmas Gift for that budding photographer in your life!

Really? I thought a bag of hammers would have been a much more useful gift to a photographer.

I guess this is why I'm spending Christmas alone. Again.

Re:Pentax K-1000

[Avihson]

If not the Pentax get an old Minolta XD-11. The XD-11 had a full manual but also has aperature and shutter priority.

Enjoy, and don't let them go in a divorce! I should have fought for the cameras instead of the kids... the Judge gave her both! The kids came back to me full time a few years later, the camera equipment she sold!

Re:Canon

[Afrosheen]

It helps if you shout 'work it girl!' and 'the camera loves you!' while you take pictures. That way they assume you're some fruitcake that's not going to go home and wank to the pictures. Which you are, of course, but they don't need to know that. ;)

Re:Pentax K-1000

[198348726583297634]

And this computer has all these extra buttons my old Winston typewriter didn't have! It even has a separate l and 1 key! All I ever needed was those 40-some keys..anything more, who can figure it out.