Need a new camera.

Hey all,

I've recently started photography classes for a Design course at uni and I need help deciding what camera would be best. The requirements for the class are either a 35mm SLR film camera or a 'competent' digital camera.

I hope to buy a digital SLR sometime this week but I don't know where to start. The camera must have complete and full manual control of both aperture and shutter speed functions; must be 'lens focusing'.

hmm, if you any more info let me know, =). I've pretty much only experienced a normal P&S camera, still got to get use to other types. yeh, I found a YASHICA FX-7 lying around the house, which is most likely broken but.. I'd like to know if the lens is compatible with anything else other than that model.

Thanks all.

Any digital SLR will do the job. They all have full manual exposure controls and can be manually focused, as well. Unfortunately, your Yashica lenses will not fit any digital SLR. You could run a test roll through the camera to see if it works, though.

It's pretty much impossible to buy a bad digital SLR now. Even the least expensive DSLR is an excellent camera. Deciding what to buy is more a matter of overall system strategy. In other words, which company do you want to invest in for the long term. If you don't have big plans to be a photographer, buy a kit that includes a lens. And don't get caught up in feeling like you need more than an entry-level body. Any entry-level digital SLR you buy is going to be very good.

You may want to make a new post on the Digital SLR forum. I think you'll find more useful info there and you're more likely to get the answers you need from the members on that forum.

thanks for the help.. I'll probably be buying it tomorrow.. second hand. Not too sure what to get yet though, a friend suggested an OK body with an expensive lens. see first la. =)

I sort of agree with your friend, the entry level body is all you need to start out with.
Probably for a few years to come.

The kit lenses are going to be good enough, I think.
Save the money for expensive lenses until you know which expensive lenses you need.