I am looking for an entry level film SLR that has a fast focus and auto bracketing for shooting slide film and has good quality consumer lenses. I used to do all landscape stuff, but now I'm getting into action and sport photography like bicycle races and outdoor BMX events. I'm considering the following:
1. Canon EOS 5 (from KEH, excellent condition, $205),
2. Nikon N80 (KEH, excellent plus condition, $205),
3. Canon Elan 7N (KEH, excellent condition, $205),
4. Canon Rebel T2 (KEH or B&H, new, $185),
5. Canon Elan 7 (KEH, excellent condition, $180)
6. Nikon N75 (KEH, new with rebate only $145),
7. Minolta Maxxum 70 (ebay, new or used, no clue)
The above list isn't in order of preference because I haven't held any of the cameras in my hand yet. I have been using a Minolta XG-1 (manual everything SLR) with Rokkor-X primes (all metal but for rubber grips) for the past 5 years and have gotten really good results. My old ('82 year model I think) is partly metal and the lens mostly so, so I don't want to go a camera that is completely cheap feeling. I mean, I have no problem with an all plastic camera if it feels like it can put it in a backpack and hike some with it and not worry about cracking something.
The most important thing is the results with the consumer level zooms. I mean lenses around 250 bucks. I've heard good things about Minolta AF short zooms (like the 28-100mm) but couldn't find much on the Maxxum 70 body. I want a 24 or 28 to 80 or 105mm zoom as a primary lens that I can do most outdoor shooting with. I mean lenses that open to around f3.5. I plan to have a 28mm prime for indoor shooting so speed of the zoom lenses aren't critical, just sharpness.
I've missed some shots because I didn't focus fast enough, or I had the wrong lens on, or in a panic I forgot to cock the shutter and am hoping to kiss those days goodbye with a nice AF SLR.
Which camera should I look into more, or have I forgotten one that I should look at? I've read a lot of post on this discussion and the consensus seems to be that the entry Nikons are more expensive and better built, while the Canons focus faster and feel cheaper.



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