[shaolin101]

Lokoignt o get a 35mm slr as a cheap play around camera. Want to it be cheap but have all manual features so i can learn what i am doing. Just want to try some black and white film as i never have done it before (and while i save for a D80)

Any suggestions? Would a nikon be best with regard to keeping the lenses for the D80 or is that just adding to the expense?

Thanks

[ush flynn]

yeah go for a nikon then if you do invest in lenses you can always use them on the film camera (not the AF-S though) for when you feel like trying something new.
Personally i have an F75 and an F5, the 75 is fine, tons of manual control but id love it if was an F80. They can all be had cheaply on ebay though as people switch to digital.

You were talking about AF werent you?
if you want MF then something like an FE, FE2 (have one of those too!), An FM, FM2, FM3a will do you very nicely but MF lenses wont meter on the D80
(you can still use the AF lenses on the MF bodies but focus yourself)

[Yandros]

WOW!!! I just had a look at www.warehouseexpress.com, and they're doing the Nikon F75 (black) +28-100G for £109 inc vat. Or how about an F80 body for £109?

If you go for a body only, I'd be very tempted to put something like the 50 1.8 or 35f2 primes on it, both of which will be SUPERB on a D80 (the 35f2 in particular turns into a 'standard' lens on a cropped sensor). Microglobe are doing them for £79 and £199 respectively

One word of warning on the 35f2 - apparently older examples have a known problem with sticky blades, so that's one lens I'd definitely not buy second hand on ebay!