[lersince1991]

I'm new to photography and I've just started an A level course at my college. I would like to buy my own camera and was wondering what the options are and if anyone could offer some advice and point me in the right direction as to how the cameras perform etc...

My friend has just bought an old Pentax K1000 with a few lens's, a hard case and a tripod for about £100 off ebay which we thought was really good but the light meter isn't working even though he has swapped the battery a few times and the light seal has perished.

I'm looking to spend under £100 and get it for my Christmas present but I don't really know much and don't want to get ripper off.

I think it would be awesome to have a Nikon just because it's a Nikon :P
I've looked around and the Nikon FM3a has came up a bit.

At the moment its between a Pentax K1000 and a Nikon FM3a.
What are good prices for these, where could I get them and what about lens's (I only need the basics, for my first 2 shoots Ive just used a school camera and a single lens which i don't know what it is but its not big).

I'm looking for a film camera with all the manual controls like the Pentax K1000.

just had a look on Ebay and there's only really 1 Nikon FM3a on there:

Nikon FM3a Near Mint on eBay, also Nikon, 35mm SLR, Film Cameras, Photography (end time 15-Nov-08 15:23:07 GMT)

Thanks in advance people!

[Ikki]

What about a Minolta X-700 or X-500. Superb cameras with a big selection of optically very good lenses.

Rokkor Files - Dedicated to the Minolta enthusiast - Cameras

Minolta X-700 SLR camera - Index Page

[danburbridge]

I would recommend the olympus OM1 - really good compact slr with truly outstanding lenses and a very large viewfinder.

Olympus OM1(n) SLR camera - Part I

Very affordable too - you should be able to pick one up for £50-60 with 50mm lens

[JMay]

Originally Posted by danburbridge

I would recommend the olympus OM1 - really good compact slr with truly outstanding lenses and a very large viewfinder.

Olympus OM1(n) SLR camera - Part I

Very affordable too - you should be able to pick one up for £50-60 with 50mm lens

I'd second that - OM1n, OM2n or OM4 (seen these go for £80!). Best camera's ever designed IMHO. Be aware though that the light seal's will probably be shot on any old SLR from ebay, and will need replacing.

Hi lersince1991
I still have my old Ricoh KR10 SLR with 2 lenses, its been a great camera and takes brilliant photo's. Some of my pics have been enlarged to poster size by Kodak print and they look great. My daughter had a play with it a few weeks ago (she has a Nikon D40x) and she shocked on the "manual" focus," how could you use that" sorry it's not "AUTO FOCUS" like yours!!!!!!!!!!!!
Have a look around and go and ask some proffessionals in the game, thay may help you??
Good luck with your course. Take lots of photo's as you will improve your quality.