Can you recommend a 35mm SLR with these qualities?

Question

I'm looking for a used 35mm SLR. Something made in the 90's would be just fine. What I'd like is it to have features we see on some modern digital P&S's like scene selection, where it will automatically set the camera appropriately for beach or snow scenes, portrait, action, landscape, macro, etc., or allow me to set shutter, exposure and aperture if I wish to.

Must be AutoFocus. Auto-Exposure bracketing would be nice.

Here's my thinking. I figure with digital photography, people are dumping their film SLRs, unless they complement a digital SLR with the same lenses, like a Canon. So what I would want is a brand whose film SLR lenses are not compatible with the digital version.

Answer 1

I have a Pentax ZX-M and it is a fine camera in all modes. I bought it because it works with my finer quality older K-mount lenses. There is no "scene selection," but I have found automation to be extremely restrictive. I don't use any "auto-focus" because I'd rather control depth-of-field with the aperture and a field preview-function that both the old MX and newer ZX have.

Unfortunately for you, Pentax now finally makes digital cameras that can handle its older lenses; but obviously some functions (auto-focus, etc.) won't be downward compatible. Most people will not bother with the older lenses, anyway, since most people do not understand the principles of photography, and just want the "latest" camera that does "everything" for them.

I essentially want the opposite of what you want: my old lenses have vastly superior optics to the plastic zooms sold with the digital cameras today, so I want to keep them around.

Happy hunting and I wish you the best in your quest for new, favorite camera. And if you find an old Leica or Hassleblad, buy it. I'll take it off your hands for free...

Answer 2

Hi there.  Well, I don't really think you are going to find one.  Not at least with the better well known cameras - like Nikon, Canon, Minolta, Contax.   Maybe there is another one of another maker... but I have not seen it.   I think you would be fine with any one of the cameras mentioned above but you would have to set it on Program Mode or Auto Mode.   There the camera will figure out what you are doing and make the calculations for you.   SLR cameras don't do Macro... lenses are responsible for that.  If you want to set your own shutter speed and aperture,  you can just set to Manual.   Making your own selections is a part of the learning process of taking good properly exposed images.