What's a cheap but good brand of 35mm SLR to pick up used?

Question

I'd like to get into 35mm SLR photography again. It's been a couple of decades. I do have an early Canon EOS camera, but the accessories are still expensive because they can be used on the new digital ones.

I was thinking maybe picking up an Minolta AF camera and lenses, but I don't really know much about them.

What's a good brand and model that doesn't share components with a camera makers digital versions. I figure I can pick those up the cheapest.

Answer 1

You asked for "cheap but good," which may cause a problem with mutual exclusivity. Your 35mm Canon EOS is certainly a very decent camera, and paid for - both points in favor of keeping it.  If the cost of Canon lenses is an issue, why not look for non-Canon lenses, and possibly adapt other camera lenses, to your EOS camera?  See links below for possible pointers.  It certainly won't hurt to look on eBay and other such sites to look for used lenses at "more reasonable than new" prices.

Minolta film cameras and lenses are typically very good, as are their newer digital units.  However, Minolta had dropped out of the consumer camera business about two years ago, and sold off that business to Sony.  Whether or not you want to gamble getting future support and a reliable supply of lenses and accessories on a Minolta film camera is your choice.  Konica also had a long line of good film cameras, but since it had teamed up with Minolta its cameras has the same issue mentioned above.

Nikon, Olympus, Pentax film cameras - worth a look too.  From what I recall quite a few Nikon film camera lenses can be used on their high end digital units, which may cause cost issues for you, too.  Also IIRC, Nikon has stopped making "non professional" (less than  $1000+) film cameras, with the emphasis going to digital units...