What is a good manual focus camera?

Question

I want to get a camera where you can focus manually.

Like the kind they use in a photography class.

I want it to be digital though.

Answer 1

The cameras are both. All of the DSLR can be focused manually. Most have a switch on the lens. some can be set in the camera menu  

Answer 2

Before you spend any money, check with your instructor ... most beginning photo classes start with 35 mm SLR's and you will be shooting film for at least the first two classes ... then later once you have learned how to expose, develop and print your images, you will find that they may offer a digital photography class ... in it you will learn how to use a digital darkroom, using the skills you learned in your first classes.  All the techniques you learned using the 35 mm camera are directly transferable to any DSLR you buy ... later.

Using a fully adjustable, manual focus camera is important.  This gives the instructor the ability to look at the contacts from your roll of film to identify any problems you may be having with your exposure.  Typically those who try to learn photography starting with a DSLR, just delete their mistakes and rarely learn from them.  With film, they are all there.

Answer 3

Almost any digital SLR camera (like the one you posted) will focus manually. They will almost always incorporate autofocus mechanisms as well. The camera will let you switch between manual and auto focus and will usually allow you to do some kind of hybrid focus as well (i.e. autofocus and then manual fine-tuning).

I would reccomend looking at the Nikon D40, Canon Rebel XT/XTi/XS/XSi, or Olympus evolt 510. All of these cameras are digital slrs with manual focus abilities.

Hope this helps!

Answer 4

Most digital SLR cameras with interchangeable lenses can operate in auto or manual focusing mode. Canon lenses have a slight edge over sharpness compared to Nikon, but they're more expensive & the range of lenses don't fit all their cameras. Nikon on the other hand, have the widest range of lenses that are compatiable with any of its cameras new or old, even their digital cameras can use the old manual lenses with some restricted function. Maybe you could consider a Nikon D40X with 10MP resolution.