Recommended Cameras



Some of my best students come to me with borrowed or old beat up film cameras they purchased for less than $200. If you don't have a pro level camera for the course, don't spend a lot of money on new equipment. Borrow an old Nikon or Canon. Most all film cameras produced more than twenty years ago were built for professional use, are the easiest to learn on and having some experience with a traditional camera will help you make a better choice on a new camera later.

Of course, with all the new technology available, you may want to purchase a new camera for the course. New model cameras can be divided into Amateur, Pro-sumer and Professional models:

Amateur cameras include fully automatic modes (the icon settings). Most can also be shot in Pro modes (ex. M, Av, Tv & P), so work well for the course. You will be shooting mostly in M (Manual) mode.

Some in-between Pro-sumer models don't have the icon settings and some do. These are ideal for the course.

Pro level cameras have only the professional modes, have faster automatic focusing and can take abuse. You don't need a pro level camera to take pro level images, but you may grow into one eventually.

Digital cameras have recently come way down in price. You can now get started for a fraction of what it cost a few years ago. If you want to get started with digital pick one of the medium priced cameras below. Any extra cash you have can be used for pro level lenses, software and various essentials, all of which are covered in the course.

With any SLR camera get the standard "kit" lens and a 50mm 1.8 (Nikon, Canon, etc.) that matches the camera. Don't buy kits with multiple lenses. Those lenses are not pro level and will limit your abilities as a photographer. Instead the 50mm lens can be found online for around $100. It will help you to "see" photographically.

 

Inexpensive film cameras (SLR's under $300 USD with a lens):

  1. Canon Rebels & K cameras
  2. Nikon FM10
  3. Any Pentax, Minolta, Mamiya, etc. SLR (Single Lens Reflex)

Inexpensive digital cameras ($300-400 USD with a lens -- usable, but not recommended): ,

  1. Fuji Zooms
  2. Olympus C models
  3. Canon G models

Pro-sumer level digital cameras ($400-2000 USD - highly recommended):

  1. Canon XTi, XSi, 10D, 20D, 30D, 40D, 50D
  2. Nikon D40(x), D50, D60, D70(s), D80, D90, D200, D300
  3. Olympus E models
  4. Fuji Finepix
  5. Sony Alpha

Pro level film cameras (over $500 USD without a lens):

  1. Canon EOS 1
  2. Nikon F models
  3. Leica M or R models

Pro level digital cameras (over $2000 USD without a lens):

  1. Nikon D700, D2H, D2X, D3, D3X
  2. Canon 5D, 5D MK II, 1DS MK III
  3. Fuji S5
  4. Sony Alpha 900

Many other film and digital cameras are also acceptable. Contact MLKstudios if you have any doubt.