I have just started a photography course, and need to get a 35mm SLR
camera.  Can anyone recommend a good camera for a relative beginner,
yet have enough scope to last me a few years?
Thanks

Heh, nice question, you will get lots of different answers, I am sure
:-)
Anyway, my point of view: excellent way how to really understand
photography is manual camera. I use Yashica FR-I, an old, high-quality
piece, that can use great Contax lenses. It is fully manual with
aperture priority option. Sorry, no autofocus :-) Either this one or
Contax RTS, or Aria, if you want a newer one superb-quality manual
camera.
If you will want to use autofocus capabilities, better choice would be
probably some Canon/Nikon/Minolta stuff. I dont use it, so I cant
recommend. Neither do I use digital cameras, so I wont comment on them
as well.

Well, those are my two cents, to sum it up: stick with the manual
modes at the beginning, it will teach you a lot.

Jonas

On 2003-11-03 05:31:49 -0500, jwilsonm...@yahoo.co.uk (JMayo) said:

Don't sell yourself short.  Yes you can buy an old clunker 35 manual. But Why?
Yes I use my Nikon F on occasion. Mostly when I use my Novaflex Bellows which
won't work with my N90s. But I also need to get out the calculator,
paper, and pencil
to calculate the exposure.
The N90 has a great manual mode which I use often. It also has a auto
modes which work real well when I don't have the time or need to go to
manual. It does great flash fill....much better an faster than I have
managed to calculate on my own. IN short, I can take the camera to full
manual when I want to and need to, or some partial automation mode, or
for snapshots  fully automated (fess up all.... some times snapshots
rule... casual family get togethers etc. )

A Nikon N90s or N90 (F90 oustside of US) should do you well.  Fully
manual and fully controlable automatic.

Jim