I'm taking a photography class next year and I need a manual film camera for this particular purpose. I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with photography with this type of camera and can offer me some advice regarding choosing one. Specifically what should I look for and so on? Thank you for any help.

A manual camera as in it uses film and not digital, or as in a camera that uses film but has no automated features?

You're probably going to need a 35mm. Most available today are automated (as in film advancing/rewinding is done for you) and not manual.. I'd suggest something like this. I have something pretty similar, if not the same one, and I'm happy with it.

Hope this helps.

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[This message has been edited by MadQuack (edited August 04, 2004).]

MadQuack: Thanks. Could you elaborate as to what kind of features your specific camera has? Not everything about it, but just important things I should know about. Like, as you were saying, does it allow you to manually advance/rewind film (or is that completely unnecessary)? Can you manually adjust shutter speed? And yeah, I was asking about a manual film camera. Thanks again.

The camera does have a manual mode that allows you to adjust the aperature and the shutter speed, as well as a bulb setting (so you can hold the shutter open for however long you want), I don't think it allows you to manually advance and rewind the film, though. You can set it to freeze the film on the frame its at for multiple exposures, and you can rewind film in the middle of a role or whatnot. Once you get to the end of the film it rewinds automatically just like a regular camera. Also has a built in light meter. I think having a manual mode so you can adjust the aperature and shutter speed yourself is the key you're looking for for this class.

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[This message has been edited by MadQuack (edited August 04, 2004).]