Expert: John Oliverio - 8/23/2006

Question
Ok I have a few questions....

-What do you consider to be the best Nikon 35mm SLR (manual focus) camera?
-What kind of lens(or lenses)would you recommend for this camera?
-I have 2 Tamron Lenses (both af and mf) for my Nikon D50 and was wondering if they would be compatible with the SLR or viceversa?

thank you so much!  

Answer
Emily,
 
Well this could be an involved answer.  Do you mean best 35mm from all time or currently in production?  Because I don't know if you are aware of it or not, but most makers have stopped building film cameras all together.  And most stopped building actual manual-focus only cameras YEARS ago.

If you want the "all time" answer, I'd have to say I think the best 35mm was the Nikon F2.  I used one for many years.  As a matter of fact, it was my last film camera before I went to digital.

If you are talking current cameras, I'd have to say the Nikon FM3A.  Though Nikon stopped actually making them a year or so ago, you should still be able to get one from a large retailer or even online.  

Your lenses will work on a film camera as long as they aren't "digital" only.  Nikon marks digital only lenses as "DX".  I don't theink Tamron actually makes a digi-only.  As for lenses for your D50, you can use any AF lens intended for Nikon.  And you can use "most" MF lenses going back to 1977 but you will dis-able most of the cameras computers if you do.  (the old lenses don't have a computer in them)  In the back of your instruction book somewhere is a lens compatibility chart that will go into great detail.

John