What is the best 35mm camera to use for black and white photography? my photography class has a lab that uses a darkroom...

Get your hands on a Canon AE-1 or similar. It’s awesome to learn on.

Yep, about to say, Canon AE-1, that’s what my sister used in her B&W photography class last year, and it’ll be the same for when I take that class in fall.

Just not sure i’m ready for working in the lab :S it’s dark and a mood ruiner for sure lol

Personally I don’t want to use the Canon though, I have a Nikon, and personally I want to get a Nikon so I can use the manual lenses I already own.. then again I think it’s just that I’m a Nikon person.. who knows
Maybe I want to get a cheap old Nikon so I can use the lenses I have and also give me a reason to get more lenses.. yea, I’ll go with that one lol

If you’re looking for an old Nikon, search for a Nikkormat. That’s what they were called up until ‘79 or ‘80, I think.
I used my Dad’s old Nikkormat for my college B&W class. It was great to learn on because it only has manual settings, really forcing you to learn about exposure.
Have fun!

I’m a Nikon gal and I love my Nikon FM-2. That might be a bit extreme for some though.

My first camera was a Canon AV-1 which sucked as it only had auto modes but no manual settings, I assume the AE-1 does?
My next camera was the Nikon FM (FG in the US i think). it was brilliant. solid, all metal body, nice to use, manual settings incredibly cheap and great picture quality with cheap but good old nikon lenses.
After a couple years i bought my Nikon F4s for its auto modes (aperture/shutter priority) i still have it and use it even though i now shoot digitally, but the F4 is heavy, the FM/FG was pretty damn lightweight!

I just bought a nikon n8008 with a flash and a 35–70mm lens for $75. It’s considered a high end post consumer/low end professional model, and I love it. It has all the features you’ll ever need, and it sells for a fraction of the original cost, even for one in pristine condition.

I have been using my mom’s AE-1 for the last 10 years. (I have requested that if she leaves me one thing in her will, that it be this camera.)

B&H Photo has some awesome deals on used equipment that is in pretty good condition for the age. (my mom got hers ‘77)

I have a Cannon EOS that I bought second hand at a camera store. When I took my first BW class most people raided their parent’s attic’s and basements for old camera’s which were the best to use from the 70s and 80s. If your not serious about it this could be the best way to go about it. If you are then I would go to a camera store or even one that sells ones second hand, the best thing to do is to get ones that have the most functions that has manual functions that forces proper lens exposure.

You know @memorize that the FM was the first camera to use the honeycomb shutters. I believe that’s what it’s called, pardon if I’m wrong but I’m having a senior moment here. It allowed for a faster shutter speed.

It’s still tough to beat the Canon F1 for solid black and white. The Canon lenses were awsome.

I’ve always used a Nikon FA with a 35–70mm lens. It’s suited me quite well, and I’m a photography major in college :)

Canons are incredible. I’ve been a Canonian for years and have never been disappointed with their cameras.

But, if you are dreaming, or can afford, the very best, I’d go straight for a classic Leica. Ask all your relatives if they have “any old cameras” stored away. I discovered that my wife’s aunt had a Leica.

Nikons. Canons. pbbbbbbbbt

I stand firmly behind my beloved Pentax K1000.

Hey that isn’t a Special Edition is it? That’s what I had that got stolen when our apartment got robbed. I loved that camera too.

I have a Nikon N60 that I like very much, but you have to turn off the auto-everything. (The auto-everything is why I like it: you can treat it like a very heavy snapshot camera if you want, or you can get all control-freaky if you prefer.)

I loved my K1000; it’s a shame they’re not being made anymore.

I got to use a Leica M3 from the 1950s a while back. That was an amazing camera.

What I really miss is the split crystal focus on the special edition K1000