Don't kill me, But I need a film camera.

Pennington wrote in post #11636635
Partly it's a romantic notion - there's something very satisfying about manually advancing the film after each shot, or manually focusing a shot, or dialing in your aperture right on the lens itself. I always felt more connected to my photos afterwards - I was more active in making them than with a highly automated EOS camera. It's a back to basics nostalgia.

Even with digital, as much as I love it, there's that slight nostalgic element missing.

But maybe I'm just weird, or over-thinking things...

I have no qualms about manual advance, or manual aperture, I'm just thinking about not having any glass for it.

I have a Rebel G and an Elan 7e and they both are great. I even have an AE-1 and A-1 just keep good film in them and make sure you expose correctly and you'll be fine.

I got an Elan IIe on eBay for like 20 bucks.

I picked up an EOS ElanIIe just to shoot some last rolls of Kodachrome off ebay for like $25. Not bad, especially since you can use your EF lenses, which is why I opted for that rather than the FD. Also features eye-control which is really neat, though not sure if that's allowed in your class.

If you want something a bit more there's the Elan 7e or the EOS 3 for even a bit more.

Have fun, shooting film definitely takes you back.

scotteisenphotography wrote in post #11636570
EOS 1V

that's what I have ...great camera!

ythe1300 wrote in post #11636588
Mike is there any particular model you would suggest?

I like the Olympus OM system myself, but there's plenty of options out there that will fit the bill.

The camera shops in Tampa have plenty of manual cameras to choose from. If there are any shops over there, that's where I would check first.

The T90 was a lovely camera (FD lenses) with a lot of features. For Eos fit lenses, I managed to get an Eos3 for a very good price, and it's a beautiful camera. Strangest feature on that is the ability to select a focus point just by looking at it through the viewfinder. Have no idea why Canon didn't carry that on to their digital range, as it can be quite useful.

Both the T90 referenced above and the A-1 mentioned earlier are about the worst cameras you could go for in this case. Completely contrary to what's said above, the A-1 was one of the most automated cameras you could buy in 1977. The T90 is an expansion of the A-1's concept, including multiple metering modes (not available for the A-1) and an integrated motor drive (available as the Motor Drive MA accessory for the A-1).

But what none of them does very well is provide a good way to set exposure manually, while still having some support from the built in exposure meter. The later EOS cameras, on the other hand (not as old as an EOS 10, for example) all have an exposure meter scale in the viewfinder, which works similar to the match-needle system of the all-manual cameras, like an non-expanded F-1, FTb QL or AT-1.
The EOS 10 had just a +/- sign in the viewfinder, so it's a bit inferior from this aspect.

So my recommendation is for example an EOS 30. In the US, it was called the Elan 7e, for some reason. It's not expensive any longer, still a very good camera and well useful even when you get out of the class, and can use any mode you like, as you like.

Note: The A-1 supported automatic shutter and aperture (P), automatic aperture (Tv), automatic shutter (Av), automatic shutter with stopped down metering and automatic flash photography. Apart from that, you could also set both shutter and aperture manually. With stopped down metering you could do that while looking through the viewfinder, but with the lens fully open (normal state), you had to use the camera's meter as you would with an external meter. Or not meter at all, just guess.

While the older cameras could work, finding one that's reliable and doesn't need some kind of repair may be a challenge.

Take a look at what KEH has to offer in EOS bodies. You'll have a warranty on what you buy from them. I picked up a used Elan 7 a few years ago that looked and worked like new.
http://www.keh.com …E&ccode=2&cc=79​258&r=WG&f