Just a few notes on buying a older SLR. First contrary to other reviews, Single Lens Reflex cameras are still even in todays market a major purchase.

The major brands are still pricey, while much less than what they cost years ago. But they are worth the cost to a person who wants to enjoy the world of photography that only film can offer.

Buyers should be aware that older cameras need to be serviced by a professional tech in order to remain accurate and in good working order. CLA'ing a camera(clean, lubricate and adjust) can run from 80 to 125 dollars depending on the camera. So you lower price jewel can end up costing you more than you thought. So be sure to ask if and when the camera was CLA'd.

In addtion other reviews state that most lens use either a K  or bayonet mount and are interchangeable. This is not a true statement and buyers should be aware that the major manufactuers of  the 70s, 80s and 90s(the pinnacle of film camera development) Nikon, Canon, Pentax, Minolta and Olmpyus all had their own mounts, with lesseer known brands using various types.

Early Pentax camera had a standard thread mount, as did several manufacturers and then progressed into the K mount so named from the durable and enduring Kseries of cameras. Canons Bayonet mount came in two types, early bayonets had a silver locking ring at the rear of the lens and the next generation of lens dropped the ring in favor of a locking button, although the EOS does use its own mount, Nikons  F mount has changed little over the years even with the advent of auto focus older Nikkor lens can be used on most  Nikon bodies. Minolta and Olmpyus were properietory mounts also.

Numerous after market manufacturers made lenes thru licesne from the manufactuers. So be sure that the lenes you buy are for you camera.

Lastly older camera range from fully manual like the Pentax k1000 or the Nikon FM all the way up to the pro SLRs like the F4s and F5s. Almost every photgraphy student started with a manual camera and I still believe its a good place to start.  They are solid rugged and almost indestructable( I once dropped a K1000 from hieght of about9 feet and other than a little dent in the bottom plate is worked fine. Try that with today palstic wonders) remember that these cameras are, in some cases over 30 years old and still are functioning like new. The newer auto focus, multi mode cameras are more complicated to learn on but do offer more in the long run. Of course more toys and lighter weight materials meens more to break and more to $ repair.

I guess in the long run, Older Film cameras are still in my opinion better buys that the new generation of flim cameras. You can buy a better quality camera for the same price of todays EOS' types and  yesterdays cameras will be still be working long after todays plastic wonders have gone to the landfills.