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1 Pentax K-1000
2 canon AE-1
3 olympus om 10
Thanks in advance to all who reply.
I am looking for a great old manual camera, with a 50mm 1.8 or better lens. From my list above which would you recomend. I own a nikon f75 but with poor sigma lens, and i am thinking it is cheeper to buy one of the above and get razor sharp pics do you agree ?
Would you not be better buying a Nikon 50mm, f1/8 for your F75, It's a great sharp lens.
The cameras you have listed, Are all very long in the tooth, And your chances of buying a good one are limited at best, Or your going to have to chance it and have one restored.
If I had to I'd recommend the K1000.
If you want full manual and can get one can get a pentax MX it would be a much better camera to use as it shows aperture and shutter speed in the finder.
Likewise with olympus an OM-1 or 2 is better and probably more reliable, the x0 series cameras have quite a poor reputation for failing.
Although the 50mm f/1.4 FD lens is brilliant (I have one on my F-1n & T-90) Canon's A and T series cameras are not good to use in manual mode and have frequently have shutter problems so steer clear, or listen for a squeaky sound and if you hear it don't buy. The F-1/F-1n models are the only ones that really work well in manual.
I'm curious why you aren't considering a Nikon FG/FG20 which are similar to the AE-1? I guess that maybe these cameras are available, but I suggest wait a bit and do a little more research.
Quote: Would you not be better buying a Nikon 50mm, f1/8 for your F75, It's a great sharp lens.
Agreed...
but if you also hanker after a 'manual' SLR why not a 2nd hand FM2n for example...I very much regret flogging mine a few years back...
And again... Stick with your F75 and get a 50m f1.8 from here - £66 delivered and with you in four days.
Quote: I'm curious why you aren't considering a Nikon FG/FG20
Both budget cameras (as was the EM) and not too well made or reliable compared to the more expensive Nikons of the same era.
Just in case you were thinking of buying a manual focus Nikkor 50mm, I think you will lose all functionality including metering on the F75, so will need an AF one.
There are huge numbers too choose from and prices these days are pretty cheep. All three camera`s you listed were very popular in there day and sold in large numbers.
Look at the Nikon FM/FM2 or olympus OM2/OM2 SP. The k1000 is a good, has manual everything and is built like a tank 
Large numbers of second hand listed bellow.
LCE
I part exchanged my Zenith EM for a Fuji ST605 in the late 70s. First class little camera.
Eventually sold it to a colleague when I bought my Yashica FRs - when fuji changed from the 42mm screw mount to their X-mount and plastic bodies.
The metering gave up the ghost after he'd had it for about 6 months.
jas
I'm happy with my Pentax MXs even if they are a tad fragile in comparison with the K1000 - there's also the ME-Super a lovely little camera, if fiddly to use in manual mode - loads of them around secondhand for very little money..
The K and M series Pentax primes are first rate, the fast standards are up there with anyone's glass but cost considerably less in many cases...
If you can afford a bit extra, go for the LX instead of the ME. Fully weather-sealed and one of the best metering systems of any camera. In fact, I could sell you mine, if you're interested. It hasn't been used in a while and I need the cash to fund my large-format habit...
Just a quick plug for Olympus - If you can afford it try a OM2 SP - super little camera, well built, excellent metering system and razor sharp lenses, and they look dead cool in black !!!
Here's another vote for the Olympus OM2 SP.
Now why oh why did I ever sell mine 
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