NMGal Loc: NE NM

On a whim, I recently bought a Pentax Spotmatic SP 35mm film camera with a Takumar 55mm 1.8 lens. Love the simplicity. Can’t wait to get the film developed. I also love seeing my pictures immediately and the ability to delete that you have with digital. My question is, are there any cameras out there that have dials for speed and iso and lenses with aperture rings? I have been looking at Fujifilm, maybe the X-E2S. Leica is too expensive. I need a great viewfinder and don’t care about video. My budget is $2,000 or less. Are there any other brands I should look at? Any advice would be appreciated.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I've recently seen an ad for a D800 for $1200. If you get an appropriate lens for that you'll have all you mentioned. I use a 28~85 Nikkor which has an F-stop ring on it. It's quite a nice lens. Though it might have some limits. It may take a bit of searching, but they are out there.
--Bob

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

I suspect marrying film and digital might lead to a noisy brood of thumb nails...

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

You mean digital? Nikon Df, rather retro, but $$$. Many vintage lenses that have click-stops (aperture-ring) can be used on DSLRs and Mirrorless cameras. Do a bit of research on that.

Yes, the Asahi/Honeywell Pentax Spotmatic was a great simple camera. I have one and later K-mount K1000 and K2 DMD film cameras.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Consider a Nikon D3400 DSLR Camera with 18-55mm and 70-300mm Lenses. It runs under $600.Comes with a great walk around lens and another for extended coverage.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1275034-REG/nikon_1573_d3400_dslr_camera_with.html

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Why not an xe3?

pesfls Loc: Oregon, USA

A slightly used in ex condition Nikon Df will run about $1800. All lenses since 1959 work on it as they did in the film days, up through the latest ones. If you mean and a lense in same purchase then it would be over your budget.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Indeed - good suggestion.

Deacon Pete Loc: New Jersey

You can get a new fuji xt1 at B&H for $599.00
The excellent 18-55 and 23 f 1.4 added will still keep you under your budget. Fuji has a good number of great lens and the xt1 has dials for iso, speed, and EC. Lens have aperature rings. It brings back the old day feeling!

NMGal Loc: NE NM

Lots of good suggestions. Thanks all. The Nikon looked good but is pricey when also adding good lenses. I am focusing on the Fujifilm XT-1 with a 50mm lens.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Good choice. If you want a “normal” lens, similar to the 50mm on your Pentax, you might also consider the 35 f1.4 as it has a similar field of view when used on an APS camera like the XT-1. I can also recommend the image stabilized 18-55. Not as fast, small or light, but a versatile lens with excellent IQ that would still fit within your budget.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

If I understand what you are looking for, the Nikon Df has dials for Shutter Speed, ISO and Exposure Compensation. But the Df goes for about $2750 new, a bit more than your $2000 budget, though you may find one refurbished or used for less.
Also Nikon has quite a few lenses that have Aperture rings, I use a number of these lenses on my Df.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Why do you want aperture control on the lens? Why does it need to be controlled by a dial? I will speak from the perspective of Canon cameras, since that is what I know best. I use two Canon DSLRs with primarily Canon lenses, but some older adapted film lenses of multiple brands. Although the Canon DSLRs offer lots of automated modes, they can also be set to function with the simplicity of a 1960s era or 1970s camera. Not everything can be controlled with a camera dial on those old lenses, but everything can be controlled. With modern lenses everything can be controlled with a few buttons and a dial.

My reference points go back to an extremely simple and manual Zenit E, Canon AE-1, and Nikon and Contax from that early time period. One of the first cameras to use a dial was the Canon T90 from 1986, which essentially became the design model for most modern DSLRs. With that I could set aperture, shutter speed etc. from a dial, ISO from buttons. I could also use the aperture settings on the lens in stopped down mode. It seemed to cover all the options.

What exactly are you looking for?

BebuLamar

I don't know about the Zenit but Canon was a manufacturer who didn't use the shutter speed dial. You can see to change the shutter speed on the Canon AE-1 and A-1 is similar to the newer Canon that is it's a wheel and to be turned with 1 finger. The aperture ring is rarely ever used on the Canon AE-1, A-1.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Now wait Bebu. We both know things about Canon's A series cameras, and you pointed out an error in my understanding a little while back. I think you may have meant the aperture dial in your comment. Anyhow thank you for identifying and correcting my previous misunderstanding. However, when talking about dials, I was referencing the T90, which is whole different kettle of fish. Now we could do the same test, especially if you have a T90, and I may be right or I may be wrong, I'll take a look when I have time, but mostly this is academic, and doesn't help the OP. What is he looking for? As far as I understand it primarily relates to Pentax, or multiple other brands, not the weeds of historical Canon details.