BebuLamar

The T90 certainly has a wheel like that of the EOS cameras. The AE-1 has a dial but which is best to turn with 1 finger similar to the modern wheel. Same for the A-1. In fact one can't touch the A-1 wheel with 2 fingers. (The AE-P on the other hand has the same shutter speed dial as a Nikon or Pentax).

NMGal Loc: NE NM

Mostly what I was looking for was a camera that you could set the aperture, speed, EC and iso by dials on top of the camera and a ring around the lens. The best of the film era combined with the ability to see what you are getting thru the viewfinder/monitor without delving into multiple menus. Does this make sense?

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

I guess I should be more specific. The Zenit E, The A Canons, Nikons et all, most had dials. Primarily shutter speed dials on the camera. We're really - I think - talking about multi function dials where both shutter speed, aperture, and other things can be controlled from a single dial. I think that the T90 was amongst the first to do that. Please feel free to add your knowledge and correct me if necessary.

When did the shift to multi-function dials occur? Which vendors pioneered the way?

blackest Loc: Ireland

Pentax , have some and with $2000 you would just about afford the Pentax K1 and it can still use the Takumar 55mm 1.8 you have. Even when Pentax moved to the K-mount they still sold an adapter to mount the m42 lenses to the k-mount bodies I have a few takumars myself which work with all my Pentax bodies Film and Digital.

BebuLamar

What I meant is that a person who was used to the Canon A series wouldn't miss the aperture ring and shutter speed dial common on the Nikon, Pentax and Minolta of the period.

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

Yes it does. Today's Canon EOS cameras do most of that, except that they meter with an open aperture. To see the depth of field requires stopping down the lens, which darkens the viewfinder. Without switching to an electronic viewfinder/mirrorless system that may be a challenge with any brand. Your desires may be met in multiple ways, but for a DSLR type camera that could be a year or few in the future.

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

What does any of this back and forth have to do with the OP's question, and how does it help her?

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

I'm trying to understand what the OP is looking for. I may be being obtuse, and if so I apologies, but I'm trying to understand the question that seems a little vague.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

It’s gotta be a tactile thing...I get it.

blackest Loc: Ireland

With M42 lenses pentax bodies just use them in aperture priority mode. if they don't have the a/m switch you focus open and stop down to what you want.

for the km lenses the aperture lever is held open in manual mode a press of the green button and the lever is released to the position set by the aperture the body meters the scene and sets an appropriate shutter speed if you don't like it you can change the iso and it will adjust the shutter speed.

for the ka lenses pentax invented a lens code which the body interprets to find the minimum and maximum aperture of the lens the aperture lever moves in proportion to the f-stop ( the km lever movement was linear) in a mode the aperture ring is set to the minimum f-stop. If you want to use it like a km you just move the aperture ring away from the minimum position.
F series lenses work the same way but also have auto focus. for the older lenses you are manually adjusting the lens till the af system confirms.

Some bodies have a single dial the better bodies have a front and rear dial the readout in the view finder tells you f-stop if available (km and m42 lenses give f- ) the shutter speed and iso it also tells you if you are under or over exposing.

It's a nice system I like it.

With older lenses you should set the focal length when you turn the camera on this sets the in body stabilisation for the lens anything newer than a ka lens tells the body the focal length automatically and the body sets the focus and aperture.

Of course if you want to you can also use a handheld meter and set the values according to your meter readings.

jeweler53

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikon-DF-Digital-SLR-Camera-Body-Silver-Shutter-Count-under-26K-With-Case/332541757048?hash=item4d6d088678:g:KfYAAOSwLwBadN9B

US $1,359.99. You would still have $600+ for lenses. I LOVE mine.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

There are cameras that "seem" to work alot like film cameras.


The BEST "digital but film experience" that I ever had was the Epson R-D1x. It was the bridge between film and digital. It has a tiny useless LCD that only shows you menu stuff, so no chimping, and you cock the shutter by rotating the film advance knob!

6mb files too. They were the most "film like" files I've ever produced (except for film of course)

it's the film experience in digital for sure. I loved it.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/BOXED-N-MINT-EPSON-R-D1x-Body-Rangefinder-Digital-Camera-from-Japan/142659214380?hash=item213726dc2c:g:QKEAAOSwI8laN4Ns

My copy of the RD-1x

(Download)

Sample image

(Download)

Novicus Loc: north and east

Including a 50 f2.0 lens would be under 2k.

BebuLamar

The Fuji has very similar controls as a film cameras but the viewfinder is electronic and the sensor is smaller than that of the Pentax Spotmatic. The Nikon Df also has similar controls and has a reflex viewfinder like the Spotmatic and has the sensor of the same size.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

I wonder how many photographers here started with a Spotmatic. (I did). Why not a combination, digital/film camera? (a fantasy of mine)