Originally posted by StiffLegged Top of my list would be the Pentax MX, a small and fully capable film SLR with the capabilities of the KX but that really compact body wrapped around a fabulous viewfinder. (yes, I've had one since forever)
But would it succeed? Nope. I hate to think what it would cost now and although film is enjoying a revival it's a really small niche within a shrinking niche. Sorry.
I hope you have a great class, film is where it all started for me!
Yes, the MX is an excellent candidate.
Yes, I have no doubt it would be like investing in horses instead of electric vehicles, but there is a niche market and as currently there is no competition, someone with the enough capital to take on losses as a tax write off....For sure we haven't seen typewriters return, but film is not dead and there is a digital generation longing for analog. Vinyl LPs have seen turntables return, albeit either very low end cheap stuff or very high end audiophile elite. I guess I shouldn't compare the simplicity of a turntable to an SLR, but it's fun hoping for a dream.
I have yet to have a film class that hasn't been "great", ever since digital has become the norm. With digital, I'll have a few classes where there are enthusiastic students pushing the envelope, but I also have a share of classes where there are only a couple sparks in class and the rest are dormant. I often wonder if it's me, the teacher, but I can have two sections and I am really running the same curriculum but the two groups for whatever reasons produce and interact at different levels.
With film, 90% of the students are completely engaged and take on both the art and science of photography. Knock on wood, I didn't just jinx my film classes next year!