I sent an email to the man who wrote that quote, and his answer was that if
I felt that comment offensive, I sgould read Popular Photography, which
doesn't ever print anything offensive...
The point is, I'm not a pro, but I've been taking nice pictures for almost
20 years. I happen to own a Pentax SV, with an external exposure meter, a
35, a 50 and a 135mm Super Takumar; also a YashicaMat 6x6 which I love.
But, for certain situations, it was cumbersome top exchange lenses (they're
screw-mount 49s), to have to manual meter everything, and, of course, to
carry that weight! So I had some (little) money and got my paws on a F50.
Since I'm a musician and don't earn millions with my music, I can't afford
to buy what I would like, and I'm not stupid, so I know I'm getting what I
payed for, but do you know what? The F50 is great for what I needed: I
mostly take pictures when I travel, maybe some landscapes, but mostly
architecture, people, etc. So I needed something sort of quick and simple,
but used to a good old SLR, don't feel satisfied with P&S, and the tiny
F50, in the hands of a 33 years old musician, can deliver quite some good
pictures, because as I would manage to make good music with an average
guitar, I'm able to take good pictures with an average camera. Anyone with
the right skills can. Even a 12 year old kid with a K1000, of course.
The bottom line, I may someday change my Nikon for a pro model, but at the
moment, I love this one, and will defend it ti death against those snobs
who suppose that if you're not a pro you don't count.
Keep shooting!
----
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Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999 09:19:45 +1030
From: "Brian Mckinnon" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: why spend all your money? [v04.n243/6]
Message: 6
Tony Balm. wrote:
>I liked the final comment on the report which read as
>follows.
>Bottom line: a 12-year-old with a Pentax K1000, 50/1.7, and
>tripod will get a better picture than 95% of the people who
>buy a fancy Nikon or Canon SLR + zoom lens.
>Too true!
...
>These are the types of photo situations that the average punter would buy
>and use his/her camera for.
>The only time I could see a K1000 being able to take a better shot than a
>current camera is
>when used by a competent user who understands exposure and metering and in
a
>situation that suits a 50mm lens.
>
>In all these cases and more, the modern camera with a zoom offers speed,
>convenience and ability.
>This is not to say the average zoom is as sharp as a 50mm fixed lens, but
>this is not what was stated.
>If I gave a k1000 to a friend who knows very little about Photography and
>another friend a F60 with zoom on program I know who's going to achieve
the
>better overall results, and these are potentially the sort of people
implied
>to be the 95% of users.
IMHO
Brian
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