The first cameras I used were bought for me by my parents: a Kodak 127 format "Brownie Starmite", then a Kodak 126 format "Instamatic 300". After that I started acquiring my own cameras ...
The first one I purchased for myself was a Minolta 16-Ps. It was cheap, small, and had just enough adjustability for me to begin the learning process (fixed focus, two shutter speeds, a range of apertures and suggestions of which aperture to use at what film speed ...). About that time, I entered high school and became adept at borrowing cameras: my grandfather's 1949 Rolleiflex and 1953 Linhof Technika 23, my mother's Argus C3, various Minolta Hi-Matics and the 4x5 Speed Graphic from the Photo Staff at school. The next camera I purchased for myself (with my uncle's help) was a Nikon F Photomic FTn with Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 lens. My other uncle loaned me his Nikkor 21/4 and Nikkor 85/1.8 lenses. That was my kit for a long while. -- Godfrey godfreydigiorgi.posterous.com -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.