Christian, To me, the MX was the ultimate camera to learn with - not the K1000. I believe the other reason for the K1000 popularity was that it was relatively inexpensive. I would never want one myself - same as you - missing too much viewfinder info.
Bruce Tuesday, November 19, 2002, 12:41:15 PM, you wrote: CS> I'm sure the K1000 is a good basic camera but why do many people think it's a CS> good "student" camera? CS> From Boz's site: CS> "This big, heavy, and fully mechanical body offers no automation of any kind. CS> It offers only the most basic features: a light-tight box, a film advance, a CS> tripod socket, and a built-in light meter: all that one needs for learning CS> the basics of photography. This total lack of convenience features explains CS> the cult status of the K1000 among photo students worldwide. However, it CS> fails to explain its popularity with PDML members. I mean, do you people not CS> miss viewfinder information on aperture and shutter speed, a self-timer, a CS> DOF preview lever or minimal flash automation? Wouldn't a KX or a KM be a CS> better choice?" CS> Why is it "good" for students to have a total lack of viewfinder information CS> (barring of course exposure info)? Why does a student not need to know what CS> shutter speed he/she is shooting at without moving the camera from the eye to CS> look at the dial? Why is it bad for a student to not be able to see what CS> aperture he/she is using so he/she can judge depth of field? CS> When I was learning photography (I'm still learning but I have a full CS> understanding of exposure. I'm always learning) all I had was a Ricoh KR5. CS> It frustrated me on several levels but number one was not knowing what my CS> shutter and aperture was without moving the camera from my eye. (other CS> things that bothered me about this camera: no DOF preview (which the k1000 CS> lacks but is not needed for a beginner; after all they should understand what CS> DOF is first before adding this convenience) and a max shutter speed of 1/2 CS> (the k1000 has 1 sec which is fine)). CS> Ok, the student should just be able to see relationship of aperture and CS> shutter-speed based on movements of the match needle exposure indicator, but CS> I feel that knowing the actual value is much more helpful to understand the CS> basics of photography. CS> k1000 not a good "student" camera? Heresy? My opinion? Give me an MX any CS> day over a K1000.... CS> Christian
