Well, I'm repeating an earlier post of mine from a few minutes ago, and I know I'm repeating some of what others have posted on this thread, but here goes anyway.
The K1000 is an ideal student camera. But, it has achieved an almost cult-like status for that purpose, such that many ignore some cameras that will, ultimately, be more satisfying and useful in the long run (MX, KX, KM, etc). Due to the demand for the K1000, it's price is not too far off of these (relative to the K1000) feature laden cameras. One thing that the K1000 has going for it is that it is much easier to find, given it's very long production run, and given that many are used by students, to then be traded in for something else. Around these parts, go into the used department of any decent camera store and find 3 or 4 K1000's. Not too many of the other mentioned cameras to be found. I don't see that the lack of viewfinder info, or lack of DOF preview has much impact on students. I don't think they'd hurt, or disqualify a camera as a student camera, but hey, how difficult is it to know what your camera settings are? I did it for years, no problem at all, with my Spotties and Prakticas. Count the clicks... Do I like exposure info in my viewfinder? Sure. But if one is concentrating, it's no biggie, imho. The other thing about a K1000, the student knows that it will hold it's value, so he/she can sell it to next semester's tyros without a loss. Kind of a rent-a-camera. cheers, frank Christian Skofteland wrote: > I'm sure the K1000 is a good basic camera but why do many people think it's a > good "student" camera? > > >From Boz's site: > "This big, heavy, and fully mechanical body offers no automation of any kind. > It offers only the most basic features: a light-tight box, a film advance, a > tripod socket, and a built-in light meter: all that one needs for learning > the basics of photography. This total lack of convenience features explains > the cult status of the K1000 among photo students worldwide. However, it > fails to explain its popularity with PDML members. I mean, do you people not > miss viewfinder information on aperture and shutter speed, a self-timer, a > DOF preview lever or minimal flash automation? Wouldn't a KX or a KM be a > better choice?" > > Why is it "good" for students to have a total lack of viewfinder information > (barring of course exposure info)? Why does a student not need to know what > shutter speed he/she is shooting at without moving the camera from the eye to > look at the dial? Why is it bad for a student to not be able to see what > aperture he/she is using so he/she can judge depth of field? > > When I was learning photography (I'm still learning but I have a full > understanding of exposure. I'm always learning) all I had was a Ricoh KR5. > It frustrated me on several levels but number one was not knowing what my > shutter and aperture was without moving the camera from my eye. (other > things that bothered me about this camera: no DOF preview (which the k1000 > lacks but is not needed for a beginner; after all they should understand what > DOF is first before adding this convenience) and a max shutter speed of 1/2 > (the k1000 has 1 sec which is fine)). > > Ok, the student should just be able to see relationship of aperture and > shutter-speed based on movements of the match needle exposure indicator, but > I feel that knowing the actual value is much more helpful to understand the > basics of photography. > > k1000 not a good "student" camera? Heresy? My opinion? Give me an MX any > day over a K1000.... > > Christian -- "The optimist thinks this is the best of all possible worlds. The pessimist fears it is true." -J. Robert Oppenheimer
