davidk@dartvax.UUCP (David C. Kovar) (04/07/84)
[]
My Canon A1, lens, bag, film, etc etc was ripped off a
few weeks ago. I've accepted the fact that it is gone for good
and am now looking for another camera. I've considered getting
another A1, I loved the last one, but decided to check and see
if anyone had any suggestions to other possible cameras. I heard
that someone (Pentax?) came out with an electronic marvel that
is supposed to rival the A1, what's the scoop on this camera?
Anyone out there own/use one? How about more reasonable, less
techno-junkie cameras? I'd still like to have some automatics
in it, but it need not be overboard. Please mail replies and
I'll post to the net if people are interested. Thanks in
advance.
--
David C. Kovar
USNET: {linus|decvax|cornell}!dartvax!davidk
ARPA: davidk%dartmouth@csnet-relay
CSNET: davidk@dartmouth
U.S. Snail HB 3140
Dartmouth College
Hanover NH
03755
"The difficult we did yesterday, the impossible we are doing now."citrin@ucbvax.UUCP (Wayne Citrin) (04/08/84)
You might consider buying a camera without all of the automation. I own an A-1, and took lots of pictures with it (at least 5 rolls of film a week for a year - lots for an amateur, that is). As time went on, I started trusting the built-in meter less and less and compensating manually for different lighting conditions. Eventually I bought a Luna-Pro sbc hand-held meter and did all my metering with it. When it came time to buy a second camera body I bought a used Canon F-1 (the old version, not the new one). Since the prism over the meter is broken and thus the meter is unreadable, the camera effectively has no electronics and I love it. The thing is incredibly rugged (you could drop kick it, take it to a war, etc) and the shutter goes up to 1/2000 sec. You should consider buying an F-1, particularly if you still have your Canon lenses. I think that even a brand new (old version) F-1 would be a good deal. In combination with the hand held meter I have no complaints. (Yes, I still use my A-1, mainly with a motor drive, but the settings almost always come from my hand-held meter). Wayne Citrin (ucbvax!citrin)
anand@utastro.UUCP (Anand Sivaramakrishnan) (04/09/84)
Just to say that an old Canon FTb is almost as good (and perhaps better) than an F-1. Beter in the sense that I was not afraid to wrap a plastic supermarket-type produce bag around it and take it to the edge of the Gulf Coast with crashing surf and spray. I'd think twice before using my F-1 like that, and consequently lose more opportunities. My FTb has been in Southwestern thunderstorms, desert, seaside, etc...
richard@sdcsvax.UUCP (04/11/84)
I own two Canon F-1s (one is an F-1n, the other the "new" F-1). The old F-1 is primarily used in an Oceanic 35 Underwater Housing, the new F-1 for topside photos. I have put hundreds of rolls through the old F-1, and have NEVER had any problems with it. It has been exposed to salt spray (almost as much as I have), sub-zero temperatures and other, more subtle forms of abuse. Needless to say, I'm a big fan of the F-1. I find the extra ruggedness and the "system" approach worth the extra weight (U/W photography is easier with a speed/sports finder). When the new F-1 came out, I felt that Canon had not incorporated up-to-date technology. When I compared it to the Nikon F-3, I understood why. The Canon F-1 is still a solid brass body, and is in its heart still a manual camera. It FEELS great. The newer cameras (e.g. the F-3, the A-1) just feel cheaper.