Steve M.
Veteran
My quest for a great under $100 SLR ended in an unusual place. I had bought a Nikkormat FT2 w/ non AI 50 2.0 and 105 2.5 lenses (technically had about $140 in that setup), two Pentax SMC 50 2.0 and SMC 50 1.7 lenses that I tried on various Pentax and Ricoh bodies, and for a ringer a Konica Auto S2 w/ fixed Hexanon 45 1.8 lens that had cost all of $40 w/ shipping and had a nice half case.
To make a long story short, the Nikon glass couldn't handle the hard, contrasty light of the desert where I live (although it did fine in lower light). Loved the Nikkormat FT2 camera though! What a machine.
The Pentax glass had essentially the same problem, and wasn't as sharp as the Nikon. Made nice images though in lesser light, and the setup was half the weight and size of the Nikkormat. The SMC Pentax lenses had made great images for me in Hawaii's softer light, but just couldn't hack it out here in New Mexico.
The Konica worked great in auto mode or manual, and was able to cope w/ the strong, harsh light pretty well. It was handicapped by it's 1/500 top shutter speed, and it wasn't in the same league as the SLR for portraits, but I may keep the Nikkormat w/ 105 lens just for that purpose.
Here's some shots from the Konica that are close to Leica in IQ in my opinion. Neat camera. All the shots were from Walgreens scans of Kodak C41 B&W film.
To make a long story short, the Nikon glass couldn't handle the hard, contrasty light of the desert where I live (although it did fine in lower light). Loved the Nikkormat FT2 camera though! What a machine.
The Pentax glass had essentially the same problem, and wasn't as sharp as the Nikon. Made nice images though in lesser light, and the setup was half the weight and size of the Nikkormat. The SMC Pentax lenses had made great images for me in Hawaii's softer light, but just couldn't hack it out here in New Mexico.
The Konica worked great in auto mode or manual, and was able to cope w/ the strong, harsh light pretty well. It was handicapped by it's 1/500 top shutter speed, and it wasn't in the same league as the SLR for portraits, but I may keep the Nikkormat w/ 105 lens just for that purpose.
Here's some shots from the Konica that are close to Leica in IQ in my opinion. Neat camera. All the shots were from Walgreens scans of Kodak C41 B&W film.
