Few people have ever tried enough cameras to choose "the best": where are the Alpas? Tessinas? Linhofs? Besides, "the best" is the sort of thing that intelligent people grow out of in their teens, or at the latest, when they are old enough to admit that they are unlikely ever to be able to afford the consumerist icons. Which is "best"? Rolls Royce? Bentley? Aston Martin? Ferrari? Which does what you want? Which can you afford?
Cheers,
R.
Roger, I was thinking along some of the same lines, I was a kid when I started, and we certainly could not afford magazines to even read about the "best" cameras-- and by High School graduation I had been working/hanging around (never took home a cash paycheck-- only "in kind" payment)" from a shop that is still doing business.
I did have a used (I think everything was used in my world) Rollei 3.5 and H1a Pentax, -- the economic philosophy was to stick with a system once you bought in-- and the Speed Graphic I had used in school.
Shop sold Hasselblad, Rollei, Linhof, Nikon F and Leica, many often to non users I felt, folks who wore cameras on occasion, but I have to say the Nikons were the most used.
Just not by me. It took almost ten years before I could afford those choices-- so I shot with the Rollei and upgraded the H1a to the Spotmatic, bought some lenses and the shop owner gave me Rollei attachments as they came in with trades. I did pick up an S2 that came in.
I do think you get a feeling for someone writing about cameras which they never used-- but you recall the games back then-- the magazines used to disassemble the cameras, and bury you in stats, perhaps shooting one or two rolls, etc. I always wondered if they got those cameras back together?
I posted this, passed along by several of my friends-- because I was interested in specific opinions, and I figured about collectively we should have had first hand experience with much of what is on the list-- e.g. it is much of your baliwick for sure-
Which is a long way around the barn to say I agree, but I am curious how people come to use some equipment purchased for other than collection status.
I mean, I had a rough 4x5 and 6x9cm, and traded my bicycle for the Speed Graphic-- which I had used for years as a RF camera shooting everything from groups to sports, I used the Rollei for what I thought was serious work, portraits and for weddings, and the Pentax for reportage and candid work.
I would also be interested in your list of cameras are bought for elegance and beauty-- the Art Deco Bantum, etc. -- which also produce fine images.
Sorry, have broken the rules regarding long posts--
but I know you read quickly Roger.
Trust it to say I always enjoy the input of many others --
Regards, John
