R
ruben
Guest
Now, that with solely thanks to the RFF, I am entering for the first time into the 60's Konicas and Yashicas, and take some break from my never ending Kiev Works, I can better see it.
Some two weeks ago I got a Konica Auto S2, which upon a misunderstanding I broke its nose, looking for the built in hood in a model produced without it. (BTW you will never learn unless you are ready to break) Did I felt suicidal? Nope. It costed over $50 including ship. Did I sent it for repair ? Nope. At such a price I can buy another, or better - one for parts. Did I put it aside ? Nope, at such a price I dared to surgeon it. I learned something new and made it operative again. Am I a dexterous mechanical mind ? Not at all and quite the contrary, relatively to the need, I am too impulsive. But I am still childishly curious. When I was a kid, the first thing I did whenever I got a new toy-pistol, was to hide behind the sofa and start disassembling it. Almost always never able to re-assemble again.
From that small Konica nose surgery I learned a lot: This is the first strategic advantage of the Cheapos. I will give the counter example. My most expensive camera is an OM4Ti, bought new from the store. Its winding handle has been gggggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrs-ing from the start, in an hopeless wait for grease from the sky.
Can I open it and start learning about it? Nope, too much money at risk, too complex a mechanism, electronic btw. May I send it to a local wise repairman ? Nope, I do not trust the best one in my country to put his fingers in such a camera. He may fix that specific problem but create another in a 100 % perfect camera .
In my Kiev works I learned to smoothen everything I want, lube everything I want, adjust the RF metering, paint some parts, and make the most of these cameras, according to my present experience. Once you master the basics of your old, good and cheapo camera it becomes a quite different machine, a custom made machine, not for sale everywhere else, a priceless camera. The same is starting to happen with my new Auto S2. A custom mastered camera, is priceless because it doesn't depend anymore about its price, it is all about the knowledge you have got about it, enabling you to 'refurbish' whatever other similar camera you buy later. The auto S2 has a superb lens, mine one day will be a superbly smooth custom unique body too.
Price makes another edge for the Cheapos. Two years ago I went to a tour at Istanbul, a kind of those cities/situations in which you are saturated with photo opportunities beyond your own capacity. Did I take my superfast, supergood, multi spot metering OM4Ti ? Yes, you are right: Nope, too expensive to risk at unknown lands. Can I carry it daily at my backpack ? Nope, too expensive, too risky. Do I use it at all ? Yes, some times, provided no risks involved, interland only and within civilized situations (street shooting excluded). This is the second other edge of the Old, Good and Cheapos.
How much am I risking with a couple of Kiev 2a+4 lenses+2 UTFs? Let me see, 140+140+200+100= $580. (The Kievs are not to be held among the really Cheapos)
How much am I risking for the same kit, being it OM4Ti + OM4 ? 1000+500+500 for used lenses = $2000.
And what about the results, if in a strike of madness I took my 4Ti overseas ? Perhaps more pics with the newer gear, but about the same image quality.
The issue is not wether you are perfectly happy with your new superexpensive gear at home, hearing the clicks, but wether you dare to take it wherever you are, and also without being afraid it may be stolen at home.
Cheers,
Ruben
Some two weeks ago I got a Konica Auto S2, which upon a misunderstanding I broke its nose, looking for the built in hood in a model produced without it. (BTW you will never learn unless you are ready to break) Did I felt suicidal? Nope. It costed over $50 including ship. Did I sent it for repair ? Nope. At such a price I can buy another, or better - one for parts. Did I put it aside ? Nope, at such a price I dared to surgeon it. I learned something new and made it operative again. Am I a dexterous mechanical mind ? Not at all and quite the contrary, relatively to the need, I am too impulsive. But I am still childishly curious. When I was a kid, the first thing I did whenever I got a new toy-pistol, was to hide behind the sofa and start disassembling it. Almost always never able to re-assemble again.
From that small Konica nose surgery I learned a lot: This is the first strategic advantage of the Cheapos. I will give the counter example. My most expensive camera is an OM4Ti, bought new from the store. Its winding handle has been gggggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrs-ing from the start, in an hopeless wait for grease from the sky.
Can I open it and start learning about it? Nope, too much money at risk, too complex a mechanism, electronic btw. May I send it to a local wise repairman ? Nope, I do not trust the best one in my country to put his fingers in such a camera. He may fix that specific problem but create another in a 100 % perfect camera .
In my Kiev works I learned to smoothen everything I want, lube everything I want, adjust the RF metering, paint some parts, and make the most of these cameras, according to my present experience. Once you master the basics of your old, good and cheapo camera it becomes a quite different machine, a custom made machine, not for sale everywhere else, a priceless camera. The same is starting to happen with my new Auto S2. A custom mastered camera, is priceless because it doesn't depend anymore about its price, it is all about the knowledge you have got about it, enabling you to 'refurbish' whatever other similar camera you buy later. The auto S2 has a superb lens, mine one day will be a superbly smooth custom unique body too.
Price makes another edge for the Cheapos. Two years ago I went to a tour at Istanbul, a kind of those cities/situations in which you are saturated with photo opportunities beyond your own capacity. Did I take my superfast, supergood, multi spot metering OM4Ti ? Yes, you are right: Nope, too expensive to risk at unknown lands. Can I carry it daily at my backpack ? Nope, too expensive, too risky. Do I use it at all ? Yes, some times, provided no risks involved, interland only and within civilized situations (street shooting excluded). This is the second other edge of the Old, Good and Cheapos.
How much am I risking with a couple of Kiev 2a+4 lenses+2 UTFs? Let me see, 140+140+200+100= $580. (The Kievs are not to be held among the really Cheapos)
How much am I risking for the same kit, being it OM4Ti + OM4 ? 1000+500+500 for used lenses = $2000.
And what about the results, if in a strike of madness I took my 4Ti overseas ? Perhaps more pics with the newer gear, but about the same image quality.
The issue is not wether you are perfectly happy with your new superexpensive gear at home, hearing the clicks, but wether you dare to take it wherever you are, and also without being afraid it may be stolen at home.
Cheers,
Ruben
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