A pleasurable half hour & pause for thought

[Phill D]

Recently on the way back from a business trip I called into a little camera shop basically with the intention of trying out an Oly E510 as I hadn't been able to handle one anwhere near home. Anyway this little shop was a real gem, stacked full of old cameras and owned by a very friendly chap who even when he realised he didn't have what I wanted was more than happy to chat. We got to talking about the camera I might one day buy & I tried out a few similar ones, including a canon 400D & an old Oly E500 neither really felt quite right in my hands. I happened to say that many years ago I used to have a Yashica FR slr & have always regretted letting it go. At which point he turned round & said you mean like this. There it was a slightly battered example of my old Yashica. Reunited I soon began remembering the lovely qualities it had, I used to love those flashing leds. I also began to look at a new digital slr purchase in a new light. The key thing that staggered me was the size & brightness of the viewfinder on the FR it looked to be about 4 times the size of the Oly E500 and really put the EVF of my FZ20 to shame. It just goes to show what we have grown up with in the new digital age. If only there was an affordable digi slr with a viewfinder as large and bright as the FR... or is there? anyone have a comparison of the latest digi slr viewfinders? I'd really like to thank that helpful proprieter of the little camera shop in Farnborough (don't know the name but it's near to ASDA) you really made my day with your friendly chat and allowing me to handle that old FR. Websites are great for saving money but I hope shops like this can survive too.

[AlexMonro]

The small shops will only survive if people use them. Remember that the headline prices on websites usually don't include the "hidden extras" like delivery and insurance, which can often be another 10-15 quid or more. In addition, there's the hassle of ensuring that someone can sign for the delivery, and if there's any problems and the equipment has to be returned, that's a load more hassle. Personally, I'm happy to pay 5-10% over the full cost of an on-line purchase for the convenience and peace of mind of being able to collect from a local shop and check things over before I walk out the door.

As regards viewfinders, remember that the four thirds sensor of the Olympus DSLRs is one quarter the area of full frame 35mm, so this will have a corresponding effect on the viewfinder image. The fact that the kit zoom lenses supplied with modern DSLRs are typically a couple of stops slower than the typical 50mm prime kit lens of most 35mm film SLRs doesn't help either.

[Phill D]

Yes you're quite right Alex but boy doesn't looking through an old film slr make the difference obvious. I think investing in a viewfinder magnification lens would be a good idea.

[Beowulff]

I always buy camera gear from a bricks 'n' mortar store in preference to the Internet. I've actually found that once you consider freight and insurance costs from online sellers, the overall cost from a store can be LESS than online. To me, the insecurities and potential hazards of shopping online don't really balance out saving a few bob.

I'm also a great believer in supporting local businesses too, rather than some faceless, profit-geared, service-shy, backyarder with nothing but a "virtual" warehouse and a post office box number.

Coincidentally, in the middle 60's I owned a Yashica Lynx rangefinder with a huge ƒ1.4 lens! Those were the "good old days" of lovely, smooth ASA 25 film. Oh dear..... I think I'm choking up LOL.

Cheers :)

[Phill D]

I sympathise Beowulff but I don't miss the wait for developing & the frustration when it wasn't done right.

[mjsneddon]

I would like very much to be able to shop in a real camera store (without driving 150 miles). But, alas, that opportunity left me several years ago now.

On the nostalgic front: I bought a Yashica TL Super in 1969 while in Vietnam. It also had a very nice 50mm f1.4 lens. I still have it but have not put a roll of film through it in a few years. But, I keep telling myself...one of these days...

Have a good day.

[Phill D]

150 miles to a camera shop phew that would take some dedication here with petrol at just over £5 per gallon (thats ~$10 per gallon:(). I hope you are surrounded by some nice countryside to compensate so you can give that old Yashica a run out one day.