[Leica] I need a cheap film camera

[jklu at sas.upenn.edu (Jeffrey Lu)]

Bob,

Good point. the FM is definitely professional grade, though personally, 
I don't like to use the label "pro camera."  I used to be intimidated 
by them before I really got into photography; when I did, I came to see 
such cameras as enthusiast cameras, for those serious about the 
pleasures of manual rewinding, film advancing, etc, just like those of 
gear shifting.

Certainly a classic Porsche would be better classified as an enthusiast 
car than a beginner's car, but it can serve as a great beginner's car 
(funds allowing) in that it'll teach the true basics of driving.  Same 
for the FM and photography.  The beauty is its relative price!

Jeff

On Oct 6, 2004, at 1:59 AM, Afterswift@aol.com wrote:

> In a message dated 10/5/04 10:24:16 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
> lug-request@leica-users.org writes:
>
>> The majority of students I've known in the US start off with a Nikon
>>  FM/FM2/FM2n.  I started with an FM3a.  Paired with a 50mm f/1.8, 
>> it's a
>>  great beginner's camera.
> ----------------------------------------
> Jeff,
>
> Could we really say that an FM is a beginner's camera? Wouldn't it be 
> more
> accurate to consider the FM to be a truly mechanical pro camera? Like 
> all such
> pro cameras, they are also great training tools. If you really want to 
> get to
> know the craft of photography, what better camera could you use than a 
> 4x5 or
> the even the simpler 8x10? In the 35mm field, that would be the FM -- 
> and I
> mean the original FM! If the Nikon F is a Bugati, the FM is a Porsche. 
> You had
> better learn to shift gears in these models or just stay home and run 
> around the
> block with a P&S digital. I think cine cameramen still use light 
> meters. Does
> anyone remember Weston meters?
> I think they're still sold new in Europe, last I heard.
>
> Bob
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