Evan Hanson wrote:
>Does anyone know the absolutely cheapest screw mount or k mount
>35 mm slr ever produced. New or used I'm basically looking for
>something that I would feel comfortable letting the kids use all of the
>time. I figure I could attach some dirt cheap lenses like the famous
>Sears 50 mm f2 and let the kids learn to love photography the same
>way I did by experimentation....
Hi Evan,
Good for you for spending time teaching your children the fundamentals of
photography! Just thought I'd chime in with my two cents worth. (Well,
maybe a buck and a quarter's worth, given the length of my note. <g> ) If
you want to pick up a cheap screw-mount or K-mount, a used Chinon is
certainly one option. I know Chinon made a screw-mount camera for Sears (my
father has one), and I believe they also made a K-mount for Sears as well.
Chinon also marketed these cameras under their own name -- I think CM-2 is
the model for the manual screw-mount body. You can check eBay for typical
prices; otherwise, many on-line dealers often carry used Chinon, Sears, etc.
in decent condition at dirt-cheap prices. A used K1000 or other Pentax
K-body would certainly be a good choice, but expect to pay more. You can
find a K-1000 with SMC-M 50mm f/2 lens for under $100 on eBay if you watch
the prices and bid at the last minute. I bought one in excellent condition
for $90 a few months ago, and I wouldn't hesitate letting any of my three
older grandchildren (ages 6, 9, and 11) take a picture with it.
I'll have to respectfully disagree with J. Hein's position on this subject.
He states, "Hmm, I never understand people letting children of that age
(including the 10 year old) have SLR equipment in first place. The concept
of delicate and easy to break things are `adult only' seems to be
non-existing any more. But then I don't know your children...." Maybe my
childhood memories are a little different from those of J.H. However, the
prevailing notion under which I grew up is this: some things are more
delicate/fragile/complicated/dangerous, they need to be treated with more
respect than less delicate/fragile/complicated/dangerous things, and they're
not to be handled until the proper respect is learned. Period. We children
(my brothers and I) knew and respected our limits. If we wanted to learn
how to use "real" tools -- whether it was cameras, musical instruments,
kitchen appliances, power tools, firearms, or whatever -- we knew our
parents or grandparents were more than willing to teach, guide, and
supervise. We learned a lot that way.
If a child is enthusiastic about learning photography -- or any hobby for
that matter -- the greatest disservice an adult can do is to buy that child
a "toy" that will perform marginally, that's difficult to use, or that will
become inoperable after a short time. Buy the child a "real" camera, then
provide the time and guidance required so that he/she learns to use it
properly. Is the child going to drop a lens and break it? Maybe, but you
or I could just as well drop a lens and break it. Accidents happen. And
when they do, don't jump all over the poor kid -- that will kill a budding
interest more quickly than anything I know of. Instead, treat it as a good
opportunity to perhaps learn a little about the mechanics of the broken
part. Lens broken beyond repair? At least you now have a chance to
disassemble one and see how they're put together, and how they work. Maybe
you'll be able to fix the next one that takes a tumble. That said, I'd
stick with prime lenses (easier to take apart and repair), and I'd not spend
any more than I'd be comfortable losing in a catastrophic event. An old K
or M42 body can probably take quite a few tumbles and still survive, as can
a well-constructed 50mm f/2 lens. Even if you break a lens or two, the cost
of a 50mm f/2 is cheap compared to the value of a child's budding interest
in all things photographic.
If your young daughters already have developed the necessary patience for
manual focusing, manual metering, and manual selection of aperture and
shutter speed, then bless their little hearts! No telling where this is all
likely to lead. Perhaps they'd be interested in carousing the used camera
shops or the on-line ads with you. Know somebody with even an inexpensive
refracting telescope? It's possible to take telephoto shots of distant
daylight scenes -- or even the moon -- by setting the camera to infinity
focus and aiming through the focused eyepiece of the scope. Perhaps you
know someone with a darkroom -- your daughters would probably get a kick out
of shooting some Tri-X, developing a roll or two, and seeing the results.
Do you have any old broken lenses? Some children -- and some adults -- can
get a lot of enjoyment out of taking apart old broken widgets to see how
they work. I could go on, but you get the idea.
Good luck with the budding photographers. Of course, we're all expecting to
see some of their shots in a future PUG. Which gives me yet another idea --
how about a PUG for the kids one month, or maybe as a special additional
gallery sometime? What do you think, Bill Robb?
Bill Peifer
Rochester, NY
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