On Wed, 1 Jan 2003 09:44:50 -0500, "Ken Rosenbaum" <kenrosenbaum@accessNOSPAMtoledo..com> wrote:

>"Gil" <ain'tnomailaddress@all.com> wrote in message

>news:VwCQ9.141$V6.230@news.indigo.ie...

>> I've just put a deposit on 4 FG's for use in the local community schools

>> photography classes which I run a number of times a year. They've all

>just

>> been CLA'd by the local independent Nikon specialist and come with

>50mm/1.8

>> Series E lenses. Overall, good condition kit. I'm paying EUR150 (US160

>or

>> so) each for these cameras which is certainly better value to my mind than

>a

>> handful of Cosina/Phenix or whatever other cheap manual SLR's you'd care

>to

>> consider. Oh, 6mths warranty on each too. I know they were aimed at

>> enthusiastic amateurs when released. Should I go ahead or consider

>> something else? Budget's a little tight after problems with some of my

>own

>> equipment.

>>

>> Any (intelligent) input would be appreciated.

>>

>> Cheers,

>>

>> Paul

>Paul,

>These are very nice little cameras that stand up very well to student use. I

>have used them in the past to teach budding photographers and have rarely

>had much problem with them. Controls fall nicely to hand. Easy to teach full

>manual work, then move on to the other capabilities.

>I prefer them to the oft-used K1000 for teaching because the user can learn

>on manual first, then not have to go out and replace his/her gear when they

>want to shoot in different modes. TTL flash is nice, but any inexpensive

>flash works fine in auto mode.

>It is not as sturdy as the K1000, which can be used to drive nails if

>necessary, but will hold up well under routine use. The price you paid seems

>decent, and the warranty is also good. I think you made a good choice. And,

>by the way, the 50mm Series E lenses are as sharp or sharper than anything

>else you can find anywhere near that price, in my opinion.

>Ken

Again, Ken covered it well - I've sold more of the FGs

to beginning photographers than any other camera. It

is a well-designed, capable body, and very light/small

with a 50mm f1.8 E lens on it (great for travel). As for

the lack of DOF preview, there is a work-around: the

risky partial unbayonnetting of the lens causes the

diaphragm to stop down (most current low-end cameras

don't even offer this possibility). For hooking the body

up to studio flashes, a small flash on the FG can be used

to switch a photo-cell connected studio flash...