<p>My first real camera was the SP500 -- a prudent choice to get a teenager started, I suppose, but hardly what I would have chosen myself. Of course I loved it at the time and have some fond memories, but really, screw-mount lenses and stop-down metering, in 1972? It was a decent basic camera, certainly nothing special in any way. It didn't seem especially robust generally, except in the sense that cameras back then were all much simpler than today, so no idea how it would hold up 40+ years later. I didn't find out; was glad to replace it when I was able to, and wouldn't look back. (Curiously, today I have exactly the camera I wished I had then, a Leicaflex.)</p>