help a young photographer

Dear Sirs!

I?m a photographer-amateur from Ukraine.

I have a ?Zenith-11? SLR-camera (made in USSR).

Quality of this camera is very low and good photo is a happy accident.

I?m a young doctor (25 years old). Unfortunately my pay is only 50-55

EURO in mounth (the doctors in Ukraine is a poorest section of the

population) and I can?t to buy even used qualitative SLR-camera of

famous brand (Nikon, Canon, Pentax, Practika, Contax, Minolta,

Yashica, Ricoh, Konika, Olympus...). The prices of this cameras (used

equipment) approx. 150-250 EURO in Ukraine.

I don?t say about lences, macro tubes, others accessories ? it is

impossible for me.

I have a great request ? if somebody have old needless camera (I mean

mechanical SLR-camera without automatic modes and of course w/o

autofocus ? even old ?Practika? with M42 thread) ? please send me

this camera (of course I will return money for sending).

 

If somebody want to tell me some words - my e-mail:

 

i.sokurenko@rambler.ru

Sniffle sob. Someone send the guy a Holga.

Igor,

 

Don't sell your nation's equipment short. I'm a professor in the States, not a particularly well paid job either, and I know a good value when I find it. I have purchased some very fine optics from Ukraine, some of which was very inexpensive (it was actually sent directly from the Ukraine)

It's not what's between the subject and the photographer that is important, but what's on either side of the camera. About 25 years ago I bought a little Russian camera caller a Cosmic 35 for $15 new. Of the top 100 photos I've ever taken, 4 or 5 were with it....Jim

called, not caller.....another dumb American trying to speak English...Jim

Igor, Actually, the Zenit-11 is a nice camera. KMZ/Ukrainian lenses have a good optical reputation and are easily and very cheaply available in the Ukraine.

 

While a doctor's pay in Ukraine may not be as high as other countries, it is ridiculous to suggest that "doctors in Ukraine is poorest section of the population". That would be twisting the truth a little, wouldn't it, Igor?

I must correct what I wrote above: doctor's salaries in the Ukraine are genuinely abyssimal. Ukrainian cameras are often fine, though.

What wrong with camera from the Ukraine?

 

They work fine take great shots. Or maybe its me that takes great shots with Ukraine cameras.?

 

If you think that getting a name brand camera that you specifiy is going to help you then perhaps you need to spend more time with the Zenit that you already have and learn some more basic skills.

 

pictures come from a camera.

 

Photographs come from a photographer.

Igor, I don't share your low opinion of the Zenit SLRs. I have one (a Zenit 3M). Good photos are possible with these cameras. Concentrate on ideas and subjects, don't yearn after more expensive cameras. When you make a good photo, it's you that made it, not the camera.

Igor,

before I left Romania, you know your little neighbor south of the border, I use to take good pictures with various cameras available on the market in the '80. That is Smena, Zenit E, Zenit TTL, Praktica MTL 3-5, Seagull 6x6. Mind you I'm not a doctor but a very poor office clerk (go figure) so even less income. In order to entertain my passion I started taking pictures at weddings, baptises, etc every week-end and made good money. I was very happy with the results, even managed to put together some Photo exhibits in Bucharest. As stated by the fellow friends in this thread, it is not the camera that makes a good picture but the photographer. My gallery still displays some decent pictures from mid '80 taken with the cameras indicated. Those are very good cameras and very cheap at todays market value. hope this helps. cheers

I used to own a Zenit 12XP with 58/2 Helios lens. I have taken thousands of pictures with that camera. No complaints whatsoever (and the battery which powers light metering device (whatever it was) required replacement only twice in 13 years.

Exposure metering was also astonishingly good.

While I do not have any manual cameras to spare, I agree with what other folks said: it is the photographer, not the camera that counts.

Well, good film is the next most important thing IMHO.

Please help me. I am a poor middle aged American that wants to be a photographer. However, I need equipment. Please send me a Hasselblad H1D because my Nikon D70 just don't cut it. Here is a picture of the camera I request to make me a better photographer... <a href= "http://www.hasselbladusa.com/" target= "new"> Hasselblad</a>. If you can't send me the H1D, this <a href= "http://www.lotusviewcamera.at/" target= "new"> Lotus View Camera</a> will do. <p>

My email is: gjohnson441496@comcast.net<p>

Thank you

Perhaps you should begin by telling us what type of photography you intend to do & why a Zenit or Kiev camera wont suffice.As the owner of both kiev medium format cameras(K60/88) & zenit (e,em,12xp,122) 35mm cameras,the only real limitation to these that I see is the 1/30 flash synch speed.As stated eariler Russian/ukrainian optics are actually rather good.

>>I am a poor middle aged American that wants to be a photographer<<

 

I am a middle aged photographer who wants to become an American citizen...but, the INS specifically & categorically states that ALL permanent US residents seeking citizenship MUST take their photos with a Canon 1DsMKII with a 300mm f/2.8L IS lens (for close up) and different crops taken with the 70-200 f/2.8L IS and a full body shot taken with the 16-35 f/2/8L.

 

The law also clearly states that the above items cannot be borrowed but, rather they MUST property of the applicant who must be able to show ownership at that time.

 

So, what do you say?

 

Alright, that's it for my Sun morning humor...better get my cup of coffee now...or rather, espresso.