the tightwad

"Walt, what do you mean by "faster focusing" canon? Is the ql17's lens with USM motor? :) Seriously, you mean you have to turn less for the same amount of distance step, or you mean it's easier to find the perfect focus through the rf ? "

What I mean is (for my old eyes) the Canon "seems' to focus a bit faster due the the lens turn ratio,i.e. the yashica takes more movment

for a given shot to focus. To me it's really a non-issue but I wanted to give you choices.

"Pentax because of lens compatibility (unlike most of the others named, you can use any "K" mount lens of any vintage (a few modern exceptions) on any body all the way back to the first "K" mount types up to todays *ist-D! That's why Pentax." (You can even adpt the old screw mount lens

to work on any K mount camera. Take that Canon & Nikon!!)

Pentax cameras & systems are so VERY interchangable for lens and lens adaptablity to Pentax MF cameras is a real saver. I used to shoot Canon

but switched to Pentax (nikon to me is overrated) when I found that

my money bought me a world of great equipment at a even greater price.

I can't think of a time in my long history of taking photos that my

Pentax ever wasn't enough of a camera system to get the job done.

If you want to shoot a range finder then I'd consider Leica's or (if

cost matters) Yasica electro 35's.

If it's a manual lens you want then the best place I've found is E-bay.

There are zillion manual len's on E-bay for pentax,canon & nikon to

choose from made by some of the very best makers of the "Manual" lens

times. You'll find Kiron, Vivitar Series 1, Soligor, Tokina, Sigma,and

many otheres that no longer make lens or photo equipment. This is a

where "older" can be both better and CHEAPER.

Go ahead and buy the Yashica it's a good camera (provided you find one

in fair>good condition). I bought mine off e-bay to carry in the truck

for grab shots and it's been fine camera for that and more. My Canon

Ql17 focuses faster but only by a bit and not by enough to make it

better than my Yashica by any means. Overall I like the Yashica a lot.

Look on e-bay to get a feel for a fair price for whatever you buy.

Let's not forget to locate the preserved camera in an enviroment

that avoids temprature extremes. For most folk's that would mean a

top self in a closet on the main floor of your home.

Sigh.....Interesting stuff except.......I wish he'd do more landscapes

and nature. Peoples faces this close up are........boring.

With all things being equal in the equipment the 6x7 will offer sharper

images as they are enlarged. The 6x7 format simply records more image

data on a larger piece of film. This is probably the main reason for

the larger format as opposed to the 645 size. The 645 will yield more

pictures on a given roll size but will do it with smaller negs.

That said I prefer the 6x6 as a middle of the road size inspite of the

square format. If I were to want larger images with razor sharp detail

I'd move to 6x7 size. I'd guess the one main advantage of the 645 size

is in the smaller more managable camera & equipment sizes when compared

to the often unwieldy 6x7 stuff. However, my vote will go with the 6x7

size due the opportunity to record a larger image.

Macman has good point about the 50mm being a good learning lens. The

50mm limits the perspective view to help the novice learn to "see"

good pictures. However, in this case my advice to the poster still

stand......use what you already own. Set the Quantray to 50mm and LEAVE

IT THERE WHILE YOU ARE LEARNING. True, it may not be the best solution

but it will be the best in this case because it helps the novice learn

how to work with what's "on hand" to get the shot. Something we all

face from time to time. It also limits the equipment the novice has to

overcome while learning.

"don't fall into the trap of focusing on equipment" I'd have to agree

with this point of view. If anything the photographic equipment that

you buy exist only to enable you to take pictures at all,i.e. they

are the "Tools of the trade" no more or less.

As an example......

The camera & lens you bought are both well suited to the jobs that you'll give them so buy some film and go have a ball learning this

wonderful craft of photography!!!!! Buy new/different equipment as

they will be needed as tools only. No one really cares if the picture was taken with a $10 camera or a $10,000 camera as long as the results

capture the eye of the observer.

"

Now to the point: I am thinking of buying into another 6x6 system..reasons stated

above left aside - I can't decide which one to get. The C330 f or s seems to be a very

nice camera, the lenses may not be up to CZ glass, but I like their rendition and

bokeh a lot. Also they are quite easy to catch at bargain prices, and ebay seems to

feature tons of black MC lenses for reasonable prices"

It sounds like you enjoy casual shooting and if that's the case the

Mamiya c330 is a very good choice for a lot of reasons. There will

always be those who prefer an SLR but to savor the enjoyment of

shooting with a good TLR is a rare treat. I've used both SLR's & TLR'S

finding the TLR to much easier, less "fussy" than any SLR. I've also

noticed that people don't seem to be put off about having their photo

taken with a TLR. Must be the "Old Timey" aspect of the TLR.

I've sold all of my SLR gear and built a complete Mamiya C330s system

with the money (had change left over too). I shoot everything from

the outdoors to casual weddings (for friends)enjoying the experiance

all the way. My Mamiya has never been to little camera. It should serve

you just a well. Enjoy!!

Yes, they do help,but as you've found out, at a price. Considering that

these screens will enable you to "see" your photos better they will

eventually pay for themselves in film cost and user satisfaction. I

bit the bullet and bought a used aftermarket screen for my Mamiya C330s

and have never been sorry.

Your aunt's gift is considered by many as THE finest learning camera

ever made. It's simple,reliable, very well built with a huge number of

lens and accessories at bargin store prices. Just don't get bogged down

buying equipment just yet.

Rather than give you specific advice take the Photo course then decide

what equipment you'll need. Remember the camera is the tool the take photos while YOU guide it. (One thing.....remember to keep the lens

cap on when you're not using this camera to save the battery)

This subject has much discussed and search will find the info you seek.

However, there is a larger question in that you must also decide if your work will be worth keeping.

If you decide that you want to keep your work for later then ,no matter

what the others say, film is your only viable choice as digital will

always be victimized by newer better (?) operating systems, lost

memory etc. that is part and parcel to computers. Magazine editors are

already worring about this point.

I bought a Pz-1p kit (lens, bag, etc. ) about a year a go off E-bay and

find it to be a wonderful set up. The lens are all Tamaron. Normally

I wouldn't buy either Tamaron or Sigma but I must say the Tamaron I got

with the kit are great! Congrat's on aquiring a classic Pentax.

Consider this....

You are used to the K1000 therfore you have less to learn about it. Money adside you can get older manual lens for the K1000 in abundance.

So, do what I did....Checkout all the new plastic bodied wonder cameras

then pamper yourself with whatever older manual lens you want for old

K1000. Then......go out and have a ball taking picture with a camera that WILL NOT let you down when the battery goes dead!!

Cosina lens are OK, just Ok. Their quality varies a bit from lens to lens but they are fine for the casual shooter if the price is right.

I own three Cosina's and find them to be fine in almost every case.

Have you ever visited the Canon web site then compared it to the Pentax

web site?? One visit will show you why the marketing dept. NEEDS an

overhaul. You just can't expect to be the first camera company on peoples mind unless offer them something to remember.

While there are many good 2MP camera's have a look at the Canon A60.

It is a "sleeper" in that it has features to satisfy from beginner to

advanced amature. With a little luck you can find it cheaper as it

being phased out by the A80 (a more gee whiz camera but no better

than the A60 at a higher cost)

Craig, Thank's for the info but I think you missed my point. That point

being....

NO ONE should have to buy anything else to be able to use a digital

camera assuming that the OS and hardware were compatable to start with.

Computer companies are all to good at making any electronic gear out

of date when it goes to market. THAT is what gripes me big time.

Do you buy a new refridgerator everytime a new model comes out? No, and

neither do most folk's. A computer has been around long enough now for

the initial development & refinement to have been accomplished in order

to make it a home appliance. Yes, an appliance just like your telephone

hair dryer or whatever. To have the ability to always force people to

be required to forever buy evermore software/hardware is a marketing dream......just not on my dollar.

P.S......I'm not picking you personally it's just a way for me to share

these concerns with all readers.

One of the main reasons I stressed the computer compatiblity issue so

strongly is this.......

I for one am beyond tired of the computer techno wizards,Bill Gates &

Steve Jobs forever enriching themselves at my expense by FOREVER requiring to upgrade,buy a newer computer et.at. just so I can do my

business on line, take pictures and all the other things one can do with a well desiged computer.

I buy a printer and lo and behold .....it won't work with my computer.

I go to my banks site to make a transaction ....some idiot tecnho geek

has changed it so I can't use it due to an un-needed upgrade(?). It goes on and on to the point that even if you spent your last penny on

the latest computer software/hardware you STILL will not have a computing appiliance that you can use until, perish the thought, it's

worn out!!

That said (yes, I know it's a bit of a rant) I for one will not buy

any more computing equipment , cameras etc. that will not work with

my existing system. That is the only way I can send a message to those

people constantly forcing me (us) to pay ever more money to use the

products they want to sell us. If more people would get just as tired

of this as I am and vote with their wallets the way I do then maybe

we could all truly enjoy what it is we've spent our hard earned money

on. :^(

Some key point to be FULLY aware of in your search......

The more pixels the better .....to a point. A 2MP camera is great for

point & shoot while a 4MP to 6MP (very expensive)will yeild fine detail

on very large enlargements. So decide how big you want your photos to be. As a rule 2MP to 3MP is fine for most casual shooters. 4MP to 6MP

is more for pros or advanced amatures.

Be sure to get OPTICAL zoom. Period.

Make darn sure that the software with the camera will work with your

computer and the OS installed on it AT THE TIME YOU BUY THE CAMERA.

Don't get backed into a upgrade situation in order to use the camera.

Batteries. Try, try , try to stick with AA batteries. The

cost of special propietary batteries can breath taking and or impossible to find new as the camera ages.

Stick with Compact Flash media cards. My money says they will be around

after all the others are long gone from the market.

For all the rest ......fit the camera to your budget and lifestyle.

While I don't see anything wrong with your photo it's important to note

that it's all about pixel count. The more the better. With a 2MP camera

enlargements such as this spread the limited pixel number to thin resulting in a courser image than a 4MP to 6MP camera will yield at the

same magnification.

Now don't mis-understand me. The Canon A60 is a very good point & shoot

digital that will satisfy many casual shooters. Just don't expect fine

detail on anything much larger than 5x7 prints.