From: utzoo!utcsrgv!donald
Newsgroups: net.rec.photo
Title: Canon quality and salesmen
Article-I.D.: utcsrgv.918
Posted: Sun Jan 23 16:29:16 1983
Received: Sun Jan 23 17:26:14 1983

Concerning H. Reza Taheri's experiences with the salesman while buying his
Canon A-1:  it just goes to show that many camera salesmen are gorns, of
either the unscrupulous or ignorant variety.  One must remember that camera
salesmen are really no different than stereo or used-car salesman, i.e.
all their statements should be taken with a grain (or lump) of salt.
It is common for a salesman to present highly biased assessments of
various brands, depending on what his store wants to push, or what his
personal prejudices are.  The only solution to this is to do careful re-
search on the stuff you're thinking of buying and alternatives, and then
go to the store and smile and nod while the salesman blathers during your
examination of the equipment.  Never alter your decision on the bare word
of a salesman.

As for the quality of the Canon A-1, don't worry.  The use of plastic parts
in select locations is certainly not detrimental to ruggedness.  Unless you
intend to haul your camera up Mt. Everest with you, in which case you ought
to go for a Canon F-1 or Nikon F3.  
I've owned a Canon AE-1 for 6 years and the only problem I had with it was
a shutter readjustment which had nothing to do with the presence of plastic.
By the way, the lower line Nikons do use plastic parts, in particular the
Nikon Series E lenses.
Like you said, the Nikons in the price range of the A-1, though they are
excellent cameras, don't have nearly as many features as the A-1.  
The only gripes I have about the Canon A series are the finicky depth-of-
field preview, and the lack of non-battery dependent shutter speeds.


					Don Chan