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From: ark@alice.UucP (Andrew Koenig)
Newsgroups: net.rec.photo
Subject: Re: Buying a 35mm SLR
Message-ID: <4373@alice.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 28-Sep-85 10:32:45 EDT
Article-I.D.: alice.4373
Posted: Sat Sep 28 10:32:45 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 29-Sep-85 06:21:02 EDT
References: <338@vaxwaller.UUCP>
Organization: Bell Labs, Murray Hill
Lines: 15

There are five major Japanese manufacturers of 35mm SLRs that are
often called the "Big Five:"  Canon, Minolta, Nikon, Olympus, Pentax.
There are also several that are less widespread: Chinon, Konica, Ricoh.

All of these manufacturers make good products -- good enough that the
most important ingredient in ANY picture taken by ANY camera made by
ANY of these manufacturers will be the photographer.

Thus, in choosing a camera, I suggest you start with these eight (carefully
listed in alphabetical order within the two groups) and try them out.
Find the one that fits your hands best.  See whose lenses are easiest
for you, not someone else, to change.  How fast can you focus?  How
accurately?  If you wear glasses, can you see the whole frame through them?
(the Nikon F3HP is outstanding in this regard).  Can you stand to lug the
thing around?  (the Olympus line is among the lightest)  And so on.