Re: Any knowledgeable photographers here?
Gordon
> I picked up a cheap SLR camera on TradeMe the other day because I wanted
> something simple and manual, something that I could get a bit of experience in
> Black and White photography on.
> I have a Canon EOS500N already complete with zoom lenses etc but it doesn't give
> me a lot of choice when it comes to manually setting up pictures and such.
> Strictly point and shoot.
> The camera I bought is a PHENIX DC33 SLR.
> Problem is I can't find any information about it on the net.
Homework. Boring stuff but it does pay off.
> The camera isn't very old and I have the original packing box that came with it.
> Funny thing is it has no makers name on it. It has all the hallmarks of a
> Chinese knowoff.
> The camera is well made and everything works, or appears to work ok on it.
> The little information I have found claims that it has a Seiko electronic
> vertically running metal shutter and that Pentax PK and Minolta MD bayonet lens
> mounts available.
> The other information is about the specs.
> If it is a knockoff of some other brand, what is it of?
> I don't know nearly enough about the range of other cameras to be able to work
> it out.
> --
> "The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor
> to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread."
> Anatole France.
Roger_Nickel
> I picked up a cheap SLR camera on TradeMe the other day because I wanted
> something simple and manual, something that I could get a bit of
> experience in Black and White photography on.
> I have a Canon EOS500N already complete with zoom lenses etc but it
> doesn't give me a lot of choice when it comes to manually setting up
> pictures and such. Strictly point and shoot.
> The camera I bought is a PHENIX DC33 SLR. Problem is I can't find any
> information about it on the net. The camera isn't very old and I have
> the original packing box that came with it. Funny thing is it has no
> makers name on it. It has all the hallmarks of a Chinese knowoff.
> The camera is well made and everything works, or appears to work ok on
> it. The little information I have found claims that it has a Seiko
> electronic vertically running metal shutter and that Pentax PK and
> Minolta MD bayonet lens mounts available.
> The other information is about the specs. If it is a knockoff of some
> other brand, what is it of? I don't know nearly enough about the range
> of other cameras to be able to work it out.
Canon EOS500 is not "strictly point and shoot", one of my in-laws has
one. It has selectable aperture or shutter priority with a choice of
several spot or weighted automatic exposure modes. Full manual control is
there if you want it. It isn't as mechanically rugged as the top range
Canon cameras but mechanically and optically it is surely better than
your Chinese clone. Get a manual for your Canon instead.
Me
Scooter probably bought the "Phenix" for $55, so it's no big deal if it
falls to pieces - could be fun - might buy one myself.
I generally hate plastic over-featured but under-performing cameras like
the 500n - but that's just me, and there's no reason what great photos
can't be taken with a crappy camera.
For a really nice fully manual solidly made metal bodied slr, there's a
Nikon FM2 for sale on Trademe:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Electronics-photography/Film-cameras/35mm-SLR/auction-271879638.htm
Highest bid so far $375. There's a mention of "fungus in the
viewfinder", so you'd want to check it before buying. The viewfinder
eyepiece unscrews from these, and it might be just dust behind that, the
focusing screen also comes out giving access to clean the underside of
the prism as well as the top side of the screen. The shutter blades
(black coated titanium) should be checked on both sides, scratches
indicating someone bent them with a finger, or got dirt in there. If the
shutter craps out, it's an expensive fix. There's an AF 60mm macro going
with the deal which could be worth most of the $400 or so this whole
package may go for, the 135mm f2.8 AI is quite a nice lens (I had one
once), also worth perhaps a couple of hundred, and the 35mm f2.8 AI lens
a nice enough compact lens that could be useful for "street" type
monochrome shooting.
If I was to go back to using film - I'd buy something like that.