How did that happen (again!) ?

[John Parry]

Started off watching a Kiev 88, which rapidly soared into the distance. Had a couple of quick looks - just browsing you understand...

Now own a Konica FP1 and a Praktica MTL50 plus a bag full of lenses.

The FP1 I got for sentimental reasons - my Dad gave me his broken one on a "see if you can fix it and you can have it" basis. Turned out the electronics were fried, so I bought an FC1 to use the Hexanon lenses. The FC1 is a superb camera, so I jumped at the chance of the pair (one's aperture, the other shutter priority). Cost me £5.50 (~$8).

The MTL50 is one of my all-time favourites, although a previous one's wind-on packed up on me. The last of Praktica's all-mechanical cameras, and with match-LED metering which is great at dusk for my eyesight. With a CZJ Tessar 2.8/50, Pentacon 35-70 zoom and a Hanimex 80-300 zoom. Various filters and bag. 99 pence.

Don't understand it either - the camera and each of the lenses are all worth around five to ten times that individually. 'Course with a big package, the postage is considerable, but even so. I'll never understand why there's a feeding frenzy of bidding for something I know to be a lump of junk, when a great workhorse camera and a couple of Carl Zeiss lenses are totally ignored. If I could explain it I'd make my fortune!

Regards - John

[John Parry]

Oops

Re-reading this it sounds as though I was calling the Kiev 88 a lump of junk - in fact the first and last paragraphs weren't connected in that respect.

I have heard good reports of the Kiev 88 (other than minor 'set-up' and finishing problems). I had actually been watching the bidding on one of the ultra small Praktica digitals - 4Mb (after interpolation) - originally less than 2Mb, which is where the comment was coming from.

Apologies to any FSU fans

Regards - John

[heath]

I was wondering what you were going on about.

On the subject of the fSU Hassy copies, I now have two of them. A Kiev 88 TTL and a Kiev 80. I have not used the 80 yet, as I am going to restore it first (needs new leather and a slide for the film back), but the 88 is abeauty to use and the results are great. Check out the Bently and Sydney Harbour Bridge posts I made last week to see some from my first outing with it. The 80mm Volna lens is as sharp as any I have personally used. I endeavour to get a full kit of lenses for it. I will use the kit lens on the 80, or maybe a wide angle as I am going to use it predominately in my studio when I get it set up, mainly due to the fact the 88 is metered and the 80 isn't, even though I can use the metered prism on both.

If you get the chance to buy a Kiev 88, do it. You should not be dissappointed.

Heath