Hi again I am not sure where to ask this, but I got such a favorable response with my Pentax question, I thought I would try here again. In my quest to purchase a cheap mechanical 35mm camera; that would allow my 8 year old to try his hand at photography, without placing my Nikons in peril, I have come across an interesting line of Mamiya cameras. The Mamiya/Sekkor DTL with dual spot metering and average metering capabilities. I purchased one on E-Bay, the 500 DT. It hasn't come yet but we are both excited for it to get here. Does anyone have any experience with these cameras that would care to comment. I understand that they have a rubberized silk shutter. How do they hold up? And last but not least the dual metering system. Any comments good or bad. Thanks!

-- Justin Fullmer (provo.jfullmer@state.ut.us), February 07, 2002

Answers

HI Justin, I had a 1000 DTL with a 1.8 50mm lens. It was a hsuiky camera and did everything that I asked of it. I particularly like the spot meter for B & w work.But I shot a broad selection of subjects with it. It had the universal lens mount so the were a large number of lenses available.

-- Howard Dvorin (HowardDvorin@cs.com), February 07, 2002.

I had a Mamiya MSX500. It was a good camera spoiled only by a very dim viewfinder. The lenses were excellent & would hold up well to more current designs. Mamiya made the Nikormat! for Nikon & I feel the Mamiya is just as well built.

-- Melvin (bramley@nanaimo.ark.com), February 07, 2002.

I'm sure Mamiya had nothing to do with the Nikkormats.

-- Mike DeVoue (karma77@att.net), February 08, 2002.

Mike, Whilst this is not a Nikon forum;I stand by my statement;Mamiya made the Nikkormat

-- Melvin (bramley@nanaimo.ark.com), February 08, 2002.

I had a Mamiya 1000 DTL back when they were new, and it was in need of serious attention after about two years of daily newspaper work. The dual metering worked ok, but it may have taken a PX625 mercury battery. I'm not sure. My Pentax Spotmatics and later, Nikon FM variations were much more durable. On the other hand, the 50/1.4 lens that came with it wasn't bad at f/5.6 or f/8 and in something besides constant use, it was a good enough camera. My sister got 10+ years out of hers, for weekends and vacations. I bought my 8 year old a Canon Owl and he was happy as a clam. Eight years later, he's still using it.

-- Josef Brugger (jbrugger@pcez.com), February 21, 2002.