Have opertunity to buy pentax mv with 3 lenses or a nikon f3 with one 55m lens both cameras in excellent shape mv is 25 dollars cheaper please advise. nikon package 250.00 pentax package 225.00

-- rory (rip3@hotmail.com), October 10, 1998

Answers

Buy the F3. At that price, it is a steal. J.

-- John Butler (jbutler@pond.net), October 10, 1998.

I
fll second to John. At $250, that F3 is a real bargain. Also, the Micro Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 is considered quite sharp, and it alone could cost $250 in the U.S. Consider this. Which brand (Nikon or Pentax) would give you the choice of lenses readily available in used market if you ever want to expand your system? Consider yourself a lucky guy to have such opportunity. Remember, if you don
ft like the F3, you can always sell it for what you paid or, more likely, more.

Just make sure that it is not used professionally. Open the back of the camera and carefully check the shutter curtain see if there is wrinkle on it. The wrinkle on the shutter means someone put a finger through the shutter. And see the railings, both above and below the shutter, and pressure plate. If these show more sign of use than outside, you can suspect that a professional or an advanced amateur has used it. While I don
ft recommend professionally used F3, I heard a lot of war stories that F3 has survived very harsh environment and keep on working even with the above conditions. I guess F3 is a real workhorse in that aspect.

If you have any questions, please feel free to E-mail me.

-- Hiroshi Shigematsu (pooh02@earthlink.net), October 11, 1998.