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yclo said:
Anyone have any experience with their camera cases doing this? I've also noticed that the rubber grip part of the camera body also had this white powderish stuff on it.
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Yes, I have seen that many times with eveready cases. (often called 'neveready' because they are very clumsy with the top part on. I bet the sides were worn down like that because that is where the strap and rings hang out and just abrade it all the time. The white stuff is either mold or just some of the material that has rotted away which has powdered up. Throw the case out; they really suck. Those cases were popular in the 70s and early 80s, but they are out now. When you're not having the camera at the ready, keep it in a proper padded nylon case with the other lenses, spare batts, etc. When you want to keep it ready, carry it by the neck strap either around your neck or across your neck and under the opposite arm.
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Also, any comments on the performance of this camera?
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That is one of the earlier Minolta autofocus SLRs. Lens quality has not really come a long way since that lens/camera was made. The main difference between that and the newest generation of AF SLRs is the speed, weight, and # of gadgets in the electronics. That one will take photos which are just as sharp and well exposed as the newer ones, it is just not as well suited to fast action. (on account of the slower autofocus and such) Since it is electronics instead of mechanical, and it isn't the latest generation, it is not worth much at all for sale. But the picture quality should be outstanding if you keep the lens surfaces clean. I will make you wonder how you lowered your standards for point and shoot cameras, hehehehe.
I have an Olympus OM1-N which my grandpa gave me. It is a mechanical SLR from the 70s, and he paid top dollar for Olympus Zuiko lenses. I took it with me on my trip to Poland, and was awed at how great the pix are. (I am a decent photographer too /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif ) But compared to the pix I took with my Yashica T4 (a very high quality point and shoot camera with Carl Zeiss optics) it is a god. The framing is always right, everything is sharper, better color rendition, (to my eyes) the works.
If you can bear to carry it around, use it. That is the bottom line.
Oh, and check to make sure there are no exploded batteries in it and that there is no corrosion on the terminals.
