After 45 years of active photography, I finally acquired my very first Nikon SLR body.
I paid $10.00 for this body last week at a camera show.
To complete the outfit, I spent $40.00 on a standard lens (Nikon Lens Series E 50mm f/1.8), and found a Nikon AI Mount compatible zoom for another $10.00 (Panagor PMC Auto Zoom Macro f/3.5, 38-95mm).
The body was not ready for use; the battery cover had been removed to use on another Nikon by the dealer (I built a replacement using a cover from a Pentax body with an added sleeve of thin plastic), and the body would not focus properly (the focusing screen was not in the proper position, and there were signs of disassembly and reassembly on the body; I was able to insert shims on either side of the focusing screen to push it into a more accurate position). And I also installed new foam for mirror bumper, and for door light seals. The metering was inaccurate by a full stop and a third, this I corrected by fudging the ASA value selector.
After a couple of cold nights, today dawned with a bright sun in a clear sky cutting through the night's ground haze, with a promise of mild Spring temperatures.
So I loaded the camera with a fresh roll of Walgreens store brand ASA 200 print film, shot the bluebells in our front yard, and then drove out to Cedar Hill, Missouri, and the old grist mill on Big River.
Mill shows signs that someone is attempting repair and restoration from the inside out, those windows were not there on my last visit.

Please remember to click on thumbnail images, to see in enlargement.
All images are ©2009 E.J.Kowalski.