The following is a paraphrasing of a conversation I had with another photographer regarding the Mamiya RB67 that I was shooting with hand held at the starting line of the 2010 John Beargrease sled dog marathon.
Him: Are you a professional?
Me: No. Just an amateur shooting for himself.
Some small talk goes by.
Him: So how many is it? 15? 18?
Me: 20. (assuming he was asking how many exposures. I had a 220 back on the camera at the time.)
Him: Eyes get bigger
Me: Wait. Were you asking about exposures, or cost?
Him: Cost.
Me: Oh! Only about $300.
Him: More large eyes
A moment of silence goes by.
Him: Is that a film camera?
The other photographer apparently assumed I was walking around in ten degree weather with a $20,000 digital medium format camera. If only I was as wealthy as Tyra Banks. If only.
The most expensive camera I ever bought was a Nikon for £450 and that made my eyes water!
Although, at the moment, I am trying to raise the cash for a Mamiya 7II... which will cost a fortune!
Pretty much my favorite camera is still my Pentax SP F. It was free, from Freecycle.
Of course, a camera only takes good pictures if it's expensive!
Jason
Have you considered a Fuji GW670 or GW690 if you don't need an interchangeable lens system? Pretty darn cheap in comparison.
I looked at the Fuji, but asked around a few people I know who use the Mamiya and they seemed to think it was the better option... the interchangeable lens is also an important feature for me.
I have found a new Mamiya 7II for £1200 on Ebay, now if I can just get the other £1199 I'll be sorted!
Not quite the same thing, but I often carry around a Voigtlander R2a, and I often get asked "what do you think of your Leica?" I bought the R2a as, indeed, a poor man's Leica, but it's kinda cool that random people seem to know that form factor.
@Chris. Glad people are knowing their camera shapes. Don't be surprised though when someone inevitable asked you if the Bessa is a Hasselblad. It will happen.