Yeah the camera prices seem high, but everything else back then was way cheaper. (Gas, housing, airfares, food, school tuition....) Also you had none of today's "connected" costs to deal with. Life was simpler and overall cheaper and people had less debit to deal with or credit cards. You saved up and bought stuff in cash.
I managed to buy a Pentax kit (body and three lenses) in 1975 when I was only earning around $2.50 per hour.
Phil.
---------- Post added 07-30-15 at 10:03 PM ----------
Originally posted by Rick in Ohio Hey Phil, Do you have the 1978 price for the K 1000 and the M 50/F 2 lens combo. That had to be about when I bought my kit.
Rick
Yep these are January 23, 1978 list prices:
K1000 body only (Micro-prism screen) $165.00
K1000 w/50mm f/2.0 (Micro-prism screen) $299.50
K1000 w/50mm f/2.0 (Split-image screen) $310.00
K1000 w/50mm f/2.0 (Micro-prism screen) w/case $328.50
K1000 w/50mm f/2.0 (Split-image screen) w/case $339.00
Phil.