Originally posted by Cuthbert Ouch! $2000 today? Were Spotties that expensive?
Yes, they were that expensive*, though probably a bit less at street price. I was unable to find an ad from that period, but would estimate street price with a S-M-C 55/1.8 at about $235. FWIW, the conversion to $2000 2019 dollars is a bit miserly. Minimum wage in 1971 was $1.60/hr and $10,000 a year was solidly upper middle class.
Steve
* Photography in general was a very expensive hobby with a good quality 35mm SLR being very much a luxury purchase and Pentax was not a bargain brand. A good camera was considered a long-term investment.