Fully mechanical cameras have one advantage that never shows up on a spec sheet: they do not care if the battery died three years ago. A Yashica FX-2, or anything from the same era, will fire whether or not there is power in it, because the shutter is spring-driven, not electronic. That matters more than it sounds like it should when you are shooting somewhere cold or somewhere you simply forgot to check the battery.
It also forces the same discipline film already forces on you — meter with your eyes or a handheld light meter, set it, and commit. No exposure compensation dial to lean on. The learning curve is real for about two rolls and then it stops being a limitation and starts being how you actually want to shoot.
If you have an old body sitting in a drawer and are not sure if it still works, bring it in. Half the time the answer is a light seal replacement and a clean, and it is shooting again the same week.
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