What do you think is the best used camera today/price-performance wize?

[Bill Clark]

I really like my Nikkormat. It works with Nikor lenses. I bought mine in Subic Bay on my way to Vietnam. The only item I have replaced is a small piece of sponge rubber near the prism that the mirror is cushioned when firing the shutter. That’s it and it still works wonderful.

 

[Tim Murphy]

Dear PRJ,

Glad you mentioned the Nikon N80. I got one for $ 15.00 from Goodwill. It was so sticky my wife had to use rubber gloves to pry it out of my hand when I unboxed it.

That inspired me to try an alcohol-based hand sanitizer gel to clean it and clean the $ 30.00 Fujiflim HS50 I bought and gave to her because it was too gummy to deal with. They are both clean as a whistle now and working perfectly!

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Harrisburg PA 🙂

 

[p.giannakis]

If you want a screaming deal, Minolta autofocus lenses are super cheap and so are the bodies. Hard to find fault with those. For autofocus cameras they are the closest to a Leica look which makes sense since they partnered with Leica for quite a time. I'm really surprised people haven't caught on to that yet.

Personally, I am one of those who will pass on a Minolta AF deal. Unless they are sold for peanuts. I had a 7000i, 9000, 9xi, 500si all will the dreaded "Help" error. I currently have a 700si which I use from time to time but is not very reliable ( a couple of times it started rewind film at frame no. 32 and displays Help).

And then there's the broken aperture mechanism issue (my 9000 and 9xi had it). I keep reading about dynax 7 suffering from it too - come on Minolta, you didn't notice anything for more than a decade?

Unless they are very cheap, I would avoid them.

 

[Erik van Straten]

The Nikkormat FTn is an excellent camera, it's only drawback is the noise it makes. I still have mine bought in 1973, a black one with microprisms as focusing aid. I never had any problem with the camera. I sold the 24mm and the105mm and kept only the Nikkor H Auto 50mm f2.

gelatin silver print (nikkor h auto 50mm f2) nikkormat ftn

Mantua, 1974

Erik.

 

[Gid]

I used to go out to photograph but for a long time I have been photographing when out. Mostly snapshots - doesn't mean I don't take care- and for memories. I realised that you don't need an expensive camera for that and gradually sold off the expensive stuff and ended up with a Canon 60D (18MP) like new and less than 2k shots for just over £200, a Fuji X-Pro1 (16MP) like new for just under £300. Both very capable in the right hands. I also have a Fuji X100 bought new in 2011 and a leica M8 that replaced my M262. Strangely, my snapshots haven't got any worse. 🙂

 

[Zuiko-logist]

I used to go out to photograph but for a long time I have been photographing when out. Mostly snapshots - doesn't mean I don't take care- and for memories. I realised that you don't need an expensive camera for that and gradually sold off the expensive stuff and ended up with a Canon 60D (18MP) like new and less than 2k shots for just over £200, a Fuji X-Pro1 (16MP) like new for just under £300. Both very capable in the right hands. I also have a Fuji X100 bought new in 2011 and a leica M8 that replaced my M262. Strangely, my snapshots haven't got any worse. 🙂

“Strangely, my snapshots haven't got any worse”.

😁

 

[hap]

There are a lot of good cheap cameras these days, especially film cameras. Most have already been mentioned but the N80 deserves another shout out. So cheap and the end of the line for film cameras so it is loaded. I just found an N90s today for $7.50. Crazy. Canon of course has similar inexpensive but high quality cameras. The A2/5 is peanuts these days. Even the 1n can be had for less than $200, often much less. If you want a screaming deal, Minolta autofocus lenses are super cheap and so are the bodies. Hard to find fault with those. For autofocus cameras they are the closest to a Leica look which makes sense since they partnered with Leica for quite a time. I'm really surprised people haven't caught on to that yet.

I don't stay up on old digital too much but the Canon 5D series seems to be a sweet deal these days. Digital SLR cameras seem to have imploded in general. No one really wants them anymore since mirrorless cameras took over. Lots of cheap ones. And even the old ones hold up for the most part. Unless you are going to blow images up the size of a wall, they are fine.

A N 80 with an AF-S lens is a very quiet camera

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Periodically, I get interested in what makes sense in a used camera. Last year I got a Canon D20 and a 50/1.8 for about $120 all in. Pretty nice images at that price point. You have to use the camera understanding its limitations, but I can produce work I wouldn't be embarrassed by with it.

So: RFF, what do you think is the current sweet spot? Any brand or format you'd actually spend money on. I'd like to know.

This year I got Pentax K-3. Seller snoozed on non working flash, after refund this heck a lot of the camera costed me ... 200 USD.
Last year I got Pentax GRD III for 120 USD. So far I'm very happy with what it gives me.
And if you want to spend 300 USD, Canon 5D II is cult camera with this price.

 

[Keith]

I'll nominate the Nikon D4 because I have one that I bought used seven years ago and as big and ugly (subjective) as it may be it has a truly lovely sensor in it, an incredibly good viewfinder for focusing manual lenses and photographically is the most competent camera I have ever used by a substantial margin. It can do anything you ask it to and it will do it faster than you can think ... the AF in particular still astounds me. I can see why these behemoths have dominated action photography for as long as they have and you can probably pick one up now for less than a grand if you look around.

 

[PRJ]

Personally, I am one of those who will pass on a Minolta AF deal. Unless they are sold for peanuts. I had a 7000i, 9000, 9xi, 500si all will the dreaded "Help" error. I currently have a 700si which I use from time to time but is not very reliable ( a couple of times it started rewind film at frame no. 32 and displays Help).

And then there's the broken aperture mechanism issue (my 9000 and 9xi had it). I keep reading about dynax 7 suffering from it too - come on Minolta, you didn't notice anything for more than a decade?

Unless they are very cheap, I would avoid them.

But they are very cheap. I paid $32 for a 9xi, 28/50/70-210 lenses and a 5400 flash. The lenses though are what you really want. Cameras are just boxes.

 

[Tim Murphy]

But they are very cheap. I paid $32 for a 9xi, 28/50/70-210 lenses and a 5400 flash. The lenses though are what you really want. Cameras are just boxes.

Dear PRJ,

I'm curious. I'm not trying to be a wise guy either. Is there any chance that a late 1980's early 1990's Minolta AF SLR can be bought that doesn't look like it has a viral infection? I know that they may work just fine, but the funky white patina is a turn off to me.

Back then I shopped hard for an AF camera. I had just inherited my grandfather's Nikon FTN and a couple of lenses that I still have, but I wanted AF! I just couldn't afford a Nikon 8008S, and I entertained a Minolta 9000 but settled for a Canon EOS Elan. I often wonder how things would have played out if I made a different choice?

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Harrisburg PA 🙂

 

[Retro-Grouch]

Nikon F4, hands down, if we're talking film. And even ignoring the price/performance question, one of the best, most rugged, and full-featured film cameras ever, period. The analog controls alone would be enough for any old-school grouch to fall in love with it.

 

[f.hayek]

Nikon F4, hands down, if we're talking film. And even ignoring the price/performance question, one of the best, most rugged, and full-featured film cameras ever, period. The analog controls alone would be enough for any old-school grouch to fall in love with it.

Performance wise perhaps (shoot action, definitely.). The pro bodies are ridiculously heavy, so detracting from any joy associated with shooting. Once upon a time I had a D700 and a grip. Took the grip off most of the time and it was still an albatross.

 

[Tim Murphy]

Nikon F4, hands down, if we're talking film. And even ignoring the price/performance question, one of the best, most rugged, and full-featured film cameras ever, period. The analog controls alone would be enough for any old-school grouch to fall in love with it.

Dear Grouch,

Make it an F4S and I'm in. I shoot mostly nature and wildlife and rarely use a lens under 400mm on any camera I own. The F4S MB-21 grip addition makes the balance much more tolerable to me. I have an N80 with a 24-120 for the other stuff.

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Harrisburg PA 🙂

 

[Retro-Grouch]

Performance wise perhaps (shoot action, definitely.). The pro bodies are ridiculously heavy, so detracting from any joy associated with shooting. Once upon a time I had a D700 and a grip. Took the grip off most of the time and it was still an albatross.

It's all relative. The F4 without a grip is probably about equal in weight and bulk to my Bronica ETRS with a waist level finder, and that's my lightest medium format SLR. It's also my all-day, walkin' around camera. Of course, I'm totally jacked, with six-pack abs. Honest. No, really...

 

[Retro-Grouch]

Dear Grouch,

Make it an F4S and I'm in. I shoot mostly nature and wildlife and rarely use a lens under 400mm on any camera I own. The F4S MB-21 grip addition makes the balance much more tolerable to me. I have an N80 with a 24-120 for the other stuff.

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Harrisburg PA 🙂

Wow. That's a load of stuff to tote. I would not recommend that anyone kick sand at Tim Murphy at the beach. His camera will beat up your camera any day! 😉

 

[Tim Murphy]

Wow. That's a load of stuff to tote. I would not recommend that anyone kick sand at Tim Murphy at the beach. His camera will beat up your camera any day! 😉

Dear Grouch,

It's not like I walk around all day toting that gear. I scout ahead of time and go to likely places and patiently wait. Sometimes it pays off, and sometimes it doesn't. To be honest I see more awesome wildlife shots when I'm fishing, and my camera is far away. I'm grateful for my photographic memory in those instances. 😉

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Harrisburg PA 🙂

 

[splitimageview]

I enjoyed my time with the F4, bought one new back in the day. I didn't need a pro-level camera back then, with interchangeable finders and all that and certainly not now. 😛 I have no need for a motor drive in a film camera anymore, film is too expensive to shoot at 5.7fps, not to mention the weight of four or six AA batteries. Even with the smaller MB-20 it's still a large, heavy beast of a camera, as capable and well-built as it is.

 

[ItsNottheFstop]

I shot mostly SLR in film until I went over to the digital darkside. I've gotta say, the F4s bodies were incredible bang for the buck. But, and this is crazy, I bought an M6TTL in super clean shape a few decades ago for less than $1000 USD. I already had a 50/2 from an old girlfriend and I went out and found one of the small Leitz 90/2.8 and a Voigtlander (sp?) 21/4 for maybe another $350 total. I thought that was incredible buck-bang!

I have to say though, looking through the local craigslist, that you can do a Nikon F90X for $100 CDN or less. There's an 8008s in there for even less money. I still have a couple of those in the cupboard. There isn't much you can't do photographically with those.

The flipside of course is the FM3A that someone wants nearly $800 bucks for. Errr...perfect film SLR but, nope.

Here's my list then:
Digital:
Any second hand Fuji X100👎
Nikon D4 (they just go...)
Canon 5D mkII (usually less than $600 CDN)

Film:
F90x
Any Leica M body that you can afford...

 

[nickthetasmaniac]

So: RFF, what do you think is the current sweet spot? Any brand or format you'd actually spend money on. I'd like to know.

Based on the prices I see in Aus...

Film:
- Nikon F2 - Not cheap, but prices haven't been impacted by hype as much as some other Nikons. Nowadays in Aus F2's are often listed for the same price as FE/FM2s.
- Pentax KX/MX - Excellent manual, mechanical bodies that go for peanuts. Great platforms for the wonderful and affordable world of SMC Pentax manual glass (K, M, and A series).
- Pentax MZ-S - Bonafide digital-era SLR with all the tech goodies of the last generation and a unmistakable body design, but about 1/3 the price of an F6. Great platform for the FA-Limited trio (31mm, 43mm, 77mm).

Digital:
- Any late-ish Micro Four Thirds. The bodies are good with a form factor to suit everyone, and the lenses are tiny, excellent and an absolute bargain compared to the new generation of FF mirrorless glass.