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

[leolab]

the Yashica ML 50 1.4 is excellent BTW, at least the equivalent of my C/Y 50 1.7 and a lot cheaper and better built.

 

[Deleted member 65559]

While we're on the subject, most Pentax 645 lenses are cheap like chips

 

[shawn]

While we're on the subject, most Pentax 645 lenses are cheap like chips

The Pentax 645 is as well.

Most of the Pentax 6x7 lenses are too.

 

[shawn]

I always find it interesting how Leica gear operates on a completely different yardstick for ‘value’.
$600 for a 35mm Leica is a great deal. $600 for a 35mm Pentax is eye-wateringly expensive.

$330 for my R8, about what a Pentax LX or Nikon F3 goes for.

The 3cam 35mm Elmarit-R v2 was $253, the 3cam 60mm Macro-Elmarit-R was $335. The fast ROM glass is crazy, not everything R mount is.

Shawn

 

[Contarama]

I once came up on a box of 20 or so camera lenses at an antique store $5 a piece. Most of them were off brand weird stuff, a few converters, etc and as I sat there sorta pawing through them a guy came up behind me and sat there kind of impatiently waiting. I said hi some nice old manual stuff here he said yeah I left my money at home had to run back and get it. I'd already made note of the two Yashica MLs. I grabbed both of them and handed them to him. He said yes that is what I was after thanks. He was shooting a D700 and wanted to see if he could adapt them.

 

[Archiver]

the Yashica ML 50 1.4 is excellent BTW, at least the equivalent of my C/Y 50 1.7 and a lot cheaper and better built.

Thank for the tip, I will absolutely look into this.

 

[p.giannakis]

I'm quite enjoying the Yashica 28mm f2.8 ML that I picked up a while ago. Finally got a Contax - L mount adapter and have been using it on my S5 - the focus ring is very smooth and well damped, the optics are a lot more sharp and yet characterful than I was expecting, and the price was great. The quality of the Yashica feels very close to the Contax CY lenses I handled in the shop. I'm on the lookout for a well priced Contax 50mm f1.7 to complete the 28/50 pairing, but those run at least $450 AUD in the shops right now.

I haven't come across a bad Yashica ML lens, they are all great. The previous DSB line was so-and-so thought ....

 

[Pál_K]

…
Which 35-70 zoom do you have? The 3.5 version was never noted to be a high-performance lens.

It’s the f/3.5; it came with the camera. A shame that a modest 2x zoom that isn’t very fast doesnt offer better performance.

 

[santino]

the Yashica ML 50 1.4 is excellent BTW, at least the equivalent of my C/Y 50 1.7 and a lot cheaper and better built.

I think it is even better than the 50 1.4 Planar (probably same optics but more aperture blades).

 

[splitimageview]

The 50/1.7 Planar is definitely not built to the same level as the 50/1.4 or other Contax glass, neither is the 45/2.8 Tessar; more plasticky. I have the 35/2.8 Yashica ML and the 135/2.8 ML, they are easily equivalent in build quality to the standard Contax lenses and underrated optically.

 

[das]

$330 for my R8, about what a Pentax LX or Nikon F3 goes for.

The 3cam 35mm Elmarit-R v2 was $253, the 3cam 60mm Macro-Elmarit-R was $335. The fast ROM glass is crazy, not everything R mount is.

Shawn

For me at least, I wouldn't get into Leica R for the Elmarits. Would want to use the Summicrons at a minimum and those are currently insanely overpriced. That's why Contax remains a better deal because many of the pro lenses remain somewhat affordable - except for the 21mm 2.8 of course, which is overpriced by a mile. The cine crowd has also butchered a number of Contax lenses.

 

[f.hayek]

It’s the f/3.5; it came with the camera. A shame that a modest 2x zoom that isn’t very fast doesnt offer better performance.

It really never made much sense. The ƒ/4 version is superior and double the price while the superlative ƒ/2.8 zoom goes for $11k +.

 

[shawn]

For me at least, I wouldn't get into Leica R for the Elmarits. Would want to use the Summicrons at a minimum and those are currently insanely overpriced. That's why Contax remains a better deal because many of the pro lenses remain somewhat affordable - except for the 21mm 2.8 of course, which is overpriced by a mile. The cine crowd has also butchered a number of Contax lenses.

E55 50mm Summicron is around $500 and is my main lens for the Leica R. 50mm Summilux-R is around $1100. I wanted smaller/lighter for the other lenses in the system hence the Elmarits. The 35 and 90 are very good.

 

[wlewisiii]

Ok, I've obviously got some knowledgeable folks here. I've always been curious about the C/Y cameras and lenses. If I wanted a basic body and lens (I prefer 50s but am not adverse to a decent 35) for as low a cost as possible while still being as feature-full as possible what would your recommendations be?

Contax?

Yashica?

Mix?

Thanks!

 

[halvmesyr]

Sigma SD9 if you can find one

This is the way to go!

 

[splitimageview]

Ok, I've obviously got some knowledgeable folks here. I've always been curious about the C/Y cameras and lenses. If I wanted a basic body and lens (I prefer 50s but am not adverse to a decent 35) for as low a cost as possible while still being as feature-full as possible what would your recommendations be?

Contax?

Yashica?

Mix?

Thanks!

I’m traveling at the moment but will reply later as I’ve had many c/y bodies. 😀

 

[hap]

As for the R8, the Leitz Vario-Elmar 35-70 on my R8 isn’t the sharpest 35-70 lens I’ve ever used, but it’s what I’ve got. I do love the R8 - the form factor, the modes, the display, the solidity, and the confidence of that nice shutter sound.

One thing that really annoys me is that on/off is on the mode dial. I want to set the mode dial to aperture priority, or whatever, and leave it there. But the designers didn’t give us a separate on/off switch and thereby have forced us to constantly be moving this dial.

View attachment 4820448

I think that might have been tweaked into the R9?

 

[splitimageview]

E55 50mm Summicron is around $500 and is my main lens for the Leica R. 50mm Summilux-R is around $1100. I wanted smaller/lighter for the other lenses in the system hence the Elmarits. The 35 and 90 are very good.

Saw this today, really nice! a bit of minor light haze that won’t affect anything, this is a deal: Leica Summicron-R 50mm f/2 Lens for Leica R - The Camera Exchange

 

[hap]

$330 for my R8, about what a Pentax LX or Nikon F3 goes for.

The 3cam 35mm Elmarit-R v2 was $253, the 3cam 60mm Macro-Elmarit-R was $335. The fast ROM glass is crazy, not everything R mount is.

Shawn

I have 3cam 50 summicron and 50 Macro Elmarit . Use on SL2 leicaflex. Looking for a R8.....for months. I've seen nothing that is really decent on eBay or other forums that is less than 500 and more like 600 and up to 1200.

 

[das]

Ok, I've obviously got some knowledgeable folks here. I've always been curious about the C/Y cameras and lenses. If I wanted a basic body and lens (I prefer 50s but am not adverse to a decent 35) for as low a cost as possible while still being as feature-full as possible what would your recommendations be?

Contax?

Yashica?

Mix?

Thanks!

I like the RTS II. Those can be had for around $100 or less. Great viewfinder and ergonomics and better than all Contaxes/Yashicas that came before it. The 50mm 1.7 is an ok lens but you really want to hold out for the 1.4. The 35mm 2.8 Contax is fairly cheap and a good general purpose lens. If you want a newer cheap body, go for an RX - those are also great deals at the moment.