What have you just BOUGHT?

OK, RF-L39 Adapter For Contax Rangefinder CRF RF Lens to Leica Mount SM M39 L39. On recommendation I bouight this one off eBay for $60 rather than the more expensoive one for ~$350. I have been assured by the lens guru that this is as good. Now that '36 5cm 2.0 CZJ and '37 5cm 1.5 can play on M bodies. The '36 is uncoated, the '37 coated. Using two adapters, Contax - M body and M body to HB, I could shoot them on the HB. I might try that just to see how well those old CZJ's work on today's sensors. The uncoated ones have a softness in Osborne's latest lens testing that is interesting and appealing for skin shots.
 
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OK, RF-L39 Adapter For Contax Rangefinder CRF RF Lens to Leica Mount SM M39 L39. On recommendation I bouight this one off eBay for $60 rather than the more expensoive one for ~$350. I have been assured by the lens guru that this is as good. Now that '36 5cm 2.0 CZJ and '37 5cm 1.5 can play on M bodies. The '36 is uncoated, the '37 coated. Using two adapters, Contax - M body and M body to HB, I could shoot them on the HB. I might try that just to see how well those old CZJ's work on today's sensors. The uncoated ones have a softness in Osborne's latest lens testing that is interesting and appealing for skin shots.
Would this be THE lens guru? If so which adapter is it? Interesting that you are going for screw mount as screw is exctly what I need. Unfortunately collapsibles are a PITA on anything other than Amadeo’s Leica style internal-only adapter.
 
Would this be THE lens guru? If so which adapter is it? Interesting that you are going for screw mount as screw is exctly what I need. Unfortunately collapsibles are a PITA on anything other than Amadeo’s Leica style internal-only adapter.


I think so. I asked aboiut the Amedeo and this was suggested. As I have never been misled by the lens guru I ordered it. I will get it Monday. I love the Contax II and III but film is just more sacrifice than I want to deal with on a regulr basis. So Contax > Leica adapter.
 
Just walked out of a charity shop with this in my hands. I paid £10 as they were told it was not working properly.

IMG_20260316_134352_(850_x_623_pixel).jpg

Had the mirror up and the self timer engaged. When I pushed the On/Off switch to the On position, the self timer completed the action. The X and B speeds work properly.

I have 10 days to return it if it is not working ok. I need to put batteries when I am back at home to test the rest of the speeds. Viewfinder looks very nice 👍
 
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Just walked out of a charity shop with this in my hands. I paid £10 as they were told it was not working properly.

View attachment 4889705

Had the mirror up and the self timer engaged. When I pushed the On/Off switch to the On position, the self timer completed the action. The X and B speeds work properly.

I have 10 days to return it if it is not working ok. I need to put batteries when I am back at home to test the rest of the speeds. Viewfinder looks very nice 👍
You seem to be a Minolta magnet 😁
I am too, I‘ve never been looking for Minoltas and always end up seeing one in a shop, flea market etc. and they just follow me home 😆👍
 
Just walked out of a charity shop with this in my hands. I paid £10 as they were told it was not working properly.

View attachment 4889705

Had the mirror up and the self timer engaged. When I pushed the On/Off switch to the On position, the self timer completed the action. The X and B speeds work properly.

I have 10 days to return it if it is not working ok. I need to put batteries when I am back at home to test the rest of the speeds. Viewfinder looks very nice 👍
Mirrors stuck in the up position is a common problem with many vintage cameras - sometimes it's easily fixed. I've had two XE5s (not 7s) with the same problem, which I solved with a little patience.
 
20 year old D80. CCD sensor. Listed as 'well used' cosmetically but there are no signs of use. Low shutter count, 6 month warranty, battery, charger, strap, original packaging, $90, free ship.

10mp, basic menu (no video), works with AF (screw drive) and AF-S lenses (the last Nikon CCD DSLR to do so.) Small, light, cheap batteries.

Back to simplicity!


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Mirrors stuck in the up position is a common problem with many vintage cameras - sometimes it's easily fixed. I've had two XE5s (not 7s) with the same problem, which I solved with a little patience.
I'd be interested to hear more -- with battery-dependent cameras it's often a case of installing fresh batteries (or batteries to begin with). But failing that, I'm not sure what you mean by "patience."

As for the Minolta, I'd love to find an XE-7. I have an XE-5 and it's about the smoothest working camera I've ever used. However, the Auto setting is not overly reliable anymore, so I set the shutter speeds manually.
 
I'd be interested to hear more -- with battery-dependent cameras it's often a case of installing fresh batteries (or batteries to begin with). But failing that, I'm not sure what you mean by "patience."

As for the Minolta, I'd love to find an XE-7. I have an XE-5 and it's about the smoothest working camera I've ever used. However, the Auto setting is not overly reliable anymore, so I set the shutter speeds manually.
A little bit of reading I've done so far suggests that the mirror being up can be a death sentence, especially if battery corrosion is visible. The electronics did not age very well. But in many cases they seem to seize due to self timer not completing the action or depleted batteries.

Edit: there are also issues with the on/off switch. Sometimes it becomes stiff to turn and breaks - so many people end up the camera permanently switched off.
 
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I'm trying to sort a camera to leave in the 4wd centre console. I tried both these lenses on both these cameras, will compare the image quality when I get home.
The cheaper one? I recently priced GM5 and was shocked: I sold mine years ago for much less, but who knew that Panasonic's newer cameras would be so much larger. Discovered that an L-plate made for the GM1 would fit GM5 after a little bit of modification, and the combo was super-cute.
 
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