Best value Film Cameras

[oftheherd]

In SLR's probably any of the screw mount cameras. All were good enough and most of the lenses that were not the lower priced lines were at least acceptable. In fact, many were stunning. Pentax, Yashica and Fujica come to mind. However, I think many of the Fujica cameras still fetch good prices, and the lenses certainly do.

 

[kellymjones]

Great Values:

SLR: Pentax MX, Minolta SRT101/201, Canon FTb or AE1. All have great glass for cheap.

Rangefinder: Konica Auto S2, Yashica Electro 35

Point and shoot (expanding the topic a bit): Olympus mjuii, Canon Sure Shot Classis 120.

 

[pachuco]

I love the Canon FD glass so I have to say the F1N is my pick. Not all that cheap but for what you get it is a value I think. I shoot all my slide film on that bad boy and it never fails.

 

[al1966]

FD cameras are a bargain Im waiting on an AE1 that cost me a fiver(uk) with lens and flash. A lot of older non pro cameras and or semi pros can be had at silly prices £8 for a nikon 601 or and around the same for an F65 . If the cam hasnt got a following you can get them for very low prices, I even once won a praktika for 1p on the bay the person lived in the same town as me so no postage as well. Minoolta AF is relativyl cheep for the cams alas theres a good market for the glass. There is a lot of bargains in the medium format market as well, if you are patint you could get an slr for less than the ton and given what the price of entry a few years ago its great. Im trying to pick up as many low priced cameras and lenses as I can find, these things give me a lot of pleasure. The Rf market isnt as low as the SLR market at the moment, I wish it was as Id like to get more RFs but given that less interchangeable lens ones were soldin the first place its not surprising, still Ive got me FSUs and they are a lot of fun. 😀 😀

 

[shadowfox]

Ah, Point and Shoot: how about the Olympus Trip, no batteries needed and the selenium meter is just as deadly accurate as when new, I know, I have two of them 🙂

Edit: Just to clarify, I meant Olympus Trip 35, not the cheap knock-off that Olympus tried to push to the market some years later.

 

[sepiareverb]

...depends on your price point, but a Nikon F4 for about $300 is an amazing camera.

I'm with you Frank! Perhaps the finest SLR period. Bulletproof, AF if you want it, 1/8000 to 4 sec. dialed in exposure times, with all the traditional controls in the traditional places. Fantastic backward compatability with even Ai'd lenses giving metering. Only potential drawback is the lack of a manual film advance, but AA batteries last a long time in these, and you can get them at any convience store or gas station.

Also (I'll say it again) the best SLR for tripod work.

 

[matt fury]

Most film cameras are a bargain these days. It's pretty hard to narrow 'em down!

 

[dmr]

how about the K1000 ...mine's about 30 years old and never a problem

I've had mine for over 20 years now, and I still consider it to be my "main" camera. Like you, I've never had any problems.

However, in a recent thread on another system (APUG, maybe?) some people were remarking that they thought they are currently overpriced on the used market, so they may not be that much of a value in this day and age.

 

[mw_uio]

F5 are a bargain, with many users who did not shoot many rolls of film with them!! 😀

Cheers 😀

MArk
Quito, EC

 

[sepiareverb]

The K1000 is certainly a camera to be considered a best value if only for longevity! They do seem to wanna last forever. I have students bringing in their parents K1000 that look like they've been to Mars and back that run fine.


Interesting that we've all settled on SLR's as the 'value' cameras?

 

[Bryce]

I'll vote for Pentax cameras again, but there have been several really good ones. I too have a 20 year old, much used K1000 that's never skipped a beat, but the KX is a better value- same price and basic layout, but nice match needle meter, MLU, timer, and aperture preview.
Lenses are a little more expensive, since they also fit the digital bodies. Which may make the system an even better value if you're so inclined.
Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be an equivalent in the RF market...

 

[payasam]

There's use value and there's exchange (or market) value.

 

[alan davus]

I'd have to cast my vote with any of the Nikon F's, especially the Fe2's, Fm, Fm2's etc. For what you can buy them for today viz a viz their cost 20 to 30 years ago and the fact so many of them will last another 20 to 30 years (at least), they are absolute bargains. And with so much glass selling for equally silly prices.

 

[Michiel]

I'm pretty convinced that all my cameras are great value for money. 🙂


Yashica GSN: best fixed lens RF if I can believe what I read online

Canon A-1: half the price of an F-1, same lenses. Lenses go much cheaper than Nikon, since Canon changed the mount!

Yashica MAT 124: half the price of a Rollei, similar results

Canon stylus epic (myu II): very cheap second hand and many stores sell their new ones for discount prices.

 

[DavidH]

F3HP - just a fantastic camera now going for silly money
F4/F5/F100 - all so cheap now - but on the bulky side
OM2 and OM2N - another fantastic cam for low low price
Any of the Bronica MF gear - except the RF645 (damn)

Rangefinder-wise, I see no bargains at all. Even the BessaR range hold their 2nd hand prices well and can cost more than a used F5.
The G2 is slowly falling again but not by a much.
Guess this is a volume thing - less used rf on the market...?

 

[skibeerr]

The Pentax LX comes to mind a user can be had for about 200$ and they are sturdy beastys, if you dont forget to change the mirror foam about every five years, lenses can be very good. And I dont give up the Hexar af is a price value knok out.

 

[Joop van Heijgen]

Most film cameras are a bargain these days. It's pretty hard to narrow 'em down!

The same way for Leica R cameras!

Beginning with the Leicaflex cameras: The Leicaflex SL cost you in Holland and Germany about €150,- and the Leicaflex SL 2 €350,-
The SL 2 has the best viewfinder ever made by Leitz for a reflex camera!
Also the other R models are cheap! The R3 can you buy for €100,- and the R4 for about €250,-
Even the R 7 will no more cost than €550,-!
The R8 witch can be made adaptable for digital can you buy second hand for €700,-!

A month ago I bought a Leicaflex SL and SL 2 (mechanical cameras 'made in Germany') in a near perfect state: together for €475, -!

The selective metering of these cameras is excellent!

The photo pictures and slides are extremly sharp and have a very high contrast.

I do photograph with the Macro-Elmarit 2.8/60; Elmarit 2.8/35 and the Elmarit 2.8/180.

The last lens I bougth recently for €195,-! The lens in a perfect state!

Happy times for Leica reflex users!



Unfortunatily you can't say this for the Leica M cameras!

The lowest price for a leica M 6 is around €795.
And the Leica M lenses are still expensive!

 

[Meleica]

Best value modern AF 50mm lens = Canon EOS 50mm 1.8 $ 60 used

Best used P&S film = Olympus Stylus Epic $ 45 used

Great value to price ratio = Contax G system

Contax G page = http://members.aol.com/dcolucci/contaxg.htm


Ricoh Diacord for 6x6. $ 75 used for 4 elements, great focus system.

Diacord page=http://members.aol.com/dcolucci/tlr.htm


Pentax 67 for 6x7. Prices have tanked. Ability to produce pin sharp 16x20 INCH prints with ease, enormous system.

Pentax 67 page=http://members.aol.com/dcolucci/p67ss.htm

 

[HSI]

Nikon F3 = $150

Thats all you will ever need to know in life, Beastly!

 

[ChrisPlatt]

35mm SLR prices are at all-time lows;
there are plenty of bargains on eBay.

Chris