justins7
Well-known
I went to an estate sale the other day. Paid $15 for a camera bag with a Canon 8mm film camera and ... 35mm 2.5 Nikkor lens for Nikon Rangefinder! Awesome deal! The seller just wanted to get rid of the bag of "useless" equipment. There were also some other bits in there, all worth way more than the $15. I was so thrilled, and now want to buy a Nikon body to match. (Although I have a Kiev/Contax that may work okay with this lens.)
I guess this makes up for some of the duds I've gotten over the years.

There are still people with no interest in looking stuff up ebay, I guess. This is probably my best find, other than maybe the $12 for a full Exakta kit back in the 90's.
I guess this makes up for some of the duds I've gotten over the years.
There are still people with no interest in looking stuff up ebay, I guess. This is probably my best find, other than maybe the $12 for a full Exakta kit back in the 90's.
Al Kaplan
Veteran
Those "sacks of old film cameras" are out there! Congratulations!
justins7
Well-known
I think estate sales are the way to go for happy hunting.
kbg32
neo-romanticist
There was a story, I think on Gandy's site, about someone find a Nikon rangefinder, mint, in the garbage!
Good find!
Good find!
N
Nikon Bob
Guest
That was a great find and is one of the things that make life interesting.
Bob
Bob
JohnTF
Veteran
One of my student's parents traded a p&s to a woman for a complete S2 outfit w/3 lenses. It was too complicated for her. ;-)
Is the lens black or chrome and did you get the finder with it?
I know, gift horse, mouth, etc.
John
Is the lens black or chrome and did you get the finder with it?
I know, gift horse, mouth, etc.
John
justins7
Well-known
There was also a 35mm Canon finder (non-brightline), 135 Tanack lens and finder (not of great interest, but nice-looking) and 50 1.4 shade. So of course I then went on an inconspicuous rampage, desperately searching the house for the body (everything in the house was for sale). But it seems like the family probably took the Nikon body out, if there was one.
It will work well enough with the Contax/Kiev body. That's a great find. People write-off film cameras as "worthless". I've hot some incredible finds at the local "antique" shops.
NickTrop
Veteran
WoW! Great find. I rarely see cameras at Estate or garage sales around here, and when I do, they're junk. Congrats!
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sp9107sp
Well-known
estate sales
estate sales
you can track estate sales in the U. S. on www.estatesales.net.
my best deal was a family run estate sale. a chrome sp w/ 3.5cm f3.5, 5cm and 10.5cm for $150. + about 10,000 slides from the late 50's-early 70's (3 worlds fairs and Disneyland California)
jim
estate sales
you can track estate sales in the U. S. on www.estatesales.net.
my best deal was a family run estate sale. a chrome sp w/ 3.5cm f3.5, 5cm and 10.5cm for $150. + about 10,000 slides from the late 50's-early 70's (3 worlds fairs and Disneyland California)
jim
justins7
Well-known
I found the experience very interesting too because it indicated what people perceive as "collectible". The sellers put all of the large vintage toys and train sets aside, as "valuable", but obviously were used to seeing ratty leather bags so ignored what I saw. Also, 8mm cine cameras are so common that they just fade into the clutter and visual filth.
Dez
Bodger Extraordinaire
While you're on a roll...
While you're on a roll...
It's time to start looking in barns for a mint Model T! congratulations on your very good luck.
While you're on a roll...
It's time to start looking in barns for a mint Model T! congratulations on your very good luck.
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
It will work well enough with the Contax/Kiev body. That's a great find. People write-off film cameras as "worthless". I've hot some incredible finds at the local "antique" shops.
This is the time to invest time in knowledge on gear, I say!
The Netherlands were early adoptors in digital photography, I have spent quite some time scouring websites and thrift shops in the past years, picking up lotsa nice gear for next to nothing. As long as you know what to get, there's nice profits to be had.
Cleaned it, shot it, sold it on evilbay and invested the profit in my Leica stuff. I did nice.
As digital-camera-use is progressing in the US, there must be a lot of people who ditch the old camera from the attic at next-to-nothing prices.
My best finds: Exakta-66 with Schneider Kreuznach Xenotar for EUR 300, sold for 1200, Nikon FM-2n with 50mm f1.2 for EUR 50, sold for 400, Volna M42 macro lens for EUR 3,50, sold for 120, Soligor 105mm 2.8 for EUR 10, sold for 80, etc. I sold lots of Hexars, bought them for EUR 150 a piece and sold for over 350, occasionally up to 500. Must have sold at least 20 of them.
Get out to the thrift shops, the garage sales etc!
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