Favorite Underappreciated Under Priced Cameras?

[xia_ke]

I'm going to throw in a vote for Rolleicords. With Rolleiflexes getting the most TLR recognition and Yashicas seemingly getting the most mentions for an entry level TLR, the Rolleicord often gets lost in the shuffle.

 

[jsrockit]

I'm going to throw in a vote for Rolleicords. With Rolleiflexes getting the most TLR recognition and Yashicas seemingly getting the most mentions for an entry level TLR, the Rolleicord often gets lost in the shuffle.

I think it is because the Rolleicord is no longer inexpensive...

 

[Huss]

I own the FT2 and of all my cameras it's the one with the darkest viewfinder. This i don't like. .

Interesting as I do not notice that in mine. Perhaps condition (or the type of focus screen that is in it) plays a part?

 

[xia_ke]

I think it is because the Rolleicord is no longer inexpensive...

Maybe for the Va or Vb, but the earlier models can still be had for cheap. They can certainly be had for less than a comparable condition 124G.

 

[Addy101]

The Bronica system is laughable in terms of ease of repair and calling them reliable is quite the joke. That's what is so funny. But hey, I guess we've all had different experiences.

Still, I don't understand how this is funny. It felt to me you had a laugh at the expense of Scapevision.

Scapevision didn't talk about reliability nor did I - we just pointed to some flaws of the Hasselblads that the Bronicas don't have.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

I too like the little Konica C35. Mine always gave me nice results.
I particularly like the zone-focus model, sold here as C35v.

Beware though; many C35's on eBay seem to be non-functioning...

Chris

 

[zian]

+1 on this. I know that I'm repeating myself (from a thread on RFF some time ago) but I still reckon that a digital XA should be technically possible. Whether it would be *viable* is another question, of course.

It's only a matter of time; technology gets cheaper by the day and one day digital p&s will be full sensor. I think the Leica M-D is a step closer to that future.

 

[Huss]

Cross post from the innovative list:

Nikonos V - Maybe the best street shooter there is.
Great 35mm lens, huge OVF, auto exposure (+ manual), insanely rugged and weather/waterproof.
Super quiet too, as the solid metal brick body muffles everything.

 

[madNbad]

Cross post from the innovative list:

Nikonos V - Maybe the best street shooter there is.
Great 35mm lens, huge OVF, auto exposure (+ manual), insanely rugged and weather/waterproof.
Super quiet too, as the solid metal brick body muffles everything.

Plus people are distracted when they see a bright orange camera!

 

[peterm1]

Cross post from the innovative list:

Nikonos V - Maybe the best street shooter there is.
Great 35mm lens, huge OVF, auto exposure (+ manual), insanely rugged and weather/waterproof.
Super quiet too, as the solid metal brick body muffles everything.

I agree. As a diver I used to own one but found I enjoyed using it on the surface of the land more. As a camera to throw into a backpack and take into the jungle it was superb except perhaps for its weight (which however is nothing compared to a D700 and a 24-70 f2.8 AF.) There are however a couple of qualifiers to this statement. You must be able to estimate distance and you must be content shooting with wider lenses as the sole longer one (an 80mm one if memory serves me correctly) is hard to focus given its depth of field restrictions. Never the less all in all a fine camera. By the way it's distinctive rubber clad body had an equally distinctive smell and every time I smell it I am transported to exotic places and times when I was young.

Me back then

http://www.tallshipstales.de/80s/imgs/Peter-Maynard.jpg

 

[Huss]

Plus people are distracted when they see a bright orange camera!

Mine is dark green and black (I also have an orange one!)

 

[tbhv55]

It's only a matter of time; technology gets cheaper by the day and one day digital p&s will be full sensor. I think the Leica M-D is a step closer to that future.

I hope you're right. I'll wait (not very🙂) patiently...

 

[Orbiter]

Kodak Signet 35. A bit fussy to use, no parallax correction, squinty eyepiece, rather slow top shutter speed, but for some reason always fun to shoot. Maybe it's the funky controls (designed for use with gloves?), or the stream-lined styling, or the fact that it seems simple and nearly indestructible. The Ektar lens is pretty darn good, resulting images have a bit of character to them (in a good way), and when looking through pictures those made with this camera stack up well against the competition. It's also one of the few EBay cameras that I have that worked right out of the shipping box (possibly part of the reason I am so fond of it). Pretty nice camera in the $50 or under price range.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

Plus people are distracted when they see a bright orange camera!

Is that speculation, or do you speak from experience?
If so I'd be surprised. No one bats an eye when I use mine.

Chris

 

[ajramirez]

Nikkormats have been mentioned several times now on this thread, and they get the vote from me too.
I picked up a perfect FT-2 for under $20.
In it's day it was a pro camera, the only difference compared to my Nikon Fs was not in build but in accessories.
I had two, kept the black one, gave the chrome one (with a lens) to my nephew to replace his just died Canon A1. He loves it.

I very recently picked up a FT-3. Not as cheap as your $20 FT-2, but in absolutely mint condition, and IMO, a bargain at $78. Wonderful camera.

 

[radi(c)al_cam]

IMHO, one of my favourite heavyweight-and-no-frills cameras: the Leicaflex SL is one of the clearly underappreciated cameras, and (at least in Europe) usually very underpriced!

 

[MIkhail]

Minolta X-700

 

[David Hughes]

Minolta X-700

Hi,

Dozens on ebay in GB but you have to search hard for one with a lens on it... (I blame digital.)

Regards, David

 

[Robert Lai]

Canon FT-b. I gone mine for $75, and it seemed to have a recent CLA also. Works great and reliably. Put fantastic glass such as the 50mm 1.2L, or the 85mm 1.2L on it, and it is on par with anything.

 

[benlees]

Another Bronica SQ fan here. Had mine for years; no problems. Lenses are excellent. You want to spend 3 or 4x times the amount for a Hasselblad go right ahead. Of course, low prices with a non-hip image means they are hard to sell...