Film SLRs are extremely inexpensive!

One nice byproduct of this is that it is very easy and cheap to get young people who are interested in 'old fashioned' photography a decent camera. And they are quite shocked how good the pictures can be.
 
$50 including shipping for a bargain grade OM2s. While the brass shows through at the normal wear points, it is fully functional. To me, function beats appearance, though I do like things that look good when possible. So, I consider the deal a steal.
 
kshapero said:
Went to an estate sale. All the expensive stuff was marked....well....expensive. Then in the garage they had the "junk". Voila a Nikon F for $25!;)
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This makes me envious to you but also quite sad: I am thinking how little my kids will value my cameras, lenses, prints that I labor over and boxes of negatives when they wheel me out...
 
Ronald_H said:
One nice byproduct of this is that it is very easy and cheap to get young people who are interested in 'old fashioned' photography a decent camera. And they are quite shocked how good the pictures can be.
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My three and a half year old knows how to take a picture with a Kine Exakta and then fold the waist level finder away. :)

Ronnie
 
I loooove cheap SLR's. I'm currently on a Minolta kick.

I have more then a few bodies floating around; they cost next to nothing. Picked up an EOS 1100 for less then a pizza, found an EOS 5 for a fair price... nicest finds so far are the Minolta XG-1 and X700. I'm currently keeping an eye on some more bodies and lenses. Throw a few bids in here and there... no rush.
 
I know it's not a "name brand" but I picked up a Sears KS-500 (Ricoh KR-5)w/50 f2 lens for $5, working perfectly. I did replace the foam light seals but that seems to be necessary on any 25+ year old camera. Also at the same time got a clean Fujica ST605n for $20 so my Takumars would have a home.
 
OM-2n with Zuiko Autozoom 35-70 for 10 euros last Sunday. Hippie style neckstrap included!!!.
Dead battery, probably still the original - marked Made in Japan ! we don't find these here in years. Some cleaning marks on the frontal glass and a fungus spot in the rear glass of the lens. Some dust.
Batteries were replaced, lightmeter seemed correct and first test photos were flawless . Good exposure, no lightleaks...
I was so surprised with the price that I ignored a Sigma SLR that was also for sale, probably for the same price. Well, someone else might have had also a lucky Sunday !
 
Nothing that cheap, but I tought a M645J with 80 Macro and plain prism in perfect condition for 175 Euro was quite a good deal. Dussted it, put battery in it and went shooting. Beautiful lens.
 
Pentax ME Super in fine working condition with an SMC-M 50/1.7 for $9.99 + shipping. And I must mention the very good Nikon L35AF p&s for $1.00, bought locally.
 
And it ain't just SLR... what about LF

And it ain't just SLR... what about LF

Bought a like new Toyo 45 Carbon Fiber, with four DDS film holders on CL for $200.

Kodak Medallist II..medium 6X9 format...$45

My best SLR -- Canon EF... the "Black Beauty"... era of the Canon F1. with 1.4 SSC lens...Goodwill for $35 Uses 2 batteries, and has circuit protection... can use any batteries and voltage reduced to 1.35 by circuitry originally built into the camera. Not a spot of brassing... shiny black everwhere. One battery powers the camera and meter. Second battery powers the high speed section of the shutter speeds. Off switch for batteries.
 
All from Local Craigslist:

Minolta XD11, MD Rokkor-X 50mm f1.7 lens, Vivitar 283 flash, all EX+: $30

Zeiss Ikon Contaflex Super BC, Ikoblitz 4 flash, assorted lens filters and lens hood, carrying case, bag, all EX+: $25

Minolta X700 body only, never used: $25

Nikon N80 body, new in shrink-wrapped box: $70

Minolta Hi-matic 7S (ebay camera shop sale), EX+: $32, including shipping

Darkroom stuff is an even better value.
 
Whilst they can be bought cheaply, SLR's still need looking after sometimes. I always factored in a decent service when I was buying and although most I tried didn't need it there were a few notable exeptions. Nikon F2 and F3, both having lazy mirrors and various Leica R4's with the same mirror issue and electrical demons in the finders. Contax 159, erratic shutter release. Pentax SPF sticking shutter and Nikkormats with lazy mirrors.
My retro kits are a Pentax K2 with a 50 1.4 K bought here which had been recently serviced by Eric H. $100 if I remember correctly and performs as new.
A Leicaflex SL in near new condition for £80 and my favorite, a Nikon F5 in as new condition with box and papers for £200.
At these prices I really couldn't see the point of my M6's and MP and with degraded eyesight sold all my expensive film cameras.
Although big the F5 is all i'll ever need in a film camera and considering it cost up to £2500 when new is such a bargain now.
 
kuzano said:
Bought a like new Toyo 45 Carbon Fiber, with four DDS film holders on CL for $200.

Kodak Medallist II..medium 6X9 format...$45

My best SLR -- Canon EF... the "Black Beauty"... era of the Canon F1. with 1.4 SSC lens...Goodwill for $35 Uses 2 batteries, and has circuit protection... can use any batteries and voltage reduced to 1.35 by circuitry originally built into the camera. Not a spot of brassing... shiny black everwhere. One battery powers the camera and meter. Second battery powers the high speed section of the shutter speeds. Off switch for batteries.
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I have always liked & enjoyed working with a Canon EF ever since I bought my first one back in 76. The ability to meter in low light with the silicon blue photo cell & automated shutter speeds from 1/1000 to a full 30 sec made shooting using only natural light (with a tripod) possible for me. Recently I picked up a minty one for $80 & I thought that to be a good deal but the "real find" was the N.O.S. EF, yes, a brand spanking new EF. This one even has the original batteries still sealed in the factory packaging & all the warranty paper work & stuff, just like the first one I bought. Now I didn't pay $80 for it but it was still less than what I paid for the first one.
Another good point about the EF is Canon's FD lens line-up, there are some serious bargains to be found there also. These bargains are on some gems in FD mount that I can not justify, paying the price of admission for in EOS mount.
Right now I'm looking for a nice F-1n to pair with a " Booster T Finder" that I found LN in the box.
The stuff you have always wanted is out there to be found for "pennies on the dollar." You know, there is even stuff out there, that you never knew you wanted, to be found at the same low prices. :D
 
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