navilluspm
Well-known
All the working film cameras I have were given to me, but one stands out: The Contax 167 MT that my brother gave me. I love the lenses. I love the spot meter on the camera, but that camera is the glichiest camera I have ever used! It goes through batteries like crazy, it jams a lot when it winds, it is very loud and not too particularly small. (My brother claims it was always this bad - so why he didn't sent it in under warranty when he had the chance, I will never know). But, in spite of all these things, it is my most used film camera at the moment, because I like the pictures it produces.
I love the lenses, but hate the camera. I think there is a secret place in my heart that hopes it dies, so I have the excuse to look for an Aria.
I love the lenses, but hate the camera. I think there is a secret place in my heart that hopes it dies, so I have the excuse to look for an Aria.
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eli griggs
Well-known
I just reread the thread and realized that when I first posted while still in the grip of a killer flu, all wozzie from fever and painkillers, that I'd completely misread the the question 
; it's not what I regret giving away, :bang: but what I've received, LOL.
I guess that'll be a Canon FD zoom lens give to me by someone dear, years ago, bought from a second-hand shop, at a time when there was NO money to spare, that had a nice little colony of fungus in residence. I will not put it on my camera and for the longest time now, I can't bring myself to toss it because she'd ask why don't I use the lens she gave me and I just say I need the wider angles of another zoom lens I use, but it's there in case I need it Sugar :angel:
Since then, about 19 years or so, I've managed not to use the lens but it's still around, just in case I'm asked about it. The colony is doing quite nicely by-the-way, but is somewhat lonely, waayyyy over there, away from my other camera kit these many years.
Cheers
; it's not what I regret giving away, :bang: but what I've received, LOL.I guess that'll be a Canon FD zoom lens give to me by someone dear, years ago, bought from a second-hand shop, at a time when there was NO money to spare, that had a nice little colony of fungus in residence. I will not put it on my camera and for the longest time now, I can't bring myself to toss it because she'd ask why don't I use the lens she gave me and I just say I need the wider angles of another zoom lens I use, but it's there in case I need it Sugar :angel:
Since then, about 19 years or so, I've managed not to use the lens but it's still around, just in case I'm asked about it. The colony is doing quite nicely by-the-way, but is somewhat lonely, waayyyy over there, away from my other camera kit these many years.
Cheers
Al Kaplan
Veteran
I'm still good friends with an ex who is in the antique business. Between her and her antique dealer friends who buy out estates I run into a lot of photo gear from time to time, usually in exchange for telling them what they have and how best to describe it on Ebay. A few weeks back I wrote on here about a dealer who offered me "a sack of old cameras" for $500. I later found out that he figured it was some good stuff when I didn't counter with a "How about $300?", which I suppose he'd have taken. He'd bought the "sack" an hour earlier at an estate auction, the only bidder, for $25.00!
An hour later I'd swapped a 150mm Hasselblad Sonnar with my camera repairman for a CLA on the M3 body. I kept the M3 body and a few lenses, gave my son the Rollei 35 and the Leica CL with the 40 Summicron. I also kept the Minolta Autocord and an assortment lesser cameras and stuff including some filters, Vivitar flashes, synch cords, camera straps, camera bags, and belt pouches. Everything looked like new. One of the lenses was a Wetzlar black paint 28mm Elmarit that I traded for a nice M2 body with a cherry 21/3.4 Super-Angulon with hood.
There was also some misc. darkroom stuff including an 80mm Schneider Componon.
When one of the baristas at my local Starbucks asked me where would be a good place to buy a used film SLR for a photography class she was taking at college I gave her a like new Minolta X-700.
An hour later I'd swapped a 150mm Hasselblad Sonnar with my camera repairman for a CLA on the M3 body. I kept the M3 body and a few lenses, gave my son the Rollei 35 and the Leica CL with the 40 Summicron. I also kept the Minolta Autocord and an assortment lesser cameras and stuff including some filters, Vivitar flashes, synch cords, camera straps, camera bags, and belt pouches. Everything looked like new. One of the lenses was a Wetzlar black paint 28mm Elmarit that I traded for a nice M2 body with a cherry 21/3.4 Super-Angulon with hood.
There was also some misc. darkroom stuff including an 80mm Schneider Componon.
When one of the baristas at my local Starbucks asked me where would be a good place to buy a used film SLR for a photography class she was taking at college I gave her a like new Minolta X-700.
photovdz
Well-known
no one ever gave me an "interesting" camera for free., sadly... .. but i'm used to give away olympus om bodies to friend (I buy a bundle because I want that special lens and I end up with one more OM-10, OM-1 or OM-2 on my shelf...) Cheap present, with a lot of potential ;-)
Some weeks ago I gave a IS3000 to the young daughter (15) of a friend for her birthday (couldn't resist to buy it for 20€ in pristine condition on a local garage sale, but decided that one was enough on the shelf)... now she is learning photography...
Some weeks ago I gave a IS3000 to the young daughter (15) of a friend for her birthday (couldn't resist to buy it for 20€ in pristine condition on a local garage sale, but decided that one was enough on the shelf)... now she is learning photography...
JohnTF
Veteran
I thought Roger was giving away free gear...drats
Recommend you haunt the camera shows, last one, a Bronica with prism, two backs and three lenses, $300, I had to restrain myself,
Roger, what about those "too good to pass up deals?", I have a Pentax 6x7 on the bedroom floor, picked up lots of good kit for my muse, model, wonderful student and now accomplished world traveler, mom, and photographer Zuzanna from Prague, Seattle, Cambodia and the world.
The excuse was when something was too good to pass on, I passed it on to her. Have half of a Hassy kit for her now, need a lens and viewfinder for a 500C body with back given to me.
My friend Mindy in the Peace Corps found my old Olympus Stylus Digital to be exactly what she needs, pretty tough well sealed little camera to survive so far.
Regards, John
JohnTF
Veteran
I had a strobe conversion set up for a Graflex flash that took #22 bulbs. It used the juice from the flash to trigger the strobe, so the trigger unit went in to the socket and the tube went in to it, plus there was some huge power supply about Prius size, talk about Rube Goldberg, it weighed a ton, and I had to hunt for a while to get the bits to make it work.
There was a time when you never really changed systems, you just modified what you had, which was not always practical, like shooting 35mm in Rolleis or Flexarets with adapters.
Another free strobe took one of the hard to find high voltage dry cells, which fit in to the camera unit, which was bigger and heavier than the Busch Pressman to which it was bolted.
Free strobes in the early days were just not too good, most would anchor a cruise ship.
Good free kit, from my friend's camera store, accessories for early Rollei (focusing hood, filters, etc.), and Nikon filters plus black and chrome F non-meter prisms.
Stuff that would, at one time, sit around a shop in the drawer, but now is on ebay in a flash.
Gave away lots of enlargers, cameras, to students.
Look for the yard sale the week after my obit. ;-)
Regards, John
There was a time when you never really changed systems, you just modified what you had, which was not always practical, like shooting 35mm in Rolleis or Flexarets with adapters.
Another free strobe took one of the hard to find high voltage dry cells, which fit in to the camera unit, which was bigger and heavier than the Busch Pressman to which it was bolted.
Free strobes in the early days were just not too good, most would anchor a cruise ship.
Good free kit, from my friend's camera store, accessories for early Rollei (focusing hood, filters, etc.), and Nikon filters plus black and chrome F non-meter prisms.
Stuff that would, at one time, sit around a shop in the drawer, but now is on ebay in a flash.
Gave away lots of enlargers, cameras, to students.
Look for the yard sale the week after my obit. ;-)
Regards, John
nikon_sam
Shooter of Film...
The first "free" camera that was given to me was/is a Nikon FE w/Tamron 28-70 zoom...I still have it and because I fell in love with the Nikon Brand stemming from that camera's metering ability my Nikon body count is around 10+
Also about two years ago a friend from church gave me a box of Nikon Stuff...in there was a Nikon F2 chrome body w/DP-1 finder, N2020 w/50mm 2.0, FT2 chrome body w/43-86 zoom, four Nikkor F type lenses...24mm 2.8, Nikkor-SC 50mm 1.4, Nikkor-Q 135mm 3.5 & a Nikkor 300mm 4.5
A PB-5 Bellows w/PS-5 Slide Copying Adapter and a MD-2 w/MB-1 (I put that on the F2a I already had)
There were a few other odds "n" ends in there but I can't remember what...
I still have everything except the FT2 w/lens which I sent to a fellow RFFer...
A garage sale find many years ago...Minolta SRT 102 w/50mm 1.7 for $5
I might put that one up in the Give-Away Thread since I have no plans of ever using it...
Also about two years ago a friend from church gave me a box of Nikon Stuff...in there was a Nikon F2 chrome body w/DP-1 finder, N2020 w/50mm 2.0, FT2 chrome body w/43-86 zoom, four Nikkor F type lenses...24mm 2.8, Nikkor-SC 50mm 1.4, Nikkor-Q 135mm 3.5 & a Nikkor 300mm 4.5
A PB-5 Bellows w/PS-5 Slide Copying Adapter and a MD-2 w/MB-1 (I put that on the F2a I already had)
There were a few other odds "n" ends in there but I can't remember what...
I still have everything except the FT2 w/lens which I sent to a fellow RFFer...
A garage sale find many years ago...Minolta SRT 102 w/50mm 1.7 for $5
I might put that one up in the Give-Away Thread since I have no plans of ever using it...
kid_a
Established
I work at a camera store, and one time a very nice older lady came and dropped by with a case of old cameras that her husband, who had recently passed away, owned. There was nothing exceptionally valuable or with great performance, but I have used everything she gave us, and enjoyed it.
From the lot, I got all the best stuff ( 1- I'm the only one who would really use it, 2 - I was the only one who knew anything about what was worth keeping! ). I got a Rollei 35, which is just a great little pocket camera to bring out with me, an Olympus PEN D, which is great because I can fit 72 photos to a roll (35mm half-frame), and a Canon 814 auto-zoom Super 8 camcorder, which has started me on my latest video obsession.. That's neither here nor there though.
The Rollei and the Oly are fine cameras to bring out to the pub at night, the viewfinders are uselessly small, so I use them like toy cameras. I don't compose, and usually use bulb shutter speed with a flash in hand. Works well in the pub and at night, it creates some very nice exposures! Not for everyone though.
From the lot, I got all the best stuff ( 1- I'm the only one who would really use it, 2 - I was the only one who knew anything about what was worth keeping! ). I got a Rollei 35, which is just a great little pocket camera to bring out with me, an Olympus PEN D, which is great because I can fit 72 photos to a roll (35mm half-frame), and a Canon 814 auto-zoom Super 8 camcorder, which has started me on my latest video obsession.. That's neither here nor there though.
The Rollei and the Oly are fine cameras to bring out to the pub at night, the viewfinders are uselessly small, so I use them like toy cameras. I don't compose, and usually use bulb shutter speed with a flash in hand. Works well in the pub and at night, it creates some very nice exposures! Not for everyone though.
Steve Bellayr
Veteran
If this is the free site. I do not know. But, anyway...I have 2 Kood step up rings, 27mm-37mm & 28mm-37mm, silver in color. If you can use them and you are in CONUS you are welcome to them gratis.
peterm1
Veteran
I have been given a couple of cameras but nothing of great merit. My late dad gave me his Minox which badly needs servicing and I have never used due to its condition, lack of film (and to be fair, perhaps lack of interest.) Its of sentimental value though. And a friend gave me a Retina (1a?) Can't immmediately recall the model but (unfortunately) its the one without the rangefinder but nevetr the less its in OK condition and I should get it out and use it - they are jolly nice cameras and i have seen them give good results. I was also given a Retina SLR but in a condition that would never allow it to function.
I did however once meet a guy when I was trolling thru camera stores who had a very nice Canon P. As I kept seeing him at the same stores as me on the same day, it it was obvious that he was keen on old cameras and was doingt he same as me, even before I saw the camera he was carrying. So I got talking to him. Seems an old lady gave him the camera as it was "worth nothing to her." If my memory serves me correct I think he told me that the lady had also had an old Nikon rangefinder and lenses that "were thrown on the rubbish tip" for the smae reason. Ouch - but good luck to him of course for the Canon! At least that was saved.
I did however once meet a guy when I was trolling thru camera stores who had a very nice Canon P. As I kept seeing him at the same stores as me on the same day, it it was obvious that he was keen on old cameras and was doingt he same as me, even before I saw the camera he was carrying. So I got talking to him. Seems an old lady gave him the camera as it was "worth nothing to her." If my memory serves me correct I think he told me that the lady had also had an old Nikon rangefinder and lenses that "were thrown on the rubbish tip" for the smae reason. Ouch - but good luck to him of course for the Canon! At least that was saved.
Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
Roger,
There is a man in Santa Fe who sits on the sidewalks around the central plaza with a large dog (A Rottweiler, I think) that has a fat tabby cat sitting on its back. A white rat sits on top of the cat, except when the tourists scare it, then it hides under the cat!
The man told me that he makes more money doing that than he would working most of the jobs in Santa Fe, and he even had a license from the city as a "Street Performer" that legally entitled him to ply his trade!
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Dear Chris,
Great story! I don't know whether to be cheered or depressed by it... On the whole, I think, cheered.
Nice pic, too. Thanks.
Cheers,
R.
projectbluebird
Film Abuser
Most of the free equipment I've received falls into the joyful discovery category. The camera that I learned on (a canon AE-1 that was my mother's, I've still got it!) was given to me because I needed and older, manual camera for class. My first medium format camera (a yashica MAT 124-G) was given to me because, "you like old cameras right? I've got one I haven't used for 20 years"
The best one however, was a polaroid land camera that had been sitting outside in a junkheap for at least a year. After brushing the dirt off, and rigging up a battery, I found out it still worked! It made some of the most distinctive images, I wish I could still get film for it.
The best one however, was a polaroid land camera that had been sitting outside in a junkheap for at least a year. After brushing the dirt off, and rigging up a battery, I found out it still worked! It made some of the most distinctive images, I wish I could still get film for it.
Pompiere
Established
Like most, I have been given the box of old cameras from friends and relatives and most of the time they are Instamatics or box cameras. But, my mother-in-law gave me a box of cameras that included her late husband's Argus C3 kit that he had bought during the Korean war. I was glad to spend the time to completely tear down and re-assemble that one so that my kids can have something of their grandfather's.
I was also once given a box that included a Braun Hobby flash that I now use quite often. I don't mind tinkering with cameras, in fact, I find it relaxing and satisfying to get something working again that has sat in a closet for years.
I was also once given a box that included a Braun Hobby flash that I now use quite often. I don't mind tinkering with cameras, in fact, I find it relaxing and satisfying to get something working again that has sat in a closet for years.
peterpan
Newbie
Best: 90 yr old Goerz folder, with working shutter. Taped up to prevent light leaks it produced one of my most memorable photos to date, when out 'seeing if it worked' on a frosty morning
Got what I paid for: most of my kit
Worst: a four hours drive each way in a truck to collect a 10x8 enlarger that was rusty and had lenses that were full of mould (been kept in a garage about 50 years I think). Never restored the enlarger 3 years later and use the huge 12 inch lens as a paperweight.
Got what I paid for: most of my kit
Worst: a four hours drive each way in a truck to collect a 10x8 enlarger that was rusty and had lenses that were full of mould (been kept in a garage about 50 years I think). Never restored the enlarger 3 years later and use the huge 12 inch lens as a paperweight.
Al Kaplan
Veteran
a few years ago I got a carton filled with partial boxes of 8x10 paper, about 60 rolls of mostly Iford 35mm film, a few rolls of 120, one gallon packets of D-76, Dektol, fixer, etc. shipped prepaid to me by a guy on another forum who'd crossed over to The Dark Side and was now shooting and printing Printing Pixels.
Another time I'd arranged an even swap with a guy on that forum for my 28mm Elmarit in cherry condition for his 21/3.4 Super-Angulon in cherry condition, both complete with hoods and caps. He emailed me to tell me that my black Elmarit was BLACK PAINT and worth so much more than his Super Angulon that he was also sending me a very clean M2 body!
Another time I'd arranged an even swap with a guy on that forum for my 28mm Elmarit in cherry condition for his 21/3.4 Super-Angulon in cherry condition, both complete with hoods and caps. He emailed me to tell me that my black Elmarit was BLACK PAINT and worth so much more than his Super Angulon that he was also sending me a very clean M2 body!
Al Kaplan
Veteran
Dang, Peter Pan! Have you considered using that enlarger for making enlarged "contact" sheets? An 11x14 or a 16x20 "contact" sheet is a thing to behold!
LeicaTom
Watch that step!
I once knew someone who inherited a box of seemingly worthless cameras, the man`s family almost threw the box out and showed no interest in the cameras..........so they gave it to an nephew and one camera though turned out to be something special and quite historic.
It was a 1944 Leica IIIC K Grey W.H. (Wehrmacht Heer) WW2 German Army camera, with it`s original W.H. Elmar lens. in about EX+ condition (the lens rim needed some work and the camera was dirty) but the paint and engravings were very very nice.
This man contacted me about the camera, I did offer him (over $3,000) for the camera then, but he had decided to let it go to Auction.....it sold in Frankfurt, Germany for over $5,000!
So it just goes to show what`s in some people`s boxes that they want to throw out, it`s best to look inside, you might be surprised!
Tom
It was a 1944 Leica IIIC K Grey W.H. (Wehrmacht Heer) WW2 German Army camera, with it`s original W.H. Elmar lens. in about EX+ condition (the lens rim needed some work and the camera was dirty) but the paint and engravings were very very nice.
This man contacted me about the camera, I did offer him (over $3,000) for the camera then, but he had decided to let it go to Auction.....it sold in Frankfurt, Germany for over $5,000!
So it just goes to show what`s in some people`s boxes that they want to throw out, it`s best to look inside, you might be surprised!
Tom
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stevencrichton
Established
I think the best free for me have been in order ::
A pentax MX (2, 1 fixed by repeated hitting it on the desk) with 17mm tokina 24mm + 50mm + 40mm + 70-210 + 300mm f4 Pentax's, from my friend's father who used if for many years in documenting the on land sites he excavating. He's a very highly respected underwater archeologist by all accounts, who now is a very happy digital convert.
This was all given away in the end to a friend's wife who wanted desperately to have a camera of her own. Not a bad starter kit all in all
next up. My grandfathers voigtlander Brilliant TLR, which is still in use to today. I recently found the pictures of him cairo taken with it and scanned them and distributed copies to the family which raised a few oooh's and ahhh's.
Finally I was given 2 yashica electro's and closeup kits a while ago, but me being me used them. Then gave them away to try to inspire someone else to start taking photos.
I think my least free camera though was a Linhof Technica. Bought after avidly reading someone's book! I ran one film through it, the back was mis-spacing the lens was nothing special and that in my bag was like carrying a brick on my daily jaunt.
A pentax MX (2, 1 fixed by repeated hitting it on the desk) with 17mm tokina 24mm + 50mm + 40mm + 70-210 + 300mm f4 Pentax's, from my friend's father who used if for many years in documenting the on land sites he excavating. He's a very highly respected underwater archeologist by all accounts, who now is a very happy digital convert.
This was all given away in the end to a friend's wife who wanted desperately to have a camera of her own. Not a bad starter kit all in all
next up. My grandfathers voigtlander Brilliant TLR, which is still in use to today. I recently found the pictures of him cairo taken with it and scanned them and distributed copies to the family which raised a few oooh's and ahhh's.
Finally I was given 2 yashica electro's and closeup kits a while ago, but me being me used them. Then gave them away to try to inspire someone else to start taking photos.
I think my least free camera though was a Linhof Technica. Bought after avidly reading someone's book! I ran one film through it, the back was mis-spacing the lens was nothing special and that in my bag was like carrying a brick on my daily jaunt.
stevencrichton
Established
oh ... I forgot ...
The other stunner was when I was at school and got the entire school's retired darkroom, film stocks and polaroid x ray cameras (xray's and kids are sensibly no longer mixed)
I think it took about 2 weeks to clear and probably was 5 rooms worth of things. After 15 years that's the film finally all gone and the last remnant (bar my changing bag and tanks still in use) donated away in the form of a paterson's dome safelight.
That was the motherload score
The other stunner was when I was at school and got the entire school's retired darkroom, film stocks and polaroid x ray cameras (xray's and kids are sensibly no longer mixed)
I think it took about 2 weeks to clear and probably was 5 rooms worth of things. After 15 years that's the film finally all gone and the last remnant (bar my changing bag and tanks still in use) donated away in the form of a paterson's dome safelight.
That was the motherload score