Here's a new one

[colyn]

I was out roaming the flea markets today when I came upon a Nikon FE with 28mm f/3.5 Nikkor lens. When I picked it up the dealer explained to me that the camera was dead except for the M90. He had put new batteries in it but was unable to get it to work. I removed the battery holder to check for proper battery installation and found both to be properly installed. I ended up with the camera/lens for $12.

After getting it home I removed the bottom plate to check if any wires were broken. All was well. I then got out my volt meter to check battery voltage and got nothing.

Lo and behold one of those green plastic dots you find on zinc air cells was between the batteries. After removing it the camera powered up and is working as it should..

Anything like this ever happen to you???

 

[charjohncarter]

I'm never that lucky. Try the Lotto next.

 

[Steve Bellayr]

Those bagains are out there. About a month ago I picked up my 2nd mint OM. This time it was an OM-2. Nothing worked. But, I paid $50 for it and the lens. Battery was dead.

 

[colyn]

Those bagains are out there. About a month ago I picked up my 2nd mint OM. This time it was an OM-2. Nothing worked. But, I paid $50 for it and the lens. Battery was dead.

He also had a couple of AE-1's, OM10, Mamiya ZE, and a Minolta XE-7. I got the XE-7 with f/1.4 lens for $50.

 

[nikon_sam]

I was given my first Nikon from a coworker (he said it didn't work and he didn't know how to use it either) So he just handed it to me...I had offered to check it out but he said "No, just keep it"...
I checked it out and later thought "Maybe???" a dead battery...I think it read negative volts, they were that dead...
The camera has worked fine ever since...It was a Nikon FE too...

 

[Sjixxxy]

I was once given a mint condition ql17 from a shop where it had been been in the "never picked up from repair" box for years. They told me it didn't work and I could take it for parts. I put a new battery in it and everything worked perfectly.

 

[radiocemetery]

I am going to start putting an old camera or two on display at my workstation. Maybe someone will come by and say, "my dad, grandma, uncle, gave me an old camera and I don't know anything about it, would you want it?"

Fishing.

Steve

 

[Morca007]

Great deal for the lens alone!

 

[Keith]

I bought an immaculate black Rollie 35 from an eBay seller who advertised the camera as having an advance or shutter problem for $50.00

There was nothing wrong with the camera at all ... he just hadn't worked out the process of releasing and locking the lens correctly and as anyone who's owned a Rollie 35 knows ... nothing works until you do!