Newbie's First Vintage Find

[the.ronin]

It hasn't been long that I've shot film since picking up a Fuji GSW 690II just several months ago to "compliment" my DSLR only to find myself curious to shoot other types of film cameras. Since getting into this, I keep reading about people finding these otherwise totally functional and desirable cameras at thrift, pawn shops and such for practically nothing - $10, $20. So when we happened to be nearby a Salvation Army Thrift Store, I decided to give it a shot - visions of $20 Leicas in my head lol. 😀

Well not really a Leica and not even a rangefinder but found this Canon TLb SLR body for $22 (down from $44, to my credit, ahem lol) ...

No doubt, she's seen better days ...

Some light seal replacement in order ...

Is that staining on the cloth focus sheet something to be concerned about?

Luckily, those scuff marks came right off ...

I'm actually done cleaning it just haven't taken pictures. Scrubbed down the leatherette and shined a bit with some shoe polish. Removed basically all the scuffs. Cleaned out the mirror with the same stuff and procedure I use for my DSLR. Used optic (non-alcohol non-ammonia) stuff for the focus sheet - I know, risky but I don't think I did any damage. Relieved that there are no dents at all. Random engraving on the base and the shutter button looks bent back a bit. Wish I could get into that viewfinder to clear out some dust but not sure I've got that kind of courage just yet. All in all though definitely looking like a different camera from the photos above.

Functionally, everything operates fine ... on the still running PX whatever mercury poison death battery inside it lol. 😀 Trippy meter system inside and I can say the shutter seems to fire appropriately at the opposite extreme speeds - I don't think I'm good enough to tell the difference between 1/125 and 1/60 say.

There are scratches in the black trim. I was thinking of touching up the black paint with some Testors enamel paint? A gloss black likely. Will that hold up to continuous contact?

Research suggests the TLb was nothing special - a cheap version of the FTb is what I recall reading. Still, pretty stoked with this find. 😀

 

[yossarian123]

Hey, good find and welcome to the community of camera grave robbers. It's been awhile since my last salvation army find, I think it was a couple of XA2s for $10 total.

 

[one90guy]

Great find and welcome to film cameras. I have only found one good buy at a yard sale. And never anything at thrift or Goodwill store. I think our Goodwill has inside buyers, the only thing they show me are broken P&S.

David

 

[AlwaysOnAuto]

I'd be interested in seeing the 'after' pictures myself.
Try some IPA on a q-tip and gently rub the shutter curtain to remove the staining/marks/mildew? from it.

 

[the.ronin]

Thanks guys! I was thinking of waiting for the 50mm 1.8 (with the OG breach lock, mind you lol 😀) and do this dramatic reveal but what the heck here's a teaser lol ...

Planning on touching up the black metal trim with Testors enamel paint. Man just hope this thing works lol.

Try some IPA on a q-tip and gently rub the shutter curtain to remove the staining/marks/mildew? from it.

Thanks AoA. Really alcohol? I might try that although I'm worried of getting alcohol on the focus plate from all the horror stories on the interwebs. I'm going to shoot a roll once the lens arrives though either way and just cross my fingers.

 

[AlwaysOnAuto]

Well the surface with the T&L turned out nice enough.

Don't flood the IPA on the curtain, just get the tip of the q-tip wet enough to leave sign of it on the curtain. I had the same kind of stain/mark on one of my shutters and when the IPA dried, it was gone.

 

[farlymac]

It's been a long time since I've had any beer, but the first thing I thought of when IPA was mentioned, was India Pale Ale.😀 92% isopropyl is my favorite for cleaning cameras. Get that TLb working good, and you'll be hooked, Ronin. Just make sure to get a fresh battery for it, as the meters in the Canons like full power.

PF

 

[kutitta]

Great find but you should keep looking. I became an RFF member after a Salvos find as well but mine was a Leica CL for $10. The body was dead but it came with a Cron-C 40/2 . I sent the camera to Youxin Ye for repair. He couldn't fix it but he offered a working body with an attractive price and I grabbed it. My Salvos finds include Olympus OM-1N with 3 lenses, Yashica Electro 35 GSN, Olympus XA and XA2 and I keep checking!

 

[nikon_sam]

This is just my opinion but here goes...
I never liked the look of someone touching up the paint on cameras...it never looks right and to me it sticks out more than when it's missing...
I will say that with constant use the missing paint areas will look better due to handling...it will kind of smooth out the rough spots...
Nice find and glad to hear that it cleaned up...
The bent shutter button might of happened if there was a cable release attached and it got bumped...removing the top cover would make straightening out easier and safer...if you were planning on fixing it...

 

[L. M. Tu]

This was my first SLR, bought new in 1973. A basic but very solid mechanical camera, like a sripped down FTb. I have a closetful of gear now, but I think the most fun I ever had was with that TLb body and the 50mm F1.8.

 

[nikon_sam]

Thrift store cameras are fun to find but not all cameras are on the shelves with the other stuff or P&S cameras...at most of the Thrift stores I visit they are behind the glass counters by the cashiers...or where they keep the nicer items...

 

[gb hill]

Looks a bit rough but with some tlc which I see you have already done should be a nice shooter for you. I should get one of these to add to my canon arsenal. MOF I was going to take the Bessa to shoot the BBQ cook off tomorrow but after reading your thread I decided to carry along my Canon AV-1 loaded with Kodak Gold 100. Should be a blast.

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

...There are scratches in the black trim. I was thinking of touching up the black paint with some Testors enamel paint? A gloss black likely. Will that hold up to continuous contact?

From another web posting, I was pointed to black satin nail polish. A little hard to find, but works very nicely.

 

[Greyscale]

Nail polish and automotive enamel are basically the same thing. Satin black can be found in spray cans in most hardware stores or Wal Marts. Personally, I would not try to hide the battle scars.

 

[the.ronin]

I'm excited for the 50mm f1.8 scheduled to arrive today! 😀 Just hoping this TLb works lol. I did get an alkaline A625 1.5v battery to replace the 1.3v mercury (and somewhat aware of the impact to metering).

Don't flood the IPA on the curtain, just get the tip of the q-tip wet enough to leave sign of it on the curtain. I had the same kind of stain/mark on one of my shutters and when the IPA dried, it was gone.

Thanks AoA - I will definitely try this sparingly at first to see the effect.

Great find but you should keep looking.

Oh yea, I think this is slowly becoming a little bit of a hobby, kutitta. What I'm thinking is to try and find really low priced but generally functioning cameras, clean them up, enjoy them a bit, then see if I can sell them for just a bit more and work my way up to better vintage cameras.

...removing the top cover would make straightening out easier and safer...if you were planning on fixing it...

You just had go there didn't you, nikon_sam lol 😀 ... I have been itching to take this thing apart to fix that shutter button but also to get comfortable with possibly doing minor repairs on these things.

A basic but very solid mechanical camera, like a sripped down FTb. I have a closetful of gear now, but I think the most fun I ever had was with that TLb body and the 50mm F1.8.

Wow thanks for that feedback, LMTu. I wasn't too familiar with Canon cameras from the day and got this mixed up with the FTb. I was only slightly dissapointed when I got home to find out that I had mistaken this camera. It's nice to hear where someone actually preferred this over the FTb.

So from a lot of the feedback here starting with nikon_sam, I've decided NOT to mess with the cosmetic wear. You folks are right in that it really is part of the nostalgia behind these cameras. And besides these marks aren't that bad. I also just got a mint Olympus 35 RC that has the "passed" sticker which definitely will NOT be coming off lol. 😀


Thanks so much for the feedback especially since this is a non-RF camera. I will report back with how the lens and camera works!

 

[the.ronin]

Lens came in and it is MINT!!! Also, TLb seems to function fine with it. Will be testing it out with film after I've IPA'ed the shutter cloth a bit.

Not to blaspheme the RF Creed but I do miss the bokeh in the viewfinder with SLRs. At 1.8 I can get mad bokeh with this lens. 😀

Photos of the TLb with the 50mm 1.8 forthcoming ...

 

[John Bragg]

Well done for rescuing this fine camera. I hope it produces some great photos for you. I would fix the seals before shooting any film as they look to have time expired by a long way. It is worth going the extra mile with this and preventing the disappointment of ruined negatives.

 

[the.ronin]

I would fix the seals before shooting any film as they look to have time expired by a long way. It is worth going the extra mile with this and preventing the disappointment of ruined negatives.

Thanks John, and yes I definitely plan to replace the seals (found the mousepad recycle tutorial). Although my impatience will likely get the best of me and I'll shoot off a roll before doing so. 😀

Don't flood the IPA on the curtain, just get the tip of the q-tip wet enough to leave sign of it on the curtain. I had the same kind of stain/mark on one of my shutters and when the IPA dried, it was gone.

AoA, thank you very much again for this advice. It worked wonders ...

And without further adieu, I present to you my Canon TLb $22 thrift shop find 😀 ...

... kitted with 50mm f1.8 of Canon goodness ...

I'd like to think some good ol fashion elbow grease helped ...

One more money shot lol ...

Really looking forward to shooting this TLb. The lens is very sharp and again the bokeh is pretty sweet wide open. I've also got a Tamron 28mm on its way. And Canon case and new lug clips and new Canon strap and Canon body cap. I know I just blew through the whole thrift shop concept lol oh well. 😀

 

[AlwaysOnAuto]

Good job, that curtain turned out nice.
Nice looking camera you have there.
Wish I could invest in an old one like that as I really enjoy cleaning up the old machines, but, I have too many that I already don't use enough. =:>(

 

[John Bragg]

Look out for vivitar lenses with serial number begining 28. Those are made by Komine and are incredible performers and very well made.