fraley
Beware of Claws
I saw a small ad in our free paper for a "Photo Swap" held every first Saturday of the month. Turned out to be sponsored by a film, paper, chemicals store across the street, in their parking lot. It was a little overwhelming! There were only six or so tables set up, flea market style, but they were piled up with cameras. Mostly SLRs - lots of OM-1s, -2s, etc. Also Nikons, Canons, and some rarer models. I searched for rangefinders 
and found a couple of Canonet QL-17's, one was $50 asking. They seemed in good enough shape, maybe stiffish on the focusing rings, but cosmetically good. It was nice to handle them after reading so much about them here at RFF. Also I got to handle a Voigtlander Vito, which I've only looked at on a well-known auction site. It's a viewfinder only, very bright finder! And I did like a Kodak Retina IIIc, very small and clean. As I say, it was a little overwhelming. I didn't bring a lot of cash because I was afraid of blowing it all on the first visit! They had a couple of prime lenses for my OM-2000, too, a 50/1.4 and a 50/1.8 Zuiko. After using rangefinders for a while, I'm wondering if I shouldn't put a 35mm or 50mm lens on my slr and get some use out of it. The zoom lens no longer holds much appeal, except for portraits.
So, anyone in the Bay Area ever check this place out? It's at 435 Bryant downtown. Anyone else have advice, stories about buying from used camera markets?
and found a couple of Canonet QL-17's, one was $50 asking. They seemed in good enough shape, maybe stiffish on the focusing rings, but cosmetically good. It was nice to handle them after reading so much about them here at RFF. Also I got to handle a Voigtlander Vito, which I've only looked at on a well-known auction site. It's a viewfinder only, very bright finder! And I did like a Kodak Retina IIIc, very small and clean. As I say, it was a little overwhelming. I didn't bring a lot of cash because I was afraid of blowing it all on the first visit! They had a couple of prime lenses for my OM-2000, too, a 50/1.4 and a 50/1.8 Zuiko. After using rangefinders for a while, I'm wondering if I shouldn't put a 35mm or 50mm lens on my slr and get some use out of it. The zoom lens no longer holds much appeal, except for portraits. So, anyone in the Bay Area ever check this place out? It's at 435 Bryant downtown. Anyone else have advice, stories about buying from used camera markets?
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jyl
Just learning to focus
I drop by the Bryant St swap every other month or so. Parking is a pain, or rather remembering to bring lots of quarters. Also check out the Hayward swap meet, which is monthly, and the San Jose swap meet. For info on the latter two, go to www/camerabooks.com. The Hayward one is about 2X the size of the Bryant St swap, and I haven't been to the San Jose one is >15 years so I don't know how big it is anymore. Last month, picked up a Nikkor 24mm f2.8 AIS for $125 at the Hayward meet.
RayPA
Ignore It (It'll go away)
John L.,
Where is the Hayward swap meet held?
Where is the Hayward swap meet held?
jyl
Just learning to focus
Centennial Hall in downtown Hayward. www.camerabooks.com has directions (scroll to the lower part of the page). I think the next show is late Feb.
RayPA
Ignore It (It'll go away)
Thanks John. I'm on the Peninsula, but get over across the bridge fairly frequently. "Haywierd" is my old stomping ground. I know where the hall is.