The $40 challenge - anybody interested?

I still intend to take part, but my baby's in hospital, so I've had trouble searching for the camera. I may cheat a bit & use the Agfa I got from my local charity shop, if that's OK. It was well within budget.
 
Well, my camera is on the way. Might take a few days as it has to cross the border. Man, I hope it works...
I will start a new thread next week were we can all post our entries.
 
And I just passed up a Yashica Electro 35 GS in an antique mall. Camera, case, "wide/tele" lenses, aux finder, original battery, manual. All for $30. Was in delightful shape and sounded good with respect to The Pad also. Might have to take a trip back there this weekend and replace the not-so-hot Electro I already have.
 
I would like to participate, but I don't do ebay. Just seems a little risky to buy without at least being able to inspect it myself. But I would love a nice scale focus camera... maybe a Retinette....

--
Bill
 
MarylandBill said:
I would like to participate, but I don't do ebay. Just seems a little risky to buy without at least being able to inspect it myself. But I would love a nice scale focus camera... maybe a Retinette....

--
Bill
Click to expand...

If by your name you are in Maryland, they must have a ton of pawn shops and thrift shops. A recently departed friend from work used to pick up all kinds of bargains in MD.
 
Just replaced my foam seals with a Goodman kit at 9 bucks so I am at almost 37 bucks...the camera is like new and works like a champ...will have the first roll processed tomorrow and then I will be ready with my Ansco Autoset entry. An aside I think the Anscoset is a superior camera to the Autoset (except for the cool grey hide maybe). I imagine a 7 would be really nice.
 
OK. Looks like I'm in. I bagged (literally - even if the camera's no good, there's a decent bag included) a Trip with a flash for $30 inc postage. Not a rangefinder, sadly, nor my best ever bargain, but it's a start.
 
oftheherd said:
If by your name you are in Maryland, they must have a ton of pawn shops and thrift shops. A recently departed friend from work used to pick up all kinds of bargains in MD.
Click to expand...

Oh I know. My current main shooter (An Olympus 35 SP) was purchased at a thrift shop about 6 months ago. I believe I paid $35 for it. Other than the light meter being off by about two stops, (and maybe the self timer, I have never tried it), it works perfectly. I am actually considering not getting the light meter fixed, since it means I can meter for iso 1600 and 3200 🙂.

The most recent two pics I posted to the gallery were shot with that camera.

--
Bill
 
Man. You guys are bad. I thought I'd broken my addiction to junky old film cameras.... but this hits my buttons pretty hard. I have several cameras that I've purchased in the past that easily fit the criteria. Argus C3 and C4, Kodak Brownie, Balda, Voigtlander Bessa I. But you want documentation.... sigh. Just passed on a nice GSN for 25. I think medium format is a better way.... I'm going to burn a roll of expired E6 in my Medalist II and I'll think about it. (The Medalist doesn't count as I paid almost $200 for it w/shipping. Even after spending $220 on a CLA I think it was the best deal I ever scored.)
 
I picked up a Yashica Minister II in near mint condition for 6,5$ last week. Only problem: some fool moved the flash sync to M and tried to use the self timer. Now the shutter is stuck. It's an easy fix, but I need to wait for a lens spanner I can borrow before I can.

I'll post pictures in the new thread 🙂
 
Great! I got myself a rangefinder for $33.05 inc postage. A Braun Super Paxette. I don't believe I've ever seen one of these in the metal, but I've certainly seen them in books and on the internet, and Google tells me there are many fans (including on this forum), which is encouraging.

Can't wait for the parcel, now...
 
Oh my.

The Super Paxette arrived today. It is the cutest camera evah! Checked it over, and it works fine. Lens needed a bit of a clean, but it looks good. Stiff aperture ring, but the iris seems fine.

I read the manual I downloaded (the internet has transformed things for us photographers, hasn't it?), and now it's loaded ready for the trip to work.

I think I'm going to enjoy this challenge. Even if I don't get any good shots for the thread, at least I now have a jewel of a little German rangefinder. So thanks.
 
$40 for a Kodak Signet 35 (it was a 'buy it now/best offer' deal so I bargained down to $40 on the dot). I overpaid for it to be honest - shipping was a large chunk - but it jumped out ever since seeing some of the threads here about the camera.

It needed some work but I have it mostly sorted out. I'm not 100% confident in the shutter but its working for now. Cleaning the rangefinder was surprisingly easy though getting the top back on was more tricky than I expected.
 
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