What are the Current Bargains?

[aagiv]

Wasn't sure whether to put this here or in the Scale Focus sub-forum, but there seems to be more traffic here.

What are the current bargains in auto-exposure point-n-shoot or zone/scale focus cameras? Not the $2 thrift store finds, but the ones that are still under $20 on eBay? Good lens, prefer 35mm over 28mm. Preference for manual film advance and rewind, but not a hard requirement.

Pretty sure cheap and overlooked models still exist, but I don't know I'm looking for. Rule seems to be that if there is internet discussion or reviews, the prices go up. Of course, I'll have to act fast on recommendations...before this discussion has a chance to drive prices up.

 

[valdas]

Of course, I'll have to act fast on recommendations...before this discussion has a chance to drive prices up.

That part I doubt. Unless Winona Ryder or Matt Damon joins the discussion...

 

[Huss]

That part I doubt. Unless Winona Ryder or Matt Damon joins the discussion...

You mean one of the Kardashians or Jenners.

The kids aren't following Ryder or Damon.
😉

To the OP, these are the P&S cameras I use which give great results (but are auto everything)and about $20:

Leica AF-C1 which is the Minolta Freedom Tele
Nikon Zoom 800
Nikon ZoomTouch 800
Pentax Zoom90WR
Samsung EC1X

These are my $50-$100 fixed lens P&S cameras with auto everything that give great results:

Nikon ActionTouch AF35W
Nikon LiteTouch 600AF
Fuji Work Record

This is my fixed lens AF camera with manual film wind that gives good results:

Minolta AF-C

These are my zone focus manual film wind pocket cameras that give great results $50-$100:

Ricoh FF-1
Ricoh FF-1S
Sears mini35

These are my zone focus manual film wind pocket cameras that give good results:

Chinon Bellami
Cosina CX-2

This one is crap:

Minolta Prod20S - but looks pretty.

These are the ultimate:

Rollei QZ35W
Rollei Qz35T

Shutter speeds auto and manual from 16 sec to 1/8000 etc

 

[valdas]

You mean one of the Kardashians or Jenners.

The kids aren't following Ryder or Damon 😉

I know I am getting old - I have just bought my first 4x5 camera...

I really like my Ricoh 500G. Not super expensive, but probably more than 20$.

 

[aizan]

The Minolta Weathermatic and Freedom III are sometimes under $20.

And there are a couple brand new Fuji DL-7 on eBay for $35.

 

[johannielscom]

Under $20 and quality?
Try a serial box and a pinhole for that kinda money.

Else, look for the Ricoh FF70 and related types from Ricoh. Excellent cameras.

SLR's, one day I'm gonna get rich selling my stash of Chinon Memotron CE-IIs. Think I got 7 of them now😎😀

 

[Bob Michaels]

A camera bargain is any camera that works for you and does not get in the way of you making the photos you want. It has nothing to do with price. The worst bargain is spending money on something that does not fit your needs. That is without regard to what you paid.

 

[Ste_S]

Wasn't sure whether to put this here or in the Scale Focus sub-forum, but there seems to be more traffic here.

What are the current bargains in auto-exposure point-n-shoot or zone/scale focus cameras? Not the $2 thrift store finds, but the ones that are still under $20 on eBay? Good lens, prefer 35mm over 28mm. Preference for manual film advance and rewind, but not a hard requirement.

Pretty sure cheap and overlooked models still exist, but I don't know I'm looking for. Rule seems to be that if there is internet discussion or reviews, the prices go up. Of course, I'll have to act fast on recommendations...before this discussion has a chance to drive prices up.

Compact AF SLRs. Nikon F75, Canon 300x, Minolta Dynax 5, Pentax MZ-5 etc etc
Stick them on P and they're cheaper (by a significant margin) and better than most (all?) premium af p&s out there.

 

[aagiv]

Compact AF SLRs. Nikon F75, Canon 300x, Minolta Dynax 5, Pentax MZ-5 etc etc
Stick them on P and they're cheaper (by a significant margin) and better than most (all?) premium af p&s out there.

A large amount of truth in this. I do appreciate the list from Huss, though. A few models in there I hadn't heard of.

 

[zuiko85]

My latest bargain was a free Kodak Tourist with a 100mm f8.8 triplet in a 3 speed shutter.
I clearanced the feed chamber to take a 120 spool and just use 620 for take up since I do my own developing.

Did you know that lens will almost cover 4X5.

 

[Tim Murphy]

Whatever it is you are seeking.............

Whatever it is you are seeking.............

Dear aagiv,

...there will be far fewer of them from which to chose once this thread ends.

Regards,
Tim Murphy
Harrisburg, PA 🙂

 

[vagab0nd]

Ste_S mentioned AF SLRs, which are definitely the best bargain in film. With a kit zoom, you can meet that budget and get better IQ than most compacts. But if size is a concern, you'll want a prime 28/35, and with those you're going to push past the $20 budget. Keeping it at or under 20, your best bet for image quality is to search for a 60s era 40mm scale focus camera with a selenium automation exposure system. The most popular one is the Olympus Trip 35, but it's usually more than $20. Konica has a couple that fit the bill. I've not used them, but I've never been disappointed by a Konica lens.

Another alternative, is an Olympus Pen EE half frame camera. It's going to be a bit more than your budget (they can be found for ~$30), but you'll make up that difference in film costs after about your second roll.

The cameras that fits all of your asks to a t - AF, manual advance/rewind - is the Minolta Hi Matic AF it the Canon A35 F, both can be found for ~$20, but it takes some hunting.

And finally, if you can settle for auto winding, there's a lot of different Ricoh's with 35-38mm f2.8 lenses that are usually priced under $25 with shipping. This is $50-100 less than their Nikon / Canon counterparts at nearly the same image quality. They go by a bunch of different names, such as the AF-40, AF-7, in addition to the FF's that Huss listed above. These are going to be your cheapest options - I'd run an eBay search for 38mm f2.8 and then drill down through the Film Cameras and Vintage Film Camera categories.

 

[jsrockit]

To the OP, these are the P&S cameras I use which give great results (but are auto everything)and about $20:

Leica AF-C1 which is the Minolta Freedom Tele

Huh? That Leica does not go for $20.

 

[jsrockit]

Here you go... brand new and with two rolls of film...but $30.00.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1519110-REG/ilford_6014777_35mm_camera_bundle_with.html

 

[Orthogonal]

I think a lot of the suggestions here are very optimistic. The early plastic AF SLRs are the best value but you'd struggle to find one with any lens (let alone a prime) for double the budget and last I checked that Leica AF-C1 goes for over $300. The only cameras I can think of that fit the criteria are the generic plastic AF cameras like the Canon Owl or Sureshot series, Nikon Onetouch, Pentax PC-303, or the many weird and forgettable cameras from Chinon or Vivitar. I've owned a few of them but generally end up giving them away. One of the better ones that comes to mind was the Olympus Trip AF 50, which was a tiny 28mm camera that I could fit into a jacket pocket while cycling and the AF was fast enough (or the lens slow enough) that focussing seemed reliable. Good for concerts, parties, sharp enough, etc, but I doubt it's unique at all.

 

[David Hughes]

The trouble with a price limit is that everyone sets their price differently. Usually at the highest level they can think off and then that decides people and the state of the camera doesn't come into it. So you can find good looking rubbish and well used but perfect and not know the difference; some very dear and some dirt cheap.

Making it ebay only means you'll miss the bargains where someone has set a small price because the camera is small and takes film...

And shops have the advantage that you can look at the camera and decide after playing with it. Same with stalls in the market. In both cases you have to know the camera...


Regards, David

 

[Mudman]

Garage sale or fb marketplace over ebay. I’ve yet to pay more than $20 for a canonet ql or olympus xa.

I got a canon rebel k2 with 28-90 for $10. A canon 650 with 50mm 1.8 (metal mount) for $50. A nikon 35ti for $50. You just have to wait.

 

[Jeremy Z]

It's not under $20 unless you get lucky at thrift, but I just love the Pentax PC35AF. They're going for $30-70 currently. It has a fantastic 5-element 35/2.8 lens and autofocus, but without the noisy and bulky motor winder. It has a built-in flash, but only needs two AAA batteries, which power both it, the light meter and AF. It has a +1.5 button ala Olympus XA.

Full disclosure, I had to buy three of them from ebay before I found a working one. Be ready to do that or to send it for CLA, after which it's not a bargain any more. Another possible weak point is that it has the live hinge for the battery door. I just put a set of lithiums in mine, so I don't have to worry about it for 10 years and they won't leak.

 

[Huss]

It's not under $20 unless you get lucky at thrift, but I just love the Pentax PC35AF. They're going for $30-70 currently. It has a fantastic 5-element 35/2.8 lens and autofocus, but without the noisy and bulky motor winder. It has a built-in flash, but only needs two AAA batteries, which power both it, the light meter and AF. It has a +1.5 button ala Olympus XA.

Full disclosure, I had to buy three of them from ebay before I found a working one. Be ready to do that or to send it for CLA, after which it's not a bargain any more. Another possible weak point is that it has the live hinge for the battery door. I just put a set of lithiums in mine, so I don't have to worry about it for 10 years and they won't leak.

I can't recommend something as unreliable as the PC35AF

Also from CasualPhotofile:

In my position as owner and manager of a fairly popular camera shop I handle a lot more cameras than the average “professional camera liker,”..but I will also add that in my personal experience, the Pentax PC35AF and its derivatives are just as unreliable as the Canon MC. Again, that’s just my experience, but I could say all the same things about that Pentax – had about fifty come through, about five have worked completely, and I’ve stopped trying to find one for a review.

 

[maigo]

What are the Current Bargains?

Someone in my apartment block is spring cleaning and dumping treasures in the electric/electronics recycle bins.

In the past month I have found two Bell/Howell Super 8 projectors and a no-name 35mm slide projector plus an early Kodak dig camera and a Nikon Coolpix 990.
I left all this behind.
The cool finds I kept were Pocket Fujica 450 Flash (110 film, appears to work), Nikon FG-20 (no advance lever or battery cover, mirror locked up) and (ta-da!) a Konica Auto S3 with case.

The Konica needs some TLC as the shutter is not opening but I am confident I can fix it. Case is in good condition. No smells.

The Fujica is too small and cute to dispose of; I will add some 110 film to my next FPP order and give it a try.
The Nikon FG-20 will be kept as a parts spare.
Most of these treasures still had thrift store price stickers so I am thinking that whoever bought them did not know how to use or could not repair them.