shawn
Veteran
shawn
Veteran
I got mine on ebay for $330 in September.
KEH has an R8 in bargain condition for $465 right now. $519 for one with the motor winder and an excellent one for $610.
The R8 is am interesting alternative to the SL2. In manual mode the exposure graph display is as fast to set exposure as the match needle on the SL2. So much nicer then +/- or a couple of LEDs.
James Evidon
Established
Leica M5 without a doubt. It has the best RF viewfinder of all the analog Leica's and an extremely accurate BTL meter with a narrow angle very close to a spot meter. They sell a near bargain prices because they lack the popularity of the other M series RF Leica's. I bought mine a few months ago CLA'd and love it. Mount a 50mm Zeiss f2 Planar or a 35mm Zeiss f2.8 Biogon instead of Voightlander or Leica lenses because lens for lens the Planar and Biogon are sharper, with higher contrast and colors that pop.
James Evidon
Established
Unfortunately, the great R8 and R9 cannot be repaired because there are no longer any parts. If it stops working, you have a lovely looking doorstop. When I realized the demise of the 8 and 9, I found a perfect R7. It is smaller & lighter than the 8 and 9 and is repairable.I got mine on ebay for $330 in September.
KEH has an R8 in bargain condition for $465 right now. $519 for one with the motor winder and an excellent one for $610.
The R8 is am interesting alternative to the SL2. In manual mode the exposure graph display is as fast to set exposure as the match needle on the SL2. So much nicer then +/- or a couple of LEDs.
KoNickon
Nick Merritt
"Near bargain prices"? No such thing with a Leica M.
f.hayek
Well-known
The R8 winder seems superfluous but it isn’t. Doesn’t add a lot of weight to the camera either. Recommended.
Ok, I've obviously got some knowledgeable folks here. I've always been curious about the C/Y cameras and lenses. If I wanted a basic body and lens (I prefer 50s but am not adverse to a decent 35) for as low a cost as possible while still being as feature-full as possiblewhat would your recommendations be?
Contax?
Yashica?
Mix?
Thanks!
I've owned the following (√ = current)
RTS II √
RTS √
ST
RX
Aria
139 √
159MM √
137MD √
And used the following:
AX
S2
167MT
Considering this is a bargain thread, I'd not recommend the Aria or AX or S2 as the going rate today doesn't put them in the category, but there are always outlier deals, if one is patient.
The Aria is quite light and a built-in motor, the AX has the innovative AF system but is kinda big/bulky. S2 didn't seem to be built to the same level as RX or ST, seemed cheap, yet the market price is high.I prefer the smaller lighter bodies. The 139 and 159 are the same size, the 139 is notorious for disintegrating covering, so what might appear as a trashed camera could actually be a super nice example just by adding a new covering. The one I have falls into that category, I got new leatherette for it from Hugo Studio and the camera now looks nearly new. The 159 has a nifty red LED readout of the aperture in the viewfinder (for comparison the139 has an optical readout) and has a rubberized cover so no disintegration problem, and a faster 1/4000 shutter. I got a second 159 a few weeks ago from KEH for $65, only has a couple of marks on it.
The 137MD is basically a 139 with a built-in winder, I think it actually was the first SLR offered with one built-in. Same leatherette issues apply as with the 139. I got one of these recently from KEH for $5.25, it looked new except it had no covering at all; they sold it "as-is."
RX and ST are later models, extremely well-built, solid/heavy. No leatherette issues, and seem to sell in the same price range. Ergonomically excellent, LCD readouts on the top plate, with a UI more PASM-like, similar to a modern digital.
RTS of course is the oldest model, cloth shutter; RTS II has a Ti shutter in the same size body.
167MT is relatively small, 1/4000, motor, but a somewhat unusual control layout. Precursor to the ST. More from @davidde1000 here.
The usual recommendations apply to these older cameras: most will need mirror damping foam, and seals, and Contaxes are prone to slipping mirrors. All are easy to address.
Can't comment on Yashica bodies, but can recommend the ML lenses.
For a basic shooter with minimal expense, get a 139 and a 50 ML of some variety.
D
Deleted member 65559
Guest
I'm not a big M5 fan, but how much difference is there between a $1200 M5, and a cumulative house full of $100 SLRs ?
If a $100 SLR dies, you throw it away and replace it with the one next to it on the shelf. If an M5 dies, you wait six months while it's getting repaired by DAG.
D
Deleted member 65559
Guest
Maybe the meter dies.... but they're pretty robust. But most of us in this thread likely live in "glass houses".......If a $100 SLR dies, you throw it away and replace it with the one next to it on the shelf. If an M5 dies, you wait six months while it's getting repaired by DAG.
true, Leicas never really die. They just need a refresh now and then. But it takes six+ months nonetheless. And meter failure isn't fatal.
wlewisiii
Just another hotel clerk
50/1.9 Yashica ML: Yashica 50mm F/1.9 ML C/Y Mount Lens {52} (they also have an f/1.4 for $90.)
Contax 137MD: Contax 137 MD Quartz 35mm Camera Body
Use this code for 10% off: NC10-HPMGIB
Free shipping, 6 month warranty.
Not affiliated in any way with keh!
Contax 137MD: Contax 137 MD Quartz 35mm Camera Body
Use this code for 10% off: NC10-HPMGIB
Free shipping, 6 month warranty.
Not affiliated in any way with keh!
wlewisiii
Just another hotel clerk
Woah. Cool beanz. My budget got busted to hell for this month (I have a Kobalux 28/3.5 LTM enroute from Japan
) but I have a funny feeling I know what my next film adventure is going to be KEH is looking much more reasonable than EPrey is for Contax right now, so that alone is useful to know. Thanks!
I browse keh regularly, the free ship and warranty make a big difference. Acquired a 35/2.8 Contax Distagon a few months ago and it didn't register the aperture correctly in the viewfinder, they fixed it under warranty in a couple of weeks, doing a full CLA, and paid shipping both ways. The lens had light haze as it was a 'bargain' condition lens, but the CLA cleaned that out and now it's crystal clear.
Kobalux!
Kobalux!
wlewisiii
Just another hotel clerk
Yup, got it for a good price but it's still a bit of hit for my limited toy budget.
KEH and I go a long way back. I used to dearly love getting the newsprint catalogs monthly from them for my reading pleasure
but it's still a bit of hit for my limited toy budget.KEH and I go a long way back. I used to dearly love getting the newsprint catalogs monthly from them for my reading pleasure
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D
Deleted member 65559
Guest
I remember those.... I got a gold-rim Dagor 8 1/4" like new in the original box, for what seems like a song now..... I was amazed it was still in stock by the time the mail delivered the catalog to Western Canada.Yup, got it for a good price
KEH and I go a long way back. I used to dearly love getting the newsprint catalogs mothly from them for my reading pleasure
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CMur12
Veteran
If a $100 SLR dies, you throw it away and replace it with the one next to it on the shelf. If an M5 dies, you wait six months while it's getting repaired by DAG.
This troubles me, and I don't know how literally you intended it.
The only film cameras in production are Leicas (at premium prices) and Lomos (at the other end of the market). If repairable "$100 SLRs" are thrown away rather than repaired or passed on to someone who will get them repaired, the future of film photography is doomed.
- Murray
I was being a little flippant, but it really depends on what's wrong. In many (most?) cases, it'll probably cost more to fix a $100 SLR than to just acquire another one...
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
And lets not forget they were like sausages ... production numbers for the main stream SLRs were enormous.
An awful lot of them have likely gone to landfill sites!