What is your greatest photo gear 'score'?

Couple of my highlights:

I see a Rollei in case for $225, on Craigslist. Sure looked like it was a 2.8 model from the photos but couldn't be sure as they were cropped old cell phone photos. I left work on my lunch hour, made it over to the location and sure enough it was a 2.8F. He had dealed himself down to $200 over the phone as I was setting up the time to pick up. Also threw in a Minox 35EL with a broken case. I later found some photos that were clearly from the 70s on the roll that was in the Rollei.

Another Craigslist find, guy put up a Minolta X700 for $50 and he mentioned he had other lenses for sale as well. Again, on lunch hour drove over to the high end beach town where he lived and picked up the X700 (with clean 58/1.2 Rokkor) for asking price but declined to buy the multiple Vivitar consumer zooms that he was asking $75/ea for.

Last one, once again on Craigslist. Big telephoto lens, just advertised as a Canon FL. Terrible cell shots at night, no real info or explanation. $300. I left work for the day, drove the hour out into the country to meet them, it was an FL 1200mm f/11 with focusing section in quite good shape and thankfully, dinner plate sized front cap.


These three will very likely be with me until I can't take photos anymore.
 
My Leica M2 came to me from a co-worker who got it as a gift in the sixties. It sat unused for decades before he let me have it. When I asked what he wanted for it, he said, "Just keep it." But I gave him $100 anyway, then set about having it refurbished.
 
I received a lens thrown in as an extra when purchasing a Pentax MZ-7, also for a steal price. It looks like a silver plastic thermos or late Apollo booster rocket model and I was very skeptical about any benefit i might get from it, never having heard of anything remotely like its brand - "Promaster Spectrum 7" and given its 28mm - 210mm zoom... I finally did give it a more serious try and it actually takes contrasty, sharp images, and weighs next to nothing...

some samples: https://www.flickr.com/search/?sort...728210mmf4265&user_id=96319283@N08&view_all=1
 
All in the past year:

Seems like a bit of a score - Leica M3 with a goggled Summaron 3.5 for $450 off Craigslist. The camera had all sorts of problems, but selling it financed a BGN M4 from KEH, so I'll take it! Lens is basically a free bonus at this point, which I'll be selling to fund a color skopar.

Off of Craigslist, picked up a Hasselblad 500cm with back, Cf Planar 80mm, and an untested 500el/m for $600. Sold the El/m and its viewfinder to pay for servicing the lens, broke even at about 600 in on a fully working 500cm kit.

My greatest, though, was an Olympus Mju II Limited Edition from a garage sale for $5. The camera had a light leak and some odd residue in the viewfinder, but a little tape on the inside of the body and it works perfectly. Probably my favorite go-to daily carry.

All in all, I've spent about $1500 in the past year to pick up a cool $3k in camera gear, so I'll take those as a pretty good return. Certainly won't need to buy anything else anytime soon!
 
There was a lens that I wanted that just happened to be attached to an F2. I wasn't in the market for an F2, but the lens was averaging around $180 and the combo was $200, so I guess I got an F2 for 20 bucks.. it works great!

That's the best I've got..
 
I was just exercising my last film acquisition to see if its in good shape. It is; works perfectly as though it was recently serviced. A Pentax Spotmatic that I bought for $4.00 US. I may have mentioned this bargain previously, but I didn't realize just how nice this particular camera is, and how ergonomic the Spotmatics are.

I only have one lens for it. A Super Takumar 50/1.4 that I got last year for $5.00 US. There are many, many M42 lenses out there; I just have no idea which are the gems and which are the chaff.
 
Last month was in a nice antique store I go to from time to time and was looking around and noticed an old display case pushed off to the side. It appeared empty but I noticed what looked to be camera cases in the bottom. I pulled several out but they weren't of much interest but when I started to put them back I noticed the edge of what looked to be a Rollei case. I reached in and pulled out a Rollei case. Inside I found a 3.5F with a Planar. It was a little mildewed on the leather but still in very nice shape and the lens appeared to be perfect. I wound the camera and the shutter didn't work and opened the back to find a roll of exposed Kodacolor-X. I noticed the counter didn't reset either. On further examination I noticed the focus was stiff but everything looked really nice.

There was no price on it so I expected a ridiculous one but found a piece of paper with prices on it. I think it was $295 which wasn't bad but knowing it was going to take some work to get it going I took it to the from desk and talked to the clerk explaining what was wrong. I offered $75 and was told the owner was out and didn't have a phone where they could be reached but they took my info and offer to ask when he came in. The next day I received a call the the price had been accepted.

After cleaning it up it looks E+ and along with it I got 2 very clean Rolinar's #1 and 2 and a Rollei Bay 2 Yellow and Soft #1 filter. The case cleaned up perfectly and the strap is good. I wound up sending it to Camera Service Co and got a total CLA for $399 including shipping. Everything works perfect now and I got all of it for $474 including a fresh CLA in less than a month.
 
Olympus XA with flash and original display box + Olympus 35 RC for $5 each. Both in excellent condition and fully functional. I saw a post on Craigslist for some "old Olympus film cameras" and recognized what was there from the photo.
 
Recently picked up an Olympus Mju ii and an Olympus XA2 for about £3 each from a car boot sale. My best is probably an Envoy Wide Angle for £2.50.
 
I bought yesterday for the equivalent of us$ 110 total the following... I can't believe it yet:
-Leitz Focomat V35 with color head and Focotar 40/2.8 with 4 spare lamps
-Durst AC707 autocolor with Schneider Componon-S 50/2.8 with 3 spare lamps
-A complete set of BW effects filters (very 1960's) in 55mm
-Leicaflex extension tubes, Leicaflex SL2 and Leica M4 users manuals and other paperwork
-A bunch of Leica E39 filters (UV, red, IR, etc)
-A Beaulieu Super-8 sound projector
-A vintage Billingham Hadley

Sadly, the Leicaflex and M4 of the former owner had already been sold...

Both enlarges work :eek:
 
Nikon Model I bellows for $86 from ebay. Turned out to be the second lowest serial number in the regular series.
Ebay seller listed a large object as "Nikon Enlarger." Turned out to be a Multiphot complete with 120mm Macro Nikkor, rotating knuckle, 4X5 housing and full stand. All for $46.
 
A guy was selling a "broken" Yashica 124G TLR on our local Craigslist for $15.00. The nameplate (also the meter assembly) had become detached from the camera. I don’t really need a meter so reattached the assembly (two screws) and the camera now works just fine. I have a roll of Tri-X in it right now.

Jim B.
 
So many amazing deals!

I may have mentioned my Crown Graphic deal before..... An "as new" Crown Graphic, boxed with instructions, bits and bobs, with film holder or two, lens, and the 23 (6x7) back for ...$7USD

Or my little Rollei 35 for $5USD

Or my Canon FD 300/4 and 50/1.2 for ... $5 total

Sometimes people just want to be rid of stuff. Glad it will go to a loving home and all that...
 
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