What were you best gear finds of 2015?

[Frontman]

I bought a Nikon 50mm f/1.4 lens, and it turned out to be an like new S-mount Millenium Nikkor. I got it for the princely sum of $35. A somewhat good deal was a Nikon F2 Titan in clean shape for $400.

 

[uhoh7]

300/2.8 ais by unoh7, on Flickr


Heavy Hitter by unoh7, on Flickr

I finally discovered some long lenses which I love: the Nikkor 300/2.8 AIS ED and the 500/4P

Here they are in action, in that order:


DSC04011 by unoh7, on Flickr


Baaaa by unoh7, on Flickr

Body is A7 with Kolari Mod 🙂

 

[Texsport]

Best camera addition = Canon FD EF
Best len additions:
- Canon FD 20/2.8
- Canon FD 35/2 Concave
- Voigtlander 10.5/0.95 m43

Texsport

 

[je2a3]

That's a crazy deal for those three camera's. Especially the Canon. Wow! Nice find. You'd think they'd know better in Japan.

I noticed that in general used Japanese cameras and lenses from the 60s were good buys. Canon, Nicca and similar Leica clones as well as folders from the 50s were a bit more. A day before I left I got a Canon 35mm f2 LTM for under $200 at Camera Ichiba in Shinjuku. 🙂

best deal I had this year, and probably ever, was the great Hasselblad find:
503cx, 500cm, 500el/m, 500elx, 50mm C, 80mm C, 80mm CF, 150mm C and a ton of accessories for 225€

Congrats on that deal!!

 

[jordan.dickinson]

Leica m4/35mm Summicron Ver 2/50mm Summicron Ver 3/90mm Tele-Elmarit fat kit purchase, all near mint for $2500. A lot to spend all at once, but overall, well worth the impulse buy.

 

[Trius]

Hi,

I think the best bargains are when you buy a box of bits and pieces or a camera bag etc and then sell everything except what you wanted and so get it for a few pennies. I've 'won' OM lenses this way and more besides...

Regards, David

Yes ... I'm thinking that's the way to snag a good OM-4. 😀

 

[CliveC]

Yes ... I'm thinking that's the way to snag a good OM-4. 😀

Hit Camera in Thornhill has an absolute mint OM4 right now. Pricey, but gorgeous. OM3 and a rare M1 as well.

 

[jwnash1]

A black barrel Canon 100mm f3.5 for $35.00US. Parts of the base were covered in some kind of white crud and the middle element had dried oil on it. Soaked the barrel in Naptha and the elements in denatured alcohol. Both cleaned up beautifully.
John

 

[SamShio]

I got a Konica Hexar AF in Tokyo this year, paid probably the regular price I been finding them for. I did get a Yashica Electro 35 for $4 since it was "broken". I bought a battery for it and it has a great working meter and everything else is fine with it. Made some great photographs so far.

 

[Hannes]

My best deal was this F3 for 25€. It was before Christmas when I found the F3 together with the F90X and the Nikkor AF 35-70 f2,8 lens. Everything in nice working condition. The flash is from ebay, also 25€ including all the cables and adapters.

 

[Jerevan]

Perhaps not a steal or anything, but a complete Mamiya C3 TLR with a 105/3.5, hood, strap and soft case - all in close to mint condition, which came in slightly tattered original box for £120. That was my happy moment in 2015.