What were you best gear finds of 2015?

[CameraQuest]

Was camera Santa good to your camera bag this year ?

Share your best finds along with the ones that alas,
got away.

I am really amazed at all the great film cameras that sell next to nothing these days.
When introduced the pellicle mirrored Canon EOS RT sold for close to $1000.
I stole a mint one off ebay in the box for $50.

What are your proudest finds?

 

[northshore3D]

Not a huge deal in the scheme of things, but I found an Olympus XA with A11 flash for 50 cents at a thrift shop the other day. It needed dusting off and will need new seals, but otherwise seems fine. And I already have enough seal material on hand from one of Jon Goodman's kits.

 

[p.giannakis]

This one cost me £40 without the lens.

 

[btgc]

This year spent on film and prints more than on gear, on film gear. Other than that, added Pentax K-S1 mainly for video and also digital stills, as it's able to do both. Amazing what they offer for this price these days.

 

[Swift1]

My Rolleiflex 2.8C Planar that I found for $350.

 

[Mackinaw]

A free box of New55 4X5 Instant film (plus negative). Normally costs $85.00 USD. For some reason, the company CEO gifted me a box.

Jim B.

 

[FrankS]

Rigid Summicron 50mm for $50 after selling off the M2 it came with. Then another $100 for a CLA on it, so $150 total.

 

[Swift1]

Also, I was given a Bessa R with CV 35/2.5, and a Minolta Autocord.

 

[Santtu Määttänen]

I spent my money mainly on film, paper and chemicals. But I must say that Panasonic LX100 is the best bang for the buck camera I've ever purchased new. And it made me feel connected to digital work in non-professional sense for the first time in ages. Besides that, I've shot film, tons of it. Mainly MF but still more then 100m of 135 in addition to it.

Best investment in terms of enjoyment however was a "new" enlarger Beseller 45M.

 

[aizan]

nabbed a brand new linhof 3414 tripod for $100. 🙂

 

[FrankS]

M3 DS, Summicron 50 col, Summitar 35/3.5 w/goggles, lens shade and Leitz filters for these, 90/4 w/ bubble, 135/4.5 w/bubble and an ugly but accurate Leica meter w/ incident plate; all for $375.

We have a winner! Congrats. 🙂

 

[bmattock]

Pentax *ist DL from KEH, marked as not working due to power issues, $10. Turned out to just be finicky about the batteries, plus 3700 shutter actuations makes it basically new.

To put on it, a Tamron AF IF aspherical 28-300, marked as non-functional on eBay, $15. Works great on all my Pentax dslr bodies.

I can't believe my good fortune. Both could have turned out badly.

 

[bmattock]

M3 DS, Summicron 50 col, Summitar 35/3.5 w/goggles, lens shade and Leitz filters for these, 90/4 w/ bubble, 135/4.5 w/bubble and an ugly but accurate Leica meter w/ incident plate; all for $375.

Wow! What a deal!

 

[Gerry M]

We have a winner! Congrats. 🙂

Thanks!
😀😀

 

[zuiko85]

Not really a 'find' but my long awaited Travelwide 90 finally arrived, in late October.
After a bit of touch up work to smooth the helical action I quite like it. Worth every penny of the pledge amount and then some.

 

[ellisson]

My introduction to the Fuji X system with a like new XE1 + 18-55 zoom lens for $420. Not a steal, but a good price.

 

[santino]

Nice RS.. A Bruck of a camera but the pellicile mirror gives the rf feeling!

 

[Trius]

An X-Pro1 w/ 18-55 for $550 on the bay. Not a steal, but the kit is near mint and since the seller was a pawn shop, I gave a sign of relief when it turned out to be a good purchase.

 

[raid]

My Rolleiflex 2.8C Planar that I found for $350.

Same for me.

 

[raid]

Rigid Summicron 50mm for $50 after selling off the M2 it came with. Then another $100 for a CLA on it, so $150 total.

Pretty much the same for me.