What's Your Best Bargain Find?

I just remembered...

Looking at the prices for the Olympus 35SP lately I got mine for a decent price of $71...and it came with the case...meter works and it's in great shape...
 
FrankS said:
That trade of a minolta standard AF lens for a plain Nikon F prism - super!
Click to expand...

I was thrilled to say the least...😀
The way I see it he was glad to get rid of the finder for something he knew he could sell quicker...even though he had another of the same lens already...
I really didn't think he would do it but I had to ask...😀😎😀
He jumped on it too...
 
Recent Charity (thrift) shop finds:
Black Canonet G-111 17 for £10.
CZJ S 135/3.5 MC for £10.
Spotmatic F with S-M-C Takumar 55/1.8 for £20.
Canon A-1 with 50/1.4 for £20.
Olympus XA2 plus A11 flash for £5.

Ronnie
 
In the past (1993) my best deal was a home-made enlarger with a Nikon Lens on it. Home-made adapter. Once I peeled off the tape that held the lens in place and took off the nice dome-shaped lenscap it turned out to be the earliest known Nikkor 50mm f3.5 collapsible, # 609xxx. I paid $75 for the kit in a store, put the lens at Christie's and it sold for $5000 as it turned out to be a prototype for the Nikon 1. I then sold the enlarger for $74 - from $1 to $5000 in one fell swoop!!!
A couple of month ago at a local camera meet I picked up a mint 21f4.5 Takumar for $40 and at another swap meet I got a 400/560 f5.6 Telyt kit, with a Nikon SLR adapter for $400. Oh, the Rollei 35S for $20 at a sidewalk sale."It doesn't work, it is jammed - it's yours for $20" I took it home and found that the film was at the end and had not been rewound. I did go back and told the guy and offered him some more money - but he was happy with the $20.
One sunday morning I went out to pick up the paper - sign at a garage close by" Garage sale, Photo-stuff". I went in (of course) and found a grey Valoy II with a Focotar-2 50f4.5 and anti-Newton condensor. The guy wanted $100 but I only had $75 in my pocket - so he accepted that and threw in a Leica 4 blade easel (the small one in die-cast alloy). Forgot about the paper and had to go back out to get it!!!!
Do notice that most of us dont mention all the crap we have picked up too - that clutter up shelves and cabinets. usually in the faint hope that they are great bargains. Oh well - you have to open a lot of shells to find that pearl!
 
I bought an M2 in very good condition (needed a CLA and curtain repair). Attached to it was a 50mm elmar in great condition minus some dust inside one of the elements. It also came with a little leather pouch and in it was a mint 35mm summicron V3. Paid $1100 for the entire kit and sold the Summicron for $1300. I had DAG CLA the camera and lens at $400, so in the end, i net paid $200 for a M2+50mm Elmar which I thought was a pretty good deal.
 
Okay not so good buy: I jumped on a black topcon slr camera with normal lens on eBay for $55 only to find out right after that it was the much less desirable series with leaf shutter in body. Lenses are not compatible with the proper topcons.
 
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Similar story to Spencewine above- sometimes you have to spend money to save money. (which is how I told this story to the head waiter)

I bought a user M4-P, CV1 meter and a 35mm summilux v2 with perfect glass, hood, filter and leather pouch on Craig's list for 1K.
The seller lived a few blocks away and needed cash, I walked over and paid with the rent money.
I resold the M4-P and meter for slightly below market price- I believe in passing along good luck- and sent the summilux to DAG for a CLA.
Total cost of my prize 35mm Summilux with a DAG CLA- priceless.
 
leica M3 for FREEEE..

I fixed my M2, shared on local forum, a guy contacted me after see my post, said he had broken m3, he sent it to me for fix, the curtain was broken, as I don't have spare I said it will be WOP (waiting on part) untill I get new set of curtain. then he said, "take it, I didn't use it anymore", "use it for your spare part", I confirm several email to make sure that he is not kidding, he confirmed that it is mine.
a week later, I got titanium curtains, manage to install it, now I have M3-T for FREEE!!!

as an exchange for his shipping cost, I sent him a Voigtlander Bessa II with Color Skopar, he like it as he use MF all the time. what a good guy !
 
Nikon F, with Photomic Finder, and 58mm f1.4 for $36
Leica IIIC with case which needed a top for $40
Pacemaker Crown Graphic, 4x5, for $30
Just lucky enough to be in the right place and the right time (three times)
Dave
 
Yesterday I headed to a local Antique Mall hoping to find something...
At one of the last stores there I was talking with the owner and she saw that I had an old camera with me so she pointed out that there were a few camera things on one shelf...
One item caught my eye...a Black Nikon Photomic FTn prism with the DL-1 viewfinder illuminator...she had no idea what they were and the price was...well, I didn't even try to get it for less...
Got it home, cleaned it up, got the DL-1 working (corrosion on the tip of the spring) and when I place some batteries in the finder she fired up perfectly...no jumping, smooth needle movement and it responds to light changes...overall decent condition for it's age...
It doesn't mount on my Nikon F body so I'll most likely sell it...Serial number indicates it's from a 1969-70 body...
 
I guess a 400mm f/5.5 Tele Astranar (1950's West German)

Traded a Nikon N50 + 2 lenses ($60.00 value), Spent $48.00 on a CLA and included the f/stop blades re-installed. Value now is said to be around $350.00 in near mint condition.
 
Nikon D700 + Mb-d10 for $1300 (~1200 actuations) from a photographer in FL. Nikon 70-200mm VRI for $990 from a ebay seller
 
so, I live for these deals...love the chase and the gear. This summers deals

1) 2 8x10 cambos with 4 lenses on boards, 20 holders and monster tripod plus 2 hasseys (500c and 500elm) and 5 hassy lenses 4 backs etc AND 8 mole Richardson's on caster stands for $1600

2) rolleiflex 3.5f planar and 2.8c planar and 3.5 tessar automat ~ price $500 and my Fuji gsw690ii

3) m3 DS, 50mm cron collapsible, 90mm elmar collapsible $600

all craigslist..good summer for gear. Best advice Have cash on hand and get there fast
 
Leica M6 w/50mm 1.4 Summilux in excellent condition for under $500. Last week. Craigslist. Asking price was less than half that. Seller was very satisfied, as am I.

Damn this thing is nice.
 
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