Where to buy Canonet and other Compact RFs.

[jbf]

Hey all,

I'm looking for some compact rangefinders and was just curious as to if anyone had any good/reputable online retailers perhaps that sold compact rfs. (whether it be Canonets, Olys, or anything else) Would be nice to find a place that sold them already recently CLA'd, etc.

Thanks.

 

[Andrew Sowerby]

They show up in the classifieds from time to time. There's a RFF member named Greyhoundman who used to repair them and would often have a couple on hand to sell. Due to vision problems I don't think that he fixes them as much anymore, but you could try contacting him. You can find his contact info in the members list.

Aside from that, I'm not sure.

 

[JonR]

I am more of a Nikon gut but I would suggest you follow the classified section here at RFF - there are constantly new RF cameras coming out for sale and overall my impression is that people here are honest and can be trusted. I have bought several cameras and lenses here at RFF from people from all over the world - US, Taiwan, Japan, Italy, UK to mention a few and have allways been very pleased with the service.

If you are in a hurry you can allways search E-bay but I would say the risk is considerably higher there that what you get is not what you thought you bought....

And then there are of course all the local auctions and used camera shops...

Jon

 

[tkgross]

Good Seller on ebay

Good Seller on ebay

There is a guy that sells CLA'D CANONETS on ebay all the time. His ID is LIKALEICA.

I BOUGHT ONE AND HAVE BEEN TOTALLY SATISFIED.


He frequently has BUY IT NOW items too.

 

[Bingley]

Greyhoundman has three compact fixed-lens RFs in classifieds right now, all at v. good prices. I would jump at the Canonet if I didn't already one one.

 

[undies]

I bought a couple of Yashica Electro 35 GSNs off ebay. Both were under $20. One had the POD problem and one worked perfectly. Sure it was a gamble but I got a working GSN + a clean parts camera for under $40 so I feel like it paid off.

My QL17 GIII I found at a local Goodwill thrift store for $10 about a year ago. It was a little dusty and had a slight dent in the filter threads but was otherwise excellent and I've run 30+ rolls through it with nary a glitch. Then last week I found a Nikon EM (eevil SLR) with a 28mm lens at Goodwill with a $5.99 price tag on it. It works great!

So that's my hot buying tip: Pay regular visits to your local thrift stores. The employees there don't know what they have, all they see are yucky old film cameras that "nobody wants anymore." You will have to be patient but there are gems to be found.

OBTW, Goodwill is also a great source for $5 aloha shirts 😎

 

[greyhoundman]

The Goodwill's around here are not allowed to put cameras out in the stores. All cameras(except obvious junk) must be listed on shop Goodwill.
The other thrift stores don't even have junk ones.

 

[gnashings]

....
So that's my hot buying tip: Pay regular visits to your local thrift stores. The employees there don't know what they have, all they see are yucky old film cameras that "nobody wants anymore." You will have to be patient but there are gems to be found.

OBTW, Goodwill is also a great source for $5 aloha shirts 😎

Exactly.

I picked up my QL17 from a Goodwill via ebay, and it was in great shape, came with the case and the flash, complete and functioning. The Bell and Howell Canonet 19 came from a eBay and was in pretty much like new condition - set me back $12 and has been a faithful copanion without a glitch. A Canonet 19 and a Minolta 'A' came from a Value Village - which is a chain of "thrift" stores much like good will - the Minolta had some lazy slow shutter speeds, but was worked in and now doesn't miss a beat (actually, its a great camera!). Neither one cost more than $25. My Yashica GSN came from a garage sale, $10 and works perfectly - came in a case that, like the camera, looks pretty much new.

I guess the point is, I would suggest that in the case of older cameras (excepting perhaps high-buck gear like Leicas, etc.), they can be had for so very little that getting them from these kind of sources is usually worth the risk, even if they end up being paper wieghts. Actually, I think its a testimony to how well these items were built - most of them still work even though they were given less than stellar care and subjected to at least neglect over many a year. My advice would be to keep your eyes peeled and not be afraid to take a chance - worst case scenario, you lose $10 - $20... Big deal.

I do find that eBay is a good indicator of actual open market value - that is, what people are really willing to pay for a given item - even if it is to the chagrin of many who think the actual monetary value of their stuff is something else, simply because they think it should be... You see them on craigslist all the time with the $300 AE1's "...only missing a battery door", etc.
But I digress - the reason I mention eBay is that its a good place to take a reading of what people are paying for things, unless its a rare item and one can not take a reading from the completed auctions.