Would you buy a new film camera?

[Bmoze]

I would buy a Leica M-A. I think it’s nearly perfect. I have an M4 and iiif and don’t need one, but I could see myself buying one to hand down to my grandkids, who love photography, analog and digital, and may never be able to afford one. Just thinking ahead.

 

[loquax ludens]

Repairs? I don't think I have spent more than $200 in the last 50 years. Or less than the cost differential between any new and used cameras. Never had an unrepairable camera.

You must be keeping your cameras in good working condition by using them often. I wish I could do the same. I'd say you're doing great.

Just within the past one year I spent over $400 on M3 CLA plus re-cement main and front prisms (nearly $500 with shipping), and $400 on repairs to one of my a Super 8 cameras. A few years ago, it was several hundred on my Canon F1.

CLA on an M-body is around $200 these days.

[Oddly to my mind, although I'm sure there's a reason for it, one popular camera tech shows a CLA for an M1-M4 to be less than for M6 which is less than for an MP.]

 

[zuiko85]

BTW, it looks like Kodak has just launched a brand new 35mm film camera, although I rather doubt it is what anyone on this site is looking for:

https://www.kodak.com/en/consumer/product/cameras/film/m35

I would only be interested if they would put the 'red dot' with Kodak in silver/white letters ....
like the one on my Kodak Tourist.
On another note; even this simple plastic camera is priced at $45 from China, sold by an ebay vendor. Cannot even contemplate the price of a 35mm SLR.

 

[santino]

A flawlessly working Kiev 88 without light leaks, internal reflections etc for 900 would be quite the real deal. I’d probably buy one. A $200 Kiev 88 is likely to give you more trouble than joy...

I think there's no chance of "new" film cameras to be a reasonable price. The cost is just to high to produce the new cameras.

I was talking to someone who wanted to revive the Kiev-88 (insane, probably, this model has a bad reputation) producing them new at the LOMO factory. He said it would have to charge $900 or so per camera to sustain production. I don't think anyone would be willing to pay that much for a "new" kiev-88 when older ones can be had for $200.

There's a lot of great used cameras on the market from days past. No reason to buy a brand new film camera these days, when they don't offer too much of an improvement.

Even the newer autofocus film bodies from the '90s or so are cheaper than cameras from '60s and '70s. They have higher shutter speeds, function better since they are newer, and have motor drives. Can be had for about $40 for a used film body. Why buy new?

 

[gavinlg]

Cameras that I would 100% be interested in if they were available:
- Mamiya 7 - either the II or an updated model.
- Fujifilm GF670 - I meant to buy one of these but didn't get there in time when they were available.
- Voigtlander Bessa R5, or even an r2a.
- A new Olympus XA style pocket RF

Cameras I actually plan on buying:
- Chrome leica MP

 

[jsrockit]

So might I, but the economics of producing such a thing, and selling it for $1,000 make this totally unrealistic. Even more so since we are talking about Contax T3 level.

Yeah, you are probably right, I was also thinking in 1990's pricing to go along with the camera style! I would not be willing to pay $2000. Thankfully, I'm a perfectly happy user of Fujifilm digital cameras.

 

[Range-rover]

The prices for some film prices are going nuts, I was lucky I got a few at good
prices that when for bidding and not "Buy it now".

 

[Fraser]

No I wouldn't as half the fun of shooting film is using old cameras.

 

[oftheherd]

I would not. I have long since bought two more 901s and three more Contax mount compatible cameras. I should be good for a while in screw mount, or I can fall back on my Yashica TL Super or Pentax H1. In Contax mount, if my 167mt dies, I have several Yashica cameras with C/Y mounts. I would expect either of those camera/lens-mount combinations will out last me.

The cameras all work well still, and the lenses render well. I am unable to get around or develop film as I wish due to back problems, which will probably add more time to all their usefulness. Meanwhile I can only wish, but not for a new camera. Mine work as I want, making some things easier, but keeping me involved in the process as much as I wish (if my back ever gets better).

Short answer, no, I would rather put that money to research on back treatments. 😀

 

[narsuitus]

Over the decades, I have purchased many new cameras.
The best were two black Nikon F2T Titanium 35mm SLR that cost me $600 each.
The worst was one chrome Miranda Sensorex 35mm SLR that cost me $200.
Today, if I had a chance to buy a new one, I would buy pay up to $1200 each for the Nikon F2T.

 

[Deleted member 65559]

Over the decades, I have purchased many new cameras.
The best were two black Nikon F2T Titanium 35mm SLR that cost me $600 each.
The worst was one chrome Miranda Sensorex 35mm SLR that cost me $200.
Today, if I had a chance to buy a new one, I would buy pay up to $1200 each for the Nikon F2T.

Narsuitus, do you think that in today's dollars, when a Leica MP is priced at $5300, and an M10p at $7800, that Nikon could produce an F2T to sell at $1200? With due respect, I think you are dreaming...

 

[narsuitus]

[/B][/I]

Narsuitus, do you think that in today's dollars, when a Leica MP is priced at $5300, and an M10p at $7800, that Nikon could produce an F2T to sell at $1200? With due respect, I think you are dreaming...

Of course I am dreaming. The original poster asked what I wanted and what I was willing to pay.

The original poster did not ask me to consider the manufacturer's production costs.

 

[Guth]

BTW, it looks like Kodak has just launched a brand new 35mm film camera, although I rather doubt it is what anyone on this site is looking for

It uses film just like a Leica MP or a Nikon F6 for example. If it sells then that is the specification that matters.

 

[GulfCoastPhotog]

New film camera

New film camera

Might have bought one 4-5 years ago, but a lot has changed for me. We sold our home 2 1/2 years ago. So had to give up my dark room and moving around was hard to get film processed and address changes plus a lot more expensive. Also more health changes creeping up must do most shooting from roads. So I donated all my film gear to a local college where we are parked now. 35mm and 120 cameras and my film stash. Use a older Nikon D-3100 and my favorite Olympus Pen F.

David

 

[Greg Maslak]

If I was younger and had a high income, I know full well I could easily rationalize the need to buy a new Leica M or Nikon F film camera. I've certainly done it before. Heck, I have a Mamiya 6 that I bought new in 1992 and left in the store bag, unused for 25 years! Now, that's bad GAS.

Even though I occasionally admire a new M-A longingly, the desire to buy it just isn't there anymore. A big part of the reason I returned to making photographs on film was the satisfaction of using my old, forgot gear again. And it really has been satisfying. Now, I love making pictures with the Mamiya and the handful of other film cameras I own, and sharing them here at RFF.

Once in a while, I succumb to a used lens (I even bought a Pentax SV from a dealer), but I can say flat out - No new film camera. (well... maybe?)

 

[ktmrider]

I actually find myself going the other way. I just purchased a Leica 3F with 50f2 Summicron. I have never owned a screw mount Leica before and realize its handling will be leagues behind any M.

I plan on using it as my only camera on an upcoming 3 week/2500 mile motorcycle trip around the eastern US.

 

[robert blu]

Of course I am dreaming. The original poster asked what I wanted and what I was willing to pay.

The original poster did not ask me to consider the manufacturer's production costs.

Correct! The reason I started the thread, beside the pleasure to interact each other was I thought that many working film camera are still around and probably the cost of a new manufatured camera would probably very high.

Speaking of myself I would buy a camera like a Nikon FM2T or an FM3 but I'm not ready to spend mofre then 1.500 EUR...more or less.

Or a new Bessa R 2 but again at a price wich would not justify the cost for the factory to produce it.

Thanks everybody for your thoughts, keep them coming, it's a way to know each other 🙂

 

[jgrainger]

There are a bunch of great existing film cameras.


Despite that, I'm surprised we've not seen a clone of the M3 made in China.

 

[aizan]

I recall reading somewhere that one of the most prohibitive components in terms of commercial reality is the manufacturing of the shutter mechanism. Can anyone illuminate this?

Was it related to the Reflex?

https://www.kickstarter.com/project...ng-back-the-analogue-slr-camera/posts/2371961

 

[Bill Blackwell]

At the current price of a new Leica MP/M-A, not a chance!!! Since 99.9% of my shooting is on digital, I am perfectly contented with my current token M film camera.

If I did return to film [for whatever reason], at half the price of new today (which is highly inflated BTW), I'd shop for a clean used M6 with a fresh CLA.