Your Faves: Ridiculously Cheap Great Film Cameras!

[jonmanjiro]

I got excited for a moment there because I mistakenly thought this thread was titled Your Faves: Ridiculously Cheap Great Film! 😱

 

[ForestCap]

I got excited for a moment there because I mistakenly thought this thread was titled Your Faves: Ridiculously Cheap Great Film! 😱

Kodak Colorplus 200

 

[Skiff]

I look at the prices of the new typical greatly overpriced fad film camera from new or practically unknown manufacturers
and then look in disbelief at ridiculously cheap prices for many all time classic film cameras.

+1.
You are completely right.

What are you great film classic cameras that usually generate silly cheap prices on ebay? not good buys, GREAT buys!

Currently completely underrated and extremely cheap (especially compared to older, not so sophisticated manual film cameras),
and really really GREAT buys are

- Nikon F90X
- Nikon F80
- Nikon F100
- Nikon F5

- Canon EOS 30 / 33V
- Canon EOS 3
- Canon EOS 1V

- Minolta Dynax 800si
- Minolta Dynax 7
- Minolta Dynax 9

- Pentax MZ-5, MZ-5N
- Pentax MZ-3

- Mamiya 645 Pro / Pro TL
- Rolleiflex 6006 and all 6008 models
- all of the Fuji 645 rangefinder cameras

So the best and most advanced film cameras can be bought at extremely low prices.
Now is the time to decide which system is the best for you. And as soon as the decision is made, go and buy your camera(s), lenses, accessoires and get your system completed.
It will not become cheaper in the future.
The film revival is already in its start phase, and when it gets more power in the next years prices for used gear will increase.

By the way:
There are also really great buys with new film gear, e.g. the Nikon F6:
Together as acomplete set with the MB-40 vertical grip ist costs new only about 2,000€.
And then you have the best 35mm SLR ever (I know what I am talking about, using one for years with outstanding results).
You have a camera for the "rest of your life", a camera for 40 or even more years of usage.

Well, the top-of-the-line digital Nikon D4s costs more than 6,000€.
A camera for the next 40 years?
Certainly not.

 

[Nokton48]

Hasselblad.

Plaubel Makiflex.

Sinar Norma.

 

[BillBingham2]

Soooooo many choices, so little film and time........

My top ones:

F, OM-1, and Nikkormat FT3.

You don't need a weatherman to know.......

B2

 

[jarski]

As to what I'm thinking of spending money on, the prices for the Nikon F801s/N8008s are very hard to resist.

this. bought two for when film itch surprises. maybe add one more just in case 😀

 

[tunalegs]

Some people have interesting ideas about what "ridiculously cheap" is.

 

[David Murphy]

There are many, but the early Konica Autoreflex, Canon Ftb, TX, Ftb-QL and so forth come to mind. All their popular lenses too - great value. A little less common, but a lot of fun are the Mirandas like the Sensorex models - their prime lenses yield wonderful images and all the other Soligor lenses perform respectably.

 

[Sid836]

A camera that had me pleasantly surprised was the Lubitel 2. It has its drawbacks such as a low quality focusing screen and that red window at the back, but that triplet lens delivers excellent results. You can get one anywhere from $10 to $50.
Not to mention that weighs just a little and if it breaks you can either fix it yourself or get another one.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

Many of these cameras are nice but can they be repaired in the not so distant future? Or, can you afford to repair them then?

I've had two perfectly nice cameras fail with a pain in their electronics and one just had to be scrapped (no one would even look at it) and the other could be repaired for more than I've paid for a car... Both of them had revered names on the front, btw.

What's needed is a list of the old plainer mechanical back-ups for those lenses to be kept in use when the 100% electronic marvels fail and have to be scrapped.

Regards, David

 

[LChanyungco]

I once got an Olympus Trip for free from a generous member here. A mint copy with the metal shutter button. I used it a lot in Manila especially on scooter rides into rural areas. It was an awesome camera until i dropped and destroyed it. I'd love to get another one but this time in black paint 🙂



by R.O.Y.G.B.I.V., on Flickr

 

[Austerby]

Some people have interesting ideas about what "ridiculously cheap" is.

I agree. I know that compared to a £3,000 new film Leica that a £300 film Leica is a bargain, but £300 is not ridiculously cheap. Likewise for a £500 Hasselblad.

A £15 Nikon / Canon / Minolta / Pentax / Olympus 35mm SLR with lens is.

 

[Austerby]

Many of these cameras are nice but can they be repaired in the not so distant future? Or, can you afford to repair them then?

Many of the cheapest cameras are the newest - the F80s and equivalents that were immediately pre-consumer digital models. They've probably been very lightly used and weren't badly made to start off with so may be ok for some years to come, even if they are now 10 years old.

If they fail then they can be readily replaced, though I agree it's the non-electrical, mechanical cameras from the pre-1980s that may well be the last standing.

 

[David Hughes]

Some people have interesting ideas about what "ridiculously cheap" is.

Yup, my idea is a pound or so; perhaps three pounds with the f/1.4 lens ;-)

But I have bought several (at least a dozen) cameras for 49 or 50p in charity shops and know it can be done. And I've passed on a lot of them to other RFF members living in more expensive, or perhaps, countries without charity shops.

I've also bought lenses at those price levels; it's just a matter of keeping your eyes open.

Go as high as a couple of pounds and I've acquired cameras from almost every maker imaginable; that includes Canon EOS, Konica, Leica, Minolta, Minox, Nikon, Olympus and Pentax. No Contax or CONTAX but I'm still looking...

Regards, David

 

[David Hughes]

Many of the cheapest cameras are the newest - the F80s and equivalents that were immediately pre-consumer digital models. They've probably been very lightly used and weren't badly made to start off with so may be ok for some years to come, even if they are now 10 years old.

If they fail then they can be readily replaced, though I agree it's the non-electrical, mechanical cameras from the pre-1980s that may well be the last standing.

Hi,

I'll agree in general terms but I've had several from the mid 90's fail and my experiences with Leica and Contax make me cautious.

Having taken a couple of the duds apart and marvelled at the row of tiny PCB's inside I can see why no one will touch them. OTOH, the 3D printers may go on to produce chips and flexible ribbons, who knows?

Regards, David

 

[Fuchs]

I do not know if these qualify as ridiculous cheap cameras, or great bargain occasions,
Anyway, low cost favourites:
-Nikon F80 like new ($35)
-Nikon FG-20 bought new old stock for $30
-Yashica T3 Super with 2.8/35 Tessar for $10
-Rolleiflex SLX Mk.2 with newly rebuilt battery, lens and 6x6 + 4.5x6 backs for $100
-Rollei Prego 90 for $15

 

[Skiff]

I agree. I know that compared to a £3,000 new film Leica that a £300 film Leica is a bargain, but £300 is not ridiculously cheap. Likewise for a £500 Hasselblad.

A £15 Nikon / Canon / Minolta / Pentax / Olympus 35mm SLR with lens is.

I have to disagree, at least partly.
Price is what you pay, value is what you get.

Even the 2,000€ or 3,000€ for a new top-of-the line film camera is cheap if you look at the price-performance ratio and the long term usage:
Your new Nikon, Leica, Voigtländer etc. film camera can be used for decades.
Probably even your children can continue to use it after you have passed away.
Well, Nikon and Leica for example have proved that their professional cameras can be used for 50 and more years if you handle them properly.
2,000€ for 50+ years of usage?
That is less than 40 bucks per year.
That is definitely cheap and excellent value (especially compared to digital hardware costs and their limited time of usage).

 

[Spanik]

I have to disagree, at least partly.
Price is what you pay, value is what you get.

Even the 2,000€ or 3,000€ for a new top-of-the line film camera is cheap if you look at the price-performance ratio and the long term usage:
Your new Nikon, Leica, Voigtländer etc. film camera can be used for decades.
Probably even your children can continue to use it after you have passed away.
Well, Nikon and Leica for example have proved that their professional cameras can be used for 50 and more years if you handle them properly.
2,000€ for 50+ years of usage?
That is less than 40 bucks per year.
That is definitely cheap and excellent value (especially compared to digital hardware costs and their limited time of usage).

I you talk about pure mechanical cameras, then maybe yes. But digital ones or even those with a minimum of electronics (if they need a battery) won't keep 50 years. Be happy if they last 10 years.

And in 100 years if you find someone with tools and the knowledge to use them he/she will still be able to get your mechanical camera going (for a price). But those digital marvells are paperweights once one of the main components dies. Leica already is out of some components for their first digital ones and just reading about the ccd corrosion problems make me very doubtful about more than 10 years useful life.

 

[tunalegs]

I have to disagree, at least partly.
Price is what you pay, value is what you get.

Even the 2,000€ or 3,000€ for a new top-of-the line film camera is cheap...

No that's not cheap in any sense of the word. A good bargain possibly, but definitely not cheap!

 

[Huss]

I got excited for a moment there because I mistakenly thought this thread was titled Your Faves: Ridiculously Cheap Great Film! 😱

it was Fuji C200, that I bought recently from Adorama for $1.49/36 exp.
They've now jacked the price up to $3.99!!! And it is the same expired batch 1/2015.
They must have seen this thread..

http://rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=147318

😉

My vote for cheap great SLR is also the Minolta SR series. I recently picked up an SR1s which is the most beautiful SLR ever made. The lack of a metered head makes it a very sleek mid century mod design.