Took a week off work with the 4 kids for Easter and had a blast. Went to the Cinema, Swimming, Nature walks etc. Also not least because I have been putting some film through an absolute mint Yashica Mat 124G 6X6 I acquired off E-bay, a few weeks back.
I suddenly realised how much I had missed photography as a stimulating creative hobby having sold up a 35mm system years ago and had a succession of :rolleyes: Shhh digital compacts since.
So a week off, the kids on their play-stations due to bad weather. I decided to have a look at what my dream 35mm SLR from many years ago was going for on e-bay. I was amazed how many Nikon F3's there are most looking well used, only one or two looking well loved.
I was browsing when up popped a new listing "buy it now" for a Mint F3 HP body only had amateur use, photographed from every angle inside and out it looked pristine, money back guarantee if it did not work perfectly. $300 or £152. I drooled for all of 10 seconds, it was fate synchronicity stikes again and so I hit "buy it now".
My good lady was not due in for another 4 hours, the rain was still dancing down and I needed some glass for my new baby.
Oh dear 4 hours is a long time in Aladdin's cave
The devil makes work for idle hands!
Within 3 hours I had a mint MD4 motor drive for $80!!!! or £40, then a 28mm 2.8 AIS Nikkor which looks as new boxed 88 or £60. A 35mm F2.0 AIS mint 132 Euros or £90. A mint and boxed 50mm 1.8 AIS $80 or £40 and finally a pair of lenses together on a "buy it know" 35-70 3.5/4.5 (heard mixed reviews on this one) and a 80-200 F4 AIS both look absolutely mint price................... wait for it $200 or £101!!!!!!!
$950 or about £480 for a mint F3 HP, MD4 and 5 lenses. It seems I did very very well or is this the sort of price this fantastic gear is going for now?:confused:
Anyway my next mission is to beat the wife to the postie for the next week or so till it all arrives, four lots from the USA, 1 from Germany and 1 from Sweden.
I remember holding a F3HP as an 18 year old camera salesman and thinking "one day" it has took a while but I got there in the end!
I Just need to convince the wife it's all her fault for going to work and leaving me in charge of the 4 little darlings, I must have had a mental block or something
I will be posting my first efforts for your considered opinions very soon.
I suddenly realised how much I had missed photography as a stimulating creative hobby having sold up a 35mm system years ago and had a succession of :rolleyes: Shhh digital compacts since.
So a week off, the kids on their play-stations due to bad weather. I decided to have a look at what my dream 35mm SLR from many years ago was going for on e-bay. I was amazed how many Nikon F3's there are most looking well used, only one or two looking well loved.
I was browsing when up popped a new listing "buy it now" for a Mint F3 HP body only had amateur use, photographed from every angle inside and out it looked pristine, money back guarantee if it did not work perfectly. $300 or £152. I drooled for all of 10 seconds, it was fate synchronicity stikes again and so I hit "buy it now".
My good lady was not due in for another 4 hours, the rain was still dancing down and I needed some glass for my new baby.
Oh dear 4 hours is a long time in Aladdin's cave
The devil makes work for idle hands!
Within 3 hours I had a mint MD4 motor drive for $80!!!! or £40, then a 28mm 2.8 AIS Nikkor which looks as new boxed 88 or £60. A 35mm F2.0 AIS mint 132 Euros or £90. A mint and boxed 50mm 1.8 AIS $80 or £40 and finally a pair of lenses together on a "buy it know" 35-70 3.5/4.5 (heard mixed reviews on this one) and a 80-200 F4 AIS both look absolutely mint price................... wait for it $200 or £101!!!!!!!
$950 or about £480 for a mint F3 HP, MD4 and 5 lenses. It seems I did very very well or is this the sort of price this fantastic gear is going for now?:confused:
Anyway my next mission is to beat the wife to the postie for the next week or so till it all arrives, four lots from the USA, 1 from Germany and 1 from Sweden.
I remember holding a F3HP as an 18 year old camera salesman and thinking "one day" it has took a while but I got there in the end!
I Just need to convince the wife it's all her fault for going to work and leaving me in charge of the 4 little darlings, I must have had a mental block or something
I will be posting my first efforts for your considered opinions very soon.