Best Of The Affordable Offbrand SLRS

[MattKing]

A complicating factor would be something like Miranda, which was both a Japanese manufacturer and, later, a branding company in the UK that added its name to cameras made by others.
A further complicating factor would be the propensity of some of the US importers who added their name to product (Honeywell Pentax or Beseler Topcon) or, in the case of tripods, completely replaced the product name with their name (Bogen - Manfrotto).

 

[Paul Howell]

A later model UK version of Miranda and Petir were rebanded Chion, K mounts, likely a good body.

 

[alanrockwood]

Ricoh Singlex... a plain vanilla TTL metering camera with M42 mount lens, stopped down TTL metering, copal vertical travel metal shutter. Sort of like a poor mans Pentax Spotmatic, though with a different shutter technology. However, the battery issue might be disqualifying.

 

[blockend]

Yes. The Chinon Memotron models look interesting.

The Chinon Memotron is an example of an off brand camera that was ahead of the curve. It offered automation with any M42 lens, when name brands brought out new lenses to fulfil the same function. Latterly, the company filled the need for compact plastic SLRs built down to a price. Probably no better or worse than the competition, and plenty around cheap. The previous metal bodies (CS, CX, etc) were dead solid cameras not unlike the Canon FT/b, with underrated lenses. I cut my photographic teeth on one, and image quality gives nothing away to later Nikon and Canon cameras I owned.

The Chinon Bellami "barn door" compact camera attracts high prices on the used market.
Chinon did their thing, supplying photographic chains in various countries with capable home brand products that are still working today.

 

[Paul Howell]

I agree with blockend, Chinon glass was very good, they did make a wide ranges of lens but they did make was sharp with good contrast and reasonable fast.

 

[distributed]

I have a Yashica FX-2 with a 50/1.9 lens that I suppose is what was sold with the camera. The camera is fairly basic and operation is as simple as it could be, there are no distractions. As for the lens, if stop down to 2.8 or more, the results have never disappointed me. I think this is a fairly unknown camera and you might get it for a good price. Definitely a solid piece of equipment.

 

[Paul Howell]

Not really an off brand as Sigma is a big player in the 3rd party lens world, Sigma made a number of manual focus K mount lens and a few auto focus as well, the SA 7 and 9. I bought a SA 7 at a Kitts Store, came with 2 kit lens. My F3P had been ripped off at LAX after 911, wasn't allowed to bring my camera bag as a carry on had to check it, Needless to say my F3 did not arrive in Phoenix. I limped along with my Pentax and Chinon M42 cameras and lens, did not know if I was going to get a F5 or jump to the dark side. The SA7 and lens was cheap, like $170 for the kit. Turned out I liked it so much I got an upper level Sigma body the SA9. The down side is over time both bodies developed yellowing in the viewfinder. Sigma told me it was the glue that held different layers of the pentaprism, others say it is tarnish. I have 2 SA7 with out much yellowing and I still use them. I have Minolta and Pentax film AF bodies, the Sigma is much easier to use. Has a shutter speed dial, the aperture is controlled by a wheel. Has sort of back button AF, on the top of the camera on the side rather on the back. The SA 9 shoots at 3.5 FPS the SA7 around 2, the SA9 has a top shutter speed of 1/8000 while the SA7 1/2000, the set up is identical, really easy to switch from one body to the next. Over the years I added SD bodies and better quality lens. One limitation is that you cant use Tamron or Tokina lens, only Sigma lens. The mount is a K mount, electronics is very similar to Canon,I've read that some have replaced the K mount with a Canon mount and most function works but no AF.

 

[BAC1967]

I bought this Chinon SLR from a college friend around 1987 for $20, he needed money to buy some weed. I’m sure it’s lost some value since then, probably couldn’t get very high if decided to sell it. Clearly Chinon’s marketing team put a lot of thought into the name, “SLR”. It’s a basic M42 camera with match needle metering. I’ve used mercury and other types of batteries without any discernible difference in metering. It’s built like a tank I’ve never had a problem with it.

Chinon SLR by Bryan Chernick, on Flickr

 

[AgX]

Interesting about that combo is the lens designation "Tessar Carl Zeiss Jena DDR", whereas over here that lens was sold as "T aus Jena" (from Jena), sometimes "T aus Jena DDR".

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I don't know how off brand they might be, but I've always liked the Mamiya/Sekor 500DTL and the 1000DTL. They used the M42 mount, so there are plenty to chose from.I could never get the later Pentax SMC-Takumar lenses to screw all the way into the mount, but the Super-Takumars and the Auto-Takumars mounted without problems. The Mamiya/Sekor screw mount lenses lenses were good performers too. However, they did require a mercury battery for the built in meter. Since I never used the built in meter, that was pretty much a non-issue, at least for me.

that's what I would do and forget about battery issues.

 

[BAC1967]

Interesting about that combo is the lens designation "Tessar Carl Zeiss Jena DDR", whereas over here that lens was sold as "T aus Jena" (from Jena), sometimes "T aus Jena DDR".

I think the camera had a Yashica lens when I bought it.

 

[dynachrome]

I have a modest collection of Vivitar and Promaster SLRs. Most are K mount models and I think they were made by Cosina. The slow 35-70 kit lenses are not the easiest to focus in low light but are decent performers. The 50mm Vivitar and Promaster lenses are decent too. The top model of the Promaster line is the 2500PK Super. It has a self timer, a PC socket, a top shutter speed of 1/2000 and a DOF preview button. These cameras are light and have responsive meters. They are not as heavy or sturdily built as Pentax K mount cameras but still give good results. I use mostly Pentax lenses on these cameras. A Vivitar or Promaster body with a 55/1.8 or 50/1.7 Pentax lens is a nice inexpensive and capable combination.

 

[blockend]

It’s built like a tank I’ve never had a problem with it.

If I recall correctly, Chinon had a metal Copal style shutter when similarly priced competition had fabric shutters. This may be partly responsible for their longevity.

 

[Craig75]

Very "on" brand in one way, but so so "off" brand in every other way

 

[blockend]

Very "on" brand in one way, but so so "off" brand in every other way

You probably know this, but it's a Chinon.

 

[Craig75]

You probably know this, but it's a Chinon.

Yes bac1967 post reminded me of the "luxury" chinon model. Its probably a collectors oddity camera now tho.

 

[blockend]

The Miranda DX-3, an otherwise vanilla 1975 SLR and the company's last camera (with the EE-2), could take a motor drive, bulk film back and a massive battery grip. An uncompetitive camera from a dying brand with professional sports pretensions, is a compelling combination! In the UK Miranda cameras were sold off at fire sale prices by high street electronics chain, Dixons. Speaking of historical curios, the company also flogged off the weird Polaroid "Polavision" movie camera system, at rock bottom prices.

 

[Paul Howell]

Not too expensive, the standard lens was 57mm 1.7 macro, said to use some of glass made for Kern Swiss. Made in 42mm and later K mount with top shutter speed of 1/2000th. Sort of unclear if it was made for Alapa or if Chinon bought the rights to the name. Lens were not interchangeable with the Swiss Alpas.

 

[blockend]

Yes bac1967 post reminded me of the "luxury" chinon model. Its probably a collectors oddity camera now tho.

It looks pretty cool to my eyes, though I can see why Alpa fans would reach for the smelling salts. Swiss Alpa cameras remind me of Homer Simpson's dream car.

 

[Paul Howell]

The Miranda DX-3, an otherwise vanilla 1975 SLR and the company's last camera (with the EE-2), could take a motor drive, bulk film back and a massive battery grip. An uncompetitive camera from a dying brand with professional sports pretensions, is a compelling combination! In the UK Miranda cameras were sold off at fire sale prices by high street electronics chain, Dixons. Speaking of historical curios, the company also flogged off the weird Polaroid "Polavision" movie camera system, at rock bottom prices.

The Dx 3 bankrupted Miranda, electronics were a disaster, ate batteries, took 4 which did not last long, the camera came with a case to put the batteries when the camera was in use and recommend carrying a spare set. The motor drive was prototype only when AiC tossed in the towel, unfortunately it's lens light meter line Soligor was a victim as well.

 

[blockend]

the camera came with a case to put the batteries

Always a bad sign! There were a few thirsty cameras around, as battery power couldn't keep pace with automation.

unfortunately it's lens light meter line Soligor was a victim as well.

Soligor lenses were ok, I have a couple. Didn't know they were part of the company.

 

[dynachrome]

I have a real Apla somewhere, I think it's a 10d and it has the Kern Macro Switar. I don't have the 2000si but I do have two of the 50/1.7 standard lenses. They get to 1:3 so they aren't really macro lenses but they're pretty good. They are brighter to focus through than my 50/4 SMC Macro Takumars.

 

[Paul Howell]

AiC was an American holding company that bought Miranda in the 60s, Miranda had acquired Soiligar sometime in the 50s. Until the very end Miranda did not make it's own lenses, it bought some lens from others but for the most part designed in house then outsourced for manufacturing. I've read that near the end Miranda did make some lenes in house along with a few Soligor. Soligor made a pretty good analog 1% light meter. I have all of the Miranda EE lens with the exception of the 180 2.8, never seen one, all of them are good performers. I have a few Soligor in Miranda Sensorex mount with the side arm that that links to the meter, again good performers.

 

[Paul Howell]

I got to shoo with a 10D for a week or so, a friend wife inherited it along with the 50 Kern Macro and 35mm 2.0, Agnilux. Although somewhat odd to operate once I got use to it was silky smooth. Sort of an off brand for those who can afford a kit.

 

[Craig75]

I have a real Apla somewhere, I think it's a 10d and it has the Kern Macro Switar. I don't have the 2000si but I do have two of the 50/1.7 standard lenses. They get to 1:3 so they aren't really macro lenses but they're pretty good. They are brighter to focus through than my 50/4 SMC Macro Takumars.

A 10d is my dream 35mm camera. Ive always wanted one. If you havent seen the price of a kern macro switar these days you are in for a very nice surprise.