For Sale Cheap Project Cameras! Olympus XA added! (Sears KSX Super, Agfa Billy Record II)

Leaves.jpg

A
Leaves.jpg

  • 2
  • 0
  • 22
Walking Away

Walking Away

  • 2
  • 0
  • 48
Blue Buildings

A
Blue Buildings

  • 2
  • 0
  • 33
Hydrangeas from the garden

A
Hydrangeas from the garden

  • 2
  • 2
  • 102

Recent Classifieds

Forum statistics

Threads
197,944
Messages
2,767,178
Members
99,512
Latest member
filmcodedev
Recent bookmarks
0
Trader history for cptrios (5)

cptrios

Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2020
Messages
409
Location
Boston
Format
Hybrid
Trying to clear out some stuff here, so away go all of the cameras I always kinda-sorta meant to fix.

Group 1 - Free-ish. Each of these is $15 shipped, which is basically cost of shipping plus a few extra bucks.

1. Konica C35 - The battery contacts have become disconnected, so you'll need to re-wire them (or at least re-solder them). I actually got this to work briefly, but the soldering is beyond my skill!

2. Two Sears KSX Supers - These are Sears-branded Ricoh KR-10 Supers. One of them is missing the winding crank, and the shutter won't fire (though I don't think it's irreparable). The other is generally working, but it seems like the contacts on the ISO/EV dial need to be cleaned or something. I shot a roll with it at its current setting (ISO 400, EV +1) and developed for ISO 400, and it came out fine.
IMG_3171.jpg

Group 2 - Just Cheap

1. Agfa Billy Record II - $40 shipped. I haven't film-tested this, but it's surprisingly functional. Lens should probably get a cleaning, but the shutter is working (can't speak for speeds). The bellows have pinholes along the corners, which might be coverable with some liquid electrical tape.
IMG_3167.jpg

2. Konica C35 FD (Auto S3) - $60 shipped. This one is also somewhat functional. The shutter is alright at 1/30 and above, but sticks on the slower speeds. There's also a thin, faint haze-like ring around the outer edge of the back element which shouldn't bother anyone. Definitely could use a rangefinder calibration too. If you can get this one up to snuff, good on you, because working ones go for oodles of money. Here's a much worse one that sold on eBay recently.

3. Olympus XA - $60 shipped. I bought this on here a month or two ago. Unlike the others on the list, it's functional - with the caveats that the rangefinder is slightly backfocused (it doesn't seem hard to adjust, but I don't feel like poking off the little cover if I'm just going to sell it) and the RF patch is dim. The previous owner put a dot of black tape on the viewfinder, but I removed that and put in a small sheet of blue plastic film to improve contrast. As long as you don't mind a blue viewfinder, it works really well!

The problem, though, is that there seems to be some sort of misalignment in one of the lens elements that leads to very soft corners and sides on your images. The issue gets worth with distance - it isn't so pronounced at closer focus distances (and obviously not noticeable if you've got an OOF background and a central-ish subject,) but at infinity focus it's quite visible. I have seen some examples from the camera on Flickr with a similar issue, but the lens is definitely not performing at the level it should be. Still, totally usable and maybe it's maybe even an effect that you'll like! It's too bad I just don't enjoy the camera itself.

IMG_3184.jpg IMG_3183.jpg IMG_3182.jpg
DSC07788.jpg DSC08141.jpg
 
Last edited:
Photrio.com contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
To read our full affiliate disclosure statement please click Here.

PHOTRIO PARTNERS EQUALLY FUNDING OUR COMMUNITY:



Ilford ADOX Freestyle Photographic Stearman Press Weldon Color Lab Blue Moon Camera & Machine
Top Bottom