I'm sad, but I know what might cheer me up...

stevco · Sep 8, 2010

This days I am in negotiations with myself about "To get a Rolleiflex 3.5E planar, or not". I found a good seler with good price and he can send me anytime.

But I have some troubles about choosing the camera 'smart' or 'practicaly'.. I am not a professional photographer, but hobbyist who use 35mm film cameras and advanced P&S, and I don't shoot that much often, so I would not use the rollei that often but mostly for some outdoor portraits of friends & family, but planning sooner for some photoshoots with persons, band members, etc.

What stucks me in also is that in my country i know only one seller who have some expired portra 160/400 vc and t-max 400, both expired 2005, but he won't have this films forever, after that I'm unable to buy any 120mm film, only some garbage 35mm at local stores. I'll need a scanner too. The lab in my town scanes and develops 35/120mm films, but shooting paralel 35 and 120 film + developing and scanning might cost me very much.

Indeed, I don't really need the quality of the medium format need but I like to try. Practicaly it's not clever getting in this mess, emotionaly - it is.

I don't know will I regret buying, or regret not buying.

mhcfires · Sep 8, 2010

My late wife would occasionally complain about my purchases, I didn't buy much, just bribe her with another toy and she would keep quiet. She has been gone for eight years. I have met another lady who likes photography, thinks film sucks, has a Nikon 0D200 and a few very nice lenses. She was complaining about the Nokton 50mm/1.1 lens I bought for my Leica M20. "Why can't I have something like that for MY camera?" I've been thinking of buying her a Nikon 50mm 1.4D for her to play with. It might keep her happy and also I could use it on my N80 every now and then. Is this a good idea?

m

bushpig · Sep 9, 2010

mhcfires said:
I've been thinking of buying her a Nikon 50mm 1.4D for her to play with. It might keep her happy and also I could use it on my N80 every now and then. Is this a good idea?

Yes.

bushpig · Sep 9, 2010

stevco said:
What stucks me in also is that in my country i know only one seller who have some expired portra 160/400 vc and t-max 400, both expired 2005, but he won't have this films forever, after that I'm unable to buy any 120mm film, only some garbage 35mm at local stores. I'll need a scanner too. The lab in my town scanes and develops 35/120mm films, but shooting paralel 35 and 120 film + developing and scanning might cost me very much.

Indeed, I don't really need the quality of the medium format need but I like to try. Practicaly it's not clever getting in this mess, emotionaly - it is.

I don't know will I regret buying, or regret not buying.

I can't help you with the scanner, but I've got a crapload of 120 and about to get more. Mind you, my new medium format camera is on the way so I'm going to be using most of the 120 film myself, but I may be able to spare a few rolls when your source runs out. I don't know how much your source has, but I've gotten easily over 100 rolls of 120 from mine so far and he still has plenty more. I wouldn't mind selling you a little bit when the time comes. Keep in touch, my friend and we can work something out.

(Most of that is 120. I love my dealer.)

stevco · Sep 9, 2010

bushpig said:
I can't help you with the scanner, but I've got a crapload of 120 and about to get more. Mind you, my new medium format camera is on the way so I'm going to be using most of the 120 film myself, but I may be able to spare a few rolls when your source runs out. I don't know how much your source has, but I've gotten easily over 100 rolls of 120 from mine so far and he still has plenty more. I wouldn't mind selling you a little bit when the time comes. Keep in touch, my friend and we can work something out.

Thank you for offering such help. I'll have that in mind.

That's a huge amount of films you have, enjoy it. I have about 7 rolls of Portra 160vc and 3 tmax 400 (both expired 2005). Maybe it was clever to put them in a frige during the summer but I was kind of unsure about that, so I kept them in a enough cold place on ground floor. Should I put them in a fridge?

bushpig · Sep 9, 2010

stevco said:
I have about 7 rolls of Portra 160vc and 3 tmax 400 (both expired 2005). Maybe it was clever to put them in a frige during the summer but I was kind of unsure about that, so I kept them in a enough cold place on ground floor. Should I put them in a fridge?

If you have freezer space available, you should store film that won't be used any time soon in there. It's perfectly safe to freeze film and will help it's longevity. Just make sure it's well sealed in the original pack.

bushpig · Sep 15, 2010

Update:

I won a Koni-Omega Rapid M. It's on it's way through the mail right now. I really hope it's in good working condition. I don't wanna have to pay for a CLA yet.

2F/2F · Sep 15, 2010

I regret selling my first 4x5, a Graphic View II with a spring back. I only got $150 for it, and it held a good deal of sentimental value – in retrospect, that is. I didn't think much about it at the time.

resummerfield · Sep 15, 2010

I regret selling my Koni-Omega Rapid M. That was several decades ago, and I still regret it more than any other camera I've ever sold. Enjoy yours, Bushpig, and good luck!

MattKing · Sep 15, 2010

Congratulations bushpig - hope you have as much fun with yours as I did with the two I just sold.

In case you weren't aware, Mike Butkus has an instruction manual for the camera on his site, listed as "Koni-omega M".

bushpig · Sep 18, 2010

Thanks, Matt. I actually looked at the orphan cameras page, but couldn't find a manual for the Rapid M. I was almost sad. But then you saved the day!

Also, I'm sad again. I don't know where my camera is. I had a tracking number from the seller and last night it came up as being delivered...in New York! I live in California! That's not even close!

I'm hoping that I was just given the wrong number and it's almost here. Best case scenerio: it arrives tomorrow in excellent working order.

I have a 120 back on the way too. The tracking number says that it'll be here soon. Very soon. Maybe tomorrow. I hope it doesn't beat the camera here...

But I'd love if they both got here the same day!

Sirius Glass · Sep 18, 2010

bushpog, postal tracking will tell you that the package has been delivered after you get it. Really, no joke.

Enjoy the camera.

Steve

Exeter2010 · Sep 18, 2010

Cheer up bushpig! Here's one right here! Maybe I don't know enough about this camera, but they seem to be common on the Bay. Isn't this what you were talking about?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Koni-Omega-Rapi...490943416?pt=Film_Cameras&hash=item2309f58fb8

Exeter2010 · Sep 18, 2010

oh. Well I guess I should have read just a little further in the post, shouldn't I? Congrats bushpig. Hope you enjoy your new camera.

bushpig · Sep 18, 2010

Still trying to get my camera. The guy sent me a new tracking number today that said it was delivered on the 15th...250 miles away from where I live.

I have no clue what's going on with this damn camera, but I'm getting sick of dealing with this. If he sends me one more tracking number that says it was delivered somewhere other than Bakersfield, CA, I'm getting a refund and leaving negative feedback. Assuming it shows up in working condition (as described), he's currently looking at neutral feedback if lucky.

bushpig · Sep 28, 2010

*sigh* I obviously chose the wrong camera to bid on. After all this time, he finally said he'd give me a refund and cancel the sale via ebay.

I don't know if he was trying to scam me, but he tried to tell me to cancel the sale and THEN he'll refund my money. Sounds like an attempt at stealing my $200.

Anyways, as soon as this guy gives me my money back, I'm gonna try again.

I feel stupid for buying a 120 back to compliment the 220 back that the camera would've come with. Now I have a 120 back, but no camera to attach it to.

What did I do to deserve this jerk?

michaelbsc · Sep 28, 2010

bushpig said:
*sigh* I obviously chose the wrong camera to bid on. After all this time, he finally said he'd give me a refund and cancel the sale via ebay.

I don't know if he was trying to scam me, but he tried to tell me to cancel the sale and THEN he\'ll refund my money. Sounds like an attempt at stealing my $200.

Anyways, as soon as this guy gives me my money back, I'm gonna try again.

I feel stupid for buying a 120 back to compliment the 220 back that the camera would've come with. Now I have a 120 back, but no camera to attach it to.

What did I do to deserve this jerk?

The guy does sound like a jerk. If you don't get your money back pretty quickly file a "not delivered" report with eBay. They will almost always side with the buyer.

The back is still good of you buy another camera. And if you don't fnd another camera its easy to sell. Depending on how much you ask I might be interested.

k_jupiter · Sep 28, 2010

mhcfires said:
I have met another lady who likes photography, thinks film sucks, has a Nikon 0D200 and a few very nice lenses. She was complaining about the Nokton 50mm/1.1 lens I bought for my Leica M20. "Why can't I have something like that for MY camera?" . Is this a good idea?

m

Ya. Get rid of the woman. If she wants Leica quality, she should shoot Leica. Not digicrap. What in gawds name are you doing with a woman who thinks Film is crap? Get a grip.

tim in san jose

bushpig · Sep 29, 2010

michaelbsc said:
The guy does sound like a jerk. If you don't get your money back pretty quickly file a "not delivered" report with eBay. They will almost always side with the buyer.

The back is still good of you buy another camera. And if you don't fnd another camera its easy to sell. Depending on how much you ask I might be interested.

He refunded my money. It was a bitch to get him to do it though. I've been fighting with this guy for weeks. Now I just gotta cancel the transaction. Am I still able to leave feedback after I cancel a sale? He seems desperate to keep his good feedback, but given the chance, I think he deserves negative feedback. If you guys could read the emails between us, you'd agree.

Anyways, I just won another Rapid M. However, unlike his, this seller didn't guarantee it works, so I guess I'm taking a gamble. But it was cheap, so I won't be losing much. Might be worth what I paid for parts alone.

michaelbsc · Sep 29, 2010

bushpig said:
He refunded my money. It was a bitch to get him to do it though. I've been fighting with this guy for weeks. Now I just gotta cancel the transaction. Am I still able to leave feedback after I cancel a sale? He seems desperate to keep his good feedback, but given the chance, I think he deserves negative feedback. If you guys could read the emails between us, you'd agree.

Anyways, I just won another Rapid M. However, unlike his, this seller didn't guarantee it works, so I guess I'm taking a gamble. But it was cheap, so I won't be losing much. Might be worth what I paid for parts alone.

Make sure you transfer the money back to your bank account or credit card from Paypal. Don't cancel the transaction. That's how he gets off the hook. If there was no sale, then you can't leave feedback.

If there was a botched sale, and you have your money back, he can cancel the transaction. But you still get a chance to leave negative feedback.

I've had a few botched transactions. Sometimes, when I think the seller is really honest and everything just got tangled up, I'll even leave positive feed back that the person helped resolve it. But I have also left negative feedback when they seller was a PITA.

Either way, YOU don't cancel your bid. He retracts the item.

Sirius Glass · Sep 29, 2010

k_jupiter said:
Ya. Get rid of the woman. If she wants Leica quality, she should shoot Leica. Not digicrap. What in gawds name are you doing with a woman who thinks Film is crap? Get a grip.

tim in san jose

* 2 !

elekm · Sep 29, 2010

When I was 19, I was stationed in Germany, and I was sure that I knew everything about photography and that the best cameras and lenses came from Japan. So I bought a Pentax MX and later a Nikon F2A and FE with several lenses.

I did have a little Rollei 35T that was the first camera that I bought upon arriving in Germany.

Some 20 years later, when I was living in Hong Kong, I became fascinated (obsessed) with classic German cameras, so while in Asia, I bought German cameras almost exclusively.

These days, I'm shooting about 90% with German cameras and 10% with Japanese cameras.

Around 1981, I let my mother (WTF!!!) talk me out of a Rolleiflex 2.8F for $300 and a Leica M-4 with three lenses ($400). I must have been mad to allow that to happen. No, just young ...

bushpig · Oct 2, 2010

elekm said:
Around 1981, I let my mother (WTF!!!) talk me out of a Rolleiflex 2.8F for $300 and a Leica M-4 with three lenses ($400). I must have been mad to allow that to happen. No, just young ...

No. You were right the first time. You were mad.
That's a shame. Good deal. I've been lucky so far. My girlfriend's been a bit disappointed by a couple of my purchases, but hasn't stopped me. At least not yet. *fingers crossed*.

A final update on my sad/happy/sad/happy, etc goings on with the Koni-Omega. I now have in my possession, a Koni-Omega Rapid M. Seems to be in decent shape. The rangefinder's vertical alignment seems a bit wonky, but when I run some film through it, that'll tell me the truth. Seems in alright condition for what I paid ($58 plus shipping). Much better than the $200 I plopped down on one that never made it to me! The refund for that one is still pending, but the money should be back in my account as of the 4th.

So as long as my negatives come out alright, I'm happy. Hell, for the price, I wouldn't even mind a little bit of light leaks. Easy enough fix. Gonna shoot a roll of 220 and a roll of 120 to test each of the backs that I got.

Being as my problem seems to be sorted out, this is now a thread for tragic missed opportunities for gear acquisition. Or other photo related missed opportunities. If a mod feels like moving it to a more appropriate place, that's cool.

Sirius Glass · Oct 2, 2010

bushpig said:
Seems in alright condition for what I paid ($58 plus shipping). Much better than the $200 I plopped down on one that never made it to me!

Did I tell you that the next time around it would be better and you would be happier?

Steve

Jeff Kubach · Oct 2, 2010

A few years ago I came across a Canonet G111 1.7(might have missed spell that)at a thrift shop, I didn't have the money at the time so I went home and came back the next day and it was sold!

Jeff

I'm sad, but I know what might cheer me up...

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