The camera (brand) I regret buying...

[Craig75]

Alpa. I've had four and each one was problematic.

Ive just bought one but its going for a service before i use it. What issues did you have? They do look like they could be a giant money pit

 

[mshchem]

I regret all the rangefinder cameras I bought trying to avoid buying a Leica M. After spending 10 times what a nice used Leica M is worth, I bought a user M2 and understand why people value them so much.

I sent a mint M2 with a mint vintage 50 1.4 Summilux to KEH, going on 8 years back. I was depressed. I don't think I could replace that outfit for 5 grand. I bought it from a friend of the camera shop owner for 2 grand. Glorious chrome. I got the depression thing in check with generic Celexa and permission from my doctor to spend as much as I want on photo equipment (at least that's what I tell my wife ).

 

[MattKing]

I had an E620 for exactly 19 days. It had more bands than a box of band-aids.

Your sample size was too small!
The results of using Olympus (mostly) during the 1970s:

This doesn't include the slides.

 

[mshchem]

To heck with delaying gratification, save the aggravation and just go to your desired camera.

Absolutely, says I who hasn't any kids to worry about.

 

[ChristopherCoy]

Absolutely, says I who hasn't any kids to worry about.

i hasn’t any kids to worry about either and I still can’t afford one.

 

[Don_ih]

Agfa/Ansco - If it's not the lubricant-turned-to-superglue, it's the bellows made out of tissue paper. I have an Speedex that I spent weeks dissolving the green crap in the focus mechanism only to have the bellows pretty much become a sieve. That's just one of several jammed-up Agfa paperweights I have, The worst is when the superglue gets into the rangefinder mechanism - virtually impossible to get out.

 

[StepheKoontz]

Ha! I did exactly the same thing. Why I just didn't give myself permission I do not know. I like the other rangefinders I still have, but the M2 is my favorite.

The nikon S2 is a close second. I wanted to love the S3 but the viewfinder is weird/reflections etc. even in the 2000 rerelease (the OG is the same) The Nikon SP is the sexiest camera ever made and barnack/clones are good shooters but the M2 just presses all the right buttons. I have a DR 50 but REALLY love the newest released voight 35 f1.4 and 50 f1.5 combo. They share the same hood and filters, and have the "thin" Leica 90mm f2.8 to round out the lenses.

 

[cullah]

Ive just bought one but its going for a service before i use it. What issues did you have? They do look like they could be a giant money pit

Hi,
The biggest problems have been with the shutters. Four Alpas, four bum shutters. Also, I've always had problems with the meters. Once again, four Alpas, four meter screw ups. I always liked the design of the cameras, especially the interesting way the film advance is oriented. I guess I sold my 10d about a year ago. I shot using a 90mmAngenieux lens. Really a super sharp lens. The 50mm/1.8 was ok for closeups, but for anything over ten feet, it was not very sharp and had low contrast. If you keep your camera and are looking for lenses I would recommend Angenieux. Stay away from the Kinoptics. They are flairprone and the prices are very high. I have heard that the 50/1.9 Macro Switar is much better than the 50/ 1.8
Best of luck
Peter McDonough

 

[BradS]

Mamiya C220f
Loved everything about it. I just could get on with the square format.

Bronica RF645
Great camera. Beautiful results. I even got used to the fact that one must hold it sideways 90% of the time. It felt delicate. I was also worried about breaking it.

 

[Les Sarile]

Regrets, I've had a few, But then again, too few to mention . . .

The only one sticks out in my mind was not buying a really beautiful looking - and super cheap, rangefinder just because it uses an odd size film. Unfortunately it was gone when I reconsidered.

 

[Vanja Konstantinovic]

Hello! I am so sorry to intrude with this question outside the topic buut, I just got here and not sure how to use it. I have one problem that is bothering me for a while with my canon AE-1 program camera
If you have an answer please help! On almost every photograph developed I have like a light leak line. I will upload an example. Why do you think this is?
Every suggestion is appreciated.

 

[Les Sarile]

Hello! I am so sorry to intrude with this question outside the topic buut, I just got here and not sure how to use it. I have one problem that is bothering me for a while with my canon AE-1 program camera
If you have an answer please help! On almost every photograph developed I have like a light leak line. I will upload an example. Why do you think this is?
Every suggestion is appreciated.

Since it's the full height and it has horizontal shutter I am guessing the curtain is being delayed long enough to overexpose that section. Can you hear it hesitate in the middle of the shot? Does this section move from one shot to the other?
A CLA (clean lube adjust) would probably remedy it.

And welcome aboard!

Does this mean you regret buying the AE-1 Program then . . .

 

[jwd722]

I regret ever buying a Nikon. Because I liked it too much. Its ergonomics and lens compatibility across media types have cost me too much money through the years.

Plus, once you buy one F, you want to buy all its sisters to keep it company.

I share your regrets. I was happy(?) with Pentax but wanted a Nikon. Started with an F2 and of course had to get an F, moved on to an F3, F4 and F5, no F6...yet. Seldom used my F2 in lieu of the others so I traded it for an F3 (now have 2) but then the others felt betrayed so I purchased another F2 which is now my most used camera. Regrettably, 14 Nikons now

But did I stop?? Bought a Canon llS2 and then another and then a lld because I wanted a less expensive Leica. I now have a Leica lllf, waiting to see where this goes!

Regrets, yea, but I still sleep just fine.

 

[Craig75]

Hi,
The biggest problems have been with the shutters. Four Alpas, four bum shutters. Also, I've always had problems with the meters. Once again, four Alpas, four meter screw ups. I always liked the design of the cameras, especially the interesting way the film advance is oriented. I guess I sold my 10d about a year ago. I shot using a 90mmAngenieux lens. Really a super sharp lens. The 50mm/1.8 was ok for closeups, but for anything over ten feet, it was not very sharp and had low contrast. If you keep your camera and are looking for lenses I would recommend Angenieux. Stay away from the Kinoptics. They are flairprone and the prices are very high. I have heard that the 50/1.9 Macro Switar is much better than the 50/ 1.8
Best of luck
Peter McDonough

the meter i can live without although i do think meter in top plate is cool feature and I like the way the camera is laid out with film advance and shutter release placement. I was worried about shutter too so i sent mine away for a full stripdown - hopefully that will keep it running.... famous last words tho. Lenses - I got nikon adapter, yet to see the semi mythical leica adapter - Alpa lens prices are a bit too frisky for me especially once the alpa to digital camera adapters started appearing - should have bought one a few years ago when the lenses were a bit less money but i kept stalling on it. The angenieux lenses do look my favorites tho - it would be nice to have a set of those. it will either be most pointless purchase ever or my favourite camera i think depending on how long the service can keep it running.

 

[cullah]

the meter i can live without although i do think meter in top plate is cool feature and I like the way the camera is laid out with film advance and shutter release placement. I was worried about shutter too so i sent mine away for a full stripdown - hopefully that will keep it running.... famous last words tho. Lenses - I got nikon adapter, yet to see the semi mythical leica adapter - Alpa lens prices are a bit too frisky for me especially once the alpa to digital camera adapters started appearing - should have bought one a few years ago when the lenses were a bit less money but i kept stalling on it. The angenieux lenses do look my favorites tho - it would be nice to have a set of those. it will either be most pointless purchase ever or my favourite camera i think depending on how long the service can keep it running.

Hi,
Smart move with the Nikon adapter. One thing in Alpa's favor, It has, without a doubt, the best film rewinder I have ever come across. Better than Leica.

 

[Cholentpot]

I treat my cameras with the same code that firearms owners have.

Never sell.

My Minolta 16II has been a bit of a bummer. It's fun to use, great to carry but it wont focus to infinity unless you have the extra lens attachment which costs more than the camera these days.

 

[Huss]

My Minolta 16II has been a bit of a bummer. It's fun to use, great to carry but it wont focus to infinity ...

This is the one time the mantra 'zoom with your feet' does not work.

 

[Bill Burk]

Regrets, I've had a few, But then again, too few to mention . . .

The only one sticks out in my mind was not buying a really beautiful looking - and super cheap, rangefinder just because it uses an odd size film. Unfortunately it was gone when I reconsidered.

You mean a Medalist II? I saw one for fifteen bucks and didn’t get it because it looked too much like a Kodak 35

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

Exakta
Miranda

 

[Cholentpot]

This is the one time the mantra 'zoom with your feet' does not work.

Also when taking photos of lions and pythons.

Just use the zoom.

 

[Les Sarile]

You mean a Medalist II? I saw one for fifteen bucks and didn’t get it because it looked too much like a Kodak 35

I don't even remember what it was and I've never seen anything like it before or since. It had ornate artwork on it is the best way I can describe it. Like art deco style or such. Been on the lookout everywhere trying to identify it but no luck. This was really early on in my appreciation of these marvelous works of industrial art and that was one that got away from me . . .

 

[JWMster]

I regret all the rangefinder cameras I bought trying to avoid buying a Leica M. After spending 10 times what a nice used Leica M is worth, I bought a user M2 and understand why people value them so much.

Yes, the same sad lament of the gear in my photo life. With every format... I find I've struggled to avoid the camera I want and thought too expensive by buying other stuff, only to bite the bullet later. And it would have been far cheaper than the 10 other faux cameras I've attempted as substitutes. I'm overstating the numbers, but it's a true premise that if you actually buy the desired thing, presumably the right tool for the job, in the end it just might be cheaper to start there. That said, sometimes the desired object turns out to have been a miss, too. Which is to say that yes, I've fed the Leica M beast and found it's not my be all end all camera. Like the quiet shutter though, and a TLR serves much the same purpose in a slower package. But the good thing is that Leica is such a treasured (or aspiration ) brand, that even mistakes work out.

Few others match it as a store of value. And it is far less volatile than bitcoin.

The camera brand I've been amazed at the non-stealth reaction it generates? Rollieflex. No other camera is so widely loved that folks come up to you and start a conversation, tell you about theirs and how much they loved it... typically for generations. And the other day, two bicyclists saw me out shooting and fist bumped each other, "Rollieflex!" C-r-a-z-y. Shooters love Leica, but everyone seems to love Rolleiflex. Who knew? And to think this is one I tried to avoid... and came to love in spite of my mind's eye.

If you think of the Monty Python sketches on "house hunters", I think there probably ought to be one called camera hunters. Only in my case, instead of hunting the cameras, I think the cameras ultimately reverse the process and track, hunt and bag their prey.... 'the hunted hunts the hunter and bags him." Unsuspecting, I've been bagged twice (TLR and 4X5 - both of which I said I'd never do) and only won the hunt once (Nikon SLR's). Missed a lot.

 

[Donald Qualls]

I don't even remember what it was and I've never seen anything like it before or since. It had ornate artwork on it is the best way I can describe it. Like art deco style or such. Been on the lookout everywhere trying to identify it but no luck. This was really early on in my appreciation of these marvelous works of industrial art and that was one that got away from me . . .

Assuming it wasn't the size of a Hummer and almost as heavy, your description (RF with "odd size film" and "art deco style") suggests more of a Bantam Special -- which is a really nice 828 strut folder, coupled single window RF. If the shutter and RF work, the film can be improvised by recutting 120, as long as you have at least two 828 spools (and these days, those can probably be 3D printed). The Medalist and Medalist II were nothing you'd ever call "ornate" -- but the Bantam Special was art deco to the core.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

I regret all the rangefinder cameras I bought trying to avoid buying a Leica M. After spending 10 times what a nice used Leica M is worth, I bought a user M2 and understand why people value them so much.

Why?

 

[Wallendo]

My only regret was buying FED cameras because I didn't want to splurge on a Leica.

I originally bought a FED 3 and an Industar 26m. All the photos were out of focused, despite calibrating the viewfinder. Blaming the lens, I purchased a Jupiter-8 which was a little better but the images were still very soft. I tried an Industar 61 L/D which was still soft. I finally picked up a FED 5 and the images were fairly sharp, but there was a light leak I can't track down. I switched to a Canon 7 which worked well when my 61 L/D was stopped down, but still soft wide-open so a picked up a Canon 50/2.8. The Canon 7 malfunctioned (I have since gotten it working again), so I finally picked up a Leica IIIc. This camera had major shutter issues, so while it was off for CLA, and picked up a FED 5c which focuses well and doesn't have a light leak, but did have a sticky shutter which I have tried to repair myself.

In the end, I do have a well-functioning Leica.
But, I also have a FED 3 with registration distance issues (It turns out the Ukrainian seller who "CLA'd" the camera forgot to replace the shims), a FED 5b with a light leak, a FED 5c with a sticky shutter and 3 Soviet lenses none of which are properly focus calibrated (although the Industar 61 L/D looks sharp at f8 or higher).

I have not regretted any other purchases, although I have a had a few that sopped working after short use - I write these off as the risk of buying old inexpensive cameras off of eBay. On the other hand, I have regretted not reading through camera manuals. I only found out after a scuba trip that the Minolta Weathermatic Dual has very strange behavior when used underwater - it was well documented in the manual, but I didn't discover this until I had my film developed.