What's your latest new old camera? (Part 1)

fretlessdavis · Feb 13, 2014

Latest new (to me) camera...

Ancient Burke & James 4x5 press camera! $20, with a semi-working lens and a couple film holders. No light leaks, just needs new leatherette! The viewfinder and rangefinder were trashed, but looking at stripping it down and using it for climbing and backpacking. Rotating back is sweet!

Ralph Javins · Feb 15, 2014

One I did not know about:

Good morning;

This week I found a Minolta camera I did not know existed. Yes, it came home with me. This one is the Minolta X-9; a plastic body with a microprocessor Aperture Priority shutter speed control system for the cloth focal plane shutter that runs from 1/1000 second out to 4 seconds, along with a fully manual mode with a "B" setting. It takes the Minolta ROKKOR manually focusing lenses in the Minolta SR-MC mount, but it does know about the SR-MD mount variant; the manual says do not lock the MD lens at the minimum aperture. You need to select the lens aperture setting yourself for the aperture priority system. I knew about the Minolta Maxxum 9 or Dynax 9 or Alpha 9; I have one of those. Somehow I just missed this simpler lighter weight model.

Yes, it is a plastic body, and it does feel like one. However, I am impressed with how well this little camera works.

Fast14riot · Feb 15, 2014

Was given this FT and 55 P Micro Nikkor from my aunt last week. Her father was a photographer and this was his personal camera. Everything works well, already got a new seal kit and hope to get it cleaned up this week. This thing sure is a brick! My first Nikkormat, and I already know I am going to enjoy this one!

-Xander

Kyle M. · Feb 15, 2014

I got a free black Olympus OM-1 with Zuiko 50mm F=1.8 from a friend the other day.

Les Sarile · Feb 20, 2014

With the addition of the waist level finder (FF-1) the set is now complete . . .

Well at least visually as I don't have the FA-1W which externally looks like the regular FA-1 except with wider diopter range.

daleeman · Feb 20, 2014

Picked up a pristine Leica R3. You can tell it had a strap on it for just a few dasy, Other than that it is in perfect shape.

elcabezagrande · Feb 20, 2014

This beautiful Agfa Optima-Parat half frame with Solinar 30/2.8 lens arrived in the mail today.

Agfa Optima-Parat by Greyscale3, on Flickr

ulysses · Feb 22, 2014

I think I'm done. Got an F2s black body this week (cherry, came with a 105/2.5 P.C, also cherry) for a lot less than it should have cost. Also got an Minolta XE-7 with no lens, but this is the first one I have gotten that actually works, meter and everything. That's pretty much everything I was looking for. I've got more cameras now than you can shake a stick at (if that's your idea of a good time.) No shortage of lenses, either. Seriously, I'm done.

Charles Wass · Feb 23, 2014

A Canon EXAuto from Belgium. The seals looked doubtful so I replaced them, then ran a film through and found it to be functioning perfectly. It's a slightly odd SLR with FP shutter, but only the lens front elements are interchangeable.

IloveTLRs · Feb 23, 2014

A Minox LX for not too much. Now I need to find the tank/reel set and a film slitter.

Regular Rod · Feb 25, 2014

Just arrived and just finished cleaning it...

Kodak Model B Whole Plate, now I need to make a lens panel or two, acquire some lenses and some Kodak or Kodak compatible film holders!

RR

Ian Grant · Feb 25, 2014

Picked up an Exa 1a on Tuesday to add to my Exacta set. Lovely little camera in excellent condition considering it's age.

Had a Whole plate holder from the same source, pre-WWII book-form type for my Whloe plate camera.

Ian

MattKrull · Feb 25, 2014

Picked up a Fed 3b over the weekend. First FSU, and currently only range finder. I had a Yashica Minister that took fantastic photos, but the contrast patch was lacking. The Fed will be a lesson in rehabilitating an old camera, but at least the contrast patch is very bright.

daswiggles · Feb 25, 2014

I bought a Nikon F3HP with a grid focusing screen for $55 and three Pentac K1000s for $30 at a university surplus auction. I really like the F3HP.

John_Nikon_F · Feb 25, 2014

Not a new camera, but it's kinda like one. Just got my main F2 body back from Sover Wong. All the problems it had previously are gone.

-J

Ralph Javins · Feb 27, 2014

Good morning;

Like John_Nikon_F, I also have a "new old camera." Well, actually, both of those cameras came back to the United States in the same box. My Nikon F2SB with the Nikon DP-3 light metering pentaprism also was ministered to by Sover Wong, and there are differences. Upon comparing the results I determined using my equipment with the results provided by Sover from his equipment, this camera really is "better than new" at this time. The DP-3 really did need repair, and now it is working very nicely again. The new ceramic variable resistor really did make a difference. It is nice to have a camera that works at least as well as it did when it was made back in the early 1970s.

Now to think about when to send my Nikon F2AS over to England.

gleaf · Feb 27, 2014

Pieces of a Rochester Premo

John_Nikon_F · Feb 28, 2014

Ralph Javins said:
Good morning;

Like John_Nikon_F, I also have a "new old camera." Well, actually, both of those cameras came back to the United States in the same box. My Nikon F2SB with the Nikon DP-3 light metering pentaprism also was ministered to by Sover Wong, and there are differences. Upon comparing the results I determined using my equipment with the results provided by Sover from his equipment, this camera really is "better than new" at this time. The DP-3 really did need repair, and now it is working very nicely again. The new ceramic variable resistor really did make a difference. It is nice to have a camera that works at least as well as it did when it was made back in the early 1970s.

Now to think about when to send my Nikon F2AS over to England.

Ralph, as mentioned earlier, I probably will be sending the backup F2AS over at the end of this coming month. Still need to source a DP-3 or DP-12 with impact damage that has a good LED block assembly. Oh, I did notice something interesting about the Soverized F2AS. It's the quietest F2 I've ever handled.

-J

vsyrek1945 · Feb 28, 2014

Resurrected Parts/Repair Camera

Took delivery Wednesday of a parts/repair lot of two "Nikon FM" bodies won on the auction site that either goes unnamed or whose name is paraphrased in a derogatory manner. Only one is actually an FM, and it's slightly cannibalized, but the top plate and ADR optics are intact, which is what I wanted. It was clear in the auction pic the other body was an FE, a well-worn black-finished one at that.

After my first FM top cover removal [with the help of the Tomosey Nikon repair book], I turned to the FE. Whatever the shutter speed setting, I reset the dial to M90, and tried to fire it. Nothing happened - the shutter button was stuck. I took a mechanical pencil point to the base plate button for the MD, and the shutter fired - promising. Neither body came with a battery holder, so naturally their meters weren't working. I had a spare from a junker EM body, so I loaded a pair of good 357s, and watched the meter move up and down the scale as I varied film speed settings and aimed the FE alternately at lights and dim doorways - more promising.

I mounted a lens, set the dial to AUTO, aimed at a table lamp, and tripped the shutter from the base plate MD release - IT FIRED.

With application of some 91% alcohol and a drop or two of Goo-Gone in the shutter button collar and help from a toothpick and a couple of cotton swabs, enough of the oily gunk dissolved and came loose to free up the shutter release.

So here's my latest - a well-used black-finished FE with personality galore - looks like I'm gonna send it in for a CLA and put a few rolls through it.

Thanks and regards,
Vince

fstop · Mar 1, 2014

John_Nikon_F said:
Not a new camera, but it's kinda like one. Just got my main F2 body back from Sover Wong. All the problems it had previously are gone.

-J

How much does he charge? what did it cost to ship back and forth. I'm considering sending my F2AS in for a check up.

(I looked up Sover's website and got the info.)

I picked up a mint- Nikon FA and a MD-15 and some accessory items for my F2 bodies.

kreeger · Mar 1, 2014

So, my first 35mm SLR was a new chrome body SRT-101 I bought when I was 15. I worked all summer to save the $200 to buy it.. $20 more for black in 1973, but I they were sold out the day I went to buy one so I got a chrome one.

I graduated to a Minolta XE-7 as a second body in 1977 which are only black (finally I got one!). A year later, decided I needed to go Nikon. My first Nikon, a black F2A and a black FM, and sold the Minoltas off. The leap to Nikon from there up till last year when these came back to me.

After 40 years, I finally have now, what I originally intended to have then. I have both a black SRT-101 and SRT-201 now.

I picked up over time, the 35mm F2.8, 50mm F1.7 and 100mm F2.5 Rokkor-X's to go along with it, which I only dreamed of having in my camera bag. It is like an old friend has come back into my life. I always liked using the SRT-101, a very simple camera to use.

It takes me back to a simpler time and I like using it as much now as my other old friend, a black Apollo Nikon FTN and a Nikomat FTN, which I have settled with for my long term Nikon 35mm film setup.

Ricardo Miranda · Mar 2, 2014

Nice story Kreeger!
It is always nice when one realises his/her teenage dreams.

Not a new camera, but I finally managed to acquire a Nikon Series E 135mm F2.8.

TheToadMen · Mar 2, 2014

Ricardo Miranda said:
Nice story Kreeger!
It is always nice when one realises his/her teenage dreams.

Realizing as in "understanding" and realizing as in "achieving", indeed!!

Charles Wass · Mar 5, 2014

Just received from the UK a Canonflex RM with 50mm F/1.8 - 50 years old, but in virtually new condition and fully working, though I still have to check the seals.

John_Nikon_F · Mar 6, 2014

fstop said:
How much does he charge? what did it cost to ship back and forth. I'm considering sending my F2AS in for a check up.

(I looked up Sover's website and got the info.)

I picked up a mint- Nikon FA and a MD-15 and some accessory items for my F2 bodies.

$190, plus shipping. It's usually $55 for the return shipping. He recommends using a USPS Medium Flat-rate box to send the camera, since it's actually the cheapest way of doing it. Also, consider sending two cameras. He has a bit of a backlog right now, so doing two cameras might be beneficial. Re: the F2AS, I wholeheartedly recommend having him upgrade it to the heavy-duty ring resistor. One of my DP-12's has already been done. My other DP-12 will be done in a few weeks. Sending some items he had delivered to my house over to him and will put the DP-12 in the box with his items to be shipped over.

-J

What's your latest new old camera? (Part 1)

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