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

bigbbooks · May 21, 2013

Just bought a 1983 Canon AF35ml in excellent condition with a very nice strap for $1.73 at our local Goodwill Outlet. Purchased a roll of b/w film today to give the camera a tryout, but the expert at Dury's Photography Supplies here in Nashville thought that everything looked great and seemed to work just fine. Can anyone suggest where I might obtain a lens cap for this model (I think it takes a 48mm size)?

Ian Grant · May 21, 2013

When I managed to attach the lens an Ensign Selfix 420 with an extremely rare (as in there's nothing known) 107mm f3.8 Ensar lens (uncoated) which is clearly a precursor to the coated 105mm f3.8 Xpres of the Selfix 820 (it's identical except for the marked FL and lack of coating). The camera body and lens were bought separately, total cost about £10/$15.50. The lens came with shims and I'll check the Infinity focus and adjust if needed.

The Selfix 420 body can be used 6x9 or 6x6, and is itself a forerunner to the 820.

Ian

Lamar · May 21, 2013

EX+ Nikkormat FT2 just arrived yesterday from KEH. I would rate it EX though. The leatherette is noticeably re-glued in a few places and it seems the mirror lock-up lever won't move. Otherwise it seems to be in good shape. The meter appears accurate although the meter will quit responding at any combination of ISO, shutter speed, and aperture equal to ISO 50, 1 second, and f/1.4 or greater exposure. KEH is dropping the ball. This is the third body EX+ or EX body that has been sub-par where there were operational issues not mentioned in the description. I'll keep this one because it was only $49.00, I'm tired of shipping stuff back to them, and the issues it has won't affect my shooting.

Edit: I just read in the manual that the meter is good for EV3 to EV17 and it states EV3 ~ f/1.4, 1/4 second at ISO 100. That is equal to my lowest setting that gives me a meter response. One stop lower and the meter quits responding so I guess there is no problem..... with the meter..... It's working as designed.

fstop · May 21, 2013

OM-1n "barn fresh" very clean, with the exception of 3 shiny rub marks could pass as new out of the box.with lens 32 bucks.

Canuck · May 22, 2013

1977 Nikon F2SB with 50 f1.4

R.Gould · May 22, 2013

waiting for a 1950's perkeo 1 that I got hold of yesterday

donkee · May 22, 2013

Oops, just got another.

Bronica SQ-A with WL finder, 150mm f4, 120 back, and Polaroid back.

Might be time to start selling off cameras. Getting too many with never enough time to use them.

ToddB · May 22, 2013

Nikon FE with 1.8 50mm. Rescue from the landfill. Works perfectly.

Todd

fstop · May 22, 2013

ToddB said:
Nikon FE with 1.8 50mm. Rescue from the landfill. Works perfectly.

Todd

Use it until it quits and then return it for a refund.

dotyj · May 23, 2013

Hi all:

I just got an Argus C3. Came with a flash, an amber filter with lens hood, an attachable f/stop ring, and a clear filter. Not a bad set up. Though the camera could use some cleaning.

Wow heavy camera. I've got a couple of questions though.

The shutter cock level seems to be on backwards. Is it possible to pry it off and turn it around?

The focus finder seems to work but it's amber display only goes up about half way. It does seem to work, I guess I need guidance though on what it should look like, though it doesn't bother me.

I've attached a photo. I apologize now for having used a digital camera to capture it.

Lamar · May 24, 2013

I think the shutter cock has a small set screw you need to loosen as opposed to prying it off. Not positive but I just remember there being one. Also I believe the yellow half way up is correct. If you take the lens off don't rotate the focus wheel too far, you will screw it all up. Don't ask how I know..........

dotyj said:
Hi all:

I just got an Argus C3. Came with a flash, an amber filter with lens hood, an attachable f/stop ring, and a clear filter. Not a bad set up. Though the camera could use some cleaning.

Wow heavy camera. I've got a couple of questions though.

The shutter cock level seems to be on backwards. Is it possible to pry it off and turn it around?

The focus finder seems to work but it's amber display only goes up about half way. It does seem to work, I guess I need guidance though on what it should look like, though it doesn't bother me.

I've attached a photo. I apologize now for having used a digital camera to capture it.
View attachment 69221

dotyj · May 24, 2013

Lamar said:
I think the shutter cock has a small set screw you need to loosen as opposed to prying it off. Not positive but I just remember there being one. Also I believe the yellow half way up is correct. If you take the lens off don't rotate the focus wheel too far, you will screw it all up. Don't ask how I know..........

Some research last night confirms what you said about the yellow half of the focus window. Looks like my camera was made between 1948 and 1950 and that was a common feature.

I've just checked and I don't see a set screw on the cocking lever. It does work but it would be nice to have it on correctly.

The focus wheel is stiff so I'll likely take the lens off to see what's causing it. I'll take your wise advise on being careful with it.

Thanks for the advice it seems prudent.

AgX · May 24, 2013

ToddB said:
Nikon FE with 1.8 50mm. Rescue from the landfill. Works perfectly.

Todd

I saved books from the papermill and electronics from the electronics disposal.
But I have not yet looked for cameras at a landfill. Seemingly I missed something.

Meanwhile the classic landfills are no longer being filled, as incineration is compulsory by now.
Thus I won't have this option anymore anyway...

Lamar · May 24, 2013

dotyj,

I did a quick search and found the cocking lever on the C3 is left hand threaded onto the shaft with an adjusting nut below it to get it to the position you want. You have inspired me to try to fix the focus on my Dad's old C3 as well which I screwed up many years ago. Here are few shots he took with it back in the 50's.

dotyj said:
Some research last night confirms what you said about the yellow half of the focus window. Looks like my camera was made between 1948 and 1950 and that was a common feature.

I've just checked and I don't see a set screw on the cocking lever. It does work but it would be nice to have it on correctly.

The focus wheel is stiff so I'll likely take the lens off to see what's causing it. I'll take your wise advise on being careful with it.

Thanks for the advice it seems prudent.

dotyj · May 24, 2013

Those are fantastic! Wow! If my dad were still alive he would have loved those.

I'll unthread the lever tonight and adjust the nut. Thank you for finding that.

dotyj · May 24, 2013

Yay I have the shutter cock lever facing the correct direction now.

My C3 came with the owner's manual. They explain how to remove and re-attach the lens. I'd be happy to scan if if you'd like.

I had a hard time getting the idler gear cover off, turns out the focus ring was stuck and all I was doing was slightly unscrewing the lens from the body. Once I got the lens off I was able to work it free again.

I cleaned the lenses and a bit of the body to spruce the camera up and it's good to go.

Thanks for your help.

Lamar · May 24, 2013

Glad to help. I actually fixed my C3 as well....... I think. I Googled Argus C3 and from the assorted sites I was able to figure out how to re-set the focus and also fix my shutter speed selector which I don't believe was working correctly. I'm shooting a roll of film in it now to see if it really worked. Thanks for the inspiration!! Fingers crossed.

dotyj said:
Yay I have the shutter cock lever facing the correct direction now.

My C3 came with the owner's manual. They explain how to remove and re-attach the lens. I'd be happy to scan if if you'd like.

I had a hard time getting the idler gear cover off, turns out the focus ring was stuck and all I was doing was slightly unscrewing the lens from the body. Once I got the lens off I was able to work it free again.

I cleaned the lenses and a bit of the body to spruce the camera up and it's good to go.

Thanks for your help.

ambaker · May 24, 2013

Hopefully I will know what my latest old camera is tomorrow. This weekend is the 100 mile yard sale on state highway 25, in southeast Missouri.

I'm hoping that somewhere in 100 miles, somebody has a decent price, on a halfway decent camera.

darinwc · May 25, 2013

Good luck with the sale!
My latest is a Retina iia. Great camera. My favorite of the retina folding series.
I need to develop a roll from my Canonet first, but I think I will try to load up the retina with fuji 400 and go for a drive this weekend.

benjiboy · May 25, 2013

It may come as a shock to some people, but I confess I've only bought two cameras during the past 25 years, there must something wrong with me because I never think about my "next" camera, I'm just happy with what I have.

ambaker · May 25, 2013

benjiboy said:
It may come as a shock to some people, but I confess I've only bought two cameras during the past 25 years, there must something wrong with me because I never think about my "next" camera, I'm just happy with what I have.

I believe your self diagnosis is probably spot on.

You likely belong to that sad little minority who master their equipment, and can get the results they want out of it.

For others like me, we start out with much more enthusiasm than ability. Wishing to run before we can walk, we take close note of the equipment used to produce images we admire. So that we may produce "images like that".

Then, if you are like some of us, you get to the point that you forget which equipment you bought to get a certain "look", long before you attempt that image.

Which is not really a problem, because by now you have seen another image and are off pursuing the gear listed for that image.

And that, my friends, is how I got GAS.

Yashicano Alemán · May 25, 2013

YMMD!

(I only wish your observations weren't so darn true...)

Michael

elekm · May 25, 2013

Now you know why it is called "The Brick" ... referring to the post about the Argus C3

Lamar · May 25, 2013

Just an FYI. After running a roll thru the ol' brick I figured out why you see those cocking levers on backwards. I probably have three or four frames that will be over exposed because my middle finger was in the way of its return trip when I released the shutter causing the shutter to stay open longer than needed. I just adjusted mine to be reversed so it points toward the lens......

dotyj said:
Yay I have the shutter cock lever facing the correct direction now.

My C3 came with the owner's manual. They explain how to remove and re-attach the lens. I'd be happy to scan if if you'd like.

I had a hard time getting the idler gear cover off, turns out the focus ring was stuck and all I was doing was slightly unscrewing the lens from the body. Once I got the lens off I was able to work it free again.

I cleaned the lenses and a bit of the body to spruce the camera up and it's good to go.

Thanks for your help.

benjiboy · May 25, 2013

ambaker said:
I believe your self diagnosis is probably spot on.

You likely belong to that sad little minority who master their equipment, and can get the results they want out of it.

For others like me, we start out with much more enthusiasm than ability. Wishing to run before we can walk, we take close note of the equipment used to produce images we admire. So that we may produce "images like that".

Then, if you are like some of us, you get to the point that you forget which equipment you bought to get a certain "look", long before you attempt that image.

Which is not really a problem, because by now you have seen another image and are off pursuing the gear listed for that image.

And that, my friends, is how I got GAS.

I found out Mr. Baker more than thirty years ago by bitter experience as I've often written on this forum that buying more and more and better equipment doesn't solve the problem and make you a good photographer you can't buy creativity, and most hobbyist own more and much better equipment that the great photographers we all admire ever had that they became legends with.
The problem and sad fact is when a person eventually has all the best and most expensive equipment that their heart desires, and their work is still crap, they have nowhere to go, and nothing to blame.

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

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