What's your latest new old camera ? (Part 2)

[EdColorado]

Just picked up a couple of Fuji's. A GS645S rangefinder, and a GX680. First impressions are that both are fantastic.

 

[Kino]

(moved to this thread; a better fit)

A filthy, frozen shutter Retina IIc called out to me today from a dank thrift store cabinet. My humanitarian side kicked in... well you can't turn your back on a camera in need! Beautiful cameras...



One hour later...

Now it's happy! Sometimes you get lucky.

 

[George Mann]

A filthy, frozen shutter Retina IIc called out to me today from a dank thrift store cabinet. My humanitarian side kicked in... well you can't turn your back on a camera in need! Beautiful cameras...

Now it's happy! Sometimes you get lucky.

Would you by any chance know how to service the shutter on a Contaflex III?

 

[Kino]

Would you by any chance know how to service the shutter on a Contaflex III?

No, sorry. I have never serviced such a camera...

 

[George Mann]

No, sorry. I have never serviced such a camera...

Well, it still works OK from 1/30 to 1/500, which matches the optimal range of my Gossen Pilot.

 

[John Earley]

Very interesting swing alignment, never seen that before.

Ian

The front tilt also aligns the same way on the back sides of the front standard. Low tech but very convenient.

 

[Ian Grant]

The front tilt also aligns the same way on the back sides of the front standard. Low tech but very convenient.

I've restored quite a number of wood and brass cameras and it's interesting how some have some really neat and simple features that add to functionality and ease of use.

Ian

 

[AgX]

Very interesting swing alignment, never seen that before.

Two studs and the same latch would yield lateral alignmemt too.
Nothing is is good enough for improvement...

 

[removedacct1]

As it happens, my newest camera is also one of my oldest: a functional 1934/35 Kodak Retina, Type 117!

 

[CMoore]

Included an exposed roll of Kodak Gold 200 which I developed.

I met --- "Sandra Bullock" --- at a party, she gave me her phone number, and.......

 

[Kino]

As it happens, my newest camera is also one of my oldest: a functional 1934/35 Kodak Retina, Type 117!
View attachment 215470

Nice and not too easy to find!

 

[abruzzi]

I got really frustrated trying to find an FM2 in my budget. When I forgot to check, they would go for cheap-ish ($180 with a 35/2) and when I did get back before the auction closed they would sell for $260 or more. Eventually I got fed up and bought a near mint FA for $120. Is it a worse camera? I don’t know, but I usually avoid the highly desirable cameras because their reputation tends to drive up the price out of my budget (see Hasselblad vs. Bronica). Anyway, I happy with my Bronica, and hopefully I will be with my FA.

 

[M-88]

I got really frustrated trying to find an FM2 in my budget. When I forgot to check, they would go for cheap-ish ($180 with a 35/2) and when I did get back before the auction closed they would sell for $260 or more. Eventually I got fed up and bought a near mint FA for $120. Is it a worse camera? I don’t know, but I usually avoid the highly desirable cameras because their reputation tends to drive up the price out of my budget (see Hasselblad vs. Bronica). Anyway, I happy with my Bronica, and hopefully I will be with my FA.

Interesting. A friend of mine has just bought FA instead of FE2. One thing that is painfully obvious at very first glance is unconventional shape of prism housing, which is also sadly made of plastic. Otherwise it is a very capable camera. Not sure about durability, most people say that it will die quicker than FE2, FM2 or anything else, but if you ask me it always comes down to 50/50 - it either dies, or doesn't. Enjoy using it and don't think about what you've missed.

Speaking of what you've missed, by the way, FA lacks AE lock button which I find very useful. Don't know if FM2 has it, but FE2 does. I'm very curious about matrix metering which was introduced in FA, but I'll have to wait while my friend conduct his scientific experiments Oh and by the way, FA should be able to do Program exposure and matrix metering with AI and AI-S lenses.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's not a 35 mm, but still, my latest new old camera:

 

[removedacct1]

I got really frustrated trying to find an FM2 in my budget. When I forgot to check, they would go for cheap-ish ($180 with a 35/2) and when I did get back before the auction closed they would sell for $260 or more. Eventually I got fed up and bought a near mint FA for $120. Is it a worse camera? I don’t know, but I usually avoid the highly desirable cameras because their reputation tends to drive up the price out of my budget (see Hasselblad vs. Bronica). Anyway, I happy with my Bronica, and hopefully I will be with my FA.

Three years ago I tried to sell my FM2 with a superb Nikkor f1.8 lens, and I received only one offer - for $50. I decided to just keep it. This year I have started using it again, so no plan to sell it now, but I find it interesting that I could barely give it away a few years ago.

 

[abruzzi]

yeah, its kind of funny, but looking at pricing, the "all-mechanical" FM2 is one of the higher demand Nikon film bodies today. And honestly I have heard the same "nobody will fix it" concerns about the FA, but at this point, if it lasts me 5 years, I'll be happy. I'd have preferred the mechanical FM2, but I shot two test rolls this weekend, and I'm pretty satisfied. I shot every shutter speed from 30 through 4000 and the exposure is consistent. Its a bit uglier with the chunky prism, but the little grip is nice--so its a trade off.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

I got really frustrated trying to find an FM2 in my budget. ...

Have you considered a Nikkormat FT2, EL or EL2? They are usually very inexpensive (I think most people don't really understand their capabilities). It's almost the same camera, but the Nikkormat's are more rugged (in my opinion) and have convenient depth-of-field and true mirror-lock-up levers.

FT2:



EL:



Details here:

https://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikkormat/fseries/ft2/index.htm

https://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikkormat/html/history.htm

https://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikkormat/elseries/el/index.htm

https://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikkormat/elseries/el2/index.htm

 

[Toyo]

Have you considered a Nikkormat FT2, EL or EL2? They are usually very inexpensive (I think most people don't really understand their capabilities). It's almost the same camera, but the Nikkormat's are more rugged (in my opinion) and have convenient depth-of-field and true mirror-lock-up levers.

FT2:

View attachment 215551

EL:

View attachment 215550

Details here:

https://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikkormat/fseries/ft2/index.htm

https://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikkormat/html/history.htm

https://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikkormat/elseries/el/index.htm

https://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikkormat/elseries/el2/index.htm

This is a very good suggestion.
Even cheaper are Nikomat/Nikkormat FTN.
T

 

[rubbernglue]

...Anyway, I happy with my Bronica, and hopefully I will be with my FA.

I am too, I have two Bronicas (older with nikkor optics) and my Nikon FA is the one that will stay forever out of all my Nikons. I really like the metering-needle on the FE/FE2, but I think the FA is the better camera in the end anyways. (Never have liked the diods on the FM series or any other with that display..)

 

[MNM]

This past Saturday I picked up another Canon T70 and 277T flash combo from a local Goodwill store. Came with the body, a 50mm 1.8 lens, the flash and a soft bag for $25. Included an exposed roll of Kodak Gold 200 which I developed.

Was able to get the film rewound with fresh batteries and also had to tighten up the lens mount which was loose.

I already have another T70 with a 50mm 1.4 SSC with the same flash so no good reason for a second one, but yet there it is. I definitely prefer using my AV-1 over the T70 so I might move them along in the future.

I met --- "Sandra Bullock" --- at a party, she gave me her phone number, and.......

Not sure what you're getting at there.

 

[abruzzi]

Have you considered a Nikkormat FT2, EL or EL2? They are usually very inexpensive (I think most people don't really understand their capabilities).

I actually already have a Nikkormat FTN. It was my first camera. I bought it around 1992. I had it modified back then to work with 1.5volt batteries, and it’s a great camera, but I wanted an AI camera (though it’s funny—I’m habitually twisting the aperture ring when mounting lenses. The other two goals were fast shutter and small, neither of which the FT3 would give me. While 1/4000 isn’t all that necessary, it gives me a little more flexibility in aperture choice on bright sunny days. As for small, I don’t think Nikon did Olympus OM or Pentax MX small, but I wanted something a little more compact than the FTN or F2 I have. The EL/EL2 I know very little about, other than that they have a large-ish battery under the mirror.

 

[cooltouch]

That largish battery is the PX28 6 volt, which used to be a very common battery. Almost all the A-series Canons use it, as does the Bronica ETR series and the Pentax 67s. Anyway, I have an EL2 and, even though I find the placement of the battery to be a bit strange, it's easy enough to replace at least. Personally, I like my EL2 a lot. To me it seems to be the obvious direct ancestor to the FE, since it's basically the same camera writ large. If I had to choose between it and an FE, though, I think I'd choose the FE for a couple reasons -- it's lighter and it takes the MD-12 motor drive. So many folks make a big deal over the FM's mechanical shutter, but I've never had an FE let me down from a dead battery, and they're so common anyway. Besides, I like the FE's (and FE2's) meter readout better than the FM's (or FM2's) anyway. I've never handled an FA and don't have much desire for one, although I might pick one up one day just to add it to my Nikon stash.

 

[abruzzi]

To each, their own. I’ve never liked long list of shutter speeds with a needle that swings up and down the entire length like the FE has. I know some people love that, but to me the center-the-needle approach of the FTN is ideal, the high/low LEDs of the FM2 and Pentax MX is second best, with the LCD of the FA and F4 being a close third. Because of the meter readout the FE (and Pentax LX, KX, and other similarly metered cameras) was never on my list to consider. It seems the EL has the same type of readout.

 

[George Mann]

As for small, I don’t think Nikon did Olympus OM or Pentax MX small, but I wanted something a little more compact than the FTN or F2 I have.

The FG offers enough features and flexibility to get the job done in a lightweight, compact design.

 

[John51]

An OM2n.

Was listed as having meter problems. I'm thinking well it has 2 meters and the viewfinder meter makes no difference to the exposure so let's take a chance. A low bid got it. (2 days later one with a jammed winder went for just over twice as much.)

I ordered some SR44s for it and they turned up in the same post as the camera. Fitted the batteries and it works just fine. Result. Cool to cap the lens with my hand, fire the shutter and then move my hand to let light in for the shutter to close.

Mine is different to the online manual I read in that the viewfinder display seems to be a decal. Only the needle disappears when it's turned off or the batteries are removed.

 

[John Earley]

Ansco Memo 35mm Half Frame Camera c. 1929