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

Europan · May 5, 2017

Bell & Howell Filmo 8 Companion with two lenses

Back in the thirties there was a good deal of rivalry among a number of gear makers for 8mm film. The Ciné-Kodak Eight as the first such camera is very slim thanks to the idea of combining spring barrel with sprocket drum. Bell & Howell answered with the Straight Eight camera and Filmopan* made by Agfa-Ansco. Since Kodachrome was available as 16mm and Double-8 film only the Straight was trapped. There were Revere, Keystone, DeJur, European makes and Japanese later but those little Filmo Eights still are the champions. I have cleaned, lubricated, adjusted, and repaired a number of them. What I can say is that every penny invested in B. & H. equipment is safe. Steel gears, not brass
_____________________________________________
* I should like to know until when Filmopan was made.

guangong · May 5, 2017

Nikon F2 , body not pristine but in good working order, with do-1 meter, which I removed. Standard prism for F2 cost more than camera but also a good buy. Camera now a joy to use. Still deciding what to do with meter prism.

HeavenlyPhotoz · May 7, 2017

A Mamiya NC1000 and Mamiya DTL 1000. Both came with lenses a 50/1.7 and 55/1.8 respectively. Both were cheap due to minor issues I was able to fix. The NC is near mint and meter and shutter is accurate. The problem was a sticky lens aperture and pin. The DTL looked new but the meter was not working. I found the battery terminal was corroded and terminal wire fell off. I was able to cold solder using wire glue and got the meter working again. This is a common problem with DTL bodies. So I felt good that I was able to get these beauties running again!

vlasta · May 7, 2017

Mint Minolta XD7.

ron917 · May 7, 2017

Nikon F with both plain prism and Photomic T. The Photomic T seems to work, but has alkaline batteries installed so the meter is not to be trusted. The plain prism just looks better, so I'll stick with that for now.

It's loaded with TriX and wearing my 50 1.8 Series E. I need to get a period correct lens for it, just for looks

Sewin · May 12, 2017

Always fancied one of these, nice and simple,so bought one ..............and the M42 lenses can still be had relatively cheap, although some are rising. (Sellers pic)

tokam · May 12, 2017

I have a ST605N that needs a little work, mainly seals. I think that they are a good alternative to a Spotmatic, which I also have. From memory the ST605N has silicon cell metering so you don't have to wait ages for a CDS cell to respond. The stop down button is also easier to use than the sliding switch on the Pentax. Don't know about the build quality but if they are still working after 40+ years they can't be all bad. Some might say that the top shutter speed of 1/750 is not that fast but I'm mainly a wide angle shooter these days and live in the 1/30 - 1/250 second world.

Sewin · May 12, 2017

Hi tokam,

This one has had new seals fitted.

I agree the stop down button is simpler than some cameras. As you I'll also be initially pairing it up with a 28mm lens, an old Auto Reflexogon.

AgX · May 12, 2017

tokam said:
The stop down button is also easier to use than the sliding switch on the Pentax.

Have a look at the stop-down button at the Praktica LTL/MTL.

GRHazelton · May 12, 2017

I've got a Pentax Spotmatic F on the way, along with a 50mm f1.4 Takumar to adorn it. A blast from the past! And a valued addition to my Pentax Platoon.

Hans Mulders · May 12, 2017

Nikon F2AS with 50mm 2.0 in almost mint condition

Stelex · May 12, 2017

For some reason I fell in love with Minoltas and I was looking to get an X-700. tHey're pretty dear at the moment but just as I was keen on one I found an excellent XG-M with 50mm f/1.7 lens from England. It's pretty much the same camera except for TTL flash metering and program mode, neither of which I need in any way.

On top of that it's silver and black, which I prefer, while (almost) all X-700 are black.

It's on its way and I cant wait to get my hands on it. If everything is alright then I'll also need to look for a nice 35mm MD lens for it.

CMoore · May 12, 2017

vlasta said:
Mint Minolta XD7.

I have the XD-11. If ever there was an "underrated" 35mm camera.......

sabredog · May 12, 2017

Picked up this sleek black Canon AV-1 for A$25. Just needs new light seals and the lens mounting tightened as it is a very slightly loose.

Don Craig · May 14, 2017

Nikon FM2. At a yard sale last year, husband and wife business team shooting school portraits were going all d-emonic (I guess it makes sense considering their volume). Anyway, for $20 I got the FM2, a POS Quanta 200mm (which I garbage-canned, it was bad, could not see passing it forward) and about 15 rolls of old Mitsubishi 100. Since I have three Minolta SLRs with a variety of lenses, I got a Chinar wide-angle for the Nikon. I like shooting wide angle. Finishing off my first roll with it now.

tokam · May 14, 2017

sabredog said:
Picked up this sleek black Canon AV-1 for A$25. Just needs new light seals and the lens mounting tightened as it is a very slightly loose.

View attachment 179059

Hi sabredog, what is that 35 -? zoom lens?

I have FDn 35-70 f2.8-3.5 and FDn 35-105 f3.5 but it doesn't look like either of these.

emacs · May 14, 2017

tokam said:
Hi sabredog, what is that 35 -? zoom lens?

I have FDn 35-70 f2.8-3.5 and FDn 35-105 f3.5 but it doesn't look like either of these.

Looks like the FD 35-70mm f/4.

sabredog · May 14, 2017

tokam said:
Hi sabredog, what is that 35 -? zoom lens?

I have FDn 35-70 f2.8-3.5 and FDn 35-105 f3.5 but it doesn't look like either of these.

emacs said:
Looks like the FD 35-70mm f/4.

It is indeed an FD 35-70mm f/4 lens.

George Mann · May 14, 2017

A Nikkormat FT2, with an H-C Auto 50mm F2.

Stelex · May 19, 2017

Here is my new baby, looks and works like new, except for some dust on the focusing screen.

flavio81 · May 19, 2017

Sewin said:
Always fancied one of these, nice and simple,so bought one ..............and the M42 lenses can still be had relatively cheap, although some are rising. (Sellers pic)

tokam said:
I have a ST605N that needs a little work, mainly seals. I think that they are a good alternative to a Spotmatic, which I also have. From memory the ST605N has silicon cell metering so you don't have to wait ages for a CDS cell to respond. The stop down button is also easier to use than the sliding switch on the Pentax. Don't know about the build quality but if they are still working after 40+ years they can't be all bad. Some might say that the top shutter speed of 1/750 is not that fast but I'm mainly a wide angle shooter these days and live in the 1/30 - 1/250 second world.

I also owned the Fujica ST605N. It felt good in the hands, the meter was extremely quick (much better of course than the spotmatic, in terms of speed), as mentioned.

However, the rewind lever is made of soft plastic and broke pretty soon. Besides that the shutter/mirror action is really clunky, not smooth as in the second-version Spotmatics. The focusing screen was good but so are the focusing screens on the spotmatics.

In the end, once I got a spotmatic, i sold the Fujica and never looked back. Now i own three Pentax Spotmatics.

tokam · May 22, 2017

Hi Flavio81, I guess it's about time I dug out my ST605N and shot a roll with it. I have plenty of pre-cut seal material from the days when John Goodman still sold large packs. Shouldn't take an hour or so to fix it up. I've had the camera sitting there doing nothing for about 4 years. On your advice I will probably fix it up and sell it on. Time to thin out the herd - too many 35mm cameras.

PS Next on the fixup list is a Ricoh 500G which my mum bought for my brother as a 21st birthday present many years ago. When he gave it to me it still had the second film he had ever loaded into it. We had it processed and it came out brilliantly. Must have been sitting in camera for 15 years plus. The door seals are now a very sad sight but the metering on original battery still looks good. Shutter and wind on are all as new. Will be interesting to see what the 40? mm Rikenon can do.

dmr · May 22, 2017

I consider myself to be a photographer and not a collector. However (comma) lately it seems like I've been accumulating cameras faster than I can use them! Below are the latest.

The one on the left was a thrift shop find by a cow-orker. Fortunately she phoned me and asked if I was interested. When I realized what she had I told her "Don't let it out of your hand until I get there!" and ran to the parking lot - Vroooommmm SCREEEEeeeeech! It came with a lower-end Vivitar 70-210 zoom which also appears to be in good shape.

The one on the right is a hand-me-down and is IMMACULATE! I was gonna take it on a night-time photo walk the other day (very rare totally free Saturday) and I have it loaded with Fuji 800, but it was cold and sucky outside.

Don Craig · May 24, 2017

Yesterday I went to an area flea market shop and found a Canonet QL19 (new model) and a Kodak Brownie 2A Model B. The Canonet is a jewel, very clean with case, and the shutter seems to work fine. Inside, the viewfinder is hazy but usable, I may try to open it and clean it someday. The light seals are gummy and need replaced, no problem. I tried a replacement 625 battery for the auto exposure but it doesn't seem to work, no problem, I'll just go all manual with a handheld light meter.
The Brownie is in nice shape and working order, and cheap, had to have it for historical interest. Makes a nice bookend.

Agulliver · May 25, 2017

elcabezagrande said:
Sold as the Konica Off Road in the North American market.

I've just been given the 28mm version by an old school friend. Fascinating, if rather odd camera....I gather originally intended to document the construction industry hence being dust and weather proof. I imagine it would also make a great basic beach camera, being sand proof.

I'm running a test roll of Tri-X through mine today. I'm not convinced it's picking up the DX coding on my bulk loaded cassette...is there any way of finding out?

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

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency