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

dxqcanada

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Hmm, speaking of bad seals ... I just got a Canon Cannot QL17 G-III, an the foam seals are just dripping out of the camera.
I also picked up an Olympus-35 SP with usable seals ... and a Rolleiocord III, which is just bad all around.
 

jwd722

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A Nikon F with a 28mm f3.5 H-C lens
I believe the original F is Nikon's best looking camera...
 

Marco Gilardetti

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jwd722 said:
A Nikon F with a 28mm f3.5 H-C lens
I believe the original F is Nikon's best looking camera...View attachment 189866
Click to expand...
Absolutely agree, but only when the plain prism is installed. With the Photomic on top, it turns into an isult to the eye. The Nikkormat / Nikomat is also an eternal classic.

I have to love this Miranda above. The cross on the top looks as an unwitting homage to the Space Age!
 

PGraham3

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YASHICA J-3 (1963)
I had been trying to find one of these in good condition for quite awhile as I had only seen them quite beat up or dysfunctional. This one was covered in dust, but looks almost brand new after a thorough wipe down. Mechanics and lens are pristine. I’ve also heard this specific Auto Yashinon lens gets incredible bokeh. Looking forward to put this camera into action. Anyone ever shot one of these?

 

cooltouch

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Marco Gilardetti said:
Absolutely agree, but only when the plain prism is installed. With the Photomic on top, it turns into an isult to the eye.
Click to expand...

I don't know . . . I've always thought that the F with the very first photomic was kinda cute in a Luddite sort of fashion. It's a bit of a hassle to use, but at least the meter is accurate.
 

Marco Gilardetti

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Well, it's obviously also a matter of taste. To me, the F with the plain prism looks like the archetype of all reflex cameras: plain, cool, simple and pleasant under every aspect. With the Photomic on top, it looks like a design nightmare. Even the point in which the "F" and "Nikon" logos are placed is unrespectful of every symmetry and composition rule.
 

Theo Sulphate

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I understand your point and agree that the plain F is beautiful, which is why I have one. However, I also believe in the concept of "form follows function", so -- in the 1960's -- the Photomic head (specifically the FTN head) was the best method of providing metering to the professional press photographers. I remember looking at photos of some news event and seeing crowds of press photographers, each with their distinctive Nikon FTN in hand. It symbolized what a press photographer looked like. So, in this respect it is also beautiful to me.

 

cooltouch

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I agree with everything you're saying except possibly that I think the F2 with DE-1 looks even nicer than the F with plain prism finder. I guess what I find appealing about the original Photomic finder -- much more so than the first two TTL finders for the F, the Photomic T and TN, which I agree do look too large, ungainly, and lopsided -- is its oddball looks. I mean, talk about Rube Goldberg. You gotta love, or at least appreciate, that combination angle restriction tube/incident meter attachment and the way you screw it into the side of the finder when it's not in use. Those Nikon engineers were trying to think of everything. None of the other metered finders had an incident attachment that I know of. And I actually get a laugh out of its on-off switch -- a semaphore that just covers up the opening. Heh.
 

Marco Gilardetti

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You both made very good points. However, should I really need a metered TTL reflex, I'd rather go out with a Nikkormat than with an F + Photomic combo.

Same happens with the F2: I agree that it's outstanding with its plain prism, but it's just not as brilliant with its Photomic (although it's obviously better designed than that of the F). Same thing: I'd rather go out with an FM2.
 

Toyo

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And Nikomats are so cheap at the moment - everyone could own one.
Tom
 

guangong

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For decades I wished for a Minox BL, the “cheaper” manual model with coupled meter compared with the more expensive automatic exposure Minox C, but when new even the economy model was beyond my reach. Not a big seller, Minox stopped making them after 18,000 produced. But while used Minox Cs dropped in price, BLs became even less attainable because collector interest caused prices of used BL cameras to keep rising.
Just won a BL on the Bay in presentation case with leather case, measuring chain and manual. Camera well cared for. Popped a Wein 675 cell into camera and meter accurately sprang to life...as accurate as my iPhone meter.
Loaded with Delta 400 film. Will shoot a roll today to see if waist level finder, right angle finder and filters for Minox B or C can be used with BL. These are deceptively rugged cameras tha can always be with carried in a pocket.
 

cooltouch

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Looking forward to your report, guangong. I always fount myself in a similar position as you. I wanted to add a Minox to my collection but just never seemed to have the funds. Well, I still don't have the funds, but I'm assuming that they're at least cheaper now.
 

MattKing

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Actually, unused and brand new.
My wife found them - one for us and one to give as a gift!
No problems with failing electronics here.
Although I expect that they will be reserved for seasonal use.
 

MattKing

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Mozg31337

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Hi there,

Thought to contribute to the thread. I've recently got a Zeiss Ikon Ikonta 521 camera with Novar Anastigma 75mm f4.5 lens in pretty good condition. The camera is made in late 40s I believe. It takes 120 film and produces 4.5x6 negatives. It is my first folding camera and I am loving it. Shot the first roll already and developed it yesterday. So far so good. The only issue is the shutter is not accurate on speeds 1/10th and slower and the self wind timer is all over the place. A CLA is in order early next year. Here are the pictures:





 
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