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

[Theo Sulphate]

...
Nikon F4

The "Rosetta Stone of compatibility" - Ken Rockwell

The F4s is one of my favorite Nikons and, aside from the FM3a, the F4 is where I've chosen to stop my Nikon acquisitions. The F4 is the last professional Nikon with external dials dedicated to singular functions. You can use pre-AI lenses through today's G lenses. The Df is the contemporary equivalent.

Congratulations on your F4s! They are true bargains today.

 

[frank]

The F4 is a great camera, especially at that price. I bought one new when they first came out.

It's official, my SWC/M arrived today!

Thanks for the camera and for the picture, Bob.

 

[elcabezagrande]

I think that my bucket is full.


Leica M3 DS with Summicron 50/2 by Mike Novak, on Flickr

 

[cooltouch]

The "Rosetta Stone of compatibility" - Ken Rockwell

The F4s is one of my favorite Nikons and, aside from the FM3a, the F4 is where I've chosen to stop my Nikon acquisitions. The F4 is the last professional Nikon with external dials dedicated to singular functions. You can use pre-AI lenses through today's G lenses. The Df is the contemporary equivalent.

Congratulations on your F4s! They are true bargains today.

I bought my F4 about a year and a half ago and I'm pretty much in agreement with everything you mention. I especially like the ergonomics for such a big, heavy camera. However, after trying to use it as an AF camera at a sporting event, I can understand why the pros dumped them for Canon. The F4's AF capability leaves a lot to be desired when trying to track moving subjects. The F5, on the other hand, is probably one of the all time best cameras made at tracking a moving subject. So I reckon I might just have to get one . . . one of these days, since they're almost as cheap as F4s now.

 

[frank]

I still have my F4 and use my manual focus Nikkors on it. I don't own an AF lens (besides a few on point and shoots.)

 

[summicron1]

Burke and James WA Orbitar, 4x5 with 65mm f8 Super Angulon.

pretty fun thing to play with, gotta admit.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

Got two nice cameras today.

First is a Canon FTb, which I've always wanted. Perfect cosmetic shape, fully functional, and I couldn't resist it at a mere $10. A crazy price for a solid metal camera with metering, DOF preview, mirror lock-up, and a platform for FD lenses. The shutter speed dial is the smoothest I've ever used: it softly engages each of the speed detents. I didn't expect that. The lens here is a Tokina ATX 35-200 which I've used for 30 years (my only 3rd party lens).

Next is this Rollei 35 - one of the first series made in Germany around 1968. Cosmetically very nice and works perfectly.

 

[frank]

Love those Rolleis, Theo. I've never seen that Rollei/Honeywell sticker on one before.

 

[cooltouch]

Congrats on your finds, Theo. Those little old Rolleis sure are cute. Nice find, a German one. And the FTb -- that was the camera that made a photographer out of me. I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for them. I still own two, in fact. Both black, both FTbn's. The "n" model has a slightly redesigned shutter speed knob, and I think it lost that very smooth action that you mention. Crisp, positive detents with mine.

 

[Christophoto]

First film camera since high school in the early 90s. First time shooting manual with film. First time developing film. Lots of firsts, lots of opportunity to mess something up haha. I have my fourth roll of film in it now, hoping to develop them this weekend. Luckily, I already had a 50 1.8D and 80-200 2.8D to use with it. Got it from Keh last weekend.

 

[anfenglin]

Eeek, better get some Ai lenses for it, AFs are a paint in the you know what to focus manually.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

First film camera since high school in the early 90s. First time shooting manual with film. First time developing film.

Congratulations on your excellent camera!

But I agree with the previous poster: the AF 50/1.8D isn't fun as a manual focus lens - you just don't get the smooth focusing, proper weighting, or damping.

It'll be much more enjoyable to use a manual focus 50/1.8 or 50/1.4, either AI or AIS:

 

[Christophoto]

I've been trying to look into good AI or AIS lenses. How is the 50 1.8 compared to the D as far as image quality (sharpness, etc)? I'd love a 1.4 but I'm putting myself on a budget, been buying way too many toys this year. I'm mainly looking at "bargain lenses" for now, good lenses that are common enough to snatch up on the cheap. I also thought about looking for something wider first.

Edit: OK, a quick spin on eBay found that the 50 1.4s aren't as expensive as I thought. I don't know which version I was thinking started at $400ish. I really need to do more research, so many versions.

 

[Toyo]

I've been trying to look into good AI or AIS lenses. How is the 50 1.8 compared to the D as far as image quality (sharpness, etc)? I'd love a 1.4 but I'm putting myself on a budget, been buying way too many toys this year. I'm mainly looking at "bargain lenses" for now, good lenses that are common enough to snatch up on the cheap. I also thought about looking for something wider first.

Edit: OK, a quick spin on eBay found that the 50 1.4s aren't as expensive as I thought. I don't know which version I was thinking started at $400ish. I really need to do more research, so many versions.

A 50mm f2 AI or AIs will be much cheaper and will give outstanding results.
T

 

[Christophoto]

A 50mm f2 AI or AIs will be much cheaper and will give outstanding results.
T

I'll check them out, thanks.

 

[Nokton48]

Makiflex Bellows Attachment by Nokton48, on Flickr

The Plaubel Makiflex Bellows Attachment for the Plaubel Makiflex. Turns the Makiflex into the Pecoflex.
Looks alot like the front end of a Plaubel Peco Jr, which is a wonderful small view camera.

 

[JunkyardJesse]

I've bought several recently...the first is a Konica Autoreflex T3n along with a T2. Also picked up a Minolta SR-1 in great condition at a flea market, and bought a Vivitar 400/SL to use alongside the 220/SL that I inherited from my father.

My most recent was a Vivitar 400/SL and I LOVE it. It has become my #1. I was previously shooting with a Minolta SRT101 but only had a wide-angle lens that it came off eBay with. I was in the market for a 50mm prime that would mount on it. The only 50mm prime I could find came with the 400/SL attached but for $12 I bought the kit. I love the f1.9 50mm, it has an interesting bokeh. The way the controls work with the stop-down preview/light meter activated by half-clicking the shutter seems much more intuitive to me, and I don't have to worry about turning the light meter off. I can focus-meter-shoot quickly.

Other than those two features, it's basically a box with a shutter so what's not to love? I realize there are probably better cameras out there but I avoid anything with "modes" (that's all way over my head) so I'm not in the market for anything more advanced than that anyway.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

My most recent was a Vivitar 400/SL and I LOVE it. It has become my #1.... it's basically a box with a shutter so what's not to love? I realize there are probably better cameras out there but I avoid anything with "modes" (that's all way over my head) so I'm not in the market for anything more advanced than that anyway.

Welcome to APUG, Jesse.

Actually, by using your "simple" Vivitar 400/SL, you're more advanced than anyone who relies on modes -- which ultimately amount to just choosing shutter speed and aperture combinations anyway.

 

[JunkyardJesse]

Welcome to APUG, Jesse.

Actually, by using your "simple" Vivitar 400/SL, you're more advanced than anyone who relies on modes -- which ultimately amount to just choosing shutter speed and aperture combinations anyway.

Thanks, and that's part of what made me switch from a DSLR to a fully-manual SLR anyway. I couldn't make the it correctly "guess" what exposure I was going for and there were so many features and menus to flip through to manually set things the way I wanted them, it was a nightmare. With the manual SLR there's only three parameters to set -- film speed, aperture and shutter speed -- and the settings are all at my fingertips, without much else to get in the way.

 

[Helios 1984]

New Old Camera
- Asahi Pentax Spotmatic II with Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 50mm f/1.4 - bought on Ebay
- Honeywell Pentax Spotmatic with shoe flash adapter and Super-Takumar 55mm f/1.8 - found in the wild

 

[r.reeder]

This thread has been so popular, the old one is broken, so let's start a new one.

What's your latest new old camera?

A 1946 Kodak Medalist II. Small wonder why it's nicknamed "The Cobblestone". I enjoy using it with 120 film rerolled onto 620 spools.

 

[Doug Cunningham]

Nikomat slr

 

[TheToadMen]

I'm getting me an used Nikon F6 - finally. I've been looking for an affordable one since a few years. Found one for $500. But not with a rechargeable battery. I believe I also need to get me a special door to use an EN-EL4a lithium battery??

Anyone experience with those? Is it worth the investment or is working with "normal batteries" also fine?

 

[sabredog]

This little beauty arrived in the mail today from Japan. Near mint Canon AE-1 body along with a Canon 50mm f/1.8 Prime and a Sigma 35-70mm f/2.8-4 lenses for it. Must be an omen for them to arrive all together. Now I need to go shoot a roll of film which I have not done in fifteen years. I am so happy with this purchase

Been lurking here for a little while looking at all the great cameras, so when this arrived today I thought I would share.

 

[4season]

This little beauty arrived in the mail today from Japan. Near mint Canon AE-1 body along with a Canon 50mm f/1.8 Prime

A mega-hit product if there ever was one! Big enough in the USA to merit television commercials featuring John Newcombe. It was maybe the first camera to make motor winders a most-wanted feature in the states.