Your secret sleepers

Bob L · Apr 6, 2021

As has been discussed thoroughly here, film camera prices are way up. Hopefully it's a bubble instead of the new normal, but I'm not holding my breath.

It got me thinking of my sleeper cameras that aren't hyped to death on social media but are incredibly capable and still affordable. To keep my cards close, I'll make a game out of it and only describe one of mine. You folks surely can make a decent guess:

A fast, compact, 70's Japanese fixed lens RF, aperture priority only, with a thoriated lens that really shines. Much, MUCH better than what is being offered from the same namesake now.

It also could be that it isn't a sleeper, and everyone just thinks it's mediocre. But hey, why risk it?

What are yours?

grat · Apr 6, 2021

I don't think I want a thoriated lens that shines. It would keep me awake at night, and probably cause all sorts of problems.

(Yes, I know, the level of radiation is pretty low-- but it's still enough FedEx won't ship one)

Bob L · Apr 6, 2021

To be fair, I haven't personally confirmed my model is thoriated, but all signs point to likely. I have since moved it a few rooms over

Cholentpot · Apr 6, 2021

Bob L said:
As has been discussed thoroughly here, film camera prices are way up. Hopefully it's a bubble instead of the new normal, but I'm not holding my breath.

It got me thinking of my sleeper cameras that aren't hyped to death on social media but are incredibly capable and still affordable. To keep my cards close, I'll make a game out of it and only describe one of mine. You folks surely can make a decent guess:

A fast, compact, 70's Japanese fixed lens RF, aperture priority only, with a thoriated lens that really shines. Much, MUCH better than what is being offered from the same namesake now.

It also could be that it isn't a sleeper, and everyone just thinks it's mediocre. But hey, why risk it?

What are yours?

No clue. If it's still cheap I'd like to get one.

The EOS line are all sleepers and I can shout as loud as I'd like and no-one would care. Another sleeper are most Pentaxes aside from a few well known ones. Nikon FG comes to mind too. The biggest sleepers of them all are 2x3 press cameras. Again, I can shout as loud as I'd like and no-one will care because they're too far out. However, throw a roll film holder on one of these 2x3 cameras and you got yourself a 6x6, 6x7, 6x9 camera and you can even roll 35mm through them for a Xpan look for a 10th of the price. They're fun to use and get loads of attention if that's your thing. Using the rangefinder they're quick to focus and surprisingly comfortable in the hand.

BAC1967 · Apr 7, 2021

I’m not afraid to share my sleepers since I already have them. I’m not sure what they sell for now, I’ve had them for a while. Both have great lenses and are well built.

Leidolf Wetzlar Lordomat, interchangeable lens rangefinder.

Leidolf Wetzlar Lordomat by Bryan Chernick, on Flickr

Ricoh 35, fixed lens rangefinder.

Ricoh 35 by Bryan Chernick, on Flickr

grat · Apr 7, 2021

It's the "modern company" that throws me-- I'd guess a Yashica Electro, but it's a total guess.

My favorite happens to be my most recent acquisition-- a late 1950's coupled rangefinder with what was described at the time as one of the best lenses ever put on a camera, and is still considered a "great" lens. Built like a brass brick with a viewfinder to make most M3 owners cry.

But I'll agree, the 2x3 press cameras are fun-- on a whim I made a winning bid on a miniature speed graphic that came with a graflok back and a 6x9 120 film holder, and turned out to be in superb condition-- needed some cleaning and adjustment, but no repairs.

film_man · Apr 7, 2021

All the AF cameras from the 90s. Still cheap as chips, they don't have the hipster factor of manual cameras yet still work and will probably keep working just as well with 0 maintenance requirements. For the price of a good condition FM2n you can have 3-4 F80 bodies or probably about 20 EOS 300 bodies.

Even the top end models are good. Ok a good condition EOS 1V is now quite pricey but still good value. The F5 is super cheap nowadays, my F5 and 58/1.4 were a lot cheaper than a FM3a/FM2/F3 with the old 58/1.2.

removed account4 · Apr 7, 2021

not sure what your sleeper might be. hopefully its still under the radar because that's the best place for them to be
my sleeper is a box camera, I don't care what year make or model. takes no effort to use... and
it typically has a lens that people who shoot LF and WPC pay $4,000 for. you just need to
shoot in open shade
( or not )
and process the film in something as soft as an ocean breeze
(or not )
im stoked people are so bent on perfection and sharpness and these things that matter to them
because sleeping stuff sleeps until it wakes up

Bob L · Apr 7, 2021

grat said:
It's the "modern company" that throws me-- I'd guess a Yashica Electro, but it's a total guess.

My favorite happens to be my most recent acquisition-- a late 1950's coupled rangefinder with what was described at the time as one of the best lenses ever put on a camera, and is still considered a "great" lens. Built like a brass brick with a viewfinder to make most M3 owners cry.

But I'll agree, the 2x3 press cameras are fun-- on a whim I made a winning bid on a miniature speed graphic that came with a graflok back and a 6x9 120 film holder, and turned out to be in superb condition-- needed some cleaning and adjustment, but no repairs.

Hmm, I'd wager a Canon P with the 50 1.4 ltm, but I haven't personally handled one. Maybe a Konica IIIM? This game is hard, haha.

grat · Apr 7, 2021

Bob L said:
Hmm, I'd wager a Canon P with the 50 1.4 ltm, but I haven't personally handled one. Maybe a Konica IIIM? This game is hard, haha.

Very close, but no light meter (the Reveni Labs light meter fits nicely)-- Konica IIIA, so I'll give you that one.

Jim Jones · Apr 7, 2021

Bob L said:
Hmm, I'd wager a Canon P with the 50 1.4 ltm, but I haven't personally handled one. Maybe a Konica IIIM? This game is hard, haha.

I've owned and used both Canon cameras with that lens, and found contemporary Leicas to be better performers and more reliable. Both Canon bodies are now nonfunctional, and the fast Canon lens is used only where an extra stop in speed is necessary.

Cholentpot · Apr 7, 2021

film_man said:
All the AF cameras from the 90s. Still cheap as chips, they don't have the hipster factor of manual cameras yet still work and will probably keep working just as well with 0 maintenance requirements. For the price of a good condition FM2n you can have 3-4 F80 bodies or probably about 20 EOS 300 bodies.

Even the top end models are good. Ok a good condition EOS 1V is now quite pricey but still good value. The F5 is super cheap nowadays, my F5 and 58/1.4 were a lot cheaper than a FM3a/FM2/F3 with the old 58/1.2.

I never clicked with the cheap AF Nikon bodies. Except for the N80, which isn't cheap. The cheap EOS bodies are just about as good as the top of the line stuff. With Nikon it has to be the top of the line or they're just not that good.

Huss · Apr 7, 2021

Film camera prices are up on only a few trendy models.
Any AF SLR film camera apart from the Nikon F6 is pennies on the dollar.

Nitroplait · Apr 7, 2021

Huss said:
Film camera prices are up on only a few trendy models.
Any AF SLR film camera apart from the Nikon F6 is pennies on the dollar.

Yeah. An acquaintance just threw a hardly used Nikon F801s w a 35-70 at me because he couldn’t be bothered with the trouble selling it for nothing. It is a super capable camera nobody wants.

4season · Apr 7, 2021

I want a Canon Kiss Panorama which so far as I can see, is just a Japanese-market Rebel G with panorama feature. Aside from sticky rubber paint, not aware of any real problems, save that it's unfashionably modern and plastic.

Paul Howell · Apr 7, 2021

Pentax P30, any early entry to midlevel AF body, Minolta, Pentax, Nikon, Canon, a somewhat unusual is the Pentax ZM, not auto focus, all manual focus, with full auto or manual exposure, auto bracket, 2 FPS winder.

Huss · Apr 7, 2021

Nikon N2000 is so good and fun to use. Super cheap.
Scandalously I prefer it to my Pentax LX, because while it has the same shutter speed range in 'normal' use (Pentax is good for minutes long exposures), the N2000 has an AE lock function AND I can see the exposure LEDs in daylight!

Pentax LX is cooler though, more cred, so there is that. (and it is very nice to use)

gone · Apr 7, 2021

I recently bought one of those cheap Nikon AF cameras, an N70. It's a great camera for $18. Can't figure out why everyone had so much trouble w/ the menu layout. The actual buttons that you push (and what they do) are exactly like my old N8008s. It will take non ai lenses if they've been ai'd, and give you AE and spot metering even w/ third party lenses. Viewfinder was a little dim, but that turned out to be a dirty mirror. This camera is almost perfect for my needs.

Helge · Apr 7, 2021

Auer · Apr 7, 2021

So a "Sleeper" camera is one that goes unnoticed by hipsters?

Funny concept

Helge · Apr 7, 2021

Auer said:
So a "Sleeper" camera is one that goes unnoticed by hipsters?

Funny concept

Not really. Interesting though.

Auer · Apr 7, 2021

Helge said:
Not really. Interesting though.

Its fucking hilarious.

Helge · Apr 7, 2021

Auer said:
Its fucking hilarious.

Enlighten us.
Unless you are talking cosmic comedy, where you see the humor in grown men coveting bricks of plastic and metal that help make pictures, then I fail to see the humor.
I see other potential emotions, but humor is pretty far off.

Cholentpot · Apr 7, 2021

Auer said:
Its fucking hilarious.

AE-1P is going for crazy money when the Spotmatics are being given away. That's quite funny to me.

Auer · Apr 7, 2021

Cholentpot said:
AE-1P is going for crazy money when the Spotmatics are being given away. That's quite funny to me.

This guy gets it.

Your secret sleepers

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