Your secret sleepers

[grat]

Well, actually, I don't think Kodak did make it. They made the Ektar lens on yours (which is razor sharp if it's like the one I had), but I believe the Retinas were more of a rebrand of a German camera.

Really?

Ten seconds of searching produced this quote:

Retina was the brand-name of a long-running series of German-built Kodak 35mm cameras, produced from 1934 until 1969. Kodak Retina cameras were manufactured in Stuttgart-Wangen by the Kodak AG Dr. Nagel Werk which Kodak had acquired in December 1931.

 

[MattKing]

Many people don't appreciate how international Kodak actually was.

 

[Huss]

Another little gem which goes for 25,- up to 40,- Euros today - Nikon EM with series 'e' lenses :

View attachment 271857
photo from camerapedia

The problem with the EM, as well as the FG and FG20, is shutter shock/mirror slap vibrations resulting in the possibility of blurry pics at 1/60 and below.
I love the size and feel of those cameras.

 

[Fujicaman1957]

I forgot about this one! A true sleeper.

I bought my F-301 (AKA N2000 in the US) for $24 with a 24mm Sigma !

 

[albada]

Is it possible to do this with other cameras? I have Retina IIc that I'd love to get the interlink disabled.

Here is my web-page showing how to disable that LVS linkage:
https://fixfilmcamera.com/RetinaRemoveLvs/RetinaRemoveLvs.html

 

[Cholentpot]

Here is my web-page showing how to disable that LVS linkage:
https://fixfilmcamera.com/RetinaRemoveLvs/RetinaRemoveLvs.html

Thanks!

I wonder how much this would trash the historical value of the camera.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Here is my web-page showing how to disable that LVS linkage:
https://fixfilmcamera.com/RetinaRemoveLvs/RetinaRemoveLvs.html

Thanks!

I wonder how much this would trash the historical value of the camera.

Why?? If you want to trash a good camera, it would be much more efficient to drive a steam roller over it. That would at least make an impression on the pavement.

 

[Bronson Dugnutt]

When using cheap cameras, having a great viewfinder is a must. Just don't expect focus closer than 1 meter.

 

[albada]

Why?? If you want to trash a good camera, it would be much more efficient to drive a steam roller over it. That would at least make an impression on the pavement.

Why? To make it a better shooter. Yes, this mod reduces the value of shelf queens. But most Retinas aren't worth much (under US$150), so making them more enjoyable to use is worth the reduction in value to collectors.

 

[Cholentpot]

Why? To make it a better shooter. Yes, this mod reduces the value of shelf queens. But most Retinas aren't worth much (under US$150), so making them more enjoyable to use is worth the reduction in value to collectors.

Knowing me if I tried this I'd end up trashing the camera. I don't have an excellent record fixing cameras to say the least.

 

[albada]

Knowing me if I tried this I'd end up trashing the camera. I don't have an excellent record fixing cameras to say the least.

All of us started there.
I suggest getting Books 1 and 2 of Camera Maintenance & Repair (Thomas Tomosy). Here's an amazon link to them:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=camera+repair+thomas+tomosy&ref=nb_sb_noss
Then destro.., I mean, repair a couple of worthless Petri 7S cameras a few times, and the skill should come.
And then you can buy cheap sleepers that need work.
Soviet cameras are plentiful, and you will surely learn repair skills by attempting to fix their manufacturing defects. So I've all but given up on them. Let those sleepers stay asleep.

Another sleeper is the Yashica J. The rangefinder, not the SLR with the same name. That lower-end camera is a quiet delight, with a sharp Tessar-clone lens, albeit with only 4 shutterspeeds.

 

[Cholentpot]

All of us started there.
I suggest getting Books 1 and 2 of Camera Maintenance & Repair (Thomas Tomosy). Here's an amazon link to them:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=camera+repair+thomas+tomosy&ref=nb_sb_noss
Then destro.., I mean, repair a couple of worthless Petri 7S cameras a few times, and the skill should come.
And then you can buy cheap sleepers that need work.
Soviet cameras are plentiful, and you will surely learn repair skills by attempting to fix their manufacturing defects. So I've all but given up on them. Let those sleepers stay asleep.

Another sleeper is the Yashica J. The rangefinder, not the SLR with the same name. That lower-end camera is a quiet delight, with a sharp Tessar-clone lens, albeit with only 4 shutterspeeds.

I've destroyed my share of Soviet fine machinery. I've had to confront my limitations and admit that camera repair is not my thing. Life goes on and those cameras mock my failure from atop a shelf.

 

[jay moussy]

All of us started there.
I suggest getting Books 1 and 2 of Camera Maintenance & Repair (Thomas Tomosy). ...

Uhuh, both books sit on the shelf at the library one town over mine.

 

[baachitraka]

The secret sleepers are your 'skills'...

 

[RokkorZ]

Most Minolta's are total sleepers, like they were in their hayday really. I have a few of their slrs and didn't pay more than £30 for each of them. The SRT series are tanks, the XG-M is cheap and solid, and the lenses cost peanuts compared to Nikkor, Olympus and Canon.

I also suggest the F90X or N90x, picked one of these up a few months ago in great condition for £15. Full af, matrix, centre and spot metering, loads of timer settings and compatible with almost all Nikon lenses. Nobody wants them because they're not retro looking or Pro level. However lots of pros back in the day we're using these instead of the F4. Of course the F5 and F100 changed that.

 

[Cholentpot]

Most Minolta's are total sleepers, like they were in their hayday really. I have a few of their slrs and didn't pay more than £30 for each of them. The SRT series are tanks, the XG-M is cheap and solid, and the lenses cost peanuts compared to Nikkor, Olympus and Canon.

I also suggest the F90X or N90x, picked one of these up a few months ago in great condition for £15. Full af, matrix, centre and spot metering, loads of timer settings and compatible with almost all Nikon lenses. Nobody wants them because they're not retro looking or Pro level. However lots of pros back in the day we're using these instead of the F4. Of course the F5 and F100 changed that.

I've been on the look out for the F/N90. I think people have noticed because prices are climbing.

 

[RokkorZ]

I've been on the look out for the F/N90. I think people have noticed because prices are climbing.

Oh typical! Nothing seems to escape. Try and get the X version if you're looking, it's a bit more capable. All versions are noisy when using screwdrive lenses (afd) but it's the price you pay, and not as bad as folks make out.

 

[Cholentpot]

Oh typical! Nothing seems to escape. Try and get the X version if you're looking, it's a bit more capable. All versions are noisy when using screwdrive lenses (afd) but it's the price you pay, and not as bad as folks make out.

I like the noise.

 

[GRHazelton]

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 have a Canon P with 50mm f1.8, 35mm f1.8, and the 100 f2. Excellent handling, great viewfinder - parallax corrected, wonderful fit and finish. I have the Konica IIIa. A truly fabulous VF. Projected frame, 1 to 1 view, parallax corrected, and compensation for change in field coverage as the point of focus changes! Leica never had anything like the Konica IIIa's viewfinder. Add to that an excellent f1.8 lens, excellent fit and finish, and heavy duty build; it might be a good defensive weapon.

 

[bluechromis]

I would have said a Mamiya C series TLRs, but prices on these might be edging up. As others have mentioned, Minolta SLR prices tend to be a bit lower than Nikon, Canon.

There was recently a thread about highly hyped "cult" gear. I have a suggestion of a sleeper that is the opposite of the that, that is possibly the most socially uncool camera to have, the one you wouldn't want to be caught dead having the camera snobs seeing you with it, a canon Rebel EOS series camera. Lo fi cameras like Holgas have some chic in some circles as do old box cameras. But Rebel cameras don't check any of the boxes that would make them fashionable for aficionados. People will say they are cheap plastic crap with crummy viewfinders that will quickly break. Perhaps with pros and people that use cameras heavily they would wear out. But I wonder if some of the distain of anything plastic isn't partly blind prejudice. Similar things could be said for the Canon EF 50 mm f/1.8 lens. Some complain the lens is soft wide open, but its not that bad and if stopped down is plenty sharp. But if the lens and body did break (or get stolen or lost) they would not cost that much to replace. But I have had my Rebel G and EF 50 f/1.8 for over ten years with moderate use and still are fine. Yes the electronics will eventually die, but that's true of a lot cameras with custom components. I paid $75 for the Rebel G, two kit lens and a flash, thats a lot of capability for the money. A Rebel G with a 50 mm f/1.8 is remarkably light and surprisingly quiet. You also a have a body that opens the door to the EF lens system. Similarly ultra-uncool, kit lens, are often not that bad stopped down.

 

[Cholentpot]

I would have said a Mamiya C series TLRs, but prices on these might be edging up. As others have mentioned, Minolta SLR prices tend to be a bit lower than Nikon, Canon.

There was recently a thread about highly hyped "cult" gear. I have a suggestion of a sleeper that is the opposite of the that, that is possibly the most socially uncool camera to have, the one you wouldn't want to be caught dead having the camera snobs seeing you with it, a canon Rebel EOS series camera. Lo fi cameras like Holgas have some chic in some circles as do old box cameras. But Rebel camera don't check any of the boxes that would make them fashionable for aficionados. People will say they are cheap plastic crap with crummy viewfinders that will quickly break. Perhaps with pros and people that use cameras heavily they would wear out. But I wonder if some of the distain of anything plastic isn't partly blind prejudice. Similar things could be said for the Canon EF 50 mm f/1.8 lens. Some complain the lens is soft wide open, but its not that bad and if stopped down is plenty sharp. But if the lens and body did break (or get stolen or lost) they would not cost that much to replace. But I have had my Rebel G and EF 50 f/1.8 for over ten years with moderate use and still are fine. Yes the electronics will eventually die, but that's true of a lot cameras with custom components. I paid $75 for the Rebel G, two kit lens and a flash, thats a lot of capability for the money. A Rebel G with a 50 mm f/1.8 is remarkably light and surprisingly quiet. You also a have a body that opens the door to the EF lens system. Similarly ultra-uncool, kit lens, are often not that bad stopped down.

I've never had an EOS body die on me yet. They're so uncool and unhip and I really love using them. I pack one when I have a gig because it's light and takes the sames lenses as my DSLR. They also have the same control layout. The low-mid-enthusiast EOS cameras are far superior to the Nikon counterparts.

 

[KenS]

Give it to me, I'll show you.

The majority of cameras do NOT make 'bad' pictures.. it's the person 'in charge' (using?) of the camera.
(put 'that' in your pipe ans smoke it

Ken

 

[Paul Howell]

Both Minolta and Canon AF film bodies are under the radar, (the expection being the EOS 1V) I have petty complete Minolta set up, but have gotten in the weeds with later Konica Minolta G and Sony lens not working on my Minolta 9 or 800si bodies. So maybe, if I could back for a do over I would have gotten a EOS 1N mid level body for second body and 3 L zooms and a couple primes. As noted by Cholentpot is that almost every if not every EF full frame lens will work with all film bodies.

 

[Horatio]

The Nikon N80 (F80) is a fine little film camera, and can be had for a good price. Same for many fine AF-D Nikkors. Bargains galore!

Agreed. Got mine for $25 shipped.

 

[Huss]

The majority of cameras do NOT make 'bad' pictures.. it's the person 'in charge' (using?) of the camera.
(put 'that' in your pipe ans smoke it

Ken

The majority...

put that in your pipe and smoke it.