N80 is great (happily accepts AF-S lenses) but won't meter with manual lenses. Another great option is F501 (one of Nikon's earliest attempt on AF SLR). No problem with manual lenses and if you want AF then practically limited to AF-D lenses. F4 is great because it also accepts pre-AI lenses etc etc. Man, I can easily imagine how beginners confused with Nikon system regarding lens compatibility :D
It's my go to 35mm camera (called F80 here in England). It's got all the features, it's super reliable and it's well built. Can't go wrong for an affordable, good quality 35mm camera. Weighs a lot less than my F4s too!
Got my Pentax MX for a rather high price but I got to test it out for a few weeks without any problems and it is imo near mint so it was worth it for me I guess. Great camera, love it
Great video. I'm curious why you dislike the minolta x-700 though, is it just the cheap plastic feel? I got an x-700 and 45mm f 2 lens for under $100 and I feel like that has been the best value for the quality of pictures that it takes out of any camera in my collection. I've always thought the best camera for a beginner would be either the canon ae-1 program or minolta x-700. The ae-1 program has a brighter viewfinder and better build quality, but the x-700 is half the price and has a aperture priority mode which I prefer to the shutter priority of the ae-1 program.
Ebay has it's down sides but if you are diligent you can get good deals. Got a Pentax 645n for $125 because it displayed a error number on the lcd screen. Turns out it is a film jam error and there is a little button on the bottom you push to clear the error. Got a Spotmatic SL in new condition. A Asahi SV black like new with case for cheap! Pentax ME, and ME Supers by the dozens. The ME's in my opinion are tougher. I bought one that was jammed, I took the bottom plate off and a broken tripod mount part fell out and the camera worked fine. :) Pentax silver KM like new. Must have sat in a closet it's whole life. I can go on...as it is addictive finding these gems and in some cases doing very little to get them operational.
All that hate against the X570 and X700! They're great cameras! For Nikons the N90/N90s is a great cheap camera, as well as the Nikon N80. I've bought those cameras with kit lenses for less than $50 each. You're right about thr EM's though. For back latches, the minolta Alpha 7 and Alpha 9 pro cameras have latches that break more often than the Nikon ones.
It’s well founded hate but I’ll admit a bit harsh, I think they’re great if they work they offer so many options but the plastic build and heavy reliance on electronics can make them incredibly unreliable so I don’t tend to recommend them But I appreciate the comment! And am always happy to know someone shares my feelings towards the EM
Rangefinders are always a great option, canonets are getting pretty steep and a lot of them can suffer from sticky shutters but that's a great entry point, this was much more of an SLR style video but Canonet 28's are on Ebay for next to nothing and pair them with a decent flash and they are a whole lot of fun and the older canonets are clunky and large but give you all kinds of creative control at an affordable price.
do you repair TLR? i have a Yashica Mat Em that wont go below 1/8th everything above that works fine....not an issue now, but would love to have it working like its glory days
What is your opinion on buying cameras on yahoo japan auctions for cheap and learn fixing it to be working properly not to be only last for a couple days and flipping it for few bucks. Love your channel btw
I've done something similar on ebay and I think it only adds value to the market by increasing the supply for potential customers while also ensuring they are going to have a positive experience. Good on you and thank you for the comment!
I believe I have one laying around here, the shutter speeds on my fujica's are all WAY off but in terms of an affordable camera I would say it works fairly well in a pinch and they are also surprisingly compact. Thanks for the comment!
This is really kinda shady advice, people shopping for used equipment can be rather demanding to start with especially those who have no clue what they are buying, I have several film cameras and have never found reliable decent working cameras 40 or 50 and 60 years old for 15 or 30 dollars. Anyone wanting a working cared for camera that isn't a triftstore find being flipped on marketplace should respectably expect to pay at the least $200. You do speak intelligently to camera bodies and the ones that work and perform reliably and intuitively, but advising people they should expect people with quality working cameras to give them away is a bit rude and frankly makes you sound like a bit of a jerk suggesting anyone asking for a fair price is asking too much. The Japanes market is for sure a fantastic source but buying from locals that you can visit and view the camera you are buying is the best. As far as expecting a spotmatic for 50 bucks you deserve a turd with a failed light meter and lagging timed shutter speeds. I have several of those cameras and would not think of giving up a mint working camera for less than $150-200 body only. Yeah there are lots of them out their, but few of them are reliably operating cameras without issues.
I appreciate the feedback, I think our experiences differ greatly but I will also admit my threshold for what I consider “quality” is lowered greatly by my ability to fix a lot of the faults found in the older mechanical models and at times it’s hard to differentiate that from my advice. That being said I have seen more people try to sell not working cameras at a premium rate and sucker people into more problems and repair costs which I think is a bit more rude than any of my advice. I appreciate the feedback though and will try to bear that in mind for future consumer advice videos
@@RompingBronco I appreciate that you did not take offence to what I was saying, because nothing you are saying is untrue, I just think that the few and rare sellers who do have the exceptional examples of these cameras that are in pristine working condition and have been maintained do deserve a little bit more consideration. I have way too many of these cameras myself and have seen hundreds of them, so I can and do thoroughly appreciate and respect your experienced and informed opinions. There is a lot of pop culture influence in this market that inflates the value of some of this gear independent of it's utility and precission production value in the production of images. Nikon is a brand that brings top dollar as is Canon and I honestly believe that cameras like the Spotmatic, K1000, and ESII are better more reliable and versatile tools especially with the abundance of fantastic glass available, that will work without compromising the function on the light meter like with some Canon bodies.
@@RompingBronco I also appreciate our experience likely does differ greatly based on the value of our respective currency, the availability of these cameras, and the relative experience and access to parts you have, in local markets or even just in your collection. I have seen some sellers from Japan with FANTASTIC offerings. I enjoy your videos I work on some of these cameras as well but not to the extent and complexity that you do. Shutter issues are simple enough most times especially if it is just the timer that needs to be removed and cleaned and lubricated and re-adjusted, ocassionally I will adjust shutter tension if it hasn't been touched before, but tearing down and desoldering complex circuits is more stress than I like to take on. LOL. You're doing good work!
I got the srt 303b for $100 last year with 4 lenses. Absolutely love it and got a great deal. I cleaned the mirror and replaced the foam on the seals. It now feels brand new. It’s such a fun camera to shoot. The shutter sound is incredible and I would recommend it to anyone!!
Minolta SRT 202 and SRT series in general are so dang good. Minolta glass is also a bit underrated, has gotten more love recently, but gosh dang do I love it. I would also have to say that I am obsessed with the Minolta XD and would argue that shutter and film advance are some of the best in any Minolta cameras.
Would love to see a complete CLA of a Pentax MX. Like a detailed instruction on how to disassemble and clean the prism, viewfinder and focusing screen. Haven't really been able to find anything out there like that.
Facebook marketplace is the place to look, imo. In the past month I've bought two k1000s, one for $35 with a 50 1.7 (prism mold-- swapping the prism out with a t50 soon) and another that just needed light seals for $65 with a 50 2 and a Montgomery Ward branded 135. You have me really wanting to try one of those Minoltas now.
We just got my Great Grandfather's Minolta SRT 202 out of the box to check it out. My Grandma had stopped using it years ago as she dropped it, and thought she broke it, but it seems to work ok? The prism sticks sometimes when the shutter is released, but resets when the camera is wound, and the issue was happening less and less the more I worked the shutter and messed with the camera in general. I need to re-calibrate the light meter for modern batteries, but the slow shutter speeds all work fine, and the only thing missing is the lever for the self timer, no great loss. I'm excited to get it working again, and either my sister will use it or it will pass to me.
what 35 mm or slr film cameras do you recommend for advanced photographers? considering medium format ones like Mamiya 330 or rb67, Yasmica TAT 124. Rollei Rolleiflex 3.5B MX-EVS Film Camera Tessar 75mm Len or Minolta Auto Cord?
Very interesting video. My photography experiences go back to the mid 1970's which I refer to as the golden age of manual focus photography. I currently own 10 plus 35 mm cameras from all of the big 5. I would add to your list those old Nikkormat's as reasonably affordable classic cameras with premium glass, which is important. But mostly I am very interested in your take on the X D-11 and the Canon EF. I ordered an XD off Mercari today and am following an EF I may grab soon. I believe its a sort of Canon F-1 with a hard top (fixed pentaprism).
The only qualm I have with Nikkormats is there is a huge discrepancy in quality from one to the next, some look mint but the internal components are irreparably goofed up and others can be perfect but are going to cost more so I just shy away from outwardly recommending those and the lenses are good but again going to be pretty expensive. At that price point I'd prefer to recommend a Nikon FM . The XD-11 looks cool but I don't enjoy working on them and the EF is a really funky camera but I like that F-1 style but I haven't used one so I can't speak too much to that. Let me know what you think and thanks for the comment!
As someone who owns an EF, if it’s under $125 get it, they are great cameras for a number of reasons, but the main one is that it has a voltage regulator so you can use 1.5 volt batteries, but you will need an adapter because there are coils on the side of the battery hole thing too. But I totally recommend the camera, it’s one of the best.
@@historydude7493 You know, you are not helping me resist temptation here. I am trying desperately to NOT buy another camera right now. And the last thing I need is you standing on my shoulder and talking into my ear, "Yeah! Buy it! It's a great camera!"
I stick to Pentax because that is what i used to shoot with before selling all my SLRs, but still have their vintage glass. Today i shoot Ricoh GR III as my EDC + film +1 on the K1000, i got two of them from Japan absolutely mint, CLA'd. Shoot only monochrome on these. One with 50/1.2 and one with 28/2.8. I wonder how the Minolta SRT compares to these? Is the SRT better? You really piqued my interest, but i just don't want to invest in more glass, unless it replaces my K1000s +1 Pentax Program A Based on your other video. Small and absolutely love it. Built like a tank and I'll use it for color film. Auto exposure works great. This is going to become my primary film camera. +1 Canonet QL17 III based on your video too. Also CLA'd from US repair guy like yourself. Love how small it is, rangefinder system was a challenge for me as i never used one before, takes great photos, what it lacks is speed, so shooting film faster than 200 on a sunny day hits the 1/500 max shutter very quickly. But the quick load system is totally idiot proof to load film. Great travel camera. Also was converted to 1.5 V. If any of you but one, be sure it's converted for 357 batteries and not for the old mercury ones you can't buy anymore. Unfortunately they are now well above $200. I paid $244 for a fully refurb one, but not having to buy a lens helps ease the pain. Though not everyone likes shooting a 40mm lens. For me its great. I bought it just to learn how to shoot a rangefinder. Poor man's Leica it is....😂 Two more downsides: if shooting in A mode, the meter still runs and drains your battery, unless you put a cap on the lens (annoying). Since the meter eye is right above lens front element and this is a rangefinder, you can't successfully use polarizer filters. Not only can you not see properly what they do, the filter completely screws up the metering for me. All my shots failed with polarizers. +1 on the Instax! Have the 90 and it's a hoot. If you buy the 100 exposure box, it will come down to 60c per shot. Their monichrome film looks like push process. Very cool high contrast and the double exposure has limitless cool possibilities
Forgot to mention that Cinestill mono and duobath is what got me into this. Development takes weeks here in Chicago and is expensive as heck, so I develop my own and scan the negatives on a V600 flatbed
I actually just released a video for 2024 and mention the OM-4! They’re good cameras with a lot of functionality but they have some complex electronics that a lot of technicians try not to mess with so that’s something to bear in mind
The Minolta Maxxum 7000 series of cameras are my absolute favorites. Sure you need batteries. These were my very first cameras I purchased back in 1985. I will always love them. You fixed my Maxxum 9000 last year, and I absolutely love it.
About six months ago I bought a Nikon F2AS with a 55mm F1.2 lens from Japan advertised as 'in full working order'. Because I'm naturally suspicious, I took it for a full CLA service when it arrived here in the UK which cost me a further £114 UK sterling, ($143 US). It needed new light seals, adjustments to the calibration of shutter speeds and a couple of other things I can't remember. The original £450 purchase price ($567) ended up being £564 ($710) after servicing to make it the product I expected it to be on arrival. Yes, I could have gone through the tedious rigmarole of the returns procedure, but then I would have had to start from scratch to get the same product (with the same risk) all over again. Buyer beware.... just saying.
So true about ending up shooting auto, that's what I do with the A1, 85% aperture priority, 10% shutter priority and 5% manual, seems like I really need to buy myself the TX and leave the A1 at home (tho if buying an older more mechanical version for some reason I want the FTb even tho it's such a similar camera)
My first camera was a Nikon FM; sadly, I sold it a years ago along with an F90 and a Contax G1. It's been over 20 years since I shot film but wanted to try it again. Ended up getting a more reasonably priced Canon FTb; similar to my old FM but half the price. I think the SRT's and OM-1's are great too.
I actually have a technical question about the ME super. I have everything mechanically working but in my auto and manual settings the shutter hangs open. I read that this could be due to the solenoid becoming overly magnetized. I got the mirror box removed but need a way to test the solenoid? Anyone have any ideas or know how much voltage this little guy takes?
LITERALLY bought an SRT-101 for $80 with a lens two days ago. I was sold as soon as I felt it's perfect shutter slap. Will be selling my A1 because it has the Canon cough haha much love from East TN!
Great video thanks for the list. Just got a Pentax ME and I am super happy with it. Had to do some maintenance but overall it was in great shape, good to see the ME made your list. One question is that there are some spots where the chrome came off like on your Minolta SRT, is there something to do for that or is it best to leave it as it is?
I'm glad you got an ME I hope you dig it! I'm not sure what there is to do about that I just chalk it up to a bit of wear and tear and like to think it adds to the "story of the camera"
Great advice. Do you have any other platforms you produce content on? It would be great if we could post pictures to ask you questions and short reels etc. I am fortunate enough to live in Southeast Asia and I agree that Japanese sellers really deliver on condition and price. Wow! US prices are very high! I have a film store here with a 'junkies corner' who sells camera bodies for 10 bucks and lenses for 20. I have restored many of them and now have a decent collection thanks to your help. My film store has such a good deal on junk cameras the guy is literally sick of me showing up there. I learned about the AF series plastic cog era of cameras too. Personally, I like the fact that canon and Nikon diehards fight it out over such overrated chunks of metal. It leaves the real heroes of film available to us for cheaper.
I appreciate that! Everything is really expensive over here right now unfortunately, would love to poke around some of those film stores though and just scrooge mccduck dive into cameras. Happy to help grow your collection! You can reach out on instagram @rompingbronco I try to be good about checking DM's but I've been spread a little thin lately and yeah there are some folks that are just blindingly loyal to their brands so more power to them haha
Great info. I think you miss one brand which is pretty cheap and they use a great lens system. The brand is Ricoh. I currently have the XR 7 and the KR-5superII. I would also recommend Nikkormat's; build like a tank and almost indestructible.
Ricoh is a great brand, I was more referring to the "common" cameras but a lot of Ricoh's are just rebranded versions of other cameras so they're usually a great deal and if I recall they also use the K mount. I would hesitate to recommend Nikkormats though they can be incredibly unreliable, when they work they are great but I wouldn't trust one myself. Thanks for the comment!
Hey there RB! how do you deal with the mercury battery/light meter issue on the SRTs? You mentioned that they have a good light meter so I assume you rely on it to some extent. Some have talked about adding a diode to get down to the rated voltage, or just using a Wein cell, which is pricey and lasts only months. I'm just trying to get educated and have little experience at this point. Cheers.
Thanks for the comment! I did a video a while ago on mercury batteries and my takeaway is that there is a power discrepancy but it's equivalent to around maybe a half a stop so nothing to really stress about. Weincells are pricey so I'd avoid that and if you don't feel entirely comfortable with the meter I'd recommend getting a light meter app on your phone! I hope that helps and thanks for the comment!
What would you say is a fair price for a minolta srt 101? I have found two in my local flea markets for about 35 - 40 $. The reason for not buying them was not knowing them enough and not really having the money for it rn.
I would say depending on the quality of the camera that's a great price for a working on, I would just check the shutter speeds is you can and make sure the mirror isn't getting hung up. If it comes with a lens then that's a great deal. Thanks for the comment and I hope you go for it!
Weird, here in Australia you see AE-1s and K1000s going for more than FMs and Nikkormats, which is just nuts. And yeah, an F4 is an absolute bargain in comparison. Agreed that the best option for a newcomer wanting a cheap starting point is a late 80s/early 90s Canon EOS. Dirt cheap, easy to use, huge lens availability and most still seem to work without issue unlike most Pentax MZs (mirror gear) and consumer Nikons (alkaline battery damage).
I think it’s hype tax. Beginners are recommended traditional beginners models like the k1000 (rightly so, they were college staples for generations) or see videos from the US where Canons seem to be a consumer favourite. But there are plenty of other manual mechanical cameras. I’d say a k1000 or spotmatic are still great options. k mount lenses are really nice and Spotmatics are so ridiculously plentiful they’re a bargain still.
You've been reported to the authorities for misleading the public and spam and just wasting our time. That was 10 minutes of wrong trivial information.
Canon EOS3000v Nikon f80, they may not be classics or endorsed by useless trandseters, but they are cheap, they have the best mechanics and the best electronics, made for shooting not for tinkering and fating "technicians" pockets. Not to say that semi +/- profesional cameras from the 90's or '00 are TOP and again. AFORDABLE. and not broken
N80 is great (happily accepts AF-S lenses) but won't meter with manual lenses. Another great option is F501 (one of Nikon's earliest attempt on AF SLR). No problem with manual lenses and if you want AF then practically limited to AF-D lenses. F4 is great because it also accepts pre-AI lenses etc etc. Man, I can easily imagine how beginners confused with Nikon system regarding lens compatibility :D
It's my go to 35mm camera (called F80 here in England). It's got all the features, it's super reliable and it's well built. Can't go wrong for an affordable, good quality 35mm camera. Weighs a lot less than my F4s too!
@@Adam-wl8wnSo true! F80 is a beast
Got my Pentax MX for a rather high price but I got to test it out for a few weeks without any problems and it is imo near mint so it was worth it for me I guess. Great camera, love it
Great video. I'm curious why you dislike the minolta x-700 though, is it just the cheap plastic feel? I got an x-700 and 45mm f 2 lens for under $100 and I feel like that has been the best value for the quality of pictures that it takes out of any camera in my collection. I've always thought the best camera for a beginner would be either the canon ae-1 program or minolta x-700. The ae-1 program has a brighter viewfinder and better build quality, but the x-700 is half the price and has a aperture priority mode which I prefer to the shutter priority of the ae-1 program.
Ebay has it's down sides but if you are diligent you can get good deals. Got a Pentax 645n for $125 because it displayed a error number on the lcd screen. Turns out it is a film jam error and there is a little button on the bottom you push to clear the error. Got a Spotmatic SL in new condition. A Asahi SV black like new with case for cheap! Pentax ME, and ME Supers by the dozens. The ME's in my opinion are tougher. I bought one that was jammed, I took the bottom plate off and a broken tripod mount part fell out and the camera worked fine. :) Pentax silver KM like new. Must have sat in a closet it's whole life. I can go on...as it is addictive finding these gems and in some cases doing very little to get them operational.
All that hate against the X570 and X700! They're great cameras!
For Nikons the N90/N90s is a great cheap camera, as well as the Nikon N80. I've bought those cameras with kit lenses for less than $50 each. You're right about thr EM's though.
For back latches, the minolta Alpha 7 and Alpha 9 pro cameras have latches that break more often than the Nikon ones.
It’s well founded hate but I’ll admit a bit harsh, I think they’re great if they work they offer so many options but the plastic build and heavy reliance on electronics can make them incredibly unreliable so I don’t tend to recommend them
But I appreciate the comment! And am always happy to know someone shares my feelings towards the EM
You seem to leave out Olympus, like the OM-1- I love mine and the OM-4
Canonet / other rangefinder style cameras, any good?
Rangefinders are always a great option, canonets are getting pretty steep and a lot of them can suffer from sticky shutters but that's a great entry point, this was much more of an SLR style video but Canonet 28's are on Ebay for next to nothing and pair them with a decent flash and they are a whole lot of fun and the older canonets are clunky and large but give you all kinds of creative control at an affordable price.
Olympus rangefinders (35 SP, RD dll) are excellent shooters. Don't hesitate to get one :D
do you repair TLR? i have a Yashica Mat Em that wont go below 1/8th everything above that works fine....not an issue now, but would love to have it working like its glory days
Oh yeah I’ve worked on a few TLR’s the slow speed escapement gets gummed up easily but is equally easy to clean out
What is your opinion on buying cameras on yahoo japan auctions for cheap and learn fixing it to be working properly not to be only last for a couple days and flipping it for few bucks. Love your channel btw
Mamiya MSX 1000 and range of lenses are worth a look at too.
I've done something similar on ebay and I think it only adds value to the market by increasing the supply for potential customers while also ensuring they are going to have a positive experience. Good on you and thank you for the comment!
What do you think of the Fujica ST705W?
I believe I have one laying around here, the shutter speeds on my fujica's are all WAY off but in terms of an affordable camera I would say it works fairly well in a pinch and they are also surprisingly compact. Thanks for the comment!
If you're going to buy a Canon A series, skip the AE-! and the program and get an A-1. The build and the electronics are much better.
Does the shutter squeak on the Canon A1 affect the shutter’s accuracy ?
What about Konica?
The IIIa is an M3 with ‘cron 50mm for AE-1 money.
I keep getting distracted by the dinosaurs....
This is really kinda shady advice, people shopping for used equipment can be rather demanding to start with especially those who have no clue what they are buying, I have several film cameras and have never found reliable decent working cameras 40 or 50 and 60 years old for 15 or 30 dollars. Anyone wanting a working cared for camera that isn't a triftstore find being flipped on marketplace should respectably expect to pay at the least $200. You do speak intelligently to camera bodies and the ones that work and perform reliably and intuitively, but advising people they should expect people with quality working cameras to give them away is a bit rude and frankly makes you sound like a bit of a jerk suggesting anyone asking for a fair price is asking too much. The Japanes market is for sure a fantastic source but buying from locals that you can visit and view the camera you are buying is the best. As far as expecting a spotmatic for 50 bucks you deserve a turd with a failed light meter and lagging timed shutter speeds. I have several of those cameras and would not think of giving up a mint working camera for less than $150-200 body only. Yeah there are lots of them out their, but few of them are reliably operating cameras without issues.
I appreciate the feedback, I think our experiences differ greatly but I will also admit my threshold for what I consider “quality” is lowered greatly by my ability to fix a lot of the faults found in the older mechanical models and at times it’s hard to differentiate that from my advice. That being said I have seen more people try to sell not working cameras at a premium rate and sucker people into more problems and repair costs which I think is a bit more rude than any of my advice. I appreciate the feedback though and will try to bear that in mind for future consumer advice videos
@@RompingBronco I appreciate that you did not take offence to what I was saying, because nothing you are saying is untrue, I just think that the few and rare sellers who do have the exceptional examples of these cameras that are in pristine working condition and have been maintained do deserve a little bit more consideration. I have way too many of these cameras myself and have seen hundreds of them, so I can and do thoroughly appreciate and respect your experienced and informed opinions. There is a lot of pop culture influence in this market that inflates the value of some of this gear independent of it's utility and precission production value in the production of images. Nikon is a brand that brings top dollar as is Canon and I honestly believe that cameras like the Spotmatic, K1000, and ESII are better more reliable and versatile tools especially with the abundance of fantastic glass available, that will work without compromising the function on the light meter like with some Canon bodies.
@@RompingBronco I also appreciate our experience likely does differ greatly based on the value of our respective currency, the availability of these cameras, and the relative experience and access to parts you have, in local markets or even just in your collection. I have seen some sellers from Japan with FANTASTIC offerings. I enjoy your videos I work on some of these cameras as well but not to the extent and complexity that you do. Shutter issues are simple enough most times especially if it is just the timer that needs to be removed and cleaned and lubricated and re-adjusted, ocassionally I will adjust shutter tension if it hasn't been touched before, but tearing down and desoldering complex circuits is more stress than I like to take on. LOL. You're doing good work!
Pentax MX & LX + SMC Pentax Lenses.
I got the srt 303b for $100 last year with 4 lenses. Absolutely love it and got a great deal. I cleaned the mirror and replaced the foam on the seals. It now feels brand new. It’s such a fun camera to shoot. The shutter sound is incredible and I would recommend it to anyone!!
Minolta SRT 202 and SRT series in general are so dang good. Minolta glass is also a bit underrated, has gotten more love recently, but gosh dang do I love it. I would also have to say that I am obsessed with the Minolta XD and would argue that shutter and film advance are some of the best in any Minolta cameras.
Would love to see a complete CLA of a Pentax MX. Like a detailed instruction on how to disassemble and clean the prism, viewfinder and focusing screen. Haven't really been able to find anything out there like that.
Great photography talk
I got the ME Super locally and 2 Pentax 6x7s from Japan
Facebook marketplace is the place to look, imo. In the past month I've bought two k1000s, one for $35 with a 50 1.7 (prism mold-- swapping the prism out with a t50 soon) and another that just needed light seals for $65 with a 50 2 and a Montgomery Ward branded 135.
You have me really wanting to try one of those Minoltas now.
We just got my Great Grandfather's Minolta SRT 202 out of the box to check it out. My Grandma had stopped using it years ago as she dropped it, and thought she broke it, but it seems to work ok? The prism sticks sometimes when the shutter is released, but resets when the camera is wound, and the issue was happening less and less the more I worked the shutter and messed with the camera in general. I need to re-calibrate the light meter for modern batteries, but the slow shutter speeds all work fine, and the only thing missing is the lever for the self timer, no great loss. I'm excited to get it working again, and either my sister will use it or it will pass to me.
what 35 mm or slr film cameras do you recommend for advanced photographers? considering medium format ones like Mamiya 330 or rb67, Yasmica TAT 124. Rollei Rolleiflex 3.5B MX-EVS Film Camera Tessar 75mm Len or Minolta Auto Cord?
If you want a good entry Nikon I recommend the FT2. Lots of lens options and a supper solid build.
Hi bought contax aka yashica 139 q recently cheap just for the panar ziess lens for my Fuji x pro 2 any dealings with contax ?
whats your take on Mamiya 330 medium format film camera?
Very interesting video. My photography experiences go back to the mid 1970's which I refer to as the golden age of manual focus photography. I currently own 10 plus 35 mm cameras from all of the big 5. I would add to your list those old Nikkormat's as reasonably affordable classic cameras with premium glass, which is important. But mostly I am very interested in your take on the X D-11 and the Canon EF. I ordered an XD off Mercari today and am following an EF I may grab soon. I believe its a sort of Canon F-1 with a hard top (fixed pentaprism).
The only qualm I have with Nikkormats is there is a huge discrepancy in quality from one to the next, some look mint but the internal components are irreparably goofed up and others can be perfect but are going to cost more so I just shy away from outwardly recommending those and the lenses are good but again going to be pretty expensive. At that price point I'd prefer to recommend a Nikon FM . The XD-11 looks cool but I don't enjoy working on them and the EF is a really funky camera but I like that F-1 style but I haven't used one so I can't speak too much to that. Let me know what you think and thanks for the comment!
As someone who owns an EF, if it’s under $125 get it, they are great cameras for a number of reasons, but the main one is that it has a voltage regulator so you can use 1.5 volt batteries, but you will need an adapter because there are coils on the side of the battery hole thing too. But I totally recommend the camera, it’s one of the best.
@@historydude7493 You know, you are not helping me resist temptation here. I am trying desperately to NOT buy another camera right now. And the last thing I need is you standing on my shoulder and talking into my ear, "Yeah! Buy it! It's a great camera!"
I stick to Pentax because that is what i used to shoot with before selling all my SLRs, but still have their vintage glass. Today i shoot Ricoh GR III as my EDC + film
+1 on the K1000, i got two of them from Japan absolutely mint, CLA'd. Shoot only monochrome on these. One with 50/1.2 and one with 28/2.8. I wonder how the Minolta SRT compares to these? Is the SRT better? You really piqued my interest, but i just don't want to invest in more glass, unless it replaces my K1000s
+1 Pentax Program A Based on your other video. Small and absolutely love it. Built like a tank and I'll use it for color film. Auto exposure works great. This is going to become my primary film camera.
+1 Canonet QL17 III based on your video too. Also CLA'd from US repair guy like yourself. Love how small it is, rangefinder system was a challenge for me as i never used one before, takes great photos, what it lacks is speed, so shooting film faster than 200 on a sunny day hits the 1/500 max shutter very quickly. But the quick load system is totally idiot proof to load film. Great travel camera. Also was converted to 1.5 V. If any of you but one, be sure it's converted for 357 batteries and not for the old mercury ones you can't buy anymore. Unfortunately they are now well above $200. I paid $244 for a fully refurb one, but not having to buy a lens helps ease the pain. Though not everyone likes shooting a 40mm lens. For me its great. I bought it just to learn how to shoot a rangefinder. Poor man's Leica it is....😂
Two more downsides: if shooting in A mode, the meter still runs and drains your battery, unless you put a cap on the lens (annoying). Since the meter eye is right above lens front element and this is a rangefinder, you can't successfully use polarizer filters. Not only can you not see properly what they do, the filter completely screws up the metering for me. All my shots failed with polarizers.
+1 on the Instax! Have the 90 and it's a hoot. If you buy the 100 exposure box, it will come down to 60c per shot. Their monichrome film looks like push process. Very cool high contrast and the double exposure has limitless cool possibilities
Forgot to mention that Cinestill mono and duobath is what got me into this. Development takes weeks here in Chicago and is expensive as heck, so I develop my own and scan the negatives on a V600 flatbed
Thoughts on the OM-4ti? Seems like a lot of camera for the money...
I actually just released a video for 2024 and mention the OM-4! They’re good cameras with a lot of functionality but they have some complex electronics that a lot of technicians try not to mess with so that’s something to bear in mind
The Minolta Maxxum 7000 series of cameras are my absolute favorites. Sure you need batteries. These were my very first cameras I purchased back in 1985. I will always love them. You fixed my Maxxum 9000 last year, and I absolutely love it.
About six months ago I bought a Nikon F2AS with a 55mm F1.2 lens from Japan advertised as 'in full working order'. Because I'm naturally suspicious, I took it for a full CLA service when it arrived here in the UK which cost me a further £114 UK sterling, ($143 US). It needed new light seals, adjustments to the calibration of shutter speeds and a couple of other things I can't remember. The original £450 purchase price ($567) ended up being £564 ($710) after servicing to make it the product I expected it to be on arrival. Yes, I could have gone through the tedious rigmarole of the returns procedure, but then I would have had to start from scratch to get the same product (with the same risk) all over again. Buyer beware.... just saying.
So true about ending up shooting auto, that's what I do with the A1, 85% aperture priority, 10% shutter priority and 5% manual, seems like I really need to buy myself the TX and leave the A1 at home (tho if buying an older more mechanical version for some reason I want the FTb even tho it's such a similar camera)
My first camera was a Nikon FM; sadly, I sold it a years ago along with an F90 and a Contax G1. It's been over 20 years since I shot film but wanted to try it again. Ended up getting a more reasonably priced Canon FTb; similar to my old FM but half the price. I think the SRT's and OM-1's are great too.
I actually have a technical question about the ME super. I have everything mechanically working but in my auto and manual settings the shutter hangs open. I read that this could be due to the solenoid becoming overly magnetized. I got the mirror box removed but need a way to test the solenoid? Anyone have any ideas or know how much voltage this little guy takes?
U.S. eBay sellers suck a$$ in my experience especially those flogging crappy Nikons. Just avoid Nikons.
I'd say OM-1 or OM-2 series. Great glass. I have a couple Penrax Super programs that are fantastic. It has manual and auto.
LITERALLY bought an SRT-101 for $80 with a lens two days ago. I was sold as soon as I felt it's perfect shutter slap. Will be selling my A1 because it has the Canon cough haha much love from East TN!
I hope you're digging the SRT!
People sell film cameras on Amazon? That must be a US thing.
Great video thanks for the list. Just got a Pentax ME and I am super happy with it. Had to do some maintenance but overall it was in great shape, good to see the ME made your list. One question is that there are some spots where the chrome came off like on your Minolta SRT, is there something to do for that or is it best to leave it as it is?
I'm glad you got an ME I hope you dig it! I'm not sure what there is to do about that I just chalk it up to a bit of wear and tear and like to think it adds to the "story of the camera"
Great advice. Do you have any other platforms you produce content on? It would be great if we could post pictures to ask you questions and short reels etc. I am fortunate enough to live in Southeast Asia and I agree that Japanese sellers really deliver on condition and price. Wow! US prices are very high! I have a film store here with a 'junkies corner' who sells camera bodies for 10 bucks and lenses for 20. I have restored many of them and now have a decent collection thanks to your help. My film store has such a good deal on junk cameras the guy is literally sick of me showing up there. I learned about the AF series plastic cog era of cameras too. Personally, I like the fact that canon and Nikon diehards fight it out over such overrated chunks of metal. It leaves the real heroes of film available to us for cheaper.
I appreciate that! Everything is really expensive over here right now unfortunately, would love to poke around some of those film stores though and just scrooge mccduck dive into cameras. Happy to help grow your collection! You can reach out on instagram @rompingbronco I try to be good about checking DM's but I've been spread a little thin lately and yeah there are some folks that are just blindingly loyal to their brands so more power to them haha
Great info. I think you miss one brand which is pretty cheap and they use a great lens system. The brand is Ricoh. I currently have the XR 7 and the KR-5superII. I would also recommend Nikkormat's; build like a tank and almost indestructible.
Ricoh is a great brand, I was more referring to the "common" cameras but a lot of Ricoh's are just rebranded versions of other cameras so they're usually a great deal and if I recall they also use the K mount. I would hesitate to recommend Nikkormats though they can be incredibly unreliable, when they work they are great but I wouldn't trust one myself. Thanks for the comment!
Hey there RB! how do you deal with the mercury battery/light meter issue on the SRTs? You mentioned that they have a good light meter so I assume you rely on it to some extent. Some have talked about adding a diode to get down to the rated voltage, or just using a Wein cell, which is pricey and lasts only months. I'm just trying to get educated and have little experience at this point. Cheers.
Thanks for the comment! I did a video a while ago on mercury batteries and my takeaway is that there is a power discrepancy but it's equivalent to around maybe a half a stop so nothing to really stress about. Weincells are pricey so I'd avoid that and if you don't feel entirely comfortable with the meter I'd recommend getting a light meter app on your phone! I hope that helps and thanks for the comment!
What would you say is a fair price for a minolta srt 101? I have found two in my local flea markets for about 35 - 40 $. The reason for not buying them was not knowing them enough and not really having the money for it rn.
I would say depending on the quality of the camera that's a great price for a working on, I would just check the shutter speeds is you can and make sure the mirror isn't getting hung up. If it comes with a lens then that's a great deal. Thanks for the comment and I hope you go for it!
In defense of Nikon EM: it may not work but it looks beautiful on shelf 😆
Oh believe me I have many many shelf cameras haha
Weird, here in Australia you see AE-1s and K1000s going for more than FMs and Nikkormats, which is just nuts. And yeah, an F4 is an absolute bargain in comparison. Agreed that the best option for a newcomer wanting a cheap starting point is a late 80s/early 90s Canon EOS. Dirt cheap, easy to use, huge lens availability and most still seem to work without issue unlike most Pentax MZs (mirror gear) and consumer Nikons (alkaline battery damage).
What really blows my mind is when AE-1 Programs sell more than A-1s
I think it’s hype tax. Beginners are recommended traditional beginners models like the k1000 (rightly so, they were college staples for generations) or see videos from the US where Canons seem to be a consumer favourite. But there are plenty of other manual mechanical cameras. I’d say a k1000 or spotmatic are still great options. k mount lenses are really nice and Spotmatics are so ridiculously plentiful they’re a bargain still.
me who loves my OM-10: 😢😢😢
As long as you like using it that’s all that matters! Thanks for the comment and apologies for my harsh opinion
You've been reported to the authorities for misleading the public and spam and just wasting our time.
That was 10 minutes of wrong trivial information.
What is this an audit? I appreciate the feedback and hope you can find the content you’re looking for elsewhere
Canon EOS3000v Nikon f80, they may not be classics or endorsed by useless trandseters, but they are cheap, they have the best mechanics and the best electronics, made for shooting not for tinkering and fating "technicians" pockets.
Not to say that semi +/- profesional cameras from the 90's or '00 are TOP and again. AFORDABLE. and not broken
I recently started watching your videos and I find you very funny. I already followed you on ig and I really like your photos
I appreciate that a bunch! I love your photos as well