As a senior citizen of the film camera era, I have often been asked over the years for camera recommendations, both pro and con, and I agree with the video comments in general. While agreeing that any camera where the basic functions are dependent on electronic is going to be theoretically more at risk of failure from aging than its all mechanical counterpart, the bogeyman of "but it's electronic" is these days much overplayed. My primary camera system is the Pentax 67. I have three bodies, two being 6x7 (more than 45 years old) and one 67II (more than 20 years old). I bought all used. The 67II has never been serviced. The two 6x7 were fully CLA'd and calibrated around 25 years ago. All are electronically dependent. I have never had a failure of any kind from any of them, admitting that none are heavily used. The Fuji GA is a similar situation. The fixed, prime lens versions (4) and zoom lens version are all fully electronic; all singing, all dancing as it were. The only one with a known issue is the zoom version, GA645Zi (the last camera I bought) for a poorly routed data flex cable, which can be broken by misuse of the film door hinge. (Was easily avoidable by Fuji, but was not). It's repairable, both for parts and knowledgeable labor, but that's not cheap. Of course, the easier course is avoidance: don't stretch the damn cable when you load or unload film. I tend to be watchful of the issue, and I had never heard anyone, anywhere, report an electronic failure in the other four GA models, or in the GA645Zi apart from the data cable issue. I'm sure there are some examples of failures, but not enough to make it an issue. I do not think the same can be said for the vast number of consumer point-n-shoot cameras sold in the 1980s and 90s.
I agree. I've had the same concern about electronics in cameras, and especially in auto-focus lenses. And yet, my Canon A1 is 44 years old and works as well as the day I bought it. Same with my Canon T90 which I bought when it was released, though the LCD on the Command Back has some edge bleed. I haven't heard of landfills filling up with auto-focus lenses and old DSLRs, either. It's fair to say my fears were unjustified.
Totally agree. Plus, fully mechanical cameras are not beginner friendly at all. I have a Minolta SLR from early 2000's that is one of the most reliable cameras I've ever had, along with my Olympus XA. That being said, I wouldn't pay a thousand bucks for a vintage point-and-shoot. And that's where a camera like Rollei AF comes into play.
Considering the age and either the increasing need for CLA or possibility of component failure without the ability to repair, I view prices of too many cameras as being unrealistically high. Doesn't matter if mechanical, electronic or the brand or model. All too expensive.
One that should be on the list is the FM3a. If their metering system gets shot, there’s practically no parts available. I tried to be slick and bought one with a broken meter, and after a year taking it shop to shop, I found out that there were basically no spare parts made for it. Now I’m left with the world’s most expensive FM2.
I agree the FM3a is a gamble, there was a shop in the midwest near chicago I spoke to a while ago that said they had a surplus of meters but they were unwilling to sell them or tell me the cost of repair which I imagine is exorbitant so I would stick with an F3 or and FM2
Funny because the A-1 was the top of the A line and was too expensive at the time for me to get. Now the AE-1 is more expensive. Crazy. The A-1 has that nifty complication in the dial when you switch between modes. One of the coolest things in a camera. Maybe matched by how the OM-2 switches between automatic and manual in the viewfinder.
A-1 story. In the 1980s, a prior college roommate of mine who had moved for work to the ass end of nowhere (Barrow, Alaska), asked me to recommend a good camera for him. Being a Nikon guy, I couldn't recommend a Nikon, became he's want to borrow lenses, and he was careless with his stuff. So we bought him a Canon A-1 with 50mm lens. He'd go out with the native folks in open boats on seal and walrus hunts. He got some fairly good National Geographic type shots. I printed a series of exhibition color prints for him. When he died recently, his obituary praised his qualities as a photographer. Like most of his things, he had lost the camera in the 1990s and never replaced it. To the day he died, he never knew his ass from an aperture. All praise to the A-1. (How could he lose his camera? Well, how could he lose his student's flight logbook 90% of the way to a private pilot's license? Never flew again.)
the system i use for years: a canon eos 500n with a pancake 40mm canon ef. The body cost like 20euros, it might break but i use one since 2 years without any problem. If it breaks, it's still less expensive than a roll of portra 400... and i found other bodies on flea market for 10 or 20 euros, so if it breaks i still have a body. and i have a body with ISO 400, one other with ISO 100, one other with b&w... i feel the image quality with this pancake lens is as sharp as a 24x36mm could ever be. the viewfinder is not very good, but i think this is still better than contax t2, olympus mju, etc... you can also buy any eos body from the late 90s and early 2000's, that will do the job perfectly without the anxiety of investing 1000$ or more in a camera that could break at any time. just my 2 cents :)
The Soviet camera take is real, I was looking to buy a Zenit 122 like 3 months ago for like 30 USD, now they are selling for 100 USD, which is ridiculous.
I'm curious myself what Alex thinks of these cameras, I like the FTb n QL Big pro is low cost, mechanical features, lots of great glass, ! con is the 1.3v battery for the meter, you can have the circuit adapted to use modern batteries and have the camera CLAed to ensure it functions reliably, it is a heavy bulky camera, that is not something that I mind, it's no heavier than many of the "built like a tank" cameras out there, but some prefer smaller lighter cameras. I am sure Alex would hav way more insight here.
@@jonjanson8021 I would mostly agree, but the AE-1 is a fairly solidly built camera and the shutter speeds remain fairly consistent decades later, I do also like the A1 but understand it is not as reliable in the number they still exist out there, there were several other A series cameras that haven really peeked my interest. I do have several F series cameras, an F1n, FTb, a couple FTb-ns as well as an EF and what I believe was the best FD mount of them all the T90, again I understand the electronic cameras have their issues but the T90 is a spectacular camera with fantastic metering,
I have an FTbn and it's a good, solid camera. I saved a stash of mercury batteries and kept them frozen but it seems that didn't work out, so I bought one of those cells that takes a 1.5V battery and reduces the voltage to 1.35V. It works, but I do need to get the camera a CLA and the meter adjusted.
@@javaman4584 it;s funny you mention those batteries I have a few that came in cameras that are miraculously still good and still have one in a package that survived on a hook in a convenience store for the last 30 years and actually still has 1.359v. I have used the new wein cells as well but they don't last long
All luxury point and shoots have flex cables that go to the lens leaf shutter and those things bend and bend and bend and one day they just break. Contax T2/T3/TVS, Nikon 28/35Ti, Minilux, all of 'em. There are a handful of dedicated technicians that will work on them but the waitlists are long. Heck, even my Leica III took six months to get back. Mechanical cameras can jam and break too. I've seen actuator arms that have the slightest bend to them totally stop a camera from working. Plenty of them have been serviced with the wrong lubricants so things seize up. I have had the "virtually indestructible" Nikon FM jam on me and the "problematic 40 year old electronic" Nikon FG out -shoot it.
I thought that your comments were very interesting. The Canon A1 interests me greatly, but as I am fully loaded on the Pentax K (and m42 mount) I cannot justify buying into it. I agree with your comments on the K1000 as well. I have the KX which is a lovely camera and cost a fraction of the price.
A couple weeks ago I bought my first film camera and I couldn't be happier. I bought a Olympus OM 2 n with a Zuiko 50mm in absolutely perfect condition for ~80€ with shipping! Just been to Paris and took amazing pictures, love it!
Lately I've been scouring the ebay auctions for lesser known 80s point and shoots because a lot of them have decently fast prime lenses and are very cheap. (Under $50 a lot of times) I just got a Sears M35 (rebtanded Ricoh AF5) for $15 shipped.
It's time for film, I mean rangefinder! I've dabbled in film for the last 5 years, and by dabble, I've shot well over 300 rolls (mostly bulk rolled b/w) and the rangefinder experience one I've been lusting over for since year 1. Straight up, though, I don't have Leica money, but I also don't want to buy something I know I would want to upgrade from like the canonet ql17 (which seems like a great camera, but a lot of people upgrade from it). I've shot a lot of film, I know I enjoy shooting and will continue to do so, so I'm looking for a solid rangefinder camera. So here's the question: Minolta CLE? Have you seen many Minolta CLE's bite the dust because of the reasons you've listed? Production was during 1980-1985 so they'd be ~45-50 years old now at this point, but it just checks all the boxes for me: "mid-range" in terms of cost, interchangeable m-mount so it can grow with me as my pocket book does, meter, aperture priority, and most importantly, compact/lightweight. I'm a dad so it needs to go in the chest sling along with the wipes and snacks. I know there's the Leica CL, but many features of that camera is just inferior to the CLE, aside from the one winning feature, a completely mechanical shutter. There are tons of other great choices but then they get a bit too heavy for a daily carry or have fixed lenses. TL;DR the Minolta CLE is a ticking time bomb, but have you seen them often die? Could you recommend an alternative in it's class?
Canon A1 has the same dependence on electronics doesn’t it? Mine seems to work ok, I’m still testing, except the shutter / aperture readout indicates settings that would way overexpose. It’s strange though, because shots in auto seem correctly exposed. Going to do some more testing with ektachrome so there’s less room for doubt.
Craigslist? Your experience is the polar opposite of my experience with FB Marketplace and Kijiji in Ontario. I've bought in person, and, product unseen, with me sending money by etransfer and hoping the seller ships (limited to $150). I've done on average, 1 a month for the last 3 years. Everything from $3000 for a Hasselblad, to $125 for a Minolta A-7. Never disappointed. If you know your stuff, and you live in Ontario, you're good. I suspect this is also a Canadian thing.
I fully agree that desired utility is the biggest deciding factor. To offer full disclosure, I also have an obscene collection of cameras that I have aquired to shoot and have had to service many og them. Some I might love a little more if they were more reliable and easier to service. I think I really enjoy the cameras that produce images that I find compelling, medium format really checks that box for me, Mamiya 645 pro TL offers really nice SLR or waste level shooting experience , Mamiya C22 with 80mm f2.8 is a fantastic TLR I love to shoot, the Yashicamat EM is another. I am a really big fan of Pentax cameras and glass and have a bunch of K mount and M42 cameras. I also really enjoy Canon and Minolta. I agree with the AE-1 being a very reliable and decent camera for beginners, I do like the A1 and AE-1P but there are problems I am sure you know, that can make these a bit disappointing for those buying used. Like the beautiful Canon EF that I purchased that has a shutter issue, I'm not complaining about the 85mm f1.8 that I got with it but the first shutter curtain doe not latch when advancing the film lever and it just drops, the second curtain fires and so the cameras sound like it works untill you open the back to see it operating, now I am digressing, that happens a lot when I start talking about cameras. This is a really big toppic that you could do a 3 hour podcast on and still not touch on everything. Still great subject for a video.
eBay = Craigslist (or local equivalent like Marktplaats in NL), there's an equal chance of being stiffed, just at inflated prices (at least, overhere given that our local used market is a lot smaller than on eBay), so in the local used market, you can find something out of an estate for little money. It remains a crapshoot though, these cameras are way beyond their life expectancy.
The funniest part of this list is I use both a K1000 and an Olympus stylus The difference is I got one for cheap at a second hand store and the other was a free hand me down
The fetishist, hoisted upon a pedestal, angelic choirs will grace your photos reputation of the AE-1 is entirely undeserved in my opinion. There are dozens and dozens of cameras with far better capabilities, far better reliability than an AE-1 usually for a lot less money. As mentioned, the A-1 is vastly better if you must have a Canon FD camera. I've always found the AE-1 clunky compared to almost anything else. In the year after its initial introduction, it was hard to beat, but it was most definitely beaten repeatedly in the following years by so many cameras.
Is your opinion of soviet cameras based entirely on one brand of medium format? It seems a bit disingenuous to say they're all bad based on that. Like any other 60 year old camera- get one that's been serviced, and you'll have years of great performance.
No I have a lot more experience with them than that and my opinion is that broad strokes they are fine cameras just overpriced at times and there are more technicians that will work on german or japanese film cameras than the soviet ones
@@RompingBronco There is something to be said for sellers capitalizing on the resurgent interest in film photography and pricing them higher than what was typical five or ten years ago. I think I misinterpreted what you meant in the video. Sorry about that.
1) In this year so far I bought 2 vintage cameras. The one I've bought off the Craig's list is still going strong, despite it being slightly damaged (the price was adjusted), while the one I bought in the second hand store (battery driven) crapped after just one roll, so... It's a gamble in any direction. But I'll admit, there's a whole lot of scammers on the Craig's list, even in my part of the world. Lucky for me, that what I'm looking for I know in and out, and prices too 😉 2) Those Soviet cameras that I have, I've inherited 😇 3) Back in the day Soviet glass was considered on pair with East German ones, and even some from the west. However, even back than East German cameras where considered way better and nicer than Soviet ones, at least in the SLR department... 4) F*** all vintage electronically driven film cameras unless you have to pay less than $50 for it...
I own mostly Minolta cameras; a 1973 srt-101, x-700 (Japan mfr) from the film era. Both functional after 1/4 century storage. Demand drove MD lens prices up beyond practical but buying the 1985 thru 2000 slrs ( still functional ) with multiple prime lenses cheaper than one MD prime lens. The autofocus slrs will be what I use; most likely for a long time. I did buy a DDR slr with 50 mm still functioning. Finding original DDR lenses to fit my 1985 camera?
I just checked your website, it seems to be broken. The links on the top of the page are duplicated and they don't even go to another page. I'll check back later, thanks. 🙂
Mechanical systems wear and fail with use. If you put a mechanical camera on the shelf and don't use it it'll be fine in 100 years. Electronic cameras fail over time even without use. Electronic components are chemically based and therefore degrade and fail even without use. If you put an electronically controlled camera on the shelf, in 100 years it will be dead. Analogy.. There are plenty of very old mechanical watches around, but very few digital watches that are more than 20 years old. Digital watches have been around for 50 years or so. Electronically controlled means an electronic shutter and integrated electronic exposure systems. The Canon A series are now dying. The integrated circuits (chips) are failing and cannot be repaired as the chip is no longer in production. Mechanical cameras with ELECTRIC (not electronic) built in light meters are usually okay. If the meter fails the mechanical camera can still be used with an external light meter. Anything with auto or multi exposure modes with an internal microprocessor. aperture priority, shutter priority, PASM etc is way past it's design life and is gonna die. How many multi mode cameras end up in landfill? Millions. How many mechanical Leica's and Hasselblad's end up in landfill? None! So to sum up there are two kinds of electronically controlled cameras. Those that are dead and those that are gonna die. Buy them, but keep the price low and enjoy them as long as they last.
Add cars to that list. Integrated circuits control everything in those vehicles and I doubt many will be collectibles like 1960s American cars. BTW, my 1990s electronic Ricoh slr died in its sleep sometime during the last 25 years in storage. So far, my other electronic cameras still function. However, I also own functional mechanical cameras - mostly Minolta but also including Kiev 88s and model 60. Recently I bought several Minolta 1985 to 2000 era slrs because each functioning camera with multiple prime lenses was much cheaper than the cost of one prime MD lens.
As a senior citizen of the film camera era, I have often been asked over the years for camera recommendations, both pro and con, and I agree with the video comments in general. While agreeing that any camera where the basic functions are dependent on electronic is going to be theoretically more at risk of failure from aging than its all mechanical counterpart, the bogeyman of "but it's electronic" is these days much overplayed. My primary camera system is the Pentax 67. I have three bodies, two being 6x7 (more than 45 years old) and one 67II (more than 20 years old). I bought all used. The 67II has never been serviced. The two 6x7 were fully CLA'd and calibrated around 25 years ago. All are electronically dependent. I have never had a failure of any kind from any of them, admitting that none are heavily used. The Fuji GA is a similar situation. The fixed, prime lens versions (4) and zoom lens version are all fully electronic; all singing, all dancing as it were. The only one with a known issue is the zoom version, GA645Zi (the last camera I bought) for a poorly routed data flex cable, which can be broken by misuse of the film door hinge. (Was easily avoidable by Fuji, but was not). It's repairable, both for parts and knowledgeable labor, but that's not cheap. Of course, the easier course is avoidance: don't stretch the damn cable when you load or unload film. I tend to be watchful of the issue, and I had never heard anyone, anywhere, report an electronic failure in the other four GA models, or in the GA645Zi apart from the data cable issue. I'm sure there are some examples of failures, but not enough to make it an issue. I do not think the same can be said for the vast number of consumer point-n-shoot cameras sold in the 1980s and 90s.
I agree. I've had the same concern about electronics in cameras, and especially in auto-focus lenses. And yet, my Canon A1 is 44 years old and works as well as the day I bought it. Same with my Canon T90 which I bought when it was released, though the LCD on the Command Back has some edge bleed. I haven't heard of landfills filling up with auto-focus lenses and old DSLRs, either. It's fair to say my fears were unjustified.
Totally agree. Plus, fully mechanical cameras are not beginner friendly at all. I have a Minolta SLR from early 2000's that is one of the most reliable cameras I've ever had, along with my Olympus XA. That being said, I wouldn't pay a thousand bucks for a vintage point-and-shoot. And that's where a camera like Rollei AF comes into play.
Considering the age and either the increasing need for CLA or possibility of component failure without the ability to repair, I view prices of too many cameras as being unrealistically high.
Doesn't matter if mechanical, electronic or the brand or model.
All too expensive.
One that should be on the list is the FM3a. If their metering system gets shot, there’s practically no parts available. I tried to be slick and bought one with a broken meter, and after a year taking it shop to shop, I found out that there were basically no spare parts made for it. Now I’m left with the world’s most expensive FM2.
I agree the FM3a is a gamble, there was a shop in the midwest near chicago I spoke to a while ago that said they had a surplus of meters but they were unwilling to sell them or tell me the cost of repair which I imagine is exorbitant so I would stick with an F3 or and FM2
@@RompingBronco Yup, I’ll probably end up selling it and get either a F2 or F3. It’s a beautiful camera, but just not for me at the end of the day.
Funny because the A-1 was the top of the A line and was too expensive at the time for me to get. Now the AE-1 is more expensive. Crazy.
The A-1 has that nifty complication in the dial when you switch between modes. One of the coolest things in a camera. Maybe matched by how the OM-2 switches between automatic and manual in the viewfinder.
A-1 story. In the 1980s, a prior college roommate of mine who had moved for work to the ass end of nowhere (Barrow, Alaska), asked me to recommend a good camera for him. Being a Nikon guy, I couldn't recommend a Nikon, became he's want to borrow lenses, and he was careless with his stuff. So we bought him a Canon A-1 with 50mm lens. He'd go out with the native folks in open boats on seal and walrus hunts. He got some fairly good National Geographic type shots. I printed a series of exhibition color prints for him. When he died recently, his obituary praised his qualities as a photographer. Like most of his things, he had lost the camera in the 1990s and never replaced it. To the day he died, he never knew his ass from an aperture. All praise to the A-1. (How could he lose his camera? Well, how could he lose his student's flight logbook 90% of the way to a private pilot's license? Never flew again.)
@@randallstewart1224 For a Canon manual focus, the FTb, EF, and F1 old and new are best. They've aged better, and had fewer problems.
the system i use for years: a canon eos 500n with a pancake 40mm canon ef. The body cost like 20euros, it might break but i use one since 2 years without any problem. If it breaks, it's still less expensive than a roll of portra 400... and i found other bodies on flea market for 10 or 20 euros, so if it breaks i still have a body. and i have a body with ISO 400, one other with ISO 100, one other with b&w...
i feel the image quality with this pancake lens is as sharp as a 24x36mm could ever be.
the viewfinder is not very good, but i think this is still better than contax t2, olympus mju, etc... you can also buy any eos body from the late 90s and early 2000's, that will do the job perfectly without the anxiety of investing 1000$ or more in a camera that could break at any time.
just my 2 cents :)
You are not wrong at all, keep in mind though that these point and shoot cameras are tiny and discrete and very fashionable. .
The Soviet camera take is real, I was looking to buy a Zenit 122 like 3 months ago for like 30 USD, now they are selling for 100 USD, which is ridiculous.
Been looking at the Canon FTb-n to add to my Canon collection… and pros or cons?
I'm curious myself what Alex thinks of these cameras, I like the FTb n QL Big pro is low cost, mechanical features, lots of great glass, ! con is the 1.3v battery for the meter, you can have the circuit adapted to use modern batteries and have the camera CLAed to ensure it functions reliably, it is a heavy bulky camera, that is not something that I mind, it's no heavier than many of the "built like a tank" cameras out there, but some prefer smaller lighter cameras. I am sure Alex would hav way more insight here.
Ftb is a way better bet than the later electronically controlled A series.
@@jonjanson8021 I would mostly agree, but the AE-1 is a fairly solidly built camera and the shutter speeds remain fairly consistent decades later, I do also like the A1 but understand it is not as reliable in the number they still exist out there, there were several other A series cameras that haven really peeked my interest. I do have several F series cameras, an F1n, FTb, a couple FTb-ns as well as an EF and what I believe was the best FD mount of them all the T90, again I understand the electronic cameras have their issues but the T90 is a spectacular camera with fantastic metering,
I have an FTbn and it's a good, solid camera. I saved a stash of mercury batteries and kept them frozen but it seems that didn't work out, so I bought one of those cells that takes a 1.5V battery and reduces the voltage to 1.35V. It works, but I do need to get the camera a CLA and the meter adjusted.
@@javaman4584 it;s funny you mention those batteries I have a few that came in cameras that are miraculously still good and still have one in a package that survived on a hook in a convenience store for the last 30 years and actually still has 1.359v. I have used the new wein cells as well but they don't last long
All luxury point and shoots have flex cables that go to the lens leaf shutter and those things bend and bend and bend and one day they just break. Contax T2/T3/TVS, Nikon 28/35Ti, Minilux, all of 'em. There are a handful of dedicated technicians that will work on them but the waitlists are long. Heck, even my Leica III took six months to get back.
Mechanical cameras can jam and break too. I've seen actuator arms that have the slightest bend to them totally stop a camera from working. Plenty of them have been serviced with the wrong lubricants so things seize up. I have had the "virtually indestructible" Nikon FM jam on me and the "problematic 40 year old electronic" Nikon FG out -shoot it.
I thought that your comments were very interesting. The Canon A1 interests me greatly, but as I am fully loaded on the Pentax K (and m42 mount) I cannot justify buying into it. I agree with your comments on the K1000 as well. I have the KX which is a lovely camera and cost a fraction of the price.
A couple weeks ago I bought my first film camera and I couldn't be happier.
I bought a Olympus OM 2 n with a Zuiko 50mm in absolutely perfect condition for ~80€ with shipping!
Just been to Paris and took amazing pictures, love it!
Lately I've been scouring the ebay auctions for lesser known 80s point and shoots because a lot of them have decently fast prime lenses and are very cheap. (Under $50 a lot of times) I just got a Sears M35 (rebtanded Ricoh AF5) for $15 shipped.
It's time for film, I mean rangefinder! I've dabbled in film for the last 5 years, and by dabble, I've shot well over 300 rolls (mostly bulk rolled b/w) and the rangefinder experience one I've been lusting over for since year 1. Straight up, though, I don't have Leica money, but I also don't want to buy something I know I would want to upgrade from like the canonet ql17 (which seems like a great camera, but a lot of people upgrade from it). I've shot a lot of film, I know I enjoy shooting and will continue to do so, so I'm looking for a solid rangefinder camera. So here's the question: Minolta CLE? Have you seen many Minolta CLE's bite the dust because of the reasons you've listed? Production was during 1980-1985 so they'd be ~45-50 years old now at this point, but it just checks all the boxes for me: "mid-range" in terms of cost, interchangeable m-mount so it can grow with me as my pocket book does, meter, aperture priority, and most importantly, compact/lightweight. I'm a dad so it needs to go in the chest sling along with the wipes and snacks. I know there's the Leica CL, but many features of that camera is just inferior to the CLE, aside from the one winning feature, a completely mechanical shutter. There are tons of other great choices but then they get a bit too heavy for a daily carry or have fixed lenses. TL;DR the Minolta CLE is a ticking time bomb, but have you seen them often die? Could you recommend an alternative in it's class?
keep it going! Love these thoughts. Ive always been an advocate of the Canon AV-1 instead of the A1 but im biased :)
Canon A1 has the same dependence on electronics doesn’t it? Mine seems to work ok, I’m still testing, except the shutter / aperture readout indicates settings that would way overexpose. It’s strange though, because shots in auto seem correctly exposed. Going to do some more testing with ektachrome so there’s less room for doubt.
Craigslist?
Your experience is the polar opposite of my experience with FB Marketplace and Kijiji in Ontario. I've bought in person, and, product unseen, with me sending money by etransfer and hoping the seller ships (limited to $150). I've done on average, 1 a month for the last 3 years. Everything from $3000 for a Hasselblad, to $125 for a Minolta A-7. Never disappointed.
If you know your stuff, and you live in Ontario, you're good. I suspect this is also a Canadian thing.
I fully agree that desired utility is the biggest deciding factor. To offer full disclosure, I also have an obscene collection of cameras that I have aquired to shoot and have had to service many og them. Some I might love a little more if they were more reliable and easier to service. I think I really enjoy the cameras that produce images that I find compelling, medium format really checks that box for me, Mamiya 645 pro TL offers really nice SLR or waste level shooting experience , Mamiya C22 with 80mm f2.8 is a fantastic TLR I love to shoot, the Yashicamat EM is another. I am a really big fan of Pentax cameras and glass and have a bunch of K mount and M42 cameras. I also really enjoy Canon and Minolta. I agree with the AE-1 being a very reliable and decent camera for beginners, I do like the A1 and AE-1P but there are problems I am sure you know, that can make these a bit disappointing for those buying used. Like the beautiful Canon EF that I purchased that has a shutter issue, I'm not complaining about the 85mm f1.8 that I got with it but the first shutter curtain doe not latch when advancing the film lever and it just drops, the second curtain fires and so the cameras sound like it works untill you open the back to see it operating, now I am digressing, that happens a lot when I start talking about cameras. This is a really big toppic that you could do a 3 hour podcast on and still not touch on everything. Still great subject for a video.
eBay = Craigslist (or local equivalent like Marktplaats in NL), there's an equal chance of being stiffed, just at inflated prices (at least, overhere given that our local used market is a lot smaller than on eBay), so in the local used market, you can find something out of an estate for little money. It remains a crapshoot though, these cameras are way beyond their life expectancy.
Staying with Konica then.
The funniest part of this list is I use both a K1000 and an Olympus stylus
The difference is I got one for cheap at a second hand store and the other was a free hand me down
The fetishist, hoisted upon a pedestal, angelic choirs will grace your photos reputation of the AE-1 is entirely undeserved in my opinion. There are dozens and dozens of cameras with far better capabilities, far better reliability than an AE-1 usually for a lot less money. As mentioned, the A-1 is vastly better if you must have a Canon FD camera. I've always found the AE-1 clunky compared to almost anything else. In the year after its initial introduction, it was hard to beat, but it was most definitely beaten repeatedly in the following years by so many cameras.
Is your opinion of soviet cameras based entirely on one brand of medium format? It seems a bit disingenuous to say they're all bad based on that. Like any other 60 year old camera- get one that's been serviced, and you'll have years of great performance.
No I have a lot more experience with them than that and my opinion is that broad strokes they are fine cameras just overpriced at times and there are more technicians that will work on german or japanese film cameras than the soviet ones
@@RompingBronco There is something to be said for sellers capitalizing on the resurgent interest in film photography and pricing them higher than what was typical five or ten years ago. I think I misinterpreted what you meant in the video. Sorry about that.
1) In this year so far I bought 2 vintage cameras. The one I've bought off the Craig's list is still going strong, despite it being slightly damaged (the price was adjusted), while the one I bought in the second hand store (battery driven) crapped after just one roll, so... It's a gamble in any direction. But I'll admit, there's a whole lot of scammers on the Craig's list, even in my part of the world. Lucky for me, that what I'm looking for I know in and out, and prices too 😉
2) Those Soviet cameras that I have, I've inherited 😇
3) Back in the day Soviet glass was considered on pair with East German ones, and even some from the west. However, even back than East German cameras where considered way better and nicer than Soviet ones, at least in the SLR department...
4) F*** all vintage electronically driven film cameras unless you have to pay less than $50 for it...
I own mostly Minolta cameras; a 1973 srt-101, x-700 (Japan mfr) from the film era. Both functional after 1/4 century storage.
Demand drove MD lens prices up beyond practical but buying the 1985 thru 2000 slrs ( still functional ) with multiple prime lenses cheaper than one MD prime lens.
The autofocus slrs will be what I use; most likely for a long time.
I did buy a DDR slr with 50 mm still functioning. Finding original DDR lenses to fit my 1985 camera?
@@robertcuny934 Depends where you live. There's a ton of DDR & Soviet lenses here in Europe...
@@tomislavmiletic_I will check, but I am in USA so shipping plus price may be prohibitive.
@@robertcuny934 Yeah that can be a major deterrence...
I just checked your website, it seems to be broken. The links on the top of the page are duplicated and they don't even go to another page.
I'll check back later, thanks. 🙂
The website is a work in progress unfortunately, if you have any questions feel free to reach out via email!
@@RompingBronco Thanks.
Mechanical systems wear and fail with use. If you put a mechanical camera on the shelf and don't use it it'll be fine in 100 years.
Electronic cameras fail over time even without use. Electronic components are chemically based and therefore degrade and fail even without use. If you put an electronically controlled camera on the shelf, in 100 years it will be dead.
Analogy.. There are plenty of very old mechanical watches around, but very few digital watches that are more than 20 years old. Digital watches have been around for 50 years or so.
Electronically controlled means an electronic shutter and integrated electronic exposure systems. The Canon A series are now dying. The integrated circuits (chips) are failing and cannot be repaired as the chip is no longer in production.
Mechanical cameras with ELECTRIC (not electronic) built in light meters are usually okay. If the meter fails the mechanical camera can still be used with an external light meter.
Anything with auto or multi exposure modes with an internal microprocessor. aperture priority, shutter priority, PASM etc is way past it's design life and is gonna die.
How many multi mode cameras end up in landfill? Millions.
How many mechanical Leica's and Hasselblad's end up in landfill? None!
So to sum up there are two kinds of electronically controlled cameras. Those that are dead and those that are gonna die. Buy them, but keep the price low and enjoy them as long as they last.
Add cars to that list.
Integrated circuits control everything in those vehicles and I doubt many will be collectibles like 1960s American cars.
BTW, my 1990s electronic Ricoh slr died in its sleep sometime during the last 25 years in storage.
So far, my other electronic cameras still function.
However, I also own functional mechanical cameras - mostly Minolta but also including Kiev 88s and model 60.
Recently I bought several Minolta 1985 to 2000 era slrs because each functioning camera with multiple prime lenses was much cheaper than the cost of one prime MD lens.