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 Plytheman
   
Location: Lawrence, Massachusetts
Obey The Deer
 |  |  | What Camera(s) should I get for my Birthday?
< on 3/29/2006 6:45 PM >
|  | | | (I had this post almost finished when my browser crashed, so I'll be brief this time around)
Seeings as my birthday is coming up in May, I was thinking about getting a couple older cameras off eBay. I have about $100 to play with, so I figure I can get two older popular models off eBay in working condition for that much.
I'm thinking of getting a rangefinder like a Zorki since they're all over eBay and dont cost a whole lot. Maybe I'll get a medium format camera too since I've been wanting to get into larger format film. Holga's are pretty tempting (and trendy) but a twin reflex camera would be a lot of fun to shoot with (I'd imagine, at least).
I could also just get one camera and buy a light meter since the battery in my OM1 is as old as the camera and I dont think they make that size of battery anymore, so that'll run out eventually.
So for all you experienced photographers who have used a good deal of these cameras, what do you think I should get?
Some of the cameras I've been musing over:
Holga (probably end up getting a new holga)
Zorki (like a leica, but there are about 300 of them on eBay and not too expensive)
Mamiyaflex (for that twin lens reflex goodness)
Agfa (getting real old school, folding camera with bellows and all that)
Hopefully next year I'll have access to a dark room and be able to develop my own film, so there are only three deciding factors for me. I want a camera that I can still find film for (35, 120), it can't be too expensive, and if it's a medium format, a camera that's good to learn on.
Thanks for reading all this crap =P
I'm achin, I'm shakin, I'm breakin, Like Humans Do!!
-Byrne |
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angeloks
 
Location: Montreal, QC
Gender: Male
"To me, a camera is a license to explore."– Jerry Uelsmann
| | Re: What Camera(s) should I get for my Birthday?
<Reply # 1 on 3/29/2006 7:23 PM >
| | | | Well, I enjoy a lot my Minolta X700. You can get a X570 for 20-40$ on ebay. Minolta MC lens aren't expensive and of very nice quality.
For myself, I got the 50mm 3.5 Macro MC lens, the 135mm 2.8, 28mm 2.5. The X serie batteries are easy to find (every drug store has them). The body is small and rugged. There's a led display inside the viewfinder (I wouldn't buy a camera without that feature) : very useful in low light to see the metering of the camera without using a flash light or something...
Hope it helps... Buy a X570 with the 50mm 1.4 MC lens!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pekdeche/ |
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Myelin
  
Location: The End of Canada
Gender: Male
| | Re: What Camera(s) should I get for my Birthday?
<Reply # 2 on 3/29/2006 7:40 PM >
| | | | Posted by Plytheman
I'm thinking of getting a rangefinder like a Zorki since they're all over eBay and dont cost a whole lot. Maybe I'll get a medium format camera too since I've been wanting to get into larger format film. Holga's are pretty tempting (and trendy) but a twin reflex camera would be a lot of fun to shoot with (I'd imagine, at least).
Some of the cameras I've been musing over:
Holga (probably end up getting a new holga)
Zorki (like a leica, but there are about 300 of them on eBay and not too expensive)
Mamiyaflex (for that twin lens reflex goodness)
Agfa (getting real old school, folding camera with bellows and all that)
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ZORKI: Quality control is all over the map when it comes to Russian cameras. You have a 50/50 chance of getting a good working sample. Watch for the Zorkis made for export to the west, ie. models with western markings not cyrillic. They are generally thought to be of higher quality, if that's possible. Even then you'll have to contened with mis-aligned rangefinders, sluggish shutters, holes in curtains, etc.
HOLGA: I bought mine new from www.downtowncamera.ca a few years ago. I think I paid $35 CDN. Don't forget to pick up a roll of electric tape at the same time. It's a fun camera to experiment with. The pictures are creamy, distorted, full of light leaks, etc. Some accept it for what it is and enjoy the results, others hate it.
TLR's: Yashica is the name of the game if you want a bargain. Avoid the 124G. Collectors have driven its price up. The plain 124, Yashicamat, 12, 24, etc. can be found for around $100. There are lots of other Japanese-made TLR's out there, just make sure you aren't buying one with issues. Mamiya's are a bit big and clunky, assuming you might want to take it UE'ing and not shooting a wedding.
AGFA folders: NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! The lubricant that was used for the focusing mechanisms on many of those old Agfa folders is known for turning to glue. I've seen more than one Agfa paperweight with this problem. Some need a monkey wrench to get loose, and you know what happens when it finally does break free. If you do buy an Agfa folder, make sure the seller is clear about the functions all working correctly. Better yet, look toward Zeiss Ikon. The Nettars are the cheapest, going for $20 or so. The Ikontas are better, $75 to $100 but prices can vary wildly depending on many factors.
Finally...watch out with the eBay camera sellers though. There are honest ones out there, but there are also lots DUMPING broken cameras on folks like you and me out there looking for a bargain. There are only two or three sellers on eBay I trust enough to buy cameras sight unseen. If that $100 means alot to you then watch who you give it to on eBay!
www.keh.com is one place on the internet where most agree you'll get honesty in used gear, by the way.
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Nelles22
Location: Nashville, TN
Gender: Male
| | Re: What Camera(s) should I get for my Birthday?
<Reply # 3 on 3/31/2006 6:08 AM >
| | | | I'll second the Yashica recomendation for a TLR, i have been using a Yashica-D for about a year now and love it, produces amazing pictures.
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tron_2.0
Location: Ohio
Gender: Male
| | |  | Re: What Camera(s) should I get for my Birthday?
<Reply # 4 on 3/31/2006 2:51 PM >
| | | | get a canon ae-1. they usually run 50-100 with or without lens depending. that camera right there will last you years.
[quote][i]Posted by yokes[/i]
I find your lack of coziness.... disturbing.
[/quote] |
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Plytheman
Location: Lawrence, Massachusetts
Obey The Deer
| | | Re: What Camera(s) should I get for my Birthday?
<Reply # 5 on 3/31/2006 4:38 PM >
| | | | I already have an OM1 with a couple lenses and another OM1 body (in almost perfect condition) that needs a a new focusing plane, so I'm looking for something a little different than SLR.
Yashica is sounding pretty good right now, and maybe if I have some money left over I can pick up a Holga to fuck around with... Yashica takes 120 film, right? I'm gonna have to stock pile that shite before it disappears completely from the market...
Thanks for all the advice so far! Now I just need to not get ripped off on eBay...
I'm achin, I'm shakin, I'm breakin, Like Humans Do!!
-Byrne |
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Ian
This member has been banned. See the banlist for more information.
Location: The County of Kings
Gender: Male
"Great architecture has only two natural enemies: water, and stupid men."
| | Re: What Camera(s) should I get for my Birthday?
<Reply # 6 on 3/31/2006 4:51 PM >
| | | | Posted by angeloks
Hope it helps... Buy a X570 with the 50mm 1.4 MC lens!
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Awesome - I use this system too.
Don't get one of the X370/570/700 bodies though, the XD11 sells for cheap, has more features, and doesn't have as much plastic (=doesn't fall apart as easily). In addition, it has a much better shutter.
Skip the 50mm 1.4 MC, and get the 4-element 50mm 1.4 MD - it's sharper (I have 4 50mm lenses for this system; still waiting on the 1.2)
Other lenses I absolutely love from this system:
- The 100mm 1:1 macro. This lens is *super* clear, and can do AMAZING macro work.
- The 35-70mm Rokkor-X zoom. For a zoom, this thing is remarkably clear. It stops from 3.5-22.
- The 28mm 2.8 MC lens. For some reason, I get much better results with this than the much newer 28mm 2.8 MD.
I have 7 bodies and ~25 lenses for this system; these are my favourites for exploring.
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mortimer
Location: teronno
| | | Re: What Camera(s) should I get for my Birthday?
<Reply # 7 on 3/31/2006 4:57 PM >
| | | | | I already have an OM1 with a couple lenses and another OM1 body (in almost perfect condition) that needs a a new focusing plane, so I'm looking for something a little different than SLR. |
I was going to point out that until you did...the OM1s are nice little machines. They had some good quality glass available. Eugene Richards shot most of Coccaine True, Coccaine Blue on those.
As for tlrs, if you can actually find one, I have a Kalloflex tlr that's as good as any Yashica or the cheaper Rolleis, picked it up for $50 at a junk shop. It's taken a pretty good beating, but there's nothing wrong with the Yashicas either.
If you're looking for the toy camera look, Holgas can be cool, although you could just get a real camera and crinkle some saran wrap over the lens if you want out-of-focus shots, crinkle extra on the outside for vignetting.
| Yashica takes 120 film, right? I'm gonna have to stock pile that shite before it disappears completely from the market... |
Yes it does, and I wouldn't worry about stockpiling yet, there's still many pros out there shooting 120. Until the Phase backs drop under the $10,000 mark and come with 20 Gb internal hard drives I'm sure that will continue to be the case. I would almost go as far as to predict 35mm film disappearing before 120. Almost.
Have fun with whatever you end up getting.
yep. |
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Myelin
Location: The End of Canada
Gender: Male
| | Re: What Camera(s) should I get for my Birthday?
<Reply # 8 on 4/1/2006 1:10 AM >
| | | | Posted by Plytheman
Yashica is sounding pretty good right now, and maybe if I have some money left over I can pick up a Holga to fuck around with... Yashica takes 120 film, right? I'm gonna have to stock pile that shite before it disappears completely from the market...
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Yes, the Yashica TLR's take 120 film (with the obvious exception of the Yashica 44).
No you don't need to worry about stockpiling 120 size rollfilm. It has been on the market for over 100 years now, and it will be around for a long time to come.
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nd31
| | Re: What Camera(s) should I get for my Birthday?
<Reply # 9 on 4/1/2006 1:40 AM >
| | | | I'd worry more about stockpiling some money to pay for the film developing/processing. 
Holgas are fun.
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RedDragon
Location: Southern New Jersey
Gender: Male
UE Master Of Your Mom
| | | | Re: What Camera(s) should I get for my Birthday?
<Reply # 10 on 4/1/2006 2:27 AM >
| | | | How much does it cost on average to process 120 film ?
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Axle
Location: Milton, ON
Gender: Male
Sieg oder Tod
| | Re: What Camera(s) should I get for my Birthday?
<Reply # 11 on 4/1/2006 2:39 AM >
| | | | Minoltas are great cameras, I've been using Minoltas since 2001 when I got a '69 Hi-Matic 7s, and now run an X-7A system.
But you're looking for a non-SLR, then go Rangefinder, great cameras.
Celer at Audax
Para la Victoria Siempre Alemanes! |
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Myelin
Location: The End of Canada
Gender: Male
| | Re: What Camera(s) should I get for my Birthday?
<Reply # 12 on 4/1/2006 3:07 AM >
| | | | Posted by ndillon31
I'd worry more about stockpiling some money to pay for the film developing/processing.
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A 500mL bottle of film developer such as Ilfosol should run you under $10. That will do eight rolls - more if you use an economy dilution ratio. Buy in larger bottle sizes, and the price goes down acordingly. Indicator stop bath, again under $10 for a 500mL bottle. And that will last for dozens of rolls or printing sessions. I can't remember what exactly I pay for Rapid Fixer but it too is cheap, and I buy it in 1L bottles. It lasts for many sessions and can be re-used over and over, unlike one shot developers. Photo flo is cheap and lasts so long I can't even remember how long I've had the same bottle around. All in all, once you have a home darkroom and its associated expenses aside, the chemicals aren't that bad. Printing can be a little more expensive BUT no more so than digital photo paper and inkjet cartridges for those photo printers.
Now if you bring your 120 film to a lab, like I do with my colour work, that might seem pricey. But the results you get from medium format negatives & prints are well worth it.
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nd31
| | Re: What Camera(s) should I get for my Birthday?
<Reply # 13 on 4/1/2006 5:30 PM >
| | | | Exactly, but I meant instead of buying 120 film in excess. ;)
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Myelin
Location: The End of Canada
Gender: Male
| | Re: What Camera(s) should I get for my Birthday?
<Reply # 14 on 4/1/2006 5:31 PM >
| | | | OK sorry I misunderstood.
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nd31
| | Re: What Camera(s) should I get for my Birthday?
<Reply # 15 on 4/1/2006 9:16 PM >
| | | | No need to be sorry.
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