5 underrated and cheap 35mm film cameras under $100 in 2020
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- Опубликовано: 2 июл 2024
- Film cameras and film, in general, is getting pretty expensive. So I decided to go over 5 - 35mm film cameras that I think are reliable, underrated, and inexpensive (aka cheap). They may sacrifice a little on ease of use or having the option to shoot fully automatic, but still provide you with reliable settings and the option to shoot with or without an in body light meter. Lastly, they give you the option to upgrade your body or lenses if you decide to stick with them down the road. I am not at all saying these are the only or the best options out there since that is very much opinion-based. Let me know your thoughts down below and also what other camera options you think fit the criteria.
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I thought finding a 35mm to start out with was gonna be simple, but never mind. I’m just sinking more more into these videos and it’s overwhelming
Haha it is simple! Any one of them will do and get you started. It’s just once you get a feel for it you can fine tune exactly what you want. Ask any questions you may have
It's easy dude. There's TONS of them on ebay. I got a 60's Pentax Spotmatic with 2 lenses for $50 years ago and it's built like a Russian tank. Keep it simple and start out with a 70s SLR from Japan. They make the best cameras.
@@christopherwelch9438 Or a GDR camera like the Praktica BC1, plenty were made and you can get a m42 adapter from the PB mount for a great selection of lenses, I’ve had mine for nearly 2 years now and it works perfectly still. I picked it up with a 28mm f2.8, 50mm f1.8 and a 70-210mm f4.5/5.6 lenses with the PB mount for about £100 (~$150)
@@christopherwelch9438 Im very new but I want to get into this. After purchasing a camera of these kinds how can I get them digitally onto my phone to post? Is it quick and easy to do?
Unlike digital cameras that tend to do one thing or another better, any manual 35mm film camera will do the same things any other 35mm film camera will do. There are exceptions on the fringe but those functions such as the need for pin registration for multiple exposures in a graphic arts environment really are better accomplished with computer graphics now. I used to make title slides for television production, for example, but computers do the job better, cheaper and faster nowadays.
Stay away from those f...ing Nikons, they smuggle their friends in. I bought FM few years ago and now there's 5 different bodies living under my roof.
lolol. So true. Seem to always be multiplying.
With Film, i do have these Issues with Contax and Yashica...it was only one, some decades ago....now there's a whole Familiy living under my roof...and they seem to grow anyway into more....must happen overnight, always...when i get these basterds....
Marc P. Lol
LOL ! They justify themselves with things like " I'll just share lenses with your DSLR, you'll barely know I'm here.." and
" my slightly more expensive friend here can work without any batteries "
Just an F3 haha. Well when you put it like that.
There's just something so solid about a film camera's mechanical shutter. Authoritative
Jim Mason haha very true
Yes, my Minolta SRT303 has a shutter that's music to my ears. I just love that sound when it snaps a picture.
Mom: we have Peter McKinnon at home.
*Peter McKinnon at home*
The Fujica ST901 is a cracking camera, though it's a little tall. The ST605 and ST705 share a chassis which is a little smaller than the 01's (701, 801 and 901). Feature wise, they're pretty much identical otherwise. Personally, I would rate the ST705 over the ST901 purely for the size aspect. Not as small as an OM1, but not far off and a fraction of the price.
With the lock on the lenses, the reason for the lock is for the open aperture meter coupling. If you are looking for one of these cameras or a compatible lens, look at the back of the aperture ring. There should be a small metal tab protruding from it backward towards the body of the camera. In some cases, people buy these lenses to mount on DSLRs and as the tab gets in the way, they file it off. If that happens, open aperture metering is a no-go.
Great video. I'm a Minolta guy and I was pleased to see that you mentioned one of the excellent SRT line. You made me consider buying that Fujica too. I subscribed to your channel after this. Thanks!
Zisis Kardianos thanks! Haha the SRTs are great. The X-700 was my first film camera and I still really enjoy it. Would love to get a x-1 or XM. Definitely look into the Fujica. Great. System for that price. Much appreciated! I shot the Minolta x700 with a 50 1.4 400iso pushed to 1600 with a prism filter a few weeks ago. Soon as I get some color dev I’ll get that done and share the results.
I fished out a Minolta SRT-101 from a junk box inside a used Japanese camera store around 8 years ago for 3$, still works like a charm today. Nowadays it's at least 10x the price, it's really insane how much film camera prices have gone up
All very true.
I was just going to mention the SRT101. In the early 70s, everyone I knew had a Minolta.
Did you think, that you would always be able to buy such a beautiful manufacture for pennies🤨? I'm so glad they went up in price😊 This is due to their creators. Out of respect for these extraordinary devices, I can pay as much as necessary. Each analog camera is an investment of capital. It will only gain in time. forget about the same with digital bodies. Plain electronic waste in hindsight
VERY thoughtful criteria, thank you for putting this together!
Thanks Viktor!
Excellent summary really good selection of stuff I've not come across before
Thanks Christian!
Great video man, just looking to get into film shooting for my own setup and your suggestions are all very good! Definitely subscribed! I’m looking at the Minolta XM-G, Pentax ME Super, and maybe the Auto S2. Never shot film before.
Careful, it’s addicting. Glad it helped! Let me know if you have any questions
Good instructions/advise, I have been using film photography since 1967 Junior High School and prefer the simplicity of manual cameras with an internal light meter; Pentax Spotmatic was my favorite.
Pedro Meza thanks Pedro. I’ve been using the Spotmatic a lot lately for travel and using the lenses in my Fuji as well. It’s a solid setup. I agree I much prefer fully mechanical and manual. Thanks for the input!
Your intro rolled, I immediately subbed and gotcha instagram lol amazing work!
🙌 you’re the best.
Great quality on the video, good work man
Thanks A lot! hopefully that continues.
Really great selection! Thanks a lot! You really showed me a few models i wasn't aware of yet. Another great M42 mount Camera i could suggest would be the Ricoh TLS 401 which has a switchable pentamirror system that lets you look through 2 viewfinders. One on the back (like on any normal SLR) and one on top. It's a little on the heavier side so if you don't want a camera that weighs too much, you may wanna get something else. It's also fully manual and only needs a battery for the lightmeter, that switches between 2 modes. It also comes in 2 colors. Silver or Black. The Black model seem to be a rarer to find than the silver model. The bigger prism casing reminds me a bit of a Nikon F2. Viewfinder is not super bright (because it's not a real glass prism) but you can still work work with it pretty well.
Just stumbled across your channel great stuff! Awesome to see more and more film related channels 🔥
Thanks man! Glad you enjoyed it
A good option at the higher end of the price range is the Canon EF. It's an electronic version of the "old" F-1 but didn't have support for exchangeable viewfinders or motor drives. It's extremely ruggedly built and you can find them for well under $100 (I got mine for $60). They have a more reliable Si meter as opposed to CdS. They can take 1.3V mercury or Zinc-air but have extremely convenient built-in voltage reduction circuitry to support alkaline or silver oxide batteries and maintain accurate meter function. Shutter-priority and manual shooting modes. Mechanical control for speeds above 1/2 s. FD lenses are supported by some great pre-EOS film cameras and can be easily adapted to mirrorless cameras too. Decent and inexpensive glass. It might not have been as widely produced as some other cameras though.
I was just telling someone else I prefer the Ef in the canon line. Although I got mine for about $15 at a thrift store I didn’t know they were so inexpensive. Definitely very underrated especially since it is fully functional without a battery. I thought it was well over 100 but I was definitely wrong
I've owned the EF and the F-1 and they have nothing in common except for some switches and levers. Internally they are completely different and the F-1 is a better camera mechanically. Also the F-1 meter, despite being CdS, is as precise as it gets.
I do have an EF as well bought with a Canon AV QF both for less then USD 60, the EF has a Copal leaf shutter.
I have had an EF since approximately 1979. It was totally reliable until I was stupid enough to break the exposure counter by accidentally turning it in the wrong direction.
I carried it all through the mountains of Nepal and India around 1980/1981. Before I bought it, I wrote everything that was written about it from when it came out until I decided to purchase it. One of my main reasons for choosing it was the shutter priority automation. I highly endorse it in every way, although today I would prefer aperture priority automation. It will accurately meter at levels too dark to see, all the way down to thirty seconds. At the time, reviews said it was the best meter made. The Canon lenses were faultless. I have a Canon 200mm f4, a 50mm f1.4, a 28mm f2, and a 20mm f2.8, the 20mm being my favourite, particularly on narrow Himalayan streets. Also, a 100mm Soligor which was good but not a Canon.
If you want a 35mm SLR, I would still endorse it, particularly for the price. It is a strongly built camera, the kind where you can feel how well it is put together. And I have and use Barnack Leicas and lenses, Contax IIa and lenses, and about a dozen Rolleiflexes, etc.
I now realized that I was just about to name every camera that I ever owned. Thanks for listening, and a Canon EF won't do you wrong in a 35mm SLR, if you don't mind the weight of a full-size camera.
And if you want an all manual rangefinder 35mm, don't overlook the Konica I and II.
Excellent video, as someone looking for good advice on where to start with film photography I got a lot from this. New follower, now to go through your other vids. Have a great day.
Jay C much appreciated Jay! Let me know if you have any questions.
Graham White will do Graham. Thank you for the offer. 🙌
+ for viewfinder screen overlay. - for waving the cameras around in the dark. But you did clip in some close-ups, thankfully
This video will help a lot for all people planing to switch into film photography good job :)
Much appreciated Allan. Trying to put out more helpful content like this for intro film shooters.
Awesome video, been looking for a M42 mount camera, gonna give the Fujica ST-901 a go. Thanks for the advice!!
It’s a solid option, thanks and enjoy!
just bought myself a Yashica Electro 35 as an entry to analog photography, love this thing!
solid pick! great camera.
I just picked one up too
Thanks for showing the viewfinders! It's the most overlooked aspect by camera reviewers these days
Thanks! I agree. I’ve never seen a review with that addition. Glad it was useful.
Plus 1. Subbed as soon as I saw the first viewfinder pop up. That's when I knew that you're alright
Nice to see the Minolta 201 getting some love. Yup, built like a tank. I've had one from new and shot an unimaginable number of rolls with it. If the shutter starts sticking in sub-zero winter landscape shooting get it cleaned and lubed and it will be good for another few decades. Everything else just keeps working. The lightmeter battery is unobtainable, the replacement is slightly less voltage so play with the F stops to find a compensation factor.
Ya I wish there was a solid option for those old Mercury batteries. To many great cameras rely on them
@@graham_white Just get one of the MR9 adapters. It has a built in resistor to lower the voltage to 1.35v with a modern 625 cell. I use them in all of my mercury battery cameras...
The 201 was the last SRT to have a depth of field preview and that is why I bought one.
Great video, and I can tell you put a lot of thought into the selections. I agree that prices for the most sought after cameras are getting a little out of hand. Why spend hundreds for a plastic point and shoot when small Nikon SLR's are practically free? I have not seen a working Pentax ME in years, but I know people do use them. The best deals these days IMO are Minolta Srt, and Canon F series. Also, cheap lenses in common focal lengths. I happen to like Konica SLR's but they are really a chore to repair and maintain, and parts are scarce. Best to stick to common and easily repaired models, all the old gear needs repair from time to time if you use it.
Thanks Jon! What you said makes a lot of sense. the SRT series definitely the most undervalued in my opinion, but they aren't exactly the most eye pleasing. I was really happy with how the ME super performed, but I have had my fair share of run ints with ones that aren't functioning. Im glad you mentioned Konica, I think that system is going to be the next up and coming one, the glass is great and the cameras aren't to bad, but like you said, they are kinda scarce and I think most have fallen to disrepair because they weren't "high end" bodies and were disregarded. Love your input.
Really like that you showed accurate views through the viewfinders. I have three Nikon bodies: Ftn Photomic, FM, and FG. I'm a camera junkie though will be keeping my eyes open for a good example of a Fujica ST901, which I rather like from the video. Always been intrigued by good screw-mount SLR's; what with the plethora of good screw-mount lenses available.
Thanks Thomas! I feel like that's something that gets overlooked a lot when it should be discussed since it varies so much between bodies. the F line is a great system.... I have too many of them ha. Glad to hear it! Yeah even the cheap Fed lenses are actually pretty nice image wise if you get one that's accurate. Lots of options for sure, Thanks for the input.
Found a good screw-mount 35mm SLR: Honeywell Pentax Spotmatic with 55mm f1.8 Super Takumar lens, in excellent condition with the fitted ever-ready case for it. Seller tossed in a Tamron 28mm f/2.8 lens for $5.00 (also in excellent condition) and a Sunpak flash for free for total cost of $47.00. Buying 'vintage' photo equipment can be a crap shoot but in this case the seller was completely honest when he said the camera, lenses and flash were good solid user equipment. The camera works great and the 55mm lens yields sharp images with excellent color rendition..easily one of my best 'normal' lenses. A local 'Craigslist' find and a great addition to my camera collection, so I'm a happy camper.
Well thought out video.....I bought a Chinon CG-5 only a few weeks ago for £28.00 .in great condition Japanese build quality and as it has a k mount you can put great Pentax lenses on it. I Would also recommend the Olympus OM 10 fantastic glass and easy to handle.
I have a fe OM-10s I need to repair so I can use. I’ve heard nothing but good things and yes definitely a good deal. Honestly have never played with the chinons or done much research into them. I am intrigued they have that mount though. Definitely makes it more appealing. Thanks for the tip
Thank you! This is really useful 😊
Miguel Ángelez El Romanardo anytime! Glad I could help
I had the ME Super when it first came out. It was a great camera that served me until it died.
It is a great little camera
My first SLR was a Nikon EM that I got in perfect condition with a series E 50mm lens for $45 total. A very very capable camera at that price. Somehow by luck I was gifted an Olympus OM-2n (my favorite fully featured yet compact SLR). Sadly I sold the EM. I wish I kept it around as a beater, it was an amazing sidekick for quite a while.
I really like how compact the EM is, its a great grab n go SLR and a very capable backup. thanks for sharing!
Excellent video 👍🏼. I have soo many 35mm cameras SLR stored hoping film cameras comeback .
Thanks Greg! I think they are making a comeback for sure. There are so many viable and affordable options to pick from so this is only a small sample for sure,
I will check to see what all I have, they have been stored in a temperature control storage. Im 70yrs old and my expiration date is not too far down the road and I need to let them go.
Hi Graham. Great and informative vid, thank you. I'm surprised that you didn't find a Canon to include there. Ftb is a good, cheap plain body and FD glass is superb. Only an observation, not a complaint!!
I actually have one of those and a FT. I haven’t shot them however and rarely see them so I wasn’t sure I’d build quality lacked or if they had poor light meters or simply were not highly desired. I assume it’s similar to a Minolta srt? Just didn’t want to include it before I knows more about it. I definitely want to do another video with other options. Thanks!
I really appreciate that Pentax used open lens mount systems: both m42 and K. That means there were lots of m42 (like the Fuji in the video) and K-mount cameras from competitors that don't get mentioned much anymore.
For example Ricoh built some terrific K-mount cameras (m42 as well) that can be had for $10. My favorite is the KR-10 Super. These were rebranded by many retailers including Sears (KSX Super). Electronic, lightweight, manual and aperture priority, great VF and ergonomics. I've had a dozen or so go through my hands and haven't found one that didn't work perfectly. Ricoh kit lenses (also rebranded as Sears) are very good and very cheap, and you can always step up to Pentax glass.
Another manufacturer that followed Pentax from m42 to K was Chinon. The m42 Memotron series featured shutter speeds up to 1/2000 sec and aperture priority that worked with almost any m42 lens.
Chinon's CM-4 and CM-5 (K-mount) are also worth mentioning. Small, plastic, lightweight, all manual and all mechanical. If you like the mechanical K1000, but don't like the price or the weight, the CM series is terrific. Chinon cameras aren't the most common, but they're not exactly rare, and they're a super cheap way to buy into the m42 or K system.
wow thanks for all the valuable information Nathon. Ya my issue with Ricoh and Chinon is they are hard to find in good shape (from my experience) cause they were low end and not as highly sought after so they aren't taken care of as well. But I have heard the glass for both, more so Ricoh, is quite exceptional. I did pick up a Ricoh 50 recently so I am curious to try that since I believe it is the K mount as you mentioned. Thanks again for sharing!
@@graham_white You're right. They are relatively low end. However, what I've found is that a lot of non-photographers bought them, thinking that a "real" camera would take better pictures than their Instamatics. They do, but only if you know how to use them. I think many people got frustrated with the SLR, chucked it in the back of the closet, and never touched them again. Many that I've seen are actually in mint condition because they're never been used.
Either way, it's a cheap was to get started in film photography, and if someone decides they enjoy it, they can upgrade to name-brand Pentax cameras and lenses because of the open mount system.
Pentax did not intorduce the M42 mount, that was by Zeiss and it seemed to be an open standard. Pentax did introduce the K mount, and they made it an open standard.
Great video! Very informative
marlan henry thanks man
Weldone man, it was great, keep it up.
Gailan Haji thanks, glad you think so. Will do!
I've bought two Minolta SRT 101's from ebay over the last year, both under $60 and both working almost completely aside from the lower speeds on one of them. If you're looking to get into film photography I would highly recommended one of these, and they have a great selection of lenses as well. As he said in the video, the 200 series has a better focusing prism, but in my experience this has really only been a problem when using wide angle lenses.
Completely agree. I should have just stayed the SRT line in general cause any of them will work superbly as you said with minor differences
Reliability, system & price - Canon Ftb, simple solid, no pitfalls, full mechanical, (in the dark you need a hand held meter).
This is probably one of the best videos I’ve seen, very real with the features and prices!
Dude, much appreciated. Wanted to give more feature info but also didn't wanna make it a 25 min video. will do individual overviews next!
I have all of these and you made good choices. The shutter apeed and aperture on the lens on the Konica is similar to what Olympus used on their excellent Zuiko lenses.
nice, thanks for the approval! ha
Great list Graham. I learned on a borrowed Minolta SRT for my photography I class way back in 1990 and it's a great camera. Something I'd add to your list is the Asahi & Honywell Pentax Spotmatics. They came before the K series (K2, KM, K1000 etc) and are identical to them except Pentax switched to a bayonet mount lens. The Honeywell is just a rebadged Asahi for the American market. They come with M42 Super Takumar lenses that would work on the Fujica you talk about. No one wants the spotmatics so they're cheap and extremely durable... I've had 2 for 20 years and they work unfailingly.
V true. Those Honeywell’s get overlooked. Assuming people think they aren’t as good or something
@@graham_white I don't know. A camera store guy read me the riot act for using a 60s Asahi Pentax Spotmatic because it was an outdated system. 20 years ago I paid $50 for it and got 2 lenses and a lens hood. And it's unfailingly reliable and the meter is still 100% accurate. Still using it today. Go figure.
The Konica Autoreflex T3! Sharp images, extremely sturdy build, and lenses are incredibly cheap as the mount style is so underused. Inherited one from my grandfather and I love it
Personally really like that Konica glass.
@@graham_white And if you're lucky, you may find one with the Hexanon 40mm, f1.8. What a sweet lens!
All the Autoreflex cameras don't get their due. Sleeper legends.
Thanks for the great video, Graham!
зоркий федя thanks for engaging!
Great suggestions! Too many videos pick the cult cameras or expensive medium format gear. Your video is a lot more realistic.
The Fujica SLRs are all good: 601,701,801, 901 etc., and they use regular LR44 batteries for the meter (and not obsolete mercury batteries.)
The Pentax ME Super is excellent and with many lens options. I like the electronically controlled blade shutter better than the K1000's mechanical silk shutter. The older ME is basically the same camera but without the manual override for the shutter speed. The SuperProgram (or Super A) is the the same again but adds automatic aperture control. However it needs "A" series lenses to be fully automatic. With M series lenses the SuperProgram is functionally identical to the ME Super.
The Minolta SRT series cameras are excellent, fairly cheap, have great Rokkor lenses, but do use 1.35v mercury cell batteries. There are several options for substitute batteries or simply use an external meter (or an iPhone meter app.)
The Konica Auto S2 is a sweet camera with an excellent lens, but I would only buy one with a guarantee or in person. They are leaf shutter cameras and can have slow shutter blades due to old gummy oil. A CLA on a leaf shutter camera can be costly.
Nikon EM - Great camera & plenty of lens options.
Other suggestions: Ricoh KR-5 series cameras (Pentax K-Mount) Chinon CE or CP series cameras (also Pentax K-Mount) Pentax P series cameras, and Canon T-50.
If shopping online, avoid descriptions such as: untested, have no way to test, worked last time I used it, might need a little work, and especially "as is." All those basically translate to broken.
true on all accounts. Appreciate it! Try to choose options that are much less known.
@@graham_white Thanks. I forgot to add the Mamiya/Sekor TL & DTL. Built like the Minolta SRT cameras and can be really cheap. Internal light meters sometimes work but if not, go external or iPhone light meter app.
Practikas are also pretty good shouts, where I am they are super cheap still and rarely are broken
The Konica Auto S, S2 etc. leaf shutters can often be freed up/cleaned with a single drop or two of naphtha fluid (zippo lighter fluid). I've done a dozen of them. Works for many other of these small RF leaf shutter cameras. They're gummed up from disuse, not damage.
Also - and maybe this is just me - I avoid the cheaper Chinon SLRs (the later AE and program ones from late 70s early 80s) like the plague. I've had too many come through my hands that just aren't worth trying to save. Really unreliable internals in my experience.
I stil use my Cosina CT1G from the early 80's, my first SLR after inheriting my dad's cheap italian Leica copy. It still works fine - and does things like night shoots that my Lumix compact won't! OK the battery case is held together with tape, the plastic's cracked and it's lost a screw from the top plate, it just keeps on trucking. If it breaks I'll just look for another K mount manual camera (like a Cosina!)
amazing finds man. The choice of the fujica is really clever. Loads of good lenses to choose from without the need to adapt.
Thanks Zain! Ya I think that makes it a pretty obvious option especially with its newer body but same solid build style as the old classics. But not very well known at all.
Randall Stewart thanks for that info! Ya I really like the setup on this camera but as you said downside is internal metering (if that’s important to you) and I haven’t seen any lenses outside 50mm so that makes sense. Have you used anything outside a 50mm? Curious on image quality. Kinda want to find one now that you brought it up haha.
Randall Stewart I think I read in the manual that you can meter with 3rd party lenses but you have to take meter readings in stop down mode, which can be locked at least on my 801.
beautifuly made videos! thanks a lot for the list!
Thanks Paul!
Excellent video Brutha...
Baruch Cohen 🙏🏻 thanks man!
Great detail in simple way... Nice!
Thanks again as always man.
@@graham_white you're welcome
I seeds a EM with a Series E 50.1.8 or 28/2.8 qw m2 Street camera fir tears. A little black electrical tape over the white lettering makes it quite unnoticeable.
Hey. Thanks for taking the time to talk about old 35mm film cameras. I miss using my all black fg and lusting after the F3hp. I just wanted to tell you, you have great film presence and a nice voice. Lose the cheesey royalty free background music. You don't need it. It just detracts from your content.
I owned two ME Supers and loved them. Superb lenses (especially the 50mm F1.4). I also owned the fully manual MX (in black, with the optional 5fp motor drive), also superb. I miss them....
I really want to try out the MX. I hear nothing but good things.
@@graham_white If you can find one you won't be disappointed. I loved the huge viewfinder and depth-of-field preview. It also has interchangeable focussing screens (if you can find them!). If you can get the SMC-M 50mm f1.4 lens too.... photo heaven.
Noted!
These cameras were all from when I was in middle school to high school. I couldn't afford any of them, but I read photo magazines, which had ads, and lusted over them. When I finally got into college and saved up around $200, I was finally able to buy one. I had settled on the Pentax mount, had even bought a couple of lenses, so which body did I buy? The Ricoh XR2s. It wasn't compact like the Pentax M series but it had a shutter speed dial. Unfortunately, I found out later, if it got even slightly damp (the Maid of the Mist ride), the electronic shutter would lock open (managed to fix it with a hair drier). Used that camera for many years. Around 1999-2000 I discovered a lot of those cameras and lenses I was lusting after 20 years previously were now available on E-bay cheap, and I ended up with quite a few, mainly Pentax and Ricoh bodies and lenses of all sorts. I found out the hard way about leaking foam and sticky diaphragms, though. I still have this stuff packed away somewhere, together with a bunch of film (including bulk 35mm movie film) bought off eBay in my fridge. Maybe I will take them out someday. Sort of difficult to get film processed anymore, though.
Interesting but about the damp part. Film isn’t to hard to get processed. It’s made a comeback. There are 4 labs not to far from me 3 opened up within the past 1-3 years and plenty take shipping. I develop my own most times now
@@graham_white Yeah, the cameras with electronic shutters of this era (e.g. the Pentax ME but not the MX) used some form of resistance-capacitance (RC) circuit to measure time - when they get damp it shorts across the capacitor. In the case of my XR2s it would lock the shutter open (which meant if you rewound the film without putting the lens cap on it would fog the entire roll). It happened twice, once on a canoe trip, which resulted in a big repair bill, the second time I took a hair drier I borrowed off the motel's manager to it and it started working again after a half hour. Otherwise the camera was a champ - I can't remember what happened to it in the end, I think it just wore out. Around here (Malaysia) all the minilabs processing C-41 are gone - I'm sure I could find one if I looked but 20 years ago they were everywhere! Maybe I should dig out my old Paterson tank and changing bag, and shoot some B&W (I have several bulk rolls in the fridge).
I have an SRT 201. You're right. It is a tank and that shutter has a great, audible "slap". It's comical and fun.
So true
I would throw my vote for any camera in the Nikkormat series! They were first made as a prosumer SLR around the time of the Nikon F (1965) and accepted all of the pro lenses that the F and F2 used while remaining very budget friendly. I picked up my FTn two or three years ago for around $50, and you can grab a good non-AI (or pre-Ai depending on the listing) 50mm f/2, f/1.8, or f/1.4 for $20-$60 on eBay! Great little mechanical camera that's still my go-to 35mm camera!
completely agree. I still find myself going to my Nikon F2 most of the time cause I know it will never fail me. but you can't beat the price point and reliability of a Nikkormat series.
I recently bought one of these and it came with a 50mm lens. I am trying to shoot simple and easy, going with a Nikon F body and the Nikkormat. One lens and 1 roll of film.
I am planning to get the Canon Ti so I can throw my EF glass on it. However, the fully mechanical Film Cameras not even needing the battery and the price makes it really appealing
The canon ef is a great option to go along with your canon glass. Great pricing to. Also the tx but that’s a very low end version.
You should include the EL2 as a great walk around camera too. I own this camera at home.
And they go pretty cheap so I agree
shh please don't tell anybody
I've just randomly pick a film slr from eBay for $250..just because of its mint condition and it's brand..but after reading the reviews about it.. I'm glad i did the purchase..my Nikon FE with 50mm f1.4 and 28mm f3.5 is currently on its way..and it comes with a vintage yellow camera strap too!..😁
Tauffik Hassan ya. You can’t go wrong with that investment at all. More affordable than a lot of other options, but wouldn’t exactly say it’s on the cheap side either
Subscribed! 👌🏻
Much appreciated! the 2021 version is coming soon!
Great video, next time can you please include the names of the cameras in the description? I don't know about everyone else but I was struggling trying to spell out these cameras 😂. Otherwise fantastic video!
Wilbert Chew good point! I can always add that here shortly.
A nice alternative to that Konica Auto S2, without need for a battery to use the meter, would be a Petri 7s. The f/1.8 lens is very sharp (older versions had f/2.8, I've never used one of those), focusing and exposure controls work almost identically to that Konica (including same aperture and shutter speed range), the (self-powered selenium) meter is in the lens surround so it reads through any filter you might install -- and it's about the same size as the Konica. Get one that works well ($15 to $40) and it'll last many years, and they can still be cleaned and lubed by competent camera repairers at a reasonable cost.
No, you can't have mine.
Haha. I’ve seen a few of those pop up but don’t know much about them or if they are any good. May have to look into them a bit more. Thanks!
im still a beginner, , my only SLR at the moment is a Zenit 122. Picked it up for the equivalent of $25 in Brazil with the Helios 44M lens. Amazing gear to start in film photography
that lens is going to get you some fantastic results
Great video !
Thanks Warren!
I bought a Minolta SRT 303 with a 50mm Standard lens in minty cond on 3/25/2023. For about $80. It's an Amazing camera.
they are fantastic
Hi might be worth mentioning the Minolta SRT takes the older 1.35v batteries . As do some older cameras so a little research is required before buying on eBay .
valid point. there are options available though for batteries. But yes not only can these older batteries be expensive but also hard to find or not available at all anymore.
Yashicas are still cheap ! You can always upgrade later to Contax/Zeiss and keep them as backup bodies. Yashica FX and FR bodies are easy to find and the ML glass is awesome.
You can also get a Yashica 230AF and some autofocus primes for less than 100USD, they arrived late in the game and couldn't keep up with the competition. The 24, 28, 50 and 60mm primes are all very sharp and contrasty !
solid options. I like my FX3. the body build quality seems really cheap but gets good results. seems to be around the $100 range.
Nice video, still use my Minolta SRT201 that I bought in 1975, works great! Surprised not to see a Nikkormat. Great info. Thanks!
tom C those SRT’s will outlast us all ha. I and a huge fan of the Nikkormats and they were definitely in the running. But I’ve noticed they seem to be all priced at 100 or more recently which is surprising to me since you can get a Nikon f for not much more than that. So I went with the EM instead. Thanks for the support!
My dad recently gave me his old 201 that he bought in 1977. I absolutely love it!
Rasmus Sedenmalm Porali nice! It’s a very solid camera
@@graham_white It sure is. Great video btw!
Rasmus Sedenmalm Porali thanks!
I love the 701.
Love videos like this - you give some fantastic recommendations that get the hell away from AE-1 and K1000! 😄
Couple notes - 5:10 Konica Auto S2 has maybe the nicest viewfinder window of any similar camera; wicked bright and large like you said but don't forget the automatic parallax AND field of view correction! 😄 It's amazing how ahead of its time it was and many modern RFs don't do this as well. Konica, Canon, Olympus etc were all making 35mm rangefinders for some time and it was a cat-n-mouse game, but of all that I've used Konica's are the most consistent quality and though I'm guessing, I think they had the most of them over the years. Konica's great stuff gets overlooked and forgotten nowadays since everyone seems to assume Canon and Nikon have always been top-of-class. Very much not the case. Konica is great stuff.
Konica Autoreflex Autoreflex SLR cameras (T ,T2, T3, T4, TC) *really should be on your list* somewhere, maybe twice.
You get to shoot Hexanons with them.
Three best Canon AE-1 alternatives IMO are:
Konica Autoreflex TC and/or T4 (my biggest recommendation) **shutter priority auto-exposure but full manual mechanical operation too!
Topcon IC-1 (these are seriously CHEAP and the build quality and glass is outstanding) **shutter priority-auto-exposure electronically controlled.
Pentax Super-Program / Super-A - full program modes aperture or shutter priority, electronically controlled. wicked bright viewfinders.
You can pick up the *Pentax Super Program* for about the same amount of money as the ME Super(also called Pentax Super-A in some markets), and it's just as easy (or nearly) to find. The Super Program viewfinder is one of the brightest, easiest manual focus screens I've ever seen. It's bananas.
Anyhow. That's enough. Cheers man - awesome vid! New shooters NEED this info.
I own a Praktica SuperTL3 and its a pretty good camera. For only the body, i paid less than 40 dollars.
By the way, good pictures on IG. You should also keep posting and updating content on RUclips 👌🏻
those are kinda nice, are they built well? Ive seen a few online but not as common around me to find so I have never looked at one up close. Thanks! ha yeah I need to update more regularly. Thanks for the accountability haha.
Yes, it’s a very well structured, heavy camera. I bought mine on ebay on a seller called life_through_lens, in case you want to take a look at some bargains
@@miguelarbrito I will have to check that out.
Pentaxian here.
Pentax Program plus/Program A. Full auto or manual, Pentax K mount lenses and around $30USD.
That is a good option, a friend of mine has one but personally I’ve never seen one pop up in any of my searching. Except of course for eBay. At least where I’m at I find the M & ME super much more commonly available
Get the SRT202 to get a visible lens aperture in the viewfinder
Art Tafil oh nice. Noted. Thanks for the input!
I love this video. I personally just got the Mamiya sekor 1000dtl for just under 30$. I already have two m42 Mount lenses the helios 44-4 and a Vivitar 85-205. I guess I’m a little biased when it comes to m42 but I love the camera so far it just what I was looking for and a great price too.
The mamiya sekor is a very good budget friendly option. Not really sure why price on it is so low have been meaning to research and find out not sure if it’s built quality or the lenses for that particular body. But if it’s an M 42 mount it doesn’t really matter
It feels like a steal for the price I got it because everything works on and it has good build quality. It’s quite strange
Great video. Would be really informative/helpful if you showed samples of photos after each camera description for a little bit of visual content. But awesome otherwise. Always looking at film cameras.
Thanks Daniel! I debated that, didn't want it to get to heavy or long. Will be doing videos on each camera in the near future for sure.
That Pentax ME Super is a great value! It’s a nice entry into those excellent Pentax lenses. I use mine as a second body to my MX.
Totally agree, great value and the glass is also very nice. I actually have a few MX bodies I need to repair and will be interested in trying out. They look very similar to the k1000 as far as function and settings.
Graham White I think the MX is a mini version of the KX. But, the K1000 is practically the same. What sorts of issues due your have with your MX cameras?
@@JP1050x ya I thought they looked just about identical except for the name. could be just updated prism and meter but haven't looked much into it yet. I haven't fully diagnosed them yet (I have a long list of camera repairs) but I know one has a stuck film advance, both need new seals and general CLA I think another has some rust problems. Both were part of larger camera lots full of needed repairs.
i prefer the MEsuper over the MX..almost the same viewfinder but a lighter body and the max shutter speed of 1/2000
Edoardo Battistini as long as you don’t mind an all electrical shutter besides 1/90 yes I would agree
What a great video! I have the Minolta X-700 with the same MD lens.
Thanks Jan! the X-700 was my first film camera, its definitely a good one to have with that lens
@@graham_white It's mine first too. Shot it for the first time on a trip to Iceland.
My only gripe with the lens is I struggle to nail close focus (portraits). Don't know if it's the lens, or the hands? :D
@@jankubat2694 I am thinking its the focus system and less so the lens. I believe its split image which is hard unless you have a very defined line to go off of (eye, lip etc) and then recompose. I have had the same issue on other cameras that have that system.
super helpful!!
shreya basu glad to hear it!
I've been shooting a Zenit TTL that I got for £25 with a Helios lens and it's holding up nicely, would definitely recommend. Only issue is that the light meter works based off of GOST and not ISO so it should technically be slightly off but I've never noticed any issues.
Jack Walker I have two bodies. One has a busted asa button (but works) and the other stuck shutter and haven’t fully diagnosed. I like them and I enjoy shooting my zennit, but I just don’t trust the Soviet/Russian quality control.
@@graham_white ohh yeah tbh i have heard that one i guess they're a bit hit or miss just didn't think of that
@@everythingwasstrange4445 It's a shame because they are pretty cool. glad you got a good one haha.
@@graham_white glad you had fun while your ones lasted dude
Never forget the Praktica/revue cameras. Got one for 13€+shipping.
I like the praktica line. Less common here in the states so I haven’t come across to many and haven’t gone digging through eBay.
I'd like to know how u get your videos to look like this... Like this cool barky type of mood you have going on. Is it some type of preset?
Minolta HiMatic 7s ...... it reminds me of the Konica ..... I paid $30 for mine .... great vid!
WaywardAce thanks for the recommendation! Appreciate the support
How does this dude only have 1600 subs? Those videos are very informative, calm and pleasing to watch. I don't get it.
Please keep going man.
dude, thanks a lot. greatly appreciated. much more to come.
I thought he has 1,65 million, he looks like a professional!
An͋gȅlos͍ hahaha. Thanks
The reason for the lens lock on the ST901 is to hold the aperture ring in alignment relative to the aperture follower for full-aperture metering. Because of this, the threaded part of the mount is separate from the front mount plate and spring-loaded to compensate for wear.
Non-EBC Fujinon lenses can be used with exposure metering- the depth of field button must be depressed to stop down the lens first. The same method is used for using bellows, extension tubes, etc. with EBC Fujinon lenses, as those accessories have no way to couple to the aperture follower. The 901 does not have a full range of mechanical speeds- only 1/1000 to 1/60 and Bulb, with slower speeds timed electronically.
Ya better explanation of what I was saying about the locking pin. Didn’t know it would work by using the depth of field button, good to know. That is rather odd about the lower shutter speeds though. I didn’t even bother to check because I’ve never heard of something like that.
@@graham_white In other words, with any other brand M42 lens, it'll work just like any other M42 camera would -- stop-down metering for automatic lenses, and manual stop-down for the very early non-automatic aperture lenses.
@@graham_white- It's fairly common in AE cameras of this era. Shutter speeds lower than the flash sync speed (shutter fully open at once) are timed electronically because that eliminates the slow speed geartrains that delay the second shutter curtain. Higher speed slit width is set as on fully mechanical cameras.
Not all do it, though. The Pentax LX has mechanical upper speeds, but the ME Super only has mechanical X and B. The Nikon F3 likewise has only X and B without battery power.
One camera, the Nikon FM3A, has a full range of mechanical speeds when set manually (1 to 1/4000), and has electronically timed speeds (8 to 1/4000) on Auto.
Notice on the ST 901 that there are actually two pins, one large and one small. The smaller pin is pressed in by any non-EBC Fujinon lens, telling the meter it's a different type lens. Pushing the DOF button is still necessary, of course, to get the correct amount of light through for the meter to read.
I bought my first SLR in 1970. It was a Canon TL and I believe I paid around $300 for the body and maybe $250 for a 35-135mm Canon f3.5 FL zoom. Today, you could probably find that kit for around $65. There are tons of great deals and you don't have to spend a fortune to get a high quality camera with excellent glass. Spending 10-20 time more on a camera, won't guarantee you better results. Think of it like a car, a $5000 car will get you to work, so will a $100,000 car. Status and brand comes into play in camera gear. I see a lot of videos on the Contax T3, $3000 for a used point and shoot camera. If you have money to burn, I guess, go buy one.
Agreed. Hyped cameras won’t get you any better results.
I'm collecting a lot of M42 and M39 cameras, but my beautiest of all still the father of all slr cameras is the Ihagee Exakta varex (VX) and still in very good shape and working order.
love those. have wanted one for a while just looking for a good deal.
I'm glad you didn't include the mentioned K1000 - over-hyped and sellers are asking up to $250 now. The ME-Super is not equivalent to the K1000, it's introduction was 2 generations later and the K1000 was old tech even when introduced. The auto/manual eqivalent of the K1000 was more like the K2 - a super camera but expensive. The K1000 was really a Spotmatic with a bayonet mount, and Spotmatics are much cheaper.
Very true
My camera of choice is a Canon AE-1 with two lenses, 50mm and 28mm. As a second body - for a 2nd emulsion - I am using a Canon F1.
Excellent choices
The Olympus OM-1 is supported by a full system of strobes, lenses and other accessories. You can still get one for around $100.00 in good condition. They are the first design of small full featured manual 35mm SLR cameras. Olympus was the company that started the compact 35mm SLR camera revolution in the early 70's. The Pentax ME and MX, the compact series Nikon EM and FA etc were all spinoffs of the OM-1 and later OM series cameras through out the 70's, 80's and 90's. The viewfinder on the OM-1 was at it's time of release the brightest and largest percentage of image view. Offering interchangeable screens and a mirror lock up feature not found on many other brand's basic models. Can you tell I'm an Olympus FAN?! Hahahaha.
Lol I have a few om10z that need repair but haven’t come across a good om body at a decent price yet but I am very interested for those obvious reasons you stated. The OMs are fantastic. Just slightly more than the ones I brought up in this vid price wise though. But I think it’s 100% worth the slight extra cost
Excellent video. Incredibly knowledgeable gentleman. I still have my Olympus OM 2n and you are right about the growth of film use. Price for film and processing getting cheaper. By the way, there is something oddly satisfying not being able to look at a screen on the back of a film camera to see if you’ve made a masterpiece or a mess!
Thanks Tony! Yes I am hoping pricing continues to drop on the development side, the tech just hasn't been improved in so long to try and do that. And yes, It makes you focus on nailing the shot the first time instead of adjusting settings and taking 10 shots until your happy with exposure and THEN taking the shot. takes a bit more skill and know how.
great stuff. love the konica but i hate cameras that take mercury batteries. the correct adapters are usually twice the cost of the camera and i hate thinking about how many stops i might be off. I would throw in any Yashica from the late seventies mid eighties. like the Yashica fx-3 2000. these are usually all over ebay cheap and in good condition. they take modern batteries and they were a consumer grade camera so more than likely it went through a few rolls a film a year and went into the closet. There plastic bodied so not tank like durability but the build quality is excellent. Thanks!!
Ya I really don't like the mercury batteries either, but I pretty much just shoot manual so its not a big deal for me.
Probably not easy to find in the US, but the Chinon range of PK mount SLRs are very well specified and ridiculously cheap.
The range includes fully manual, auto/manual including program on some.
Not super common (at least in my area) I would think possibly up north New York etc would be more available. I have been eyeing those to see how they are.
Picked up a pair of Olympus OM's, a 10 & 20 Aperture Priority with 50mm F1.8 & 35-70 F4 glass for £35 in a charity shop. Both near mint. Use the 10 for colour and the 20 for B&W. Had lots of fun until the price of film went up by nearly 200%.
Cheap to buy the chemistry still so not all bad. Have to wait till the wife goes out to use the bath to warm the mix tho'.
Hahaha. That’s a solid bargain! Ya I develop my own when I shoot a good amount. Haven’t been shooting as much lately so it’s cheaper to send off. And I have the same issue with the tub lol.
I would add the OM-10, OM-20 as budget versions of the OM-1, OM-2 (also not that expensive). Tiny size compared to other SLRs of the time, huge viewfinder and awesome glass :)
Michael Prior true. I really like the OM system and have always wanted to try out a OM-2. The OM-10 are just under $100 if I’m not mistaken. The 2 was very popular and a few hundred last time I checked. Very good glass and well made compact slr. Thanks for the input!
@@graham_white Dang, that's a bit painful. A decent OM-1 or OM-2 can be had for around $200aud (about 120usd) here in Australia.
Michael Prior hmm I may have spoke to soon. Been a while since I’ve looked prices for them. Seem to be right about that same price. Depending on working and cosmetic condition of course.... actually very tempted now 🤦♂️ thanks a lot Michael. Jeeze. Haha.
@@graham_white Go for it! I couldn't decide between the OM-1 or 2 so I bought one of each :D ... Plus an OM-10 for higher risk activities like cycling and beach going
Michael Prior haha. Double backups. Always necessary.
God, February was forever ago this god forsaken year.
Imagine how I feel 💀
I personally had a great year.
@@mikedw6748 Well im glad you had a better time than everyone else in the country.
@@justsomeasshole7388 It's very close minded to think that "everyone" has had a bad year. Not because you had a bad one means it's the same for everybody. Take care
@@mikedw6748 its very closed minded to think that everyone is having a good time just because you are.
I didn't expect to see the Nikon EM because it's dumbed down, but it's honestly what I enjoy the most. I use the ISO dial for EV compensation
That’s what makes it a bargain! Not loaded with features but simple and to the point.
I bought a Practika LTL3 and I love it. It’s an M42 lens camera!
Nice! those are pretty rad.
Graham White yeah they are!
The AK47 of film cameras. My first film camera and even though I’ve got perhaps more refined models, I’ve kept it because it’s a low maintenance tank. And gotta love that thunderous steel shutter.
Just noticed that all of the cameras mentioned in this video are manual focus. For those of you who want slightly more modern touch yet still in the same budget range, I know at least 2 options:
- Nikon F-501 a.ka N2020: one of Nikon earliest attempts in AF SLR. Works well with ALL Nikkor lenses *with apperture ring* on it (except pre-AI). AFS lenses are practically useless on this body (need newer bodies like F80, F90, or F100).
- EOS 55 a.k.a Elan II. Eye-focus control is cool. If you already have a Canon fullframe DSLR, then you can use the lenses on that body.
Ya I prefer manual, autofocus isn’t as good as modern cameras so me personally I don’t both with them. There are models that are great For sure and autofocus is nice depending on how reliable and quick you need it to me. Again I prefer the full mechanical and manual aspect of film so I go that route with lenses as well.
@@graham_white yeah F-501 AF is still acceptable on bright outdoor, but nothing to write home about on indoor 😅
Hi Graham, so glad I found this video, ~super useful~ and informative! I'm torn between a Pentax Spotmatic F with a Takumar 55mm 1.8 or a Minolta X-70/X-GM with a 50mm 1.4. As a film newbie who loves to take landscape and portrait shots, which would you recommend?
Hey Andie! Glad it was helpful. That’s tough. Honestly I really like the takumar 50mm over the Minolta hands down. But as a newbie the x-700 or x-Gm is going to be much easier to use. It’s a little more modern with the light meter etc and use a more commonly found battery. The spotmatic is fully mechanically with a battery powered needle meter but for someone new it’s not as easy to use.
Get the Spotmatic...
i love the Konica gears (especially SLRs like T3n or FT-1) with the super Hexanon glasses. But the auto S2 works with mercury batteries which is a downer imho. Most of the camera body requiring mercury batteries are sold for a lesser price of course.
luckily the S2 doesnt require batteries so I always use without them but yeah it is annoying.
@@graham_white then you have to use a lightmeter or the sunny 16 rule (that p**** me off ^^)
keep going with your good work btw
Fujica ST901 viewfinder only shows shutter speed via LED. It doesn't show aperture and shutter speed. Also to note, the shutter speed is rounded up. So 150 will show as 200 etc.
Great video. Do you use your left eye to shoot? You don't seem to be a lefty. I'm asking because I have eye issues and need to look through the view finder using my left eye and it seems strange to me. Thanks.
I do use my left eye actually. It can be awkward with some bodies but usually not to bad.
Fujica 901 - beware of degraded foam light seals on the back and the foam mirror buffer which, if it breaks up, can spread sticky bits over the viewing screen.
Minolta SRT201 - as Graham says "built like a tank". Probably the best of this selection. If you can find a 58mm f1.4 lens snap it up.
Konica Auto S2 - I have no experience of this one. Sounds similar to the Fujica SE35, I took the lens of that one apart to fix and like Graham's Konica it never went back together.
Pentax ME Super - I've never had much luck with Pentax SLR's. Most that have passed through my hands have been faulty. Probably just the luck of the draw. Excellent lenses though.
Nikon EM - great reputation. The complex variations of incompatible lenses have always put me off Nikon SLR's though.
My recommendation (I'm serious) - Chinon CS. The most reliable camera I've ever come across. As a former camera dealer I've had dozens pass through my hands and the only one that didn't work properly appeared to have been hit with a large hammer. When Alpa wanted to market a cheaper camera they went to Chinon with good reason. Best of all you can get them for pennies. Takes M42 lenses so you have a huge range to choose from. The standard 50mm's (1.4 & 1.8) were made by Tomioka and are excellent. The 50mm 1.2 is beyond most people's price range though.
Well said. I think the degraded foam is kinda a universal film camera rule though in my experience. definitely agree with you on the Pentax Me and Supers, I've a loot of people finding bad ones but somehow I have been lucky on that. Of course a lot of people tell me the Minolta XG and similar bodies are great but I haven't found one that isn't broken yet. and I 100% agree with the Chinon. by far a extremely underrated with great quality from what I understand and other enthusiasts/pros have told me. Most I see though are way overpriced or busted since they were lower end brands and people didn't care for them. the ones in the right price range I just haven't grabbed cause I really don't have the need so can't really justify it. thanks for all the input!
I used to have a Chinon CS years ago and recently picked up another one for a mere £17, very solidly built.
I found my SRT 201 with a Rokkor X 50mm f1.7 with a working light meter for $25 it just needed light seals which I did.
I used to find that occasionally, now it’s usually 40 lowest but seems to be rising towards the 50-100 range. Still a bargain really