Great video, thank you. I might add that one should avoid buying from eBay sellers that primarily deal in novelty items that may have the occasional lens or camera for sale. They typically have no real idea what they are selling nor how to check its actually condition. I have been disappointed more than once with such buys.
That's a really good point! I've been burned by them as well. Luckily I've always been able to send it back at no cost since the item was not as described.
I also tend to hit garage sales. I scored a mint condition Yashica Mat 124G TLR camera at one I stopped by, and I got it for like $75 or so I think. They didn't even have it out, we just asked them if they had any OLD camera gear for sale, someone said, "Hey, I think there is one old film one in the back, let me check.." These kinds of finds can still be had...and most people don't realize there is a resurgence of film shooting again...and often think anything film is just junk. Sadly they often thow them away thinking they are worthless.
@@Ashfielder Yup, you just NEVER know. When I pull up to a garage/yard sale, I walk straight up to people running it and just ask if they have any old camera gear. If there are elderly folks running it, that often can be a good sign. And not to be maudlin about it, but if it is an estate sale, where sadly, possibly an elderly person passed, that often may render results. I absolutely don't mean to be the grim reaper chaser...I try to think of myself carrying on what they must have loved doing in their day AND possibly rescuing film cameras, etc that might just get tossed by the younger crowd thinking it is all worthless.
@@chilecayenne awesome tip for sure! Garage sales are almost as good as getting them from your grandparents. I definitely need to hit up some more garage sales this summer.
I use my father's Eos 1000... Nothing extreme, but I can mount from very old geat theought adapters to extremely modern EF lenses natively... I feel like it's a great starting point!
Those are honestly amazing and underrated film cameras. Being able to use modern lenses is a big advantage, especially if you already have some lenses for a digital EF camera. I also have an EOS 630 for this reason and absolutely love it.
I’ve had good fortune at the thrift store. I buy them cheap there and some are in excellent condition and others I’ve taken to my local film camera repair shop. I have also purchased film SLRs from the camera repair shop and they have been refurbished or the shutter has been overhauled with a 90 day warrantee. I have the Nikon F Canon FTb QL Canon AE-1 Minolta SRT-303 Olympus OM-2SP Nikon FA All in excellent working condition! Great video!
That is awesome! I have not had that kind of luck at thrift stores! I always thought that was possible maybe 5 or 6 years ago, but these days, it seems so hard to come across a good find like that.
@@LearnFilmPhotography There is only one particular thrift store nearby that seems to carry these old film SLRs from time-to-time. I’ve purchased three from them. One was in excellent condition for around $35, the others for around the same price needed refurbishment or repair. Others were way overpriced and you would have to wait awhile for them to drop the price. I’ve purchased two from a small camera store and three more from my local small camera repair shop.
I've been flipping cameras on eBay for almost 3 years now. Thrift stores can be a decent way of flipping cameras on eBay, it really just depends where you live and when you're buying, I live close to DC in Virginia and there seems to be 2 to 3 to months where there's absolutely no cameras on the market, and all of a sudden there's a giant influx of cameras online and in person, but as of the past three months I haven't seen any cameras on the market worth buying, or any to buy for that matter
@@aj-yk9vt Seems like the young "hipsters" are buying them up. And they'll pay a premium for them, even from thrift stores, not knowing the quality or condition they're in. I've always waited for prices to drop and I won't by from thrift stores unless prices are low and cameras are in good condition. If they need repair or refurbishment, I have a repair guy who can do that for me but the price of the camera has to be very low.
Very interesting and informative. Thanks for sharing. Quick question: can/should I load 828 film in my Kodak Pony in a darkroom/bag, or is it okay to load in daylight? Thanks, Daniel
828 film can be tough! If you're having trouble with a dark bag (which I often do), you might have better luck in a bathroom with the lights out. If there's a small crack of light under the door, it shouldn't be too much of a problem. But subdued light is important to make sure you're not exposing the roll through the perforations. 135 film is usually okay, but the older formats aren't always as light-tight.
Regarding Ebay it's important to carefully read the description for the article. Often it says "the shutter releases, but I'm unable to test this properly because I'm not a photographer". These "fluffy" descriptions come with the high risk that you'll have disputes with the seller and cannot return it. Therefore it's good to watch out for remarks like "100% tested, all works properly, see attached pictures taken with the camera". I bought a Leicaflex SL2 for 400€, "fluffy" description as above, the light meter seemed to have issues, seller returned 200€. Due to some scratches I send it to a company that services Leica cameras since some decades. Bringing it into a very good condition cost me another 600€, because they found a couple of other things that needed to be repaired.
Thanks for your insights as to buying a used camera. Great stuff. I'm looking on eBay to buy my first (real) camera and the issue I see is sellers are selling camera bodies sans the lens. After adding up the Buy It For price and the cost for a second hand lens, it doesn't seem reasonable for me to a buy a unit that way. Any suggestions?
That's always a problem with the higher end cameras. What are you looking for specifically? If you want an SLR, you can find really good deals on cameras like the Pentax S3 or H3, or the ME super, which have criminally underrated super takumar lenses. You might also find better deals with multiple lenses locally on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or Kijiji.
@@dennisrichards2608 those are great cameras for sure! Definitely worth the money. The problem is Nikon lenses fit every Nikon camera, other than the new mirrorless systems. So most sellers know they can get more money selling those lenses to digital photographers who want to get closer to the film look. The local market is definitely where you'll get the best deal - so long as people don't know the real value of the system.
While I have had luck making purchases on KEH, what I don't like is the lack of info on a product. If I buy a modern lens and they say it's in EX+ condition, I have no doubt it'll be fine. When buying something like an old film camera, and it's listed as AI, a description of what's wrong with it would go a long way, and also photos of the actual item. Also annoying (as I'm looking now) they have cameras up in EX condition, but are inoperative.
That's really frustrating since that's literally the whole promise of their service! I don't get it either - I'd think with how long they've been around, they must have had a system for solving this.
That would be interesting to find out! I'm not sure how much heat tolerance there would be - though I doubt it would be much more than 50°C. What temperature can mold survive?
Another thing you may have mentioned or not. When the Goodwill sells a Camera for parts or not working, THEY MEAN IT. You are basically pretty much buying a Brick. I kid you not.
Actually, the best place to buy a used film camera is right out of Japan, because the Japanese people will baby and take care of their equipment. Ebay is risky even with so-called "reputable" sellers.
That's probably true, but that's not feasible for a lot of people. On eBay, you do get exposure to the Japanese market, and many of my cameras have been bought from Japanese sellers. The main thing is to look out for sellers with a high reputation. EBay has been working on making sure it's seen as a legitimate and safe place to buy goods, and so they offer people that money back guarantee, where if you're not happy with it, they'll essentially force the seller to take it back. So these days, eBay is actually very safe and reliable for consumers.
@@LearnFilmPhotography 2 old cameras I bought from Japanese dealers advertised as in working condition, were unservicable. May I warn people that there are dishonest commercial dealers in Japan. Also their humidity means that fungus is a high risk and the dealers just treat it as a laughing matter. The fact is that cameras from the 70s have had plenty of time to deteriorate in those conditions. The Japanese never seem to offer CLAed gear. They all use a stock description in English that tells you nothing of honesty. I would favour USA sellers on Ebay, Their international freight is expensive but, in my experience, arrives very quickly and is quite well packed. You get a far more descriptive and believable assessment of the gear and often info. such as tested or CLAed. I would favour these over Japanese any day.
That is absolutely true! They do have a vested interest to get the most money for their cameras, and will at times risk their credibility to sell a piece of junk marked Exc+++++. But the reason why I suggest eBay is because if you do get a lemon and test it within a week of receiving it, then you can always get a refund for it. If you contest it, saying it's not as described, eBay will almost always side with the consumer, since they're the ones bringing money to the platform. Also, for sure, there are times when it's better to get one from an American seller. But my experiences haven't always given me the best cameras - I've actually had more bad experiences from American sellers than Japanese. But that might just be me.
You know most people don't have grandparents old enough to still have film cameras anymore. Folks born in the 70s are in their 50s now and don't even have film cameras anymore. They are the first to abandon them so who's grandparents are you talking about? People in their 60s and 70s?
Many definitely did abandon their cameras, but that's definitely not true for everyone. My parents are 50 now and still had some of their own film cameras. And my great grandfather had some as well that were passed down now to the third generation. Either way, parents and grandparents are just the first place to look.
Great video, thank you. I might add that one should avoid buying from eBay sellers that primarily deal in novelty items that may have the occasional lens or camera for sale. They typically have no real idea what they are selling nor how to check its actually condition. I have been disappointed more than once with such buys.
That's a really good point! I've been burned by them as well. Luckily I've always been able to send it back at no cost since the item was not as described.
I also tend to hit garage sales.
I scored a mint condition Yashica Mat 124G TLR camera at one I stopped by, and I got it for like $75 or so I think.
They didn't even have it out, we just asked them if they had any OLD camera gear for sale, someone said, "Hey, I think there is one old film one in the back, let me check.."
These kinds of finds can still be had...and most people don't realize there is a resurgence of film shooting again...and often think anything film is just junk. Sadly they often thow them away thinking they are worthless.
I’ve been after a Yashica TLR for ages now, that’s a great find at a garage sale for sure
@@Ashfielder Yup, you just NEVER know. When I pull up to a garage/yard sale, I walk straight up to people running it and just ask if they have any old camera gear.
If there are elderly folks running it, that often can be a good sign. And not to be maudlin about it, but if it is an estate sale, where sadly, possibly an elderly person passed, that often may render results.
I absolutely don't mean to be the grim reaper chaser...I try to think of myself carrying on what they must have loved doing in their day AND possibly rescuing film cameras, etc that might just get tossed by the younger crowd thinking it is all worthless.
@@chilecayenne awesome tip for sure! Garage sales are almost as good as getting them from your grandparents. I definitely need to hit up some more garage sales this summer.
I use my father's Eos 1000... Nothing extreme, but I can mount from very old geat theought adapters to extremely modern EF lenses natively... I feel like it's a great starting point!
Those are honestly amazing and underrated film cameras. Being able to use modern lenses is a big advantage, especially if you already have some lenses for a digital EF camera. I also have an EOS 630 for this reason and absolutely love it.
I’ve had good fortune at the thrift store. I buy them cheap there and some are in excellent condition and others I’ve taken to my local film camera repair shop. I have also purchased film SLRs from the camera repair shop and they have been refurbished or the shutter has been overhauled with a 90 day warrantee.
I have the
Nikon F
Canon FTb QL
Canon AE-1
Minolta SRT-303
Olympus OM-2SP
Nikon FA
All in excellent working condition!
Great video!
That is awesome! I have not had that kind of luck at thrift stores! I always thought that was possible maybe 5 or 6 years ago, but these days, it seems so hard to come across a good find like that.
@@LearnFilmPhotography There is only one particular thrift store nearby that seems to carry these old film SLRs from time-to-time. I’ve purchased three from them. One was in excellent condition for around $35, the others for around the same price needed refurbishment or repair. Others were way overpriced and you would have to wait awhile for them to drop the price. I’ve purchased two from a small camera store and three more from my local small camera repair shop.
I've been flipping cameras on eBay for almost 3 years now. Thrift stores can be a decent way of flipping cameras on eBay, it really just depends where you live and when you're buying,
I live close to DC in Virginia and there seems to be 2 to 3 to months where there's absolutely no cameras on the market, and all of a sudden there's a giant influx of cameras online and in person, but as of the past three months I haven't seen any cameras on the market worth buying, or any to buy for that matter
@@aj-yk9vt Seems like the young "hipsters" are buying them up. And they'll pay a premium for them, even from thrift stores, not knowing the quality or condition they're in. I've always waited for prices to drop and I won't by from thrift stores unless prices are low and cameras are in good condition. If they need repair or refurbishment, I have a repair guy who can do that for me but the price of the camera has to be very low.
Very interesting and informative. Thanks for sharing.
Quick question: can/should I load 828 film in my Kodak Pony in a darkroom/bag, or is it okay to load in daylight?
Thanks, Daniel
828 film can be tough! If you're having trouble with a dark bag (which I often do), you might have better luck in a bathroom with the lights out. If there's a small crack of light under the door, it shouldn't be too much of a problem. But subdued light is important to make sure you're not exposing the roll through the perforations. 135 film is usually okay, but the older formats aren't always as light-tight.
Regarding Ebay it's important to carefully read the description for the article. Often it says "the shutter releases, but I'm unable to test this properly because I'm not a photographer". These "fluffy" descriptions come with the high risk that you'll have disputes with the seller and cannot return it.
Therefore it's good to watch out for remarks like "100% tested, all works properly, see attached pictures taken with the camera".
I bought a Leicaflex SL2 for 400€, "fluffy" description as above, the light meter seemed to have issues, seller returned 200€.
Due to some scratches I send it to a company that services Leica cameras since some decades. Bringing it into a very good condition cost me another 600€, because they found a couple of other things that needed to be repaired.
Excellent video! Wonderful information- keep up the good work
Thanks for that!
OUTSTANDING VIDEO! REALLY GREAT INFORMATION.
Thank you!
Goooood, don’t tell them about the secret sites/deals 🙏🏻💪🏻
Oh you know I'd never tell them about the secret sites/deals Steve. Those are just for us!
:-)
Thanks for your insights as to buying a used camera. Great stuff. I'm looking on eBay to buy my first (real) camera and the issue I see is sellers are selling camera bodies sans the lens. After adding up the Buy It For price and the cost for a second hand lens, it doesn't seem reasonable for me to a buy a unit that way. Any suggestions?
That's always a problem with the higher end cameras. What are you looking for specifically? If you want an SLR, you can find really good deals on cameras like the Pentax S3 or H3, or the ME super, which have criminally underrated super takumar lenses. You might also find better deals with multiple lenses locally on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or Kijiji.
@@LearnFilmPhotography I was thinking of a Nikon EM, FE, or other model to learn and grow with.
@@dennisrichards2608 those are great cameras for sure! Definitely worth the money. The problem is Nikon lenses fit every Nikon camera, other than the new mirrorless systems. So most sellers know they can get more money selling those lenses to digital photographers who want to get closer to the film look. The local market is definitely where you'll get the best deal - so long as people don't know the real value of the system.
Amazing videos keep going
While I have had luck making purchases on KEH, what I don't like is the lack of info on a product. If I buy a modern lens and they say it's in EX+ condition, I have no doubt it'll be fine. When buying something like an old film camera, and it's listed as AI, a description of what's wrong with it would go a long way, and also photos of the actual item. Also annoying (as I'm looking now) they have cameras up in EX condition, but are inoperative.
That's really frustrating since that's literally the whole promise of their service! I don't get it either - I'd think with how long they've been around, they must have had a system for solving this.
I wonder if there is a way to heat treat mould inside the shutter without damaging the camera.
That would be interesting to find out! I'm not sure how much heat tolerance there would be - though I doubt it would be much more than 50°C. What temperature can mold survive?
Leave the lens out in the sun?
Another thing you may have mentioned or not. When the Goodwill sells a Camera for parts or not working, THEY MEAN IT. You are basically pretty much buying a Brick. I kid you not.
That's good to know! Great to see they actually test the cameras that come through there.
Actually, the best place to buy a used film camera is right out of Japan,
because the Japanese people will baby and take care of their equipment. Ebay is risky even with so-called "reputable" sellers.
Meaning literally going to Japan?
That's probably true, but that's not feasible for a lot of people. On eBay, you do get exposure to the Japanese market, and many of my cameras have been bought from Japanese sellers. The main thing is to look out for sellers with a high reputation. EBay has been working on making sure it's seen as a legitimate and safe place to buy goods, and so they offer people that money back guarantee, where if you're not happy with it, they'll essentially force the seller to take it back. So these days, eBay is actually very safe and reliable for consumers.
@@LearnFilmPhotography 2 old cameras I bought from Japanese dealers advertised as in working condition, were unservicable. May I warn people that there are dishonest commercial dealers in Japan. Also their humidity means that fungus is a high risk and the dealers just treat it as a laughing matter. The fact is that cameras from the 70s have had plenty of time to deteriorate in those conditions. The Japanese never seem to offer CLAed gear. They all use a stock description in English that tells you nothing of honesty.
I would favour USA sellers on Ebay, Their international freight is expensive but, in my experience, arrives very quickly and is quite well packed. You get a far more descriptive and believable assessment of the gear and often info. such as tested or CLAed. I would favour these over Japanese any day.
That is absolutely true! They do have a vested interest to get the most money for their cameras, and will at times risk their credibility to sell a piece of junk marked Exc+++++. But the reason why I suggest eBay is because if you do get a lemon and test it within a week of receiving it, then you can always get a refund for it. If you contest it, saying it's not as described, eBay will almost always side with the consumer, since they're the ones bringing money to the platform.
Also, for sure, there are times when it's better to get one from an American seller. But my experiences haven't always given me the best cameras - I've actually had more bad experiences from American sellers than Japanese. But that might just be me.
You know most people don't have grandparents old enough to still have film cameras anymore. Folks born in the 70s are in their 50s now and don't even have film cameras anymore. They are the first to abandon them so who's grandparents are you talking about? People in their 60s and 70s?
Many definitely did abandon their cameras, but that's definitely not true for everyone. My parents are 50 now and still had some of their own film cameras. And my great grandfather had some as well that were passed down now to the third generation. Either way, parents and grandparents are just the first place to look.