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Eyewanders · 04-16-2018, 10:07 PM - **3 Likes**

I thought it'd be fun to share photos and possibly stories of film cameras that have seen some hard use.... more to love as it were. Most around here post up the glamour shots (rightly so) of the prettiest our cameras can be. I think all the others deserve a spotlight...
They've usually, very OBVIOUSLY given shooters frame upon frame, often years of service brutal service, and they wouldn't know a feather duster or a glass case unless they snapped a photo of one tossed out a window in a war zone.

So whatcha got. What's been ridden hard and put away wet and either keeps ticking or buckled under the strain?

Doesn't have to be your personal cameras, but that's even more fun.

Starting it off with a shot of an SPII from an auction I was looking at which is what sparked this idea. It's ugly as all get out, and somehow I love it all the more.

What stories has this thing been a part of? The seller is located in Berkley, no less. Anyhow... I'm sure there are better examples, but I like this one.

Attached Images

**sergysergy** · 04-17-2018, 03:29 AM

Since the name is covered I vote for tax and customs issues

Eyewanders · 04-17-2018, 11:25 AM

Originally posted by sergysergy

Since the name is covered I vote for tax and customs issues

Really? How do you mean? As in an import/selling issue, or a traveler's customs entry issue? I don't follow.

**pentaxus** · 04-17-2018, 11:43 AM - **2 Likes**

When Honeywell owned the right to sell Pentax in the US, someone receiving a camera from oversees might receive a letter from the customs office staying that you would have to promise to grind off or otherwise permanently obscure the trademark. You would have to sign a document stating that you would do so to get your camera or lens out of customs. A friend of mine received such a letter.

**sergysergy** · 04-17-2018, 12:14 PM

Sorry I wasn't clear. Thanks pentaxus for the clarification.

richfam · 04-17-2018, 04:09 PM - **2 Likes**

I don't have any battered cameras to show... but I certainly have some neglected ones. I abandoned photography in 1992, after a 20-year career as a freelance photographer. I put all of my equipment up on a shelf where it sat, untouched, for the next 25 years.

The first photo below shows my Spiratone 400mm f/6.3 telephoto covered with 25 years of dust!

This lens is my second oldest lens, purchased in 1973. It had quite a distinguished career, including photographing a Kansas tornado, and the King of Sweden. It has some wear & tear that can't be seen in the photo: the focusing action is a bit rough, like the threads are beginning to wear out, and there's some haze on the rear element.

The second photo shows the cleaned-up 400mm attached to my Pentax SF1n. The SF1n was covered with just as much dust as the 400mm, but I didn't think to get a photo of it before I cleaned it. After cleaning the SF1n, I put a fresh battery in it and it works like a charm; I've already shot a roll of TMax with it that turned out fine.

Eyewanders · 04-20-2018, 10:23 AM

Alright... Who came in and sniped my bid for the camera in the first post!?!?!?!

Jerk. lol

LesDMess · 04-21-2018, 01:12 PM

I tried to acquire this LX that was posted on a local CL as I was really curious to find out whether or not any part of it still worked!

timw4mail · 04-21-2018, 01:20 PM

Originally posted by LesDMess

I tried to acquire this LX that was posted on a local CL as I was really curious to find out whether or not any part of it still worked!

Looks like it was buried!

womble · 04-21-2018, 02:26 PM

Originally posted by LesDMess

I tried to acquire this LX that was posted on a local CL as I was really curious to find out whether or not any part of it still worked!

That should be a criminal offence!

LesDMess · 04-21-2018, 02:54 PM

Originally posted by timw4mail

Looks like it was buried!

Exactly my first thoughts as well!

---------- Post added 04-21-18 at 05:56 PM ----------

Originally posted by womble

That should be a criminal offence!

Mind you it was listed as fully functional and not below $100 if I remember correctly.

ctrout · 04-21-2018, 07:41 PM

A little windex and a toothbrush would probably have it looking nearly like new again. The hand grip is worth nearly $100 by itself if yo use the asking prices on Ebay as a guide.

Eyewanders · 04-21-2018, 08:46 PM

Originally posted by ctrout

A little windex and a toothbrush ...

The magic duo.
Add Ronsonol to that line up and you have the trifecta!

Eyewanders · 05-18-2018, 12:21 PM

Had to include some pics of this adventure here. Won a camera lot of Konica goodness that was in immaculate condition aside from the years of dust and being stored for who-knows-how-long in foam-padded cases probably in a basement. There was just a bit of "fungus amongus" the seller didn't mention. It was so cheap I didn't care but I DID keep everything FAR away from all my other gear and glass. I've got two of them cleaned up all sparkling at this point, but here are some "before" shots... and mind you most of these were AFTER a cursory external dusting/wiping. Nasty.

Eyewanders · 05-18-2018, 01:22 PM

By the way if anyone around here has a link to or 1st hand knowledge of a Hexanon 200mm f4 disassembly, it'd be appreciated!

EDIT: Nevermind - I sorted it out by referencing an old Nikkor 200mm tear-down video.

04-16-2018, 10:07 PM - 3 Likes	#1
Eyewanders Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Land of the Salish Sea Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,343	Cameras That Were Ridden Hard and Put Away Wet I thought it'd be fun to share photos and possibly stories of film cameras that have seen some hard use.... more to love as it were. Most around here post up the glamour shots (rightly so) of the prettiest our cameras can be. I think all the others deserve a spotlight... They've usually, very OBVIOUSLY given shooters frame upon frame, often years of service brutal service, and they wouldn't know a feather duster or a glass case unless they snapped a photo of one tossed out a window in a war zone. So whatcha got. What's been ridden hard and put away wet and either keeps ticking or buckled under the strain? Doesn't have to be your personal cameras, but that's even more fun. Starting it off with a shot of an SPII from an auction I was looking at which is what sparked this idea. It's ugly as all get out, and somehow I love it all the more. What stories has this thing been a part of? The seller is located in Berkley, no less. Anyhow... I'm sure there are better examples, but I like this one. Attached Images

04-17-2018, 04:09 PM - 2 Likes	#6
richfam Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Lindsborg, Kansas Photos: Gallery Posts: 91	I don't have any battered cameras to show... but I certainly have some neglected ones. I abandoned photography in 1992, after a 20-year career as a freelance photographer. I put all of my equipment up on a shelf where it sat, untouched, for the next 25 years. The first photo below shows my Spiratone 400mm f/6.3 telephoto covered with 25 years of dust! This lens is my second oldest lens, purchased in 1973. It had quite a distinguished career, including photographing a Kansas tornado, and the King of Sweden. It has some wear & tear that can't be seen in the photo: the focusing action is a bit rough, like the threads are beginning to wear out, and there's some haze on the rear element. The second photo shows the cleaned-up 400mm attached to my Pentax SF1n. The SF1n was covered with just as much dust as the 400mm, but I didn't think to get a photo of it before I cleaned it. After cleaning the SF1n, I put a fresh battery in it and it works like a charm; I've already shot a roll of TMax with it that turned out fine. Attached Images

05-18-2018, 12:21 PM	#14
Eyewanders Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Land of the Salish Sea Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,343 Original Poster	Had to include some pics of this adventure here. Won a camera lot of Konica goodness that was in immaculate condition aside from the years of dust and being stored for who-knows-how-long in foam-padded cases probably in a basement. There was just a bit of "fungus amongus" the seller didn't mention. It was so cheap I didn't care but I DID keep everything FAR away from all my other gear and glass. I've got two of them cleaned up all sparkling at this point, but here are some "before" shots... and mind you most of these were AFTER a cursory external dusting/wiping. Nasty. Attached Images

05-18-2018, 01:22 PM	#15
Eyewanders Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Land of the Salish Sea Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,343 Original Poster	By the way if anyone around here has a link to or 1st hand knowledge of a Hexanon 200mm f4 disassembly, it'd be appreciated! EDIT: Nevermind - I sorted it out by referencing an old Nikkor 200mm tear-down video. Last edited by Eyewanders; 05-23-2018 at 09:18 AM. Reason: additional info

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04-17-2018, 03:29 AM	#2
sergysergy Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,175	Since the name is covered I vote for tax and customs issues

04-17-2018, 11:25 AM	#3
Eyewanders Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Land of the Salish Sea Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,343 Original Poster	Originally posted by sergysergy Since the name is covered I vote for tax and customs issues Really? How do you mean? As in an import/selling issue, or a traveler's customs entry issue? I don't follow.

04-17-2018, 11:43 AM - 2 Likes	#4
pentaxus Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Central Coast, CA Posts: 1,320	When Honeywell owned the right to sell Pentax in the US, someone receiving a camera from oversees might receive a letter from the customs office staying that you would have to promise to grind off or otherwise permanently obscure the trademark. You would have to sign a document stating that you would do so to get your camera or lens out of customs. A friend of mine received such a letter.

04-17-2018, 12:14 PM	#5
sergysergy Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,175	Sorry I wasn't clear. Thanks pentaxus for the clarification.

04-20-2018, 10:23 AM	#7
Eyewanders Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Land of the Salish Sea Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,343 Original Poster	Alright... Who came in and sniped my bid for the camera in the first post!?!?!?! Jerk. lol

04-21-2018, 01:12 PM	#8
LesDMess Pentaxian Join Date: May 2011 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,235	I tried to acquire this LX that was posted on a local CL as I was really curious to find out whether or not any part of it still worked!

04-21-2018, 01:20 PM	#9
timw4mail Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Driving a Mirage Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,670	Originally posted by LesDMess I tried to acquire this LX that was posted on a local CL as I was really curious to find out whether or not any part of it still worked! Looks like it was buried!

04-21-2018, 02:26 PM	#10
womble Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Hertfordshire Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,324	Originally posted by LesDMess I tried to acquire this LX that was posted on a local CL as I was really curious to find out whether or not any part of it still worked! That should be a criminal offence!

04-21-2018, 02:54 PM	#11
LesDMess Pentaxian Join Date: May 2011 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,235	Originally posted by timw4mail Looks like it was buried! Exactly my first thoughts as well! ---------- Post added 04-21-18 at 05:56 PM ---------- Originally posted by womble That should be a criminal offence! Mind you it was listed as fully functional and not below $100 if I remember correctly.

04-21-2018, 07:41 PM	#12
ctrout Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Photos: Gallery Posts: 444	A little windex and a toothbrush would probably have it looking nearly like new again. The hand grip is worth nearly $100 by itself if yo use the asking prices on Ebay as a guide.

04-21-2018, 08:46 PM	#13
Eyewanders Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Land of the Salish Sea Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,343 Original Poster	Originally posted by ctrout A little windex and a toothbrush ... The magic duo. Add Ronsonol to that line up and you have the trifecta!

Cameras That Were Ridden Hard and Put Away Wet

Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!