How many film cameras do you have?

ctrout · 12-01-2018, 05:06 PM

I've been selling lately. I'm down from around 20 to maybe about 12 at the moment. Unfortunately, it takes much longer to get rid of them than it takes to acquire them. I've had a MIJ K1000 SE and complete ME F with original lens for sale for six months now, and no takers.

Unregistered User · 12-01-2018, 06:12 PM

One—a P3N that came with a very nice A 50mm f1.7 for $5. I'm tempted to get batteries for it to see if it works, but when I figure in the cost of film and development: no.

**TwoUptons** · 12-02-2018, 06:08 AM

Originally posted by Cipher

One—a P3N that came with a very nice A 50mm f1.7 for $5. I'm tempted to get batteries for it to see if it works, but when I figure in the cost of film and development: no.

Yeah, I just realized that with recent sales a 32Gb SD card costs me less than a roll of film, developed and scanned...

But I get a kick out of fooling around with it...

-Eric

Kim Coxon · 12-02-2018, 07:52 AM

Originally posted by ctrout

I've been selling lately. I'm down from around 20 to maybe about 12 at the moment. Unfortunately, it takes much longer to get rid of them than it takes to acquire them. I've had a MIJ K1000 SE and complete ME F with original lens for sale for six months now, and no takers.

Then perhaps you are asking too high a price for them.

Helios 1984 · 12-02-2018, 09:01 AM

Spotmatic
Spotmatic II
Praktica L
Praktica L2
Topcon 35-L
EOS 30
EOS IX
Pen-EE2
Yashica Zoomtec 80

ctrout · 12-02-2018, 10:20 AM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by Kim Coxon

Then perhaps you are asking too high a price for them.

Or perhaps people are cheap. If they would rather pay $70 for a K1000 of unknown condition and then send it to Eric and HOPE that he can fix it for only the cost of a CLA, than purchase one that is in film tested condition and already CLA'd by Eric for $125 shipped, that's their business I guess. Once you figure in the cost of shipping, and CLA, they are basically getting the MIJ K1000SE for about $20. I don't feel like that's too much to ask.

caferacer73 · 12-02-2018, 01:43 PM

My wife and I have 21 total (2 non-functional and 2 can't film for).
Spotmatic II (x2), Minolta SR-T 202, Minolta XGA, Nikon D3300, Minolta Autocord TLR, CiroFlex Model B TLR (x2), Compco Reflex 620 TLR (x2), Mamiya M645 1000s, Konica Auto S2, Petri 7S II, Zeiss Ikon Nettar 516, Yashica Eletro 35 GSN and a couple of old digital point & shoot cameras.

Kodak Bantam and Falcon Deluxe Miniature (can't get film)

Kodak Autographic Jr 1A and Agroflex TLR (non-funtional)

Fenwoodian · 12-02-2018, 02:04 PM

.
I just don't get why people collect old film bodies.

I've been a photographer for about 45 years. Shot most types of film cameras over the years. I would always sell my old cameras when I got something newer/better.

My Pentax K-1's, especially in pixel shift mode, produce much better image files than I can get from scanned film (even medium format).

What's the attraction of collecting old film cameras? Film is expensive to shoot/process/print. Film cameras do not have image quality that can hold up do the better digital cameras, and I do believe that their retail value is low (and probably going even lower in the future). What am I missing here?

However, old film lenses are another story entirely. I find some old film lenses perform very well on new digital bodies. These days I'm buying up like-new, medium-format, Bronica SQ lenses for less than $100 and using them on my K-1 with a cheap adapter. The bokeh I'm getting from the Bronica SQ 150mm f/3.5 is exceptional (I have 3 copies and the most expensive one only cost me $88 USD).

Kenzie2k3 · 12-02-2018, 03:04 PM - **1 Like**

Film produces a look that digital just doesn't have. Digital it just too "clean". I know you can replicate the look of film but its not the same.

Kim Coxon · 12-02-2018, 03:17 PM

Originally posted by ctrout

Or perhaps people are cheap. If they would rather pay $70 for a K1000 of unknown condition and then send it to Eric and HOPE that he can fix it for only the cost of a CLA, than purchase one that is in film tested condition and already CLA'd by Eric for $125 shipped, that's their business I guess. Once you figure in the cost of shipping, and CLA, they are basically getting the MIJ K1000SE for about $20. I don't feel like that's too much to ask.

I fully understand what you say and how you feel. I don't know if it works differently in the US but in the UK any warranty for a service is only good for the person who had the service done. It can't be "sold on". So "your" CLA is only intrinsically worth something to you. When I was buying film cameras, I was buying ones with problems and then getting them serviced because then I was "sure". I have just had my MX fully serviced by Robin who is as good and as well regarded in the Europe as Eric is in the US. I know if I sold it, I would not get the cost of the service back. But then I had it done for me, not for resale value.

At the end of the day, the resale value of any item is only what someone is prepared to pay for it. The insurance or replacement value is different.

**TwoUptons** · 12-02-2018, 03:48 PM

With many of my film cameras, especially the 35mm ones, they came attached to lenses I was after.

In some cases, I really liked something about their ergonomics (the MX) or their history (ME-F) and kept them going.

I have searched out a couple of rangefinders, but for playing as much as anything.

From every objective measure I can think of the K1 far surpasses any film camera I own.

But sometimes I’m not in the mood for objectivity

-Eric

abruzzi · 12-02-2018, 07:14 PM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by Fenwoodian

What's the attraction of collecting old film cameras? Film is expensive to shoot/process/print. Film cameras do not have image quality that can hold up do the better digital cameras, and I do believe that their retail value is low (and probably going even lower in the future). What am I missing here?

Well, everyone is different, but I found the digital process was sucking the life from my creativity. I started trying film again a year ago with a modest SuperProgram and an A28/2.8 about a year ago. I loved the process so much that I haven't shot digital since. I develop at home, and have an enlarger at home and love everything about it. And all my cameras and all my film (including unshot rolls) and everything else is probably right around the cost of a K1ii body and kit lens.

conniption · 12-02-2018, 07:37 PM

Originally posted by abruzzi

Well, everyone is different, but I found the digital process was sucking the life from my creativity. I started trying film again a year ago with a modest SuperProgram and an A28/2.8 about a year ago. I loved the process so much that I haven't shot digital since. I develop at home, and have an enlarger at home and love everything about it. And all my cameras and all my film (including unshot rolls) and everything else is probably right around the cost of a K1ii body and kit lens.

Got that right. Going back to film was a revelation for me, my K3ii is collecting dust. My photography is just better when I have to think about not wasting film. And yes, the process is half of the joy.

johnha · 12-02-2018, 07:39 PM

I'm slowly unloading some of my film cameras, many were bought as spares at rock bottom prices as repair facilities were dwindling. I've CLA'd the ones I'm going to keep shooting and running test rolls through the ones I'm going to sell. I've shot way more film than digital in the last few years (35mm & 120), I'm just finding it more interesting. It probably helps that I've a film backlog to get through (although most is expired), the different characteristics of different films influence the way I work and the results I'm aiming for.

aaacb · 12-02-2018, 08:19 PM

Originally posted by Fenwoodian

I just don't get why people collect old film bodies.

I'm far from a collector, although I have more cameras than I strictly need to shoot film. I call it having a backup, since it's not guaranteed to always find a camera, now that the ones in production are few and far between (and none K mount).

Why shoot film though, I don't know either, but I like it. Maybe it's because I grew up with film cameras, but the ones I had for myself were digital. Maybe because it's that little mystery of not seeing stuff right away, and then remembering things a few weeks after. But I agree, it makes no sense objectively.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Your vehicle: what do you have, why do you like it, and what do you not like?	Auzzie-Phoenix	General Talk	2980	3 Days Ago 05:06 PM
How many 50mm lenses do you own? Favorite? What have you let go?	mgvh	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	317	12-02-2020 01:02 PM
How many is too many (how many is too few)?	hooverfocus	Photographic Industry and Professionals	14	04-05-2017 02:38 PM
How many cameras do you have Adam? (Site Webmaster)	Pentaxguy22	General Talk	3	01-14-2013 06:42 PM
How many tripods do you own and what lenses/purpose do you use them for?	gofour3	Pentax Camera and Field Accessories	17	04-09-2010 03:08 AM

12-01-2018, 05:06 PM	#121
ctrout Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Photos: Gallery Posts: 444	I've been selling lately. I'm down from around 20 to maybe about 12 at the moment. Unfortunately, it takes much longer to get rid of them than it takes to acquire them. I've had a MIJ K1000 SE and complete ME F with original lens for sale for six months now, and no takers.

12-01-2018, 06:12 PM	#122
Unregistered User Guest	One—a P3N that came with a very nice A 50mm f1.7 for $5. I'm tempted to get batteries for it to see if it works, but when I figure in the cost of film and development: no.

12-02-2018, 06:08 AM	#123
TwoUptons Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2015 Photos: Albums Posts: 4,207	Originally posted by Cipher One—a P3N that came with a very nice A 50mm f1.7 for $5. I'm tempted to get batteries for it to see if it works, but when I figure in the cost of film and development: no. Yeah, I just realized that with recent sales a 32Gb SD card costs me less than a roll of film, developed and scanned... But I get a kick out of fooling around with it... -Eric

12-02-2018, 07:52 AM	#124
Kim Coxon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2018 Posts: 135	Originally posted by ctrout I've been selling lately. I'm down from around 20 to maybe about 12 at the moment. Unfortunately, it takes much longer to get rid of them than it takes to acquire them. I've had a MIJ K1000 SE and complete ME F with original lens for sale for six months now, and no takers. Then perhaps you are asking too high a price for them.

12-02-2018, 09:01 AM	#125
Helios 1984 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Saint-Constant, Québec Posts: 747	Spotmatic Spotmatic II Praktica L Praktica L2 Topcon 35-L EOS 30 EOS IX Pen-EE2 Yashica Zoomtec 80

12-02-2018, 10:20 AM - 2 Likes	#126
ctrout Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Photos: Gallery Posts: 444	Originally posted by Kim Coxon Then perhaps you are asking too high a price for them. Or perhaps people are cheap. If they would rather pay $70 for a K1000 of unknown condition and then send it to Eric and HOPE that he can fix it for only the cost of a CLA, than purchase one that is in film tested condition and already CLA'd by Eric for $125 shipped, that's their business I guess. Once you figure in the cost of shipping, and CLA, they are basically getting the MIJ K1000SE for about $20. I don't feel like that's too much to ask.

12-02-2018, 01:43 PM	#127
caferacer73 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Posts: 30	My wife and I have 21 total (2 non-functional and 2 can't film for). Spotmatic II (x2), Minolta SR-T 202, Minolta XGA, Nikon D3300, Minolta Autocord TLR, CiroFlex Model B TLR (x2), Compco Reflex 620 TLR (x2), Mamiya M645 1000s, Konica Auto S2, Petri 7S II, Zeiss Ikon Nettar 516, Yashica Eletro 35 GSN and a couple of old digital point & shoot cameras. Kodak Bantam and Falcon Deluxe Miniature (can't get film) Kodak Autographic Jr 1A and Agroflex TLR (non-funtional)

12-02-2018, 02:04 PM	#128
Fenwoodian Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,874	. I just don't get why people collect old film bodies. I've been a photographer for about 45 years. Shot most types of film cameras over the years. I would always sell my old cameras when I got something newer/better. My Pentax K-1's, especially in pixel shift mode, produce much better image files than I can get from scanned film (even medium format). What's the attraction of collecting old film cameras? Film is expensive to shoot/process/print. Film cameras do not have image quality that can hold up do the better digital cameras, and I do believe that their retail value is low (and probably going even lower in the future). What am I missing here? However, old film lenses are another story entirely. I find some old film lenses perform very well on new digital bodies. These days I'm buying up like-new, medium-format, Bronica SQ lenses for less than $100 and using them on my K-1 with a cheap adapter. The bokeh I'm getting from the Bronica SQ 150mm f/3.5 is exceptional (I have 3 copies and the most expensive one only cost me $88 USD).

12-02-2018, 03:04 PM - 1 Like	#129
Kenzie2k3 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 36	Film produces a look that digital just doesn't have. Digital it just too "clean". I know you can replicate the look of film but its not the same.

12-02-2018, 03:17 PM	#130
Kim Coxon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2018 Posts: 135	Originally posted by ctrout Or perhaps people are cheap. If they would rather pay $70 for a K1000 of unknown condition and then send it to Eric and HOPE that he can fix it for only the cost of a CLA, than purchase one that is in film tested condition and already CLA'd by Eric for $125 shipped, that's their business I guess. Once you figure in the cost of shipping, and CLA, they are basically getting the MIJ K1000SE for about $20. I don't feel like that's too much to ask. I fully understand what you say and how you feel. I don't know if it works differently in the US but in the UK any warranty for a service is only good for the person who had the service done. It can't be "sold on". So "your" CLA is only intrinsically worth something to you. When I was buying film cameras, I was buying ones with problems and then getting them serviced because then I was "sure". I have just had my MX fully serviced by Robin who is as good and as well regarded in the Europe as Eric is in the US. I know if I sold it, I would not get the cost of the service back. But then I had it done for me, not for resale value. At the end of the day, the resale value of any item is only what someone is prepared to pay for it. The insurance or replacement value is different.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

12-02-2018, 03:48 PM	#131
TwoUptons Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2015 Photos: Albums Posts: 4,207	With many of my film cameras, especially the 35mm ones, they came attached to lenses I was after. In some cases, I really liked something about their ergonomics (the MX) or their history (ME-F) and kept them going. I have searched out a couple of rangefinders, but for playing as much as anything. From every objective measure I can think of the K1 far surpasses any film camera I own. But sometimes I’m not in the mood for objectivity -Eric

12-02-2018, 07:14 PM - 2 Likes	#132
abruzzi Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: New Mexico Posts: 788	Originally posted by Fenwoodian What's the attraction of collecting old film cameras? Film is expensive to shoot/process/print. Film cameras do not have image quality that can hold up do the better digital cameras, and I do believe that their retail value is low (and probably going even lower in the future). What am I missing here? Well, everyone is different, but I found the digital process was sucking the life from my creativity. I started trying film again a year ago with a modest SuperProgram and an A28/2.8 about a year ago. I loved the process so much that I haven't shot digital since. I develop at home, and have an enlarger at home and love everything about it. And all my cameras and all my film (including unshot rolls) and everything else is probably right around the cost of a K1ii body and kit lens.

12-02-2018, 07:37 PM	#133
conniption Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 93	Originally posted by abruzzi Well, everyone is different, but I found the digital process was sucking the life from my creativity. I started trying film again a year ago with a modest SuperProgram and an A28/2.8 about a year ago. I loved the process so much that I haven't shot digital since. I develop at home, and have an enlarger at home and love everything about it. And all my cameras and all my film (including unshot rolls) and everything else is probably right around the cost of a K1ii body and kit lens. Got that right. Going back to film was a revelation for me, my K3ii is collecting dust. My photography is just better when I have to think about not wasting film. And yes, the process is half of the joy.

12-02-2018, 07:39 PM	#134
johnha Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Lancashire, UK Photos: Albums Posts: 1,155	I'm slowly unloading some of my film cameras, many were bought as spares at rock bottom prices as repair facilities were dwindling. I've CLA'd the ones I'm going to keep shooting and running test rolls through the ones I'm going to sell. I've shot way more film than digital in the last few years (35mm & 120), I'm just finding it more interesting. It probably helps that I've a film backlog to get through (although most is expired), the different characteristics of different films influence the way I work and the results I'm aiming for.

12-02-2018, 08:19 PM	#135
aaacb Pentaxian Join Date: May 2016 Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,723	Originally posted by Fenwoodian I just don't get why people collect old film bodies. I'm far from a collector, although I have more cameras than I strictly need to shoot film. I call it having a backup, since it's not guaranteed to always find a camera, now that the ones in production are few and far between (and none K mount). Why shoot film though, I don't know either, but I like it. Maybe it's because I grew up with film cameras, but the ones I had for myself were digital. Maybe because it's that little mystery of not seeing stuff right away, and then remembering things a few weeks after. But I agree, it makes no sense objectively.