I look at a lot of the posts here and most people are aiming for new gear or upgrades, this is understandable but I am heading the other way. Here are my 3 new toys I purchased today at Vinnies where I volunteer. 1/ A Canon AE-1 program 35mm film camera. It needs the mirror buffer pads replace, no big issue, put a battery in it and it works fine. 2/ Minolta X300 35mm film camera, need to get some batteries to test it out. 3/ Renette 35mm camera, lens needs stripping and re lubricating. No big issue as I have done this on a similar camera. 4/ Hanimar 400mm with a M42 mount. This I got last week and have since stripped the glass elements out and cleaned the small amount of fungus off of them. Unlike the modern Canon EOS 400mm lenses, this one strips down to 10 parts and is easy to re-assemble. I have a spare M42 to EOS adapter and it works fine, I had a quick try with it this-morning. Due to them requiring maintenance and cleaning, they were quite cheap.
Actually, I think you have the right idea Craig! I think old school is the way to go. When this was new tech, I couldn't afford it. Now, it's almost all affordable and readily available.
Hello, Bear, I volunteer at Vinnies and handle their photo--gear. There has in the last 10 years a increase in interest in film photography, mainly college and older people. Particularly old film lenses which were very cheap when I first started getting interested are now quite expensive. 35mm cameras from the 60 to 80s, the metal ones mainly have also increased in price, for example a K1000 can now fetch 200 or more dollars, you could buy a good one for 10 dollars 5 years ago.You can still find old film gear cheap but have to look a lot harder to find it. Darkroom gear can still be found very cheap. I have digital gear and enjoy using it but find the tactile feel of using film cameras and gear a little more stimulating.
Like you, I have some older gear. I enjoy using this gear as well. I have a AE-1 program that needs new foam seals, as well as Pentax K1000 that needs the same treatment. If only my to do list would get shorter, I would look at getting them sorted out. I hope you enjoy your new to you gear. Gary
I have 3 K1000s, the light meter works in 2 and the third I have not pulled the bottom off of it yet to cleaned the battery contact. I use one of them and have just cleaned, replace the mirror buffer pad and light seal. lubed the mechanism in the second, I'll sell this cheap to one of the regular Vinnies's customers . She has developed a renewed interest in film photography .
Are items like the foam seals hard to find? I'm completely new to SLRs so my questions come from a lack of experience.
You can get sheets of foam from B&H photo that you cut to fit. These sheets come in various thickness. Gary
Have a look at those cheap mouse foam mouse pads, they are about the right thickness and I have used one to do some of my cameras, works fine and some super glue.
