I Still Shoot Film

I know, I know. You all relied on me for eBay deals and then they just disappeared, and I am very sorry. I keep intending to bring them back but I am just so swamped with work that everytime I sit in front of my computer, I never make to eBay. But, I have made some time to bring you eBay deals just before Christmas… nevermind that I am a Jew, that’s not important. Moving on, I bring you EBAY FILM CAMERA DEALS YAY!!

Here are the goodies:

• Pentax K1000 (KIT): starting bid 99 cents (yes, seriously and everything works so get on it), comes with 50mm f/1.4 Pentax lens, 28mm f/2.8 Vivitar lens and 80-200mm Albinar ADG lens, Vivtar UV filter, external flash head, extra camera battery, lens duster and lens cleaning cloth - PLUS - the instruction manual. Ends in 6 days. http://bit.ly/gwfjtF

• Smena 8M: starting bid $15 or buy it now for $16.50, ends in 6 days. This little guy is not a fully manual SLR, but I have one and I love it and this is a great price, so I thought I would throw it on here. http://bit.ly/gANAGn

• Minolta XK: starting bid $9, comes with 39-80mm Sigma lens, ends in 4 days. http://bit.ly/gLt50S

• Ricoh Singlex TLS: buy it now for $35, comes with 55mm Fujinon lens, ends in 29 days. http://bit.ly/ehsjCq

• Minolta X-700 (KIT): starting bid $25 or buy it now for $65, comes with 35-70mm f/3.5 and 80-200mm f/4.5 lenses, Vivitar Auto 2600 flash, and Samigon auto-winder, ends in 9 days. http://bit.ly/dR5DjI

• Pentax K1000: starting bid $34.99, comes with what appears to be a 50mm lens, ends in 6 days. http://bit.ly/f9OYaU

• Miranda Sensorex: starting bid $79.95, comes with f/1.8 50mm lens, ends in 6 days, US shipping only. I have never heard of this little guy, but it’s Japanese, pretty and in great condition. http://bit.ly/fjtRco

• Pentax K1000: starting bid $29.99, comes with 50mm f/1.2 lens, ends in 4 days. http://bit.ly/fM0efn

• Nikon FM10: buy it now for $79, comes with 35-70mm f/3.5 Nikon Lens and leather carrying case, ends in 6 days. http://bit.ly/gjsH9f

Splurge:

• Nikon FM2: starting bid $175, comes with 24-70mm Vivitar lens, ends in 6 days. I have had this camera for almost 19 years and it is a beast. It’s totally worth $175. http://bit.ly/hHvR96

(Source: istillshootfilm.org)

They may be a little late, but good things come to those who wait because I have found some super delicious film camera deals for this week. Anyone who asked me about a good film camera for beginners or for a photography class, any of these would be a good choice:

• Praktica PL Nova I35: starting bid $9.99, ends in 6 days, comes with 50mm lens and case http://tinyurl.com/32jyc5w

• Pentax ME Super: starting bid $19 or buy it now for $49, ends in 6 days, comes with 50mm lens http://tinyurl.com/32qpmcg

• Pentax K1000 (KIT): starting bid $29, ends in 6 days, comes with 50mm, 28mm, and 35-105mm lenses http://tinyurl.com/2vb8uvp

• Mamiya Sekor 1000DTL (KIT): starting bid $49.99, ends in 6 days, comes with 55mm Mamiya/Sekor lens, Vivitar 52mm polarizing lens, tele-converter, filters, table clamp, and bag http://tinyurl.com/2w59mw4

• Mamiya Sekor 500TL: starting bid $14.95, ends in 5 days, comes with 50mm Mamiya Sekor lens http://tinyurl.com/2887u3g

• Mamiya Sekor 500DTL: buy it now for $24.99 or best offer, ends in 28 days, comes with 50mm Mamiya Sekor lens http://tinyurl.com/35jvvkt

• Nikon FG-20: starting bid $49.99, ends in 6 days, comes with 50mm lens http://tinyurl.com/2uuhp7r

It’s time for Sunday eBay Deals! Yay! This week is an exclusively 35mm SLR edition; all of you who have asked me about a good camera for beginners, this is where you want to look:

• Asahi Pentax ES II: starting bid $75, ends in 6 days, comes with 50mm lens and instruction manual http://tinyurl.com/2vqmvnr

• Mamiya Sekor MSX 500: buy it now for $7 (seriously), comes with what appears to be a 135mm lens http://tinyurl.com/3y4c8eo

• Nikon FG-20: current bid 99 cents, ends in 6 days, comes with 50mm lens and instruction manual http://tinyurl.com/3yrrje7

• Nikon EM (UK): starting bid 10 pounds, ends in 9 days, comes with 80-200mm lens and flash unit http://tinyurl.com/3872545

• Pentak K1000 (Kit): starting bid $42, ends in 4 days, comes with 135mm, 28mm, and 50mm lenses, plus flash, 2 straps, and camera bag http://tinyurl.com/3xv95lt

• Canon AE-1 Program (Kit): starting bid $9.99, ends in 6 days, comes with 135mm & 28mm lenses, flash unit, and instruction manual http://tinyurl.com/33p72bf

• Mamiya XE-2 (Kit): starting bid $25, ends in 6 days, comes with 50mm & 200mm Mamiya Sekor lenses, 28-80 Macro Quantaray lens, Mamiyalite ZE and Vivitar 283 flash units. This is an incredible kit for and if someone doesn’t buy it, I will die. http://tinyurl.com/34sg9gm

Yay it’s Sunday, so let’s get to the Ebay film camera deals. For anyone who asked me to recommend a good film camera for a beginner, all of these have fully manual functions (and many come with instruction books) and would be a good place to start:

• Pentax K1000: starting bid $49.99, ends in 6 days, comes with 50mm lens, Vivitar 1900 flash, and instruction manual http://tinyurl.com/37ygrew

• Minolta XG-M: starting bid $8.95, ends in 6 days, comes with 50mm lens, 80-200mm lens, camera bag, and filters http://tinyurl.com/35holcz

• Nikon AS: starting bid $75, ends in 6 days, comes with 50mm lens http://tinyurl.com/2wjx5bv

• Yashica TL Electro X: buy it now for $35, or best offer, comes with 50mm lens http://tinyurl.com/2vvng4p

• Canon EX QL: starting bid $9.99 or buy it now for $29.99, ends in 2 days, comes with what appears to be a 50mm lens http://tinyurl.com/38xcas7

• Canon AE-1 Program: starting bid 99 cents, ends in 6 days, comes with 50mm lens http://tinyurl.com/28zj3b7

• Mamiya ZE: starting bid 99 cents, ends in 4 days, comes with 50mm lens http://tinyurl.com/262fbhf

• Minolta SRT 202: buy it now for $44.99 or best offer, ends in 6 days, comes with 50mm lens http://tinyurl.com/359w793

• Olympus OM-1: starting bid $9.99, ends in 6 days, comes with what appears to be (maybe?) a wide angle lens http://tinyurl.com/25e687q

• Pentax K-1000: starting bid $20, ends in 4 days, comes with 50mm lens and instruction manual http://tinyurl.com/2dlyqdo

It’s Sunday, which means it’s time for Ebay film camera deals! If you asked me a question along the lines of, “What’s a good film camera for a beginner?” then the 35mm manual SLR section would be for you. I have also included some super-fabulous deals on medium format cameras for those of you who are thinking about taking it to the next level.

I must say that while doing the Ebay Deals is fun, and gets people buying cameras, it is not at all helping my camera addiction. If my life was New Jack City, I would be Pookie and Russian cameras would be my crack; I’d slide the aperture back and forth while twitching and talking to myself about optics and focal length… (And if you don’t know what New Jack City is, get on your movie research now and shame on you.) So me doing Ebay deals is EXACTLY LIKE WHEN POOKIE GOES TO WORK IN A CRACK HOUSE.

But alas, I digress… so on to the matter at hand, which would be cameras YAY!

35mm manual SLRs (good for beginners):

• Yashica Electro AX: buy it now for $25, comes with an unidentified lens but looks like a standard 50mm, circa 1973 http://tinyurl.com/2adqnwm

• Yashica Electro: minimum bid $19.95, ends in 3 days, comes with 1 lens and Vivtar flash, light meter NOT working http://tinyurl.com/268wdbo

• Yashica FX-7: current bid $7.70, comes with 35-105mm lens, lens hood, and Sun Blitz 100 flash http://tinyurl.com/25ml4bv

• Minolta X-9 (KIT): current bid $19, ends in 7 hours comes with 35-75mm and 80-200mm lenses, motorized bottom, and flashhttp://tinyurl.com/252e2lz

• Minolta SRT 100: minimum bid $49.95, ends in 10 hours, comes with 55mm and 28mm lenses http://tinyurl.com/386nxow

• Minolta x-370: minimum bid $49.99, ends in 11 hours, comes with 50mm lens http://tinyurl.com/3yujy64

• Nikon FM2 (black): yup, the black version of my dearest baby, current bid $51, ends in 15 hours, comes with 35-70mm Nikkor lens http://tinyurl.com/2vs92ow

Medium Format:

• Kiev 6C (120 SLR): current bid $75, comes with 90mm 2.8 lens; this is a medium format SLR and shoots 6x6… I also might buy it if no one else does because I am addicted to Russian cameras!! Ends in 15 hours, so jump on it http://tinyurl.com/2v5rmmj

• Pentacon Praktisix: minimum bid $45, ends in 5 days, comes with 80mm 3.5 Primotar E lens; this is a relatively rare East German made medium format SLR circa late 1950’s and it’s beautiful. I have to stop wanting to buy the Sunday Ebay Deals!!! Someone else please buy it, stop me, please http://tinyurl.com/3959x33

• Kiev 60 (TTL): buy it now for $165, this one’s a bit of a splurge but it’s Russian and NEW and this dealer has more than 10 available (which means if you guys buy them it still won’t stop me from buying one [sigh] I have a problem), comes with Arsat 80mm 2.8 lens and other goodies like a manual and batteries. Anyone looking for a solid medium format camera, this one is money http://tinyurl.com/2fxeydj

• Fujica G-690 (120 and 220): current bid $79.88, ends in 1 day 17 hours, comes with 100mm 3.5 lens, camera + lens have serial numbers, medium format and takes 120 and 220 film http://tinyurl.com/3ygbmbw

and PS: for those of you old enough - you know you totally forgot Mario Van Peebles ever even existed until I just dropped a flashback bomb on your ass

Okay, it’s time for Sunday Ebay Camera Deals. For those of you who ask me about good cameras for beginners, this is where I would start. Go manual, or you might as well go digital. I’ve added some rangefinders for those who might be interested, especially since there are some good deals to be had.

• Canon Canonet Rangefinder: $25, buy it now, ends in 6 days http://tinyurl.com/yzszq8g

• Olympus 35 ECR Rangefinder: $30, buy it now, ends in 6 days http://tinyurl.com/yaquj2r

• Pentax Honeywell Spotmatic: $99.95, buy it now, comes with 55mm 1.8 lens and case ( a little expensive but seems to be in fantastic condition) http://tinyurl.com/ygy6p5t

• Nikon F: $199, ends in 6 days or $299, buy it now. Comes with 50mm 1.4 lens. This is definitely the most expensive camera I have listed but it is absolutely gorgeous. I would buy it myself if I could justify the purchase. This is a good option for someone wanting to invest in a really nice film SLR http://tinyurl.com/yfv8ljk

• Pentax ASAHI Spotmatic (KIT): 99 cents, ends in 6 days, comes with: 50mm 1.4 lens, 135mm lens, 80-210mm telephoto lens, flash w/ mounting bar & AC adapter, various filters, and leather case. Obviously, 99 cents is the starting bid, but this is a pretty complete kit and is definitely worth checking out. http://tinyurl.com/y979vqw

• Yashica G Electro Rangefinder: $19.99, ends in 6 days, comes with (unusual) 45mm 1.7 lenshttp://tinyurl.com/ykxuzqk

• Praktica LTL3: $9, ends in 6 days. I had another model of this camera, it took great pictures so I gave to my niece. http://tinyurl.com/yavxnyh

AND FINALLY…….

TA DA:

• NIKON FM2: That’s right, my camera. The exact same model with the exact same lens. Obviously it is not my camera, since I would be more likely to sell my first born child than my Nikon… $99.95, ends in 6 days, comes with 50mm 1.8 lens. For all of you asking me, “What is a good SLR film camera?” THIS IS A GOOD SLR FILM CAMERA. I have had this camera for 18 years and it has never, ever, ever failed me. Ever. It’s never needed repair, I change the battery in the meter once every 7 years, and it takes flawless, beautiful photos. If someone doesn’t buy this, I’ll scream. It’s worth so much more than $99.  http://tinyurl.com/yk4l6uy

Recently, a lot of people having been asking me which digital camera I would recommend and what’s my favorite camera… as I have said before I am not an expert on digital SLRs but I figured it would be nice to do a quick rundown of some of the options out there for all who are interested.

• As per many of your questions, my “dream camera” is a Mamiya RZ67. I would also theoretically purchase a digital back to go with said dream camera. The whole package is about $21,000, so maybe not right away…
• My favorite camera that I own is my Nikon FM 2. I have had it since I was 10 years old and it has never failed me. EVER.
• My 2nd favorite camera is my Kiev 88 (a Russian copy of a Hasselblad). It’s super heavy but takes amazing photos. I use it for work a lot.
• I do not recommend buying automatic and/or new film SLRs. The body and lenses are made from plastic instead of metal, and there’s a big difference in the resulting images.

Moving on…

• The digital camera I work with is a Canon EOS 20D. I bought it because it’s cheap and takes studio lights. To be honest it’s served me well, but I’ve been wanting to get rid of it for a long time. I would recommend it (well the equivalent, they don’t make it anymore) to someone looking for a mid-level SLR that’s not too expensive.  I have upgraded to a Nikon D300s, it takes all of the old lenses I had for my FM2 and I am very happy with it so far. 

But…

• The digital camera I want (besides forementioned dream camera) is a Nikon D700.  I need lower noise, it’s out of control and an editor even mentioned something about it the other day (ahhh). In fact, I think I might sell my Canon and buy the Nikon. Obviously, I did not end up getting this model as previously stated.

Which leads us to: Stats

Nikon (under $1000)

• D60: 10.2 megapixels, no price listed on website
• D40: 6.1 megapixels, $499.99 (this is really really small for resolution)
• D3000: 10.2 megapixels, $549.95. This is definitely a good option for a starter
• D5000: 12.3 megapixels, movie mode, $629.95. Also a good choice to start with.
• D90: 12.3 megapixels, $899. I know professionals who use this.

Canon (under $1000)

• EOS Rebel XS: 10.1 megapixels, $569.99 (kit)
• EOS Rebel T2i EF-S: 18.1 megapixels, movie mode, $899.99. This guy gives super high quality images for the price. In fact, as I am writing this I am wondering if I should buy it.
• EOS Rebel T1i EF-S: 15.1 megapixels, HD video, $799. This also seems like a pretty great deal for the quality level.

Fuji

• S Series: I have never actually tried a Fuji digital product, but I love Fuji for film products (especially since they still manufacture EVERYTHING). While you can’t change the lenses on the Fuji S Series, they seem like they would definitely be a good option for beginners.

Pentax and Olympus might also be good places to look, although to be honest I don’t know anyone who works with either so I can’t say much about quality. Another thing some people might be interested to know: a lot of professional photographers (myself included) rent expensive camera equipment just for the day of the shoot. Same goes for lights, studio, and sometimes even assistants. Which means theoretically if you wanted to test a camera, you could rent it for a day and see how you feel. Or if you have a super limited budget, you can rent when you need to shoot. Hope this helps!

Since lacelinedlung asked about where to buy a cheap 35mm film camera, I got inspired to list some of the best Ebay finds for people who are interested. Generally speaking, I think everybody gets a better deal at flea markets, but there are still deals to be had on ebay. So, without furthur ado, today’s list:

• Yashica FX-3 (circa 1979): $50, ends in 7 hours, comes w/ lens, case, and flash:http://tinyurl.com/yatj56f

• Pentax K1000 (circa 1980): $76, ends in 8 hours, comes with full kit: http://tinyurl.com/yzrnzuw

• Mamiya Sekor 500 DTL (circa 1960’s): $19.99, ends in 10 hours, comes w/ lens [Personally, I have this camera and it is amazing! At $19 someone better buy it): http://tinyurl.com/yhs35n8

• Canon T-5 (circa 1982): $26, ends in 12 hours, comes with lens: http://tinyurl.com/ylntau3

• Kowa SER: 99 cents. I’ve never heard of it, but at working at 99 cents means I might buy it if someone else doesn’t: http://tinyurl.com/ygcq2sw

• Minolta XG-1(circa 1981): $75, ends in 12 hours, comes with lens: http://tinyurl.com/yb85eex

• Argus STL 1000: $29.98, ends in 16 hours, comes with 50mm lens [this is another one that I might buy if someone doesn’t jump on it] http://tinyurl.com/yc4r9xw

• Asahi Pentax K1000 (circa 1976): $40, ends in 17 hours, comes with 50.. 1.2 lens [let me just say that lenses this fast are hard to come by, I have one for my Nikon that has saved my life many a dark day] http://tinyurl.com/yd8nz5h

I’ll check again in a couple of days and post any good deals I find. Long live film!