Does anyone collect vintage cameras?

Russinating · 12 Jun 2018 at 22:52

I've been collecting cameras for a good few years, nothing special just the odd charity shop spot for a tenner here and there. It's been added to by a few family hand downs, again nothing fancy (I don't think).

I made a list of them all at the weekend which you can view at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1VJ1-C2GKHLGL-kRdwgqG9bAIlkWITKBKfxEUnfN1tQY. Nothing special or rare in there (I don't think), but that hasn't been the point as they're just ornaments.

However it'd be nice to start collecting them 'properly', nothing crazy, just either models that were important steps in history or slighter rarer/unusual ones. I've tried looking for good resources but can't really find any that are useful and not overwhelming.

Can anyone point me in the right direction, either of resources or specific models etc? And died anyone else have a collection?

sHo0sH · 13 Jun 2018 at 07:28

If you're ever in London, take a trip to mr cad http://www.mrcad.co.uk absolute wealth of vintage cameras in there and the guy is very knowledgeable.

a1ex2001 · 17 Jun 2018 at 07:06

The famous/good stuff goes for plenty of money! For me a camera collection wouldn't be complete without a decent rolli and an om1

Derek W · 17 Oct 2019 at 08:56

@Russinating Not a collection yet, but picked this one up yesterday and a second should be arriving in the next day or two.

Jiffy Kodak VP from circa 1935.

ttaskmaster · 17 Oct 2019 at 10:35

Derek W · 17 Oct 2019 at 17:01

Kodak Six 20 Brownie folding camera arrived today, slightly larger than the one behind it. 1937 - 1940

Derek W · 21 Oct 2019 at 21:47

Forgot to post this for finding out about Kodak cameras. On some of the models it has estimated runs of particular models as well. http://www.kodaksefke.nl/identify-your-kodak.html

Edrof · 11 Nov 2019 at 12:42

I love old cameras but I only have a Box Brownie at the moment. Like many antiques, you can pick them up for next to nothing and there's another at a nearby shop for a mere £12 which I will nab at some point.

Derek W · 12 Nov 2019 at 12:53

Edrof said:
I love old cameras but I only have a Box Brownie at the moment. Like many antiques, you can pick them up for next to nothing and there's another at a nearby shop for a mere £12 which I will nab at some point.

One is just the start of a collection!

EGuitarStar · 12 Nov 2019 at 19:43

I'd love you but at the moment I have no funds to be able to do this. Just moved into a new home so any money spent is on the house.

I really like the look of vintage cameras.

I do have a Canon EOS 30D, Panasonic LX100, GX80 and GX9. I guess this is my "digital" collection.

Kei · 12 Nov 2019 at 20:14

I have a fair collection of old cameras, though some are probably not yet considered vintage. Oldest camera I have is the Voigtlander Bessa (1940) and a Franka Rolfix (1951) which are both 6x9/6x6 folding cameras. The Franka has been in the family from new and still gets used every now and then.

My mamiya medium format kit. (M645 1000S and M645J are mid late 70's, the RZ67 Pro II is mid 90's and the 645 AFD is post millennium)

I also have a couple of Canon FD bodies and a jammed Pentax ME super that I've been meaning to fix.

Derek W · 12 Nov 2019 at 20:44

EGuitarStar said:
I'd love you but at the moment I have no funds to be able to do this. Just moved into a new home so any money spent is on the house.

I really like the look of vintage cameras.

I do have a Canon EOS 30D, Panasonic LX100, GX80 and GX9. I guess this is my "digital" collection.

To be fair the two that I bought were just twenty quid each. So it doesn't break the bank. Both appear to be in good order maybe a wee bit of fungus on the lens but I should be able to clean that up no problem.

Nice collection @Kei

Scam · 13 Nov 2019 at 15:51

I know nothing about them but those Mamiya's are sexy.

I got lost looking at reviews of 135mm primes (M42; I already have an adapter for my Helios 50/f2 onto my Fuji). Can anyone recommend one? Some amount of centre sharpness would be nice, but I'm looking for character really and preferably around the £20-30mark.

pingu666 · 14 Nov 2019 at 03:05

Scam said:
I know nothing about them but those Mamiya's are sexy.

I got lost looking at reviews of 135mm primes (M42; I already have an adapter for my Helios 50/f2 onto my Fuji). Can anyone recommend one? Some amount of centre sharpness would be nice, but I'm looking for character really and preferably around the £20-30mark.

pentax forum used to have good reviews and sample shots, i think
i have a pentacon 135mm/2.8 that i really like, abit washed out colour but i like that effect, my dads old carl ziess jena 3.5 i think has rich colours, and in general pentax takumar lenses have the best feel (how focus feels to move) and really good optics too

if you want something smaller, the theres old leica mount stuff, the longer range stuff is normally pretty cheap as rangefinder sucks for telephoto

Scam · 14 Nov 2019 at 11:45

Yeah I saw some good shots from the Pentacon, it creates interesting bokeh does it not?

Kei · 14 Nov 2019 at 13:52

I wouldn't necessarily describe it as "interesting", more like good or smooth. It has 15 iris blades which makes for a very circular aperture. That said, there is a version that has only 6 iris blades. The Tair 11A looks to be near identical to the pentacon.

Edrof · 14 Nov 2019 at 19:37

Pringle W said:
One is just the start of a collection!

You may well be right! I already collect a number of antique bits and bobs so cameras would be a good addition.

footman · 16 Nov 2019 at 09:32

Scam said:
I know nothing about them but those Mamiya's are sexy.

I got lost looking at reviews of 135mm primes (M42; I already have an adapter for my Helios 50/f2 onto my Fuji). Can anyone recommend one? Some amount of centre sharpness would be nice, but I'm looking for character really and preferably around the £20-30mark.

I seem to have developed a love for 135mm lenses, something I've never considered before. I acquired a Canon FD 135mm F2.8 last year to use with my Sony A7 bodies. Haven't done a lot yet just a few in the garden.

and a family one

A shot of a "vintage" camera with a modern Sigma Art 135mm f1.8

Scam · 16 Nov 2019 at 11:38

Very nice!

footman · 16 Nov 2019 at 13:09

Scam said:
Very nice!

Thanks. Another significant advantage for me is comparative weight. At the moment I'm somewhat temporarily disabled with carpal tunnel syndrome in my right hand. Mirrorless bodies may be smaller than DSLR's but the FF lenses are massive and ATM I simply can't hold them.
For example, the Canon FD vintage 135mm f2.8 here weighs 400gm while the Sigma 135mm weighs 1.33Kg!