Recommend me a……..

bumper

bumper

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David
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Fully mechanical slr. No electronics apart from a battery for a meter(preferably a battery that is still readily available). All of my current bodies are now dead, most due to electrical problems.
Needs to be fairly bombproof and not really more than £100 with a lens included. It’s going in my work van, so not expensive.
I’ve got a remaining praktica mtl5b that still works but fancy something else too. It was cheap but I’m sort of attached to it and don’t want to get it stolen or drop it from the van!

May also consider a small rangefinder if it’s a reliable one but would prefer a fully mechanical slr. Fancied another Yashica electro but the last one died, yes electrics again.

If any members have anything available, happy to know what you have. We could arrange to pop it into classifieds.
 
I’d try to find a Pentax MX. Have no idea whether or not you can get one with lens for less than £100 though.
 
GeeJay57 said:
I’d try to find a Pentax MX. Have no idea whether or not you can get one with lens for less than £100 though.
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I’ve seen a few on eBay with a lens around £100-£150. Most have some fault or the usual ‘not tested’, which from experience means they don’t work.
 
Since you already have an M42 mount body, I'd be tempted to stick with that and look for a Pentax Spotmatic - or even earlier body. LOTS of lenses available for that mount.
 
My Yashica FX3 and 124G and Canonet QL17 are all mechanical cameras.

I do have a 'spare' Yashica FR1 but it needs light seals and although it winds on correctly for each frame, when it gets to the end of a roll it just keeps winding/ shooting so the last frame ends up being more than just a double exposure :ROFLMAO:
 
Another suggestion for the mix.

Zeiss Icarex 35S or CS. Both are fully manual with an electronic light meter. The meter takes a Weincell MRB625 . The battery is currently available and any meter faults can usually be fixed easily. The cameras were designed by Voigtlander before Zeiss bought them out. They are available with two lens mounts. The TM version has an M42 mount giving access to many inexpensive good quality lenses from various makers. The BM version has a Voigtlander bayonet mount. The Voigtlander lenses are top notch and cheap, but only readily available in 35mm, 50mm & 135mm.

It is a big, heavy, well made camera and cheaper than the Pentax, Olympus and Nikon manual cameras.
 
Nod said:
Since you already have an M42 mount body, I'd be tempted to stick with that and look for a Pentax Spotmatic - or even earlier body. LOTS of lenses available for that mount.
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That’s great thinking. I do have a broken spotmatic in a cupboard at work though. Don’t really mind trying something else.

LeeRatters said:
My Yashica FX3 and 124G and Canonet QL17 are all mechanical cameras.

I do have a 'spare' Yashica FR1 but it needs light seals and although it winds on correctly for each frame, when it gets to the end of a roll it just keeps winding/ shooting so the last frame ends up being more than just a double exposure :ROFLMAO:
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Got an fx3 on watch but I think the battery cover is missing. Only had a quick check on my phone this morning when toying with the idea. Would like a 124g



I did order a new Kodak snapic a1 to pop in my glove box but it never arrived and had to get PayPal get the money back!
 
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Clive K said:
Another suggestion for the mix.

Zeiss Icarex 35S or CS. Both are fully manual with an electronic light meter. The meter takes a Weincell MRB625 . The battery is currently available and any meter faults can usually be fixed easily. The cameras were designed by Voigtlander before Zeiss bought them out. They are available with two lens mounts. The TM version has an M42 mount giving access to many inexpensive good quality lenses from various makers. The BM version has a Voigtlander bayonet mount. The Voigtlander lenses are top notch and cheap, but only readily available in 35mm, 50mm & 135mm.

It is a big, heavy, well made camera and cheaper than the Pentax, Olympus and Nikon manual cameras.
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Like those, a bit different from the normal usual ones I’ve had or looked at(y)
 
I have a Yashica Electro I would let go,

Fully cased full kit with the the two additional lenses, tele and wide angle all very good condition and tested working ( some photos have been posted on here )

I cannot get get on with rangefinder, "Have you took the lens cap off" ha ha
 
I have my dad’s old Spotmatic at home. Was definitely working last time it was used.

Although that was a while ago.

I am away from home for a few days. I can dig it out when I get home
 
srichards said:
Does the camera get left in the van in all temperatures?
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Yes, that’s one reason why I didn’t want any electrical parts inside or batteries etc.
The film handles the cold but the cameras don’t. When I’ve dismantled broken cameras, the wiring and connections all look corroded even when they’re not in the van. Suppose thats the joy of buying 50 year old gear!
 
Thanks for the offers etc. above.

I’ll let you all know but I’ve just bought a zenit b. Absolutely zero batteries, I’ve always got my phone on me at work so can meter or just guess!
Was looking at a zenith e but trying to avoid any electrics.

Looks like a brick and almost as old as me.
 
As you have the M42 lenses, you might consider a Pentax SV. Tough, totally mechanical, relatively small and light.

Last time I looked, they seemed to be going for £50 - £70...

Pentax SV in half ever ready case.JPG
 
Pentax kX or try a Canon T70 (not mechanical)....why? well so cheap and fantastic non pro camera for the price, and with features like safety shift helps to get exposures right if you can't be bothered to set fstop and shutter speed. I used two for about 15 years and it's my most used camera.
 
Cheers chaps. Still glad of recommendations.

With my buying track record, I’ll be looking for another once (if) this zenit arrives broken.
 
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My run on bad eBay luck continues.

Zenit b arrived, looked fine. Cocked shutter and fired ok. loaded a film and advanced once, now the lever won’t budge at all.
Taken the film out, had a play pressing button and still nothing. Jiggled the film rewind button and shutter button, lever is still jammed solid.

Now I know why I stopped buying old s***ters.
 
bumper said:
My run on bad eBay luck continues.

Zenit b arrived, looked fine. Cocked shutter and fired ok. loaded a film and advanced once, now the lever won’t budge at all.
Taken the film out, had a play pressing button and still nothing. Jiggled the film rewind button and shutter button, lever is still jammed solid.

Now I know why I stopped buying old s***ters.
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I think you might be better buying modern single use disposables :LOL:
 
I would suggest the Fujica ST605. Or maybe the Canon FTB, that takes standard 625 batteries.
 
Going to see what the seller does. May just swap it or give the idea up completely.
 
Well would you believe it. Left it a while, went back and it’s working and has worked every time since.

Popping a roll in tomorrow. No doubt I’ll have finished a 36 by Christmas :ROFLMAO:
 
bumper said:
Well would you believe it. Left it a while, went back and it’s working and has worked every time since.

Popping a roll in tomorrow. No doubt I’ll have finished a 36 by Christmas :ROFLMAO:
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I have this [second] Canonet QL17 here - I'm about 8 shots in so hoping to finish tomorrow at the North Somerset Show, which is an agricultural type affair.

That'll mean my last two rolls of 35mm would have been "test rolls" :ROFLMAO:
 
LeeRatters said:
I have this [second] Canonet QL17 here - I'm about 8 shots in so hoping to finish tomorrow at the North Somerset Show, which is an agricultural type affair.

That'll mean my last two rolls of 35mm would have been "test rolls" :ROFLMAO:
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You’ll blast through a roll or two at an agricultural show, even I would!

Lots of decent looking canonets appeared on eBay over the past few days. Tempted, but this one has reminded why I don’t :ROFLMAO:
 
bumper said:
Well would you believe it. Left it a while, went back and it’s working and has worked every time since.

Popping a roll in tomorrow. No doubt I’ll have finished a 36 by Christmas :ROFLMAO:
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But which christmas???
 
Nikon F3
 
OM 2n Is a lovely camera.

Small and light if thats your bag.
 
AndrewFlannigan said:
As you have the M42 lenses, you might consider a Pentax SV. Tough, totally mechanical, relatively small and light.

Last time I looked, they seemed to be going for £50 - £70...

View attachment 480956
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I picked up an SV with an SMC 55mm f2 Takumar, with a meter fir £10 at a Camera Fair, in near mint condition. Great cameras.

You'd be spoilt for choice of good SLRs under £100 at a Camera Fair.

Ian
 
Downhill Specialist said:
Also has an electronic shutter IIRC so needs batteries to power it.
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batteries for the meter
can be used without batteries for fully mechanical although you will miss best feature, film metering
 
Barney said:
batteries for the meter
can be used without batteries for fully mechanical although you will miss best feature, film metering
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Quick Google suggest it is indeed an electronic shutter.

"The OM-1 had been a manual mechanical camera with only match-needle metering. But the OM-2, despite being the same compact size as its predecessor, substituted an electronic shutter to allow manual operation and aperture priority with automatically chosen shutter speeds displayed in the viewfinder."
 
Downhill Specialist said:
Quick Google suggest it is indeed an electronic shutter.

"The OM-1 had been a manual mechanical camera with only match-needle metering. But the OM-2, despite being the same compact size as its predecessor, substituted an electronic shutter to allow manual operation and aperture priority with automatically chosen shutter speeds displayed in the viewfinder."
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Thanks for the correction, I had it wrong then !
 
I've used an OM2 for years (1977-1984) before adding an OM4. The OM2 has a single manual speed of 1/60th second in case of battery failure. I think B is also available. The OM1 and OM3 were fully mechanical.

The OM3 is the only single digit OM I never owned. My reasoning was that the only advantage over the OM1 was the metering, and in the event of battery failure that disappeared. If the battery didn't fail, there was no advantage over the OM4.

Just in passing, the Nikon F3 was in my opinion the camera the OM2 should have been. Electronic shutter, but could be powered by easy to buy anywhere MN1500 batteries, plus an interchangeable prism, a feature that once experienced I found hard to live without.
 
StephenM said:
Just in passing, the Nikon F3 was in my opinion the camera the OM2 should have been. Electronic shutter, but could be powered by easy to buy anywhere MN1500 batteries, plus an interchangeable prism, a feature that once experienced I found hard to live without.
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I LOVED my F3/t in champagne. One of the cameras I regret selling as they don't come along in that good condition very often and not for the reasonable price I paid.
 
StephenM said:
Just in passing, the Nikon F3 was in my opinion the camera the OM2 should have been...
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It's all down to personal taste, though, isn't it?

I didn't get on with either the F2 or the F3 but I did very well with the original F and with the F4. I think that's why there were so many cameras on the market; what suited one person was just not another person's cup of tea.
 
The Zenit appears to be fine now. I’ve stripped it down and give quick clean and minor lube. I think the jamming issue was dried gunk, I found a couple of bits.

It’ll be having fomapan 400, got to use it somewhere lol!
 
Gave the Zenit B a test run on Sunday morning before it goes to live in my van. Most of the shots were taken at 5.00am so the sun hadn't risen and it was grey.
I don't think it performed too badly for a 60 year old camera that probably hasn't been used for a few years.

I struggled with focus, think the prism is in need of swapping. The silvering is most likely degrading, its abit blurry/hazy. Body has a light leak or two, it's the old wool type in the recesses. I think the back was flexing while I was trying to hold the camera with one hand and the dog lead with the other and trying to find another hand to focus and turn the aperture ring!

Viewfinder is a lucky dip compared to what you actually get.

These are Fomapan 400 ( not a fan) shot at 125 or 250ss and developed at 400 in my well out of date hc110. Used the sunny 16 (or dull f4 in these parts). Didn't go above 5.6 but most were f4 or 2.6.

All done with my om3/30mm macro in standard jpeg, couldn't be bothered with hi res.









 
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