where to buy 35mm vintageish SLRs from?

[wildoliver]

I'm looking to get back in to film photography, in daily life I now use digital but I really miss the fun of having to carefully set a shot up as you only get one try at it, I also miss developing my own films and printing them.

I did have an ME super and K1000 and regret selling them (especially as they went for nothing), but other than ebay is there anywhere good to by from? Most of my local camera shops now only sell the very last AF 35mm kit and are mostly digital (understandably, can't see much profit in the vintage gear).

Ideally I'm after an Olympus OM1 or Pentax MX or possibly an ME super, basically something small with a basic 50mm lens I can stuff in a coat pocket and enjoy on trips out.

[clonmult]

I'd just suggest checking around local independent camera shops.

We don't have any here in Basingstoke (not surprising really), but there are a couple in Reading, so just try and open up your search a little wider.

It was quite wonderful going into those indie places after having put up with the utter blandness that is Jessops. Floor to ceiling with a variety of boxed up cameras and kit, a good selection of 35mm SLRs .... and one of them had the addition of my old Canon AE-1 and AV-1.

From what I was told, 35mm is now mainly used by photography students (ie. no cheating, just gotta learn the basics), so maybe opening your search to towns with universities?

[davidd]

These chaps used to have an amazing second hand shop

http://www.campkinscameras.co.uk/Pages/sechand.htm

Not so vast now, worth a try though..

D

[jimmy156]

The best place will be a local camera fair, they are amazing places for enthusiast to pick up stuff.

google camera fair and your nearsest bigish town and it should throw up some results, generally things will be much cheaper then if you buy from a shop.

[Yellabelly]

London Camera Exchange have a reasonable amount of older 35mm cameras, lenses and accessories, our local branch (Lincoln) has some really nice film cameras in currently, Nikon Fs, Bronica, Mamiya, pentax etc

Check their websites

YB

[Chicken Pox]

wildoliver said:

I'm looking to get back in to film photography, in daily life I now use digital but I really miss the fun of having to carefully set a shot up as you only get one try at it, I also miss developing my own films and printing them.

I did have an ME super and K1000 and regret selling them (especially as they went for nothing), but other than ebay is there anywhere good to by from? Most of my local camera shops now only sell the very last AF 35mm kit and are mostly digital (understandably, can't see much profit in the vintage gear).

Ideally I'm after an Olympus OM1 or Pentax MX or possibly an ME super, basically something small with a basic 50mm lens I can stuff in a coat pocket and enjoy on trips out.

Would an OM1N Chrome body or OM10 with 50mm f1.8 do (sorry know nothing about pre digital)?

[wildoliver]

Om1n with the 50mm would do nicely yes!

[Chicken Pox]

wildoliver said:

Om1n with the 50mm would do nicely yes!

Not sure if this is expensive but one at £49 and other at £69 +P&P from https://secure.ffordes.com/index.htm under used equipment/Olympic
have used them for other bits an descriptions usually accurate
hth

[yorkypud]

Canon T50 kicking around in my cupboard if its any use ??

[wildoliver]

Cheers guys I've now found an om1n for £40 in Leeds, off to see it on thurs, also found an me super down south somewhere for less but he's not got back to me yet.

Thanks for the offer of the canon but it's a bit new really for what I'm after. Kind offer though!

[Chicken Pox]

glad you got sorted (hopefully), don't forget to scan in some of your results

[wildoliver]

Oh yeah I love public ridicule

[tuscan30]

If you are keen on Pentax kit I've an ME super (with winder) and a K2 (big brother to the K1000) sitting in the cupboard. Just to make your choices more difficult .........

[wildoliver]

Ooo don't tempt me!!!

Does the ME come with a 50mm? How much are you looking for?

Olly

[tuscan30]

Morning Oliver,
Sorry for not replying last night but I was just on my way out when I posted.
The ME Super has a 35mm F2 Pentax prime or there's a 37-70 F2.8-F4 Sigma zoom. I did have a 50mm F1.12 (not a typo, they really did a lens as fast as that) but that got snapped up by a local pro many years ago.
I'll look all the Pentax stuff out when I get home tonight and pass on some photos of it.

[markmullen]

Oliver, York Camera Mart on Church Street (just down from Richer Sounds) often have nice film kit in, tell them I say hello.

[wildoliver]

Popped in the other day Mark, nothing thrilling in, trouble is most people who are still using film are either wanting the very last film cameras with all the gizmos or are seriously old school (in the minority) and playing with TLRs.

I'm just after a nice compact SLR (hence liking ME supers, I had one and a k1000 years ago, my ideal would be an MX which gives the best of both cameras) that Emma and I can take on days out and actually come away with more than a jpg on the computer that never gets looked at but actual pictures we can put in albums.......To never be looked at

[wildoliver]

tuscan30 said:

Morning Oliver,
Sorry for not replying last night but I was just on my way out when I posted.
The ME Super has a 35mm F2 Pentax prime or there's a 37-70 F2.8-F4 Sigma zoom. I did have a 50mm F1.12 (not a typo, they really did a lens as fast as that) but that got snapped up by a local pro many years ago.
I'll look all the Pentax stuff out when I get home tonight and pass on some photos of it.

Cheers Tuscan, my email is my username at tiscali.co.uk

Olly

[Simpo Two]

Years ago my then-boss bought an ME Super for me to use (already I was the unofficial tog!). One day I opened the drawer and it was gone ... Never did find out if it was stolen or if the boss borrowed it back - but I never heard anything more about it.

[GetCarter]

£9.99 and 14.99 as I type

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=R40&_trksid=p390...