I saw this in a charity shop window today and like the look of the film cameras just for playing around with and getting to grips with being away from digital. I honestly don't know what some of the other things in the box are, but it looks like there's at least one lens and an external flash.
Is anyone able to identify some of the other bits/let me know what they're used for (I pretty much know nothing about this stuff) and let me know if it seems like it would be worth the money? (I can afford to pay for it, but I'd like to know if i'd be wasting my money and also get some advice from all you lovely people)
Thankyouu :D
Hmmm...it's comparable to what I would spend on just the two cameras, much less with all the stuff. :) I see at least three lenses, too, possibly four, and an external flash, and a remote release cable, and a case, and what I think is a light meter, possibly, in the upper right?
Pentax film cameras of this make are really great to learn film on and very popular - I have a Pentax Spotmatic myself and I love it. And if any of those lenses are fast, and in good condition - yeah, this is a good deal, IMO. Go for it!
Make sure that all the bells and whistles on the cams work though - test the shutter buttons, the film advance, the film rewind, etc.
Can you talk them down to 65 or 70? That's about $160USD and I can't say I'd pay that...but I'd pay about $100. :) Looks like a nice set up - wonder if they would let you test it out? There's film in there too, which could be interesting. Probably a light meter and there are at least 4 lenses including the ones on the cameras.
The KX seems to get good reviews on what I have just quickly googled, and seems to have a prime lens attached. You would need to check the lens, and obviously that the cam's fire and the aperture nice and snappy. If all is good I prob wouldn't go more than £70.
A few of us Film heads here have had great results from Freecycle, so maybe post a wanted advert on your local group and see what you get from there.
@sdpace I ain't gots no kids, no house, and no car - I can do what I waunnnt!
Also, in the interest of full disclosure, I may not have been doing the proper conversion from pounds to dollars in my head and forsooth, might have been thinking the price was a lot cheaper than $160. :) $160, no, unless there is some AMAZEBALLS glass in there.
@beautifulthing@sdpace@38mm I ehanced (ehance....enhance......enhance.....bonus points for the movie...) it and it looks like two cable releases and maybe a teleconvert or extension tube in the lower left of the case....also there is at least one roll of film on the right hand side of the case, out of the box thats there, maybe? and a big remote flash cable.....I agree that about the 70GBP or $100 range still, just thought I'd point out the tidbits I found!
Possibly an interesting collection. The two cameras are both K-mount cameras, and so are the two lenses I can identify. The third lens I can see I'm not familiar with and there's no markings to identify it. The two lenses I can identify are a manual exposure/manual focus lens that's an f1.7 (mounted on the camera lower left, and marked M 50 f1.7). In my opinion it is better wide open than the faster 1.4 lens. The other lens mounted on the camera upper right is an auto exposure/manual focus lens and isn't as fast. It's marked A 50 f2. It's reputation isn't that great, but many love theirs. I don't know what the current going rate would be for the A lens, but the M 1.7 usually goes for around $70 US. Both lenses can be used on dSLR cameras with whatever capability they have originally, which is why they retain some worth. I would assume that the lens I can't identify would also be a K mount, rather than an M42 screw mount. Wonder what is in the case or if it's a case for one of the lenses they are showing. The flash might not be safe for current dSLR cameras.
I think Harriet has given some great advice - I can't enlarge on my laptop to see the details but if it is an M 50 1.7 I paid about US/Aus $90 for one last year and I use it sometimes on my Pentax K-5. The 50f2s though seem to sell for a bit less. All Pentax lenses using the K mount are compatible with current digital cameras and Pentax prime lenses even those produced over 30 years ago are still in some demand as they were mostly well made with good optics. You can see lens and camera reviews on Pentaxforums if you want some indepth reviews. I would just be making sure that there is no fungus etc on the lenses. I also would not use that flash unit on anything modern as they could burn out modern cameras. If I was in the UK I would buy it as I would like to experiment with the Spotmatic - but I would also want to check the condition of the camera - and maybe insert some film and take a few snaps to see that things mostly work as repairs on film cameras can sometimes be costly.
Good luck and I suspect if you bargain them down just a little and then wanted to sell it later you might recoup most of your money if the lenses in particular were in good condition.
@yearofcorrigan This looks just like our old photography case that we have dusted off, we even found a roll of film dated 2002. Guess what I'll be up to very soon! Have you decided yet? You could always polish it up and sell it on if you dont get on with it ; )
Actually, its not a bad price. Last yeay I sold my old pentax K1000 (similar to the one in the box) for over £120 on ebay. They're a fab range and still sought-after, even if just for nostalgia. I wish I hadnt sold mine!
I'd just make sure you can take it back if some of it doesnt work!
I have two Pentax K1000s right now - both need completely overhauled - all the rubber has crumbled. They were my Dad's cameras, and well treated and maintained. I'd say if you price it out you need to allow for the cost of overhauling - you won't necessarily be able to tell until you use it. I'm torn - I'd love to get the cameras to someone who would use them, but I don't want to part with such a big memory of Dad. Except, he would want me to get the cameras to someone. The lenses I know I'm keeping.
@kellc I didn't in the end. i figured someone with more experience than me would have a far better time with it and probably appreciate it more but I'm searching ebay for a similar camera to get to grips with - i think all the bells and whistles that were in that box were a smudge too intimidating for me.
Thankyou everyone for all your advice though! You are a knowledgable and very kind lot :D
@yearofcorrigan No worries - sounds like it has sparked your interest in something similar though - good luck on ebay and of course post some pics when you get one!!
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Pentax film cameras of this make are really great to learn film on and very popular - I have a Pentax Spotmatic myself and I love it. And if any of those lenses are fast, and in good condition - yeah, this is a good deal, IMO. Go for it!
Make sure that all the bells and whistles on the cams work though - test the shutter buttons, the film advance, the film rewind, etc.
A few of us Film heads here have had great results from Freecycle, so maybe post a wanted advert on your local group and see what you get from there.
Also, in the interest of full disclosure, I may not have been doing the proper conversion from pounds to dollars in my head and forsooth, might have been thinking the price was a lot cheaper than $160. :) $160, no, unless there is some AMAZEBALLS glass in there.
Good luck and I suspect if you bargain them down just a little and then wanted to sell it later you might recoup most of your money if the lenses in particular were in good condition.
I'd just make sure you can take it back if some of it doesnt work!
Thankyou everyone for all your advice though! You are a knowledgable and very kind lot :D