Mark's camera collection
Here are the cameras in my collection, and some pictures they have taken. Collecting cameras is addictive, but not expensive. All my cameras and related stuff come from thrift shops or online auctions for $10 to $30 each. Well most of them. Many happy hours are spent researching, shopping, and long walks looking for something to shoot pictures of. The current count is 32 cameras, 36 lenses, and 5 flashes. Each camera is different and some were groundbreaking in their day. Hoping to add more medium format cameras and color processing eventually. These pages are constantly being updated. Nothing here is for sale.
3-17-23 News: Bought a Minolta Maxxum HTsi body on shopgoodwill.com. After being beaten several times by last second swoops, I set up a double swoop to counter other swoops. As the last seconds ticked by another bidder (or some software he employed) countered each bid I placed within a second. I wondered if Goodwill was doing this to maximize profits on the auction. Considering how slowly the page refreshes online, it's the only way he / she / it knew the current amount. My little plan finally won an auction, but I lost too. Ended up paying $40 bucks for a Minolta camera I could have bought on Ebay for six bucks. Turns out there are MANY auction beating programs available. I've decided to throw a fixed amount I want to pay for this stuff out right up front, and leave it at that. When asked how this guy collected so much real estate so quickly, my landlord said "if I can't steal it, I don't want it". Words to live by.
Canon F-1: 1971 to 1981, uses 35mm film. My copy made in January 1980. My Holy Grail of cameras, thought to be unobtainable now, is mine again. Uses FD lenses, made for mercury button batteries, it was Canon's first challenge to Nikon's supremacy in pro cameras. Ton of sentimental value, was very lucky to find one I could buy.
Canon EOS 20d: 2004 to 2005, crop sensor digital. Uses EF and EFS (stabilized) autofocus lenses. My only digital camera at the moment, bought around 2014 to use on the quadcopter and Samurai pics on this site. It still works perfectly.
Canon A1: 1978 to 1985, 35mm film. Top of Canon's 'A' line. Another thrift shop find. Does not work in auto-mode, getting EEEEE.EEEE error message when depressing the shutter button. Appears to be working in manual mode, where I set the shutter speed and it tells me where to set the aperture. Setting the lens to AUTO causes the error message, with any lens. Test shots awaiting development. Sending this one in for repair.
Canon AE-1: 1976 to 1984, 35mm film. AE for auto exposure. Uses manual focus FD mount lenses. First microprocessor-equipped SLR. Test shots done, click link to see.
Canon Rebel S II: 1987 to 1996?, using 35mm film. Auto exposure and auto-focusing with Canon EF lenses, does not mount newer EF-S stabililzed lenses. Has motorized film handling. Film tested, works great. Bought this to use the EF lenses I already had for the Canon 20D digital camera. Despite it being a more modern plastic camera, it's a very very flexible one. Supports all exposure modes, including programmed, just like the Canon 20D digital. Has a small built-in flash and supports dedicated Canon flash units. With adapters I can shoot with all my M42, T-mount, and Canon FD and FE lenses. Plastic isn't all bad: It's very light, good for long walks by the river, tough, and cheap to replace if it fails. I'm liking this one more and more. I bought this at a thrift shop for $30, with the manual. It takes a 2CR5 battery.
Canon TX: 1975-1979, uses 35mm film. Manual match needle exposure and focusing. I have two of these, both film tested and work. Was the first camera I bought at a thrift shop. Second copy was a gift. Was designed for mercury batteries, which are unobtainable now, for good reason. I put new seals in the first TX from the thrift shop, which I bought for around $40 with several FD lenses.
Kodak Brownie Hawkeye: 1949-1961, uses 620 or 120 medium format film. fixed focus and aperture, 2 shutter speeds, bulb flash attachment. Film tested. Works perfectly. Sentimental value, before the instamatic Mom had one of these. I bought the removable Kodalite flash unit at a thrift shop, which uses type 25 bulbs and C batteries for $14. Think I paid around $10 for the camera from a Craigslist ad. Took it apart to clean, and lightly lubricated the shutter mechanism which was getting sticky. Put the lens in backwards, which creates a blurred ring around the edges of the image. Some people love that, I reversed it back to correct position. Can't wait to shoot color pics with this.
Kodak Hawkeye Pocket Instamatic: 110 film, no adjustments, same as model 20. Film advance not working, due to plastic gears and ham-handed ownership. I was looking for a 110 film camera that didn't need the dreaded "K" battery. This was an Ebay deal for $10 with free freight. Arrived in packing that suggests it was returned to my seller by another sucker. Would cost more to return it (again) than I already paid, so I'll keep it. Has a tan color kinda like the bakelite of the classic, much older Kodak Brownie Hawkeye (above) that still works. Buying old cameras is always a crap shoot, and I've been lucky so far.
Kodak Instamatic X-15: 1970 to 1976, uses 126 film, last model made in US. The last variant, X-15F, used a flip-flash instead of Magicubes. I have collected a few Magicubes, and wonder if they still work. Inserting a Magicube, even a used one, sets a lower the shutter speed. Not film tested yet, none is available. May shoot 35mm film in a Fakmatic adapter. The Fakmatic was designed for this model. Sentimental value, Mom used a similar model for most of our family photos. Bought this on Facebook Marketplace for $11.41 including freight. It came with the original box.
Kodak Pocket Instamatic 30: 1972 to 1976, uses 110 film, which is surprisingly still available. Requires the infamous "K" battery, (mine still works for now). Has a 25mm, f/9.5 lens, 10 - 1/160 shutter. Uses aperture priority auto-exposure, and Magicubes for flash. Hoping to test shoot this camera soon. 110 film is still available. Bought this (unaware of the battery issue) from a thrift shop for $16.38. The plan is to buy a 3d printed battery holder that accepts current button batteries.
Mamiya DTL 500: 1968, using 35mm film. M42 lens mount, dual ttl (through the lens) metering, selectable spot or average. This is unusual, usually you get either spot OR average. Came with a collection of Vivitar T-mount lenses and T to M42 adapters. Also came with a couple of M42 lenses. Paid $60 for this with the Miranda B, a pile of lenses, a hand held meter, a pair of (non-working) flashes, a screw-in self-timer, and a hard case. Mamiya still makes medium format pro cameras, would like to get one someday. Has not been film tested yet, but seems to be OK.
Minolta 16: Spy camera, 16mm film in cartridge, no battery or meter. You can see the thumbwheel switches for shutter speed and aperture on the end of the camera. Will have to load and unload the camera in the darkroom. The Minolta film is still available in bulk. It has to be measured, cut, and loaded into a cartridge in total darkness. I read that the loading hatch should be taped shut to prevent light leaks. My digitizer will scan 16mm film, and I just bought reels and a tank for it, and the 110 pocket instamatics. The stainless steel reels were hard to find at any price, I got lucky on Facebook Marketplace. I'm determined to shoot some pics with this camera, it's just too cool to sit on a shelf. This camera was free when I bought the Canon A-1.
Minolta Maxxum 7000 1985 to 1988, uses 35mm film and AAA batteries. First with auto-focusing lenses and motorized film transport. Minolta / Sony A-mount lenses. Have film tested this camera, works perfectly (with good batteries). First test roll ruined when I opened the camera assuming the rewind was complete. Must check display to ensure the counter is at zero first. Bought this expecting to use Minolta C and D mount lenses, which naturally do NOT mount on it. Another reminder to study before buying things. Instead of dials it has push buttons, so there's a learning curve. I've shot a second test roll, including some shots with a Vivitar Vivitar 550FD M/P/O flash designed for Minoltas ($10.81 at a thrift shop). Awaiting arrival of the Minolta 1800AF flash designed for this camera.
Minolta Autopak 460tx: 1979 to mid 80's, uses 110 film. Two glass lenses: 26mm f/3.5 normal lens and a 43mm f/4.7 telephoto lens. Slide on top swaps lenses, both focus with another slide. Metal blade mechanical shutter, 1/200 sec fixed, powered by one 1.5V AA battery. Built-in electronic flash, Aperture priority auto-exposure. Viewfinder shows low light warning and flash ready status. Can't wait to film test this camera. No weird battery, no expensive flashcubes, auto-exposure and Minolta glass lenses! this is my favorite 110 film camera.
Minolta SRT-101 #1: 1969-1973 uses 35mm film. Minolta SRT C and D-mount lenses. Waiting to develop test roll. Sentimental value, my first 35mm camera in the 70's. Cost $41.20 including freight at an Ebay auction. These are selling a lot higher, and I got emotionally involved. Just bought another one at auction ($16 including freight and tax at Goodwill auction) that isn't physically damaged, at least for parts. Decided that I wanted a backup of this model, I have no other that mounts SRT mount lenses. See below for #2, which doesn't work yet.
Minolta XG-1 Sometimes you just get screwed on Ebay.
Miranda B: 1958, uses 35mm film. First Japanese model with instant-return mirror. Oldest SLR I have. Uses both Miranda bayonet AND M44 screw on lenses. Shutter button stops down Miranda lenses for metering. Interchangable pentaprism or waist-level finder. Have not film tested this camera yet. It came with the Mamiya DTL 500 above, with lotsa lenses, for about $30 per camera. I think the unit works, but it needs polishing. Would like to find the waist level finder and another lens for it. The aperture blades were destroyed and I hoped to fix it. I don't think I'll be taking any more lenses apart. It's in a baggie to remind me how that turned out. I can still mount any T-mount or M44 lens on it. Have not film tested it yet.
Nikon EM: 1979 to 1982, uses 35mm film. First budget-priced Nikon product, generally disliked by Nikon owners. Nikon F-mount manual focus lenses. Aperture-priority-only, no full manual exposure mode capability. Small, light camera feels great in my hands. Was thrilled to find a real Nikon in a thrift shop with a couple of lenses. Currently shooting test roll.
Polaroid Swinger: 1965 to 1970, uses Polaroid type 20 film, now unobtainable. Non-focusable meniscus (plastic) lens (Polaroid f17 100mm), a simple rotary single-speed shutter (1/200 sec.). It has a built-in flash, using base-less bulbs (A1?). When you squeeze the red shutter release button the viewfinder displays "YES" when the shutter speed is correct. That still works on my camera, which takes a couple of AA batteries. My first camera. Sentimental value.
Sears Tower 39: Sold 1961, uses 35mm film. Made by Mamiya. Very heavy, wierd looking viewfinder 45mm lens only opens to f3.8, aperture priority auto or manual setting, ASA 10 to 200. 1/60 or 1/250 shutter. The auto function doesn't seem to work, Think a string from the lens to the meter is broken, the meter is stuck. It has a built-in flash using base-less little bulbs. This camera was free when I bought the Mamiya and Miranda cameras. Waiting to shoot a test roll.
Sears KS500:Sold 1978 to 1981 in the Sears catalog. Uses 35mm film. Along with the K1000, this was the first K-mount camera sold by Sears. Bought from Goodwill auction for $12.86 incl freight. It's a re-badged Ricoh KR-5, which I also bought at the same auction. It sold in the catalog for about $250 new. Although it was their bottom of the line SLR I still like it. It uses match needle manual exposure setting and manual focus K-mount lenses. I bought an adapter that lets me use T-mount lenses on this. It uses 357 batteries, which are cheap. See my battery decoder ring at the bottom of this page. It's got a metal, vertical moving (Copal?) shutter, and the film advance lever shuts off the meter / locks shutter when not pulled out. It's got a hot shoe and a split image finder which is easier on my eyes than microprisms. And it's all black. It's got the older Cadmium photocell for metering, which I suspect goes bad in time. Silicon is preferred. But I can adapt if it's off.
Kowa SET R2: Made 1968 to 1972, uses 35mm film, and Kowa type R lenses. Historic value, last camera with blade shutter in the lens mount? Looks and sounds weird, but sounds like it works, which is rare. Even if it works I think it's too valuable and fragile to shoot with, except a test roll. Very gently.
Vivitar 220/SL: AKA Cosina Hi-Lite 202, released 1975. Uses M42 lens mount. Came with a kit lens, and I can adapt my T-mount lenses to fit. Bought at Goodwill auction for $12.86. Mine is in black, which I prefer, although it came in silver / black also. It's got a Copal metal shutter with speeds to 1000th, a Cadmium match needle meter, takes a couple of 675 batteries, and has microprisms instead of a split focusing screen. There's a hot shoe for flash. I think the meter works, as does the shutter. Will film-test eventually.
Mamiya Sekor MSX 500 Released in 1974, uses 35mm film and MX style M42 lenses. Can mount and use any M42 lenses without the auto-stopdown feature. Meter seems to work. Uses spot metering only (unlike the switchable Mamiya DTL 500 I have), using a dark area at the bottom of the viewfinder. Bought at Goodwill auction online for $12.86. Shutter speed goes to a 500th, just like the DTL 500. Manual exposure (match needle) and focus. Pretty basic stuff.
Quantaray D2-RZ: Made 1979 to 1983, uses 35mm film and a couple of 357 batteries. This is a rebadged Topcon RM 300, using K-mount lenses. Has LED exposure display in viewfinder, along with a split image focus circle. Meter is center weighted. Shutter is Copal metal to a 1000th. This doesn't have a shutter lock! The flash syncs at a 125th, like only the Nikon FM of the day. It works manually without batteries. I bought an adapter to mount M42 lenses to it. Takes a power winder, which is unusual for a lower end camera. Was originally sold by Ritz camera for $230. I Paid $12.86 including freight at a Goodwill online auction. Best of all: It's all black. Expected cheap junk, turns out I like it a lot.
Fujica ST-605: Released 1976, uses 35mm film and M42 lenses. First out with a silicone photocell light meter. Paid $16.25 for this, including freight, at a Goodwill online auction. The meter seems to be OK. Shutter max speed is 1/2 second to 1/700th, which is unusual. Stopped down TTL center-weighteed average match needle metering. Has a split image rangefinder on the focusing screen (which I like). Takes 2 LR44 / 357 batteries. There are no speed or aperture displays in the viewfinder, just the match needles. It's a smaller camera, which I like. It has a cloth shutter, which I don't. Will add pictures once the test roll is done. One reviewer says it's a sleeper, can make great images. Will find out.
Ricoh KR-5: Same as the Sears KS500 above. Made in 1975, uses 35mm film, a couple of SR44 / 357 batteries and Pentax K-mount lenses. Copal metal shutter with speeds to a 500th. Paid $13.23 for this camera at a Goodwill online auction, including freight. It's cased in all black plastic. Half-cocking the advance lever turns on the meter. Simple match needle viewfinder display with a split-image spot. Good basic SLR. Film test pending.
Minolta Maxxum 400si: Bought this from a disasterous shopgoodwill.com auction. Film door latch hook snapped off, door won't stay shut. Lens it came with had all 3 mounting lugs snapped off, so junk. Camera works OK with the door held shut, and a working lens and battery. Junk box for now. It uses the newer, non-standard (Dynax?) hot shoe and only works with Minolta dedicated flashes, so I immediatly bought a Minolta D-314 flash for it. Boy am I efficient.
Minolta SRT-101 #2: Bought this from a disasterous shopgoodwill.com auction. Film advance lever stuck. Lots of fiddling didn't help. Looks much better than #1 above that actually works. Junk box for now.
Minolta Maxxum HTsi: Awaiting delivery. Released in 1998, this is an entry level camera with much better metering, all modes, and better autofocus than my Maxxum 7000 from a decade earlier. It should be interesting to shoot if it works.
