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Good Condition
Where can I buy old film cameras in good condition?
I’m going into photography and trying to get hold of a good film SLR. I want to buy either a Pentax K1000 or a Canon FTb (or something similar), but I want to be comfortable knowing that it is going to be in good condition when I get it. Does anyone know where I can be sure that the camera is in decent condition and I’m not going to get ripped off?
Ebay or a pro camera shop like Adorama, B&H Photo or KEH. Adorama, B&H or KEH don’t generally sell anything but solid, functional cameras. You may want to stay away from high-end professional SLRs because they likely have suffered quite a few years of abuse.
The Pentex K1000 is a great camera with which a great many professionals have trained. Lenses are still made for the K-mount because it’s the second most common lens mount in the world next to Nikon’s F-Mount. On that note, any of the Nikon FA, FE, FE2, FM, FM2, FM3 cameras are highly recommended.
A special note on Canon. I am a Canon shooter and I would only recommend a Canon EOS 35mm camera rather than the older FD-mount cameras like the AE-1. EOS cameras use the EF Mount. It is not that FD-mount lenses and cameras weren’t excellent cameras but, the advantage of K, F and EF mount cameras is that you’ll retain compatibility with current DSLRs from Pentax, Nikon and Canon.
M1 Carbine – WW2 US Military .30 Rifle