The price to performance of used cameras is absurd. My view is that digital photography tech hit maturity in 2008 with the release of the Canon 5D Mark II and Nikon D700.
There is an overwhelming amount of professional gear out there at rock bottom prices. Consumer gear can be a blast when it’s cheap enough. The right camera for a style of shooting is going to be better than whatever the newest camera happens to be. (Unless you’re doing sports/action/wildlife. AF tech is getting absurd.)
Third Party Battery Paranoia
I have had batteries fall apart, fail within months, and with a capacity far below what’s on the label. It’s difficult to find good quality third party batteries.
There is an easy way ANYONE can inexpensively capacity test camera batteries. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to capacity test camera batteries. It is a simple DIY project that only requires, ~$30, a screwdriver, and pair of wire strippers.
Picking Out Vintage Lens Winners
All lenses aren’t equal, especially when it comes to vintage and early digital camera lenses. Modern lenses will give you images that are razor sharp corner to corner. Vintage lenses can set themselves apart by how they render, the color you can get with them, interesting bokeh, or other characteristics not valued by current photographers.
On the other hand, many vintage lenses are not good. Their performance may not be good enough to set them apart from other lenses. Worse, as time has gone on some lenses have defects such as haze, fungus, balsam separation, or degraded grease, that will render them worthless because of the difficulty in repair.
I’m somewhat indiscriminate in my purchasing of gear, so I get a mix of good, bad, and average. The lens reviews will help you find a lens worth owning. These are popular film cameras that recieve frequent lens questions.
The Minolta camera lenses for the Minolta XG-1 are truly exceptional in terms of their optical performance and build quality. These lenses are known for their sharpness, color accuracy, and beautiful bokeh, allowing photographers to capture stunning images with a unique character that is difficult to replicate with modern lenses.
The solid construction and precise mechanical engineering of these lenses has for the most part ensured a long lifespan and consistent performance.
The Minolta SR-T 201 is a great camera. The SR-mount has been discontinued for a long time.
There are a handful of lenses that were popular when the camera was new. They cover all the popular types of photography.
My recommendations are focused on lenses that are small, light, inexpensive, fun to use, and easy to find in good condition.
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Get the most out of your X-370 by picking the right lens. The SR-mount was popular enough that there is an abundance of lenses available.
My recommendations are going to be focused on small portable lenses. The idea is to keep size and weight to a minimum. You want the camera to be easy to take iwth you.
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The Minolta X-700 is one of the best SLRs Minolta made.
With the price of film these days, don’t go out shooting with a bad lens.
Professional lenses can be hard to find and expensive. The upside is that they keep their value, which can dwarf the value of a X-700.
I would expect a good quality used X-700 to sell for less than $200. So while it is a camera worthy of Minolta’s best, I’ll include options that fit a reasonable budget.
The Canon Sure Shot A1, also known as Canon Autoboy D5 in Japan and Canon Prima AS-1 in Europe, was a popular camera during the 1990s. Its simplicity and robustness, combined with the nostalgic touch of film, continue to make it a sought-after camera.
It is a fully automatic camera featuring a 32mm f/3.5 lens. There is a flash and an underwater focusing mode. Another similar camera model exists that has panorama and date functions.
Kentmere 400 is a black and white 35mm film that is versatile and affordable, offering high-quality results in a variety of lighting conditions.
With its fine grain and medium contrast, it is suitable for a range of photographic styles, including portraits, landscapes, and street photography. Its excellent exposure latitude and wide tonal range make it a reliable choice for both beginners and experienced photographers.
Kentmere 400 ISO (ASA and DIN)The ‘400’ in the Kentmere Pan 400 name denotes its ISO rating, which represents the film’s sensitivity to light.
