Old Cities- Old Glass

[Alanroseman]

Hi Folks,

While I do occasionally, I'm not "way into" shooting with legacy glass. That said it occurs to me that the older cities are filled with legacy lenses. If your fortunate (or unfortunate) enough to live in an older city, visit some of the old camera shops and have a look around.

This is from a camera store in Providence, RI. I was poking around and thought I'd shoot the shelf of what they call "Minolta" lenses... Rokkor.

The prices range from $12. to around $55. Easier than poking around on eBay.

Here's a a sample from Hunts photo.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58555870@N04/5414087613/" title="Legacy Glass by Alan Roseman, on Flickr">

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"640" height="431" alt="Legacy Glass" /></a>

 

[deirdre]

Wow, thanks for the idea. Now I need to find some photo stores that have been around at least 30 years.

 

[G1 User]

Which I had a store like that in Indy.... Roberts is catering to the masses now..
They used to have a great used section.

I grew up in Ft Lauderdale Florida, and a Mom/Pop camera store (Click Camera) had many such cases with used gear, and was a Pro C/N dealer, plus sold Pentax and Minolta systems.

 

[Luckypenguin]

Drool. Any gems in there?

 

[Alanroseman]

There's a good assortment. If you want something special I'll look next time I'm downtown, which is about twice per week.

Also, I discovered when I gave away the f2 rokkor, it cost only $9.50 for me to send it to the Czech republic via USPS.

 

[penfan2010]

Agree, Alan, great idea. My local camera store has a great selection of lenses and old film cameras of various formats; trouble is, they are all part of the owner's collection!! So, I just go in and drool at all classic, vintage glass.

 

[Luckypenguin]

Ooh, I wouldn't even know what's good when it comes to Rokkors. I just see old SLR lenses and assume that I need them.

 

[Alanroseman]

Take a look at a website called therokkorfiles

They have a pretty good selection of different manufacturers.

 

[Alanroseman]

Wow, thanks for the idea. Now I need to find some photo stores that have been around at least 30 years.

Hi deidre, as I mentioned, the older cities will more than likely be the best source of old glass.

Providence isn't a big city when compared to Boston, NYC etc. But there are at least 3 old timey long lived camera stores.

 

[Alanroseman]

Ooh, I wouldn't even know what's good when it comes to Rokkors. I just see old SLR lenses and assume that I need them.

Ps. I did notice a 50 mm f1.4 in perfect condition for $60.

 

[Alanroseman]

Agree, Alan, great idea. My local camera store has a great selection of lenses and old film cameras of various formats; trouble is, they are all part of the owner's collection!! So, I just go in and drool at all classic, vintage glass.

Hi Penfan,

Wow, you think there'd be some old camera stores in Hoboken, or Trenton. No?

There'd almost surely be one near a college campus that offers art, photography etc.

Have you gone poking around?

 

[Alanroseman]

Drool. Any gems in there?

Here's a link to a thread on our board.

https://www.mu-43.com/f81/minolta-50mm-f-1-4-md-rokkor-image-thread-3576/

Somewhere, in one of the threads I saw a comparison of a Rokkor-Nikkor-and Canon (I think that was the grouping). They seemed pretty surprised at how the Rokkor tested.

I'm not the least bit surprised as i dragged a mile of Ektacolor, Ektachrome & Tri-X Pan across the rear element of more than one of them..

I always enjoyed the results from my old SRT series Minoltas- 101-102.

 

[penfan2010]

Hi Penfan,

Wow, you think there'd be some old camera stores in Hoboken, or Trenton. No?

There'd almost surely be one near a college campus that offers art, photography etc.

Have you gone poking around?

Yes, there absolutely are and I have been to some of them. I stay away intentionally because I know I will start eating into my boys' college funds every time I walk in......it's hard enough to keep from poking around the marketplace on this forum and eBay!:smile:

 

[Alanroseman]

You know they get peanuts for this stuff.

I've messed around with the older lenses a little, but I think I'm going to be sticking with the natives primarily...

Saving for college is very very scary.... been there done that.

 

[Jdumas]

Oh man, I would love to look around in that case. I love my Minolta Rokkor 58 1.4. The closest thing to a used case around here is the local Inkley's selling horrible zooms that were probably smashed in shipping.

I still look for that last stronghold of old cheap glass though...

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epl-1 with kit 14-42

 

[BrianK]

I still look for that last stronghold of old cheap glass though...

Yes, around here it also seems the pawn shop is the last place to find value lenses.

BK

 

[Luckypenguin]

Ps. I did notice a 50 mm f1.4 in perfect condition for $60.

Thanks for the kind offer but I had best decline. I need to hold off on the lens purchases for a while. For instance I recently just bought a Rokkor 45/2 because it was a bargain price - I don't even have a Minolta adapter!

 

[Alanroseman]

Hi Guys,

I hear you.. All of you. It's fun to find it, then you leave wondering, "did I really need that?"

It does make it easy for almost anyone owning a mu-43 body to sample the fun though.

 

[dixeyk]

We have a little shop here called Quicksilver. I was in there the other day and they had an absolutely pristine Olympus OM 28/2.8 for $55 (even had the original box and leather case). I go in there from time to time looking for bargains. I picked up a lovely Olympus Pen-F 40/1.4 for $150 a few months back.

I love that place!!!

 

[Alanroseman]

Yes, it's fun. Keep your wallet in your pocket...