Find Bargains. Save Money. This Is How.

[@heyDaveM]

I agree with looking for cameras with lenses included. I have bought numerous cameras this way just to get the lens or in some cases, more than one lens, included with the sale. I recently bought a Nikon F4e with leather "ever-ready case" and 35-70mm f/3.3-4.5 AF Nikkor. One of the things that attracted me to this listing was the leather case. Professional photographers never use a case like this, leading me to believe the camera was amateur-owned, which means it was probably lightly used. The camera arrived in pristine condition, and I'm delighted with the purchase. Total paid: $225.

[@simplexj4298]

Great episode! My best bargain also came by taking a little risk. It was a Praktica VLC3 with a Pancolar 1.8/50 attached. Sitting in the background of these really poor images was a 2nd lens which I believed was a 2nd 50 mm. The seller obviously did not know much about the gear, so I took the risk after a few text messages for little more than 100 Euros. I was rewarded with a camera in pretty much pristine condition and two Pancolars, the 1.8/50 and the 1.8/80. Both lenses though came with very stiff focusing rings and sticky aperture blades. I disassembled both lenses completely and cleaned them thoroughly. Reassembly was a bit of a hassle, and I learned a lot in these hours, which I did not count. Now both lenses are in excellent condition again, and I love shooting them on my A7RII. These laser sharp lenses really suit the 42 MP sensor very well.

[@williamsiviter8760]

Thanks

[@paularger2841]

As you have said before - patience is key. I had been after an Industar 50-2 for a while. I recently got one on a Zenit body for £8 including delivery. I just received a very rare Auto Woco 35mm f2.8 for the same price. Playing the long game can pay off if you can wait. Thanks for another brilliant video!

[@Star-Trekking]

Prices are very high. Sellers and buyers are crazy. My solution? Don't buy and in time price drop. Sorry for my bad english.

[@MF_Plissken]

its all up now sicne its trendy and hip for many to make videos about dslrs and old lenses that was a real bargain until a coupole month ago. the ceo of mpb even predicted the price hike will come and he was even right about hte amount of it...well, basically your tip is it. just sit it out or hunt for lenes that are completely udner the radar of these influencis, hence they always talk about the same hardware till the hype is over...just one example for all wodnering what im talkin about. the d750 was dirt cheap last year now its already way over 500 again

[@Star-Trekking]

@MF_Plissken Because mirrorless and lens for mirrorless have price very very hight!!! One rule! Don't buy. Price drop.

[@paularger2841]

What you say is true. Your English is perfect.

[@Star-Trekking]

@@paularger2841 Thank you!

[@billzebub2000]

Searching for spelling mistakes on eBay can often bag you a bargain. For example, Cannon and Nikkon.

[@TheNitebinder]

Some good advice offered here. Admittedly, because of the past horror stories I heard about Ebay, I'm not a fan. I prefer the brick and mortar stores. Hope to find a Nikon Fe2 or Fm2 with a 35mm 1.4 ais in good condition (no sellers writing me on here thanks). Keep up the great work.

[@lawrencelunsford6028]

This past few weeks I've been shopping for older Nikon non-ai lenses to use on my Fuji X-T2. I usually only shop for "Buy it Now" listings unless it's near the end of the auction and there's been no interest in the item then I'll bid once in the last 30 seconds of the auction and I'll either get it or not. I've found if you "Watch" a Buy it Now item and it sits for a few days sometimes the seller will send you an offer that is usually 5-20% off. Patience pays off for sure.

[@jungleboy1]

good advice, but i think in Feb Ebay is going to put fees on buyers! Gotta be careful now. Not sure how much it adds to the cost?

[@dogblessamerica]

Worth saying that if you're not confident taking lenses apart, sending them off for a CLA isn't really that expensive, and if you get the lens really cheap you could even turn a profit. I did just that with a 55mm micro Nikkor with sticky blades. Stating "recently professionally serviced" on your ad is helpful in getting a good price 👍🏼

[@KjetilRavndal]

Very nice episode, you're so right. I only wish for bargains on film...

[@davidmill7289]

Good advice thanks Nigel. One thing that puts me off these days is where a seller only uses an obviously AI generated description of a lens or camera. Having said this it could be someone who doesn’t really understand what they are selling so could be worth a punt occasionally (maybe)!

[@sclogse1]

The venerable Konica 40mm1.8 was up in a kit sold by the salvation army on ebay. I was forced to buy it with two Konica bodies and two more Konica lenses (fast wides) with filters and a hood, lenses cases and the usual goodies in a camera bag. 29 bucks. Everything looks pristine.

[@zenography7923]

The Konica 40 is one of my favourite older lenses, you did pretty well there!

[@davidperkins3621]

Changes are coming shortly to e-bay fee structures which is going to push prices up again, get in quickly before this happens if you are after a particular item

[@Digital_Photog1995]

It’s very common to see some bulbbles in older lenses including Leica lenses from the 40’s /50’s and before WW2

[@rangersmith4652]

I recently bought three SLRs about halfway based on the included lens, in each case a 50mm F1.8, 1.7, and even a 1.4. The lenses are in great shape, and the bodies are all cosmetically excellent and mechanically functional. I shoot 35mm mostly in full manual with an external light meter, and that gives me a lot more leeway in selecting an SLR with an uncertain meter -- as they often are. Also, don't ignore the third-party lenses. Old Vivitar, Sears, JC Penney, Focal (K-Mart) and similar lenses were made under license by Ricoh, Chinon, Mamiya, Pentax, and others. Unless you have very specific needs in a vintage lens, most of these will do you fine and can often be had for less than famous brands.

[@streetlegal008]

I built up a small collection of the Pentax M series lenses. The 28mm f2.8 and the 50mm f1.7, I'd say that both very nice lenses once, you get used to the manual focus. I think the ebay prices for the Pentax M series may be rising, as people realise how good they are.

[@xxxxtripxxxxOSG]

I have used these very tricks myself. I picked up an olympus E-PL1 from a thrift shop for a good price. While I was looking for a couple of lenses online I found a listing for an E-M10 with a lens I wanted. The camera was listed as "won't turn on" but the seller was not a camera seller, so I was hoping it was minor. I paid $100, which was about what the lens by itself woupd go for, and sure enough, the E-M10 just needed the battery charged. It quickly became my favorite digital camera. I also picked up a Fuji camera last year on E-Bay that was listed for half what they normally go for, but the pictures used for the listed were very bad, definitely was not attracting much attention. I bought it and the camera was in beautiful like new condition.

[@barrycohen311]

Air bubbles are a sign of the best glass of the period. Has to do with the high temperature the glass was forged at. Even old Leica lenses sometimes have them.

[@keironstoneman6938]

eBay is an addiction. I bought a canon eos1 for £20 not long ago, virtually new. spares and repair. It turns out it just needed a battery! Best bargain I have ever found.

[@scrptwic]

I bought my Spotamatic SP11 film camera and Takumar lens kit with metal hoods , extensions for $ 100.00. The adapter ring costs $100.00 alone on the Richo, Pentax site to use the Takumar lenses on the later Pentax cameras

[@lloydbligh5601]

I bought a beautiful Sony NEX 6 on EBay, I can still use it the way it’s set up but can’t change major settings because the language is in Japanese. I think it was brand new with lens. A very attractive little camera. Would you know how to change the language to English? I like the colours in the photos this camera gives .

[@Rick_B52]

Don't forget the Canon EOS RP is a bargain value for a mirror less full frame camera.

[@JorgeGarcia-oi4fy]

En mi opinion son precios bajos de hace tiempo. La curva e incremento de los precios se han disparado y lo que compraste hace 3 meses o un año atras, no puede equipararse al actual. Yo colecciono, reparo y vendo camaras. Hace un mes puedes venderlo por 50€ y ahora estan al doble de precio. Hay un detalle que no se tiene en cuenta que es la falta de tecnicos y talleres de reparación. Hay una entrevista de KS y mencionan que cada vez hay menos camaras en buen estado y por eso estan formando sus propios tecnicos. Las camaras rotas suben los precios porque se precisan de piezas para reparar las camaras que tienes. Es una tendencia en alta que bajaran, cuando se haga imposible hacer foto de pelicula.

[@xxxxtripxxxxOSG]

I have seen so many of those junk cameras that are in a body that sort of resembles an SLR in thrift shops and it makes me sad because almost every one was somebody wanting to get into photography and was basically scammed with a poor quality camera that very likely put them off of photography.

[@martingreenberg870]

I shop on Craigslist. When I see something I want I send the seller a message asking if this is their best price. If the price is really good to begin with I don’t haggle. After all, I’m not the only one looking at the ad. Don’t be greedy or stupid. You can’t steal in slow motion. In September last year I was visiting NYC. I saw a LUMIX GX85 being sold for $300 including a battery charger. I jumped on it quickly. A lovely small and lightweight body. Happy birthday to me. Mask On Nurse Marty (Ret)

[@zenography7923]

It sounds like you know how to spot a bargain!

[@Warrior_Resisting_Colonialism]

I just scored an excellent copy of a Nikon 200 F4 AI for 35 bucks on ebay. Worth at least twice the $. The reason was because it was being sold as; untested, found in storage locker and not the best photos. Turned out to be near mint haha.

[@The-Punch-and-Jewdy-Show]

There is a knack to snap up bargains on eBay . . but sorry, I won't be telling anyone how to do it. But I can guarantee that I have bid against the man in the video.. and won, also I reckon I've beat him at the most recent lenses which were added within seconds of the listings going onto eBay. I am like Clint Eastwood .. fast as lightning and I have had loads of Pancolars and Flektogons for under £30 all day long.. Also some rare Soviet lenses for £5 or £10 such as the Tair 135mm f2.8 and Volna, Vega etc. There is a system to do it.. but you need to be clued up unfortunately. You don't have time to mess around.. you have to be quick on the draw !!

[@ryanbeer5262]

I scored a Nikkor 50 1.4 SC a few years ago for $35 shipped to the door. Somehow it went unnoticed, it was described as non AI, well I received the lens & it had been factory converted to AI. I think at the time they where going for close to $100

[@caw25sha]

You also need perspicacity 🙂

[@sclogse1]

Sounds like a song is coming on...

[@zenography7923]

Perspicacity, yes you do! There's got to be a song there somewhere.

[@manuelodabashian1089]

I wished there were bargains on film

[@jungleboy1]

bargains getting harder, people now paying premiums for used gear.

[@Warrior_Resisting_Colonialism]

Vintage lenses keep going down every year. Everyone wants new mirrorless gear. It takes time, but I keep seeing prices drop over time. Watch the same lens 4-5 years from now, you'll see it will probably be about half price it is now. Don't mind the month to month fluctuations. You'll see. Watch some older youtube video reviews like 5 years or older and listen to the reviewer tell what the current prices were when he recorded the video and you'll really see how much the prices drop on them.

[@raginald7mars408]

8 Milliarden Menschen jagen Schnäppchen!

[@roybixby6135]

Being based on Zeiss lenses many Russian lenses are interesting. Unfortunately they seem to have variable quality control. Sometimes you get a great lens and other times you could do better with a coke bottle. Unless dropped or moldy old manual Nikon and Canon lenses should make great images forever...🦘