Unboxing 73lbs of mystery camera gear from Japan

[@snappiness]

You can save 10% off your first purchase on Buyee with my affiliate link! buyee-link.co/snappiness

[@Dibox_editz]

Can u give me a pentax camera it will mean alot for me

[@PiDsPagePrototypes]

Ring Flash,.. you have my attention sir. Any FA glass?

[@PiDsPagePrototypes]

13:06 - not a 'serial' port - that's S-Video, so likely it's a viewer to put the slide on a TV. 20:00 - Needs the battery pack and mounting bracket. Slow to cycle, but damn bright when it does.

[@deanisplemoni]

If by mystery, you mean PENTAX.

[@mipmipmipmipmip-v5x]

In all fairness, Pentax and Pentax products are a big mystery 😀 Who else would think 21mm f3.2 is a sellable lens configuration 😂

[@xray111xxx]

@@mipmipmipmipmip-v5x Some gems, but Pentax is a confused company. Maybe less drinking, and more relevant marketing and engineering would be nice. I loved my K5ii though.

[@ftlbaby]

@@mipmipmipmipmip-v5x 🤣😂💀

[@bit0fun]

The eye control part is actually literal; you can choose the focus point by looking through the viewfinder at the spot you want to focus at. I have an EOS 3 film SLR with the same feature. It’s neat, but isn’t something you want to use often since it’s not perfect of course. It does work pretty well for what it is though

[@Moonstone-Redux]

I wish that technology progressed and continued to be used honestly. Apparently it didn't work well with blue eyes though, so that's why it kind of died off.

[@frstesiste7670]

@@Moonstone-Redux I had the original Eos 5 with eye control AF - and it worked fairly well for me in spite of blue eyes and glasses. Never heard that eye color was a problem before, but it certainly did not work for everybody. It didn't die off and after some year without it was back in the R3 and you get it on R1 and R5 II too.

[@CypherAod]

@@Moonstone-Redux Some of Canons recent RF cameras have reintroduced the feature.

[@mynameisnotcory]

I use it for film concert photography…the a2e really works scarily well

[@Vigi011]

​@@Moonstone-Reduxeos 3, and for the digital r5mk2 and r3 have that tehnology.

[@JohnWSheldon]

That Fujifilm film "scanner" appears to actually be a digital video device and not a scanner. The "serial" cable looks more like an S-video cable, a higher fidelity SD video cable than the simple RCA jack also included. My guess is that this is for showing your film and slides on a tv directly, and not for scanning per se.

[@slickslabmcknabful]

Same thoughts. Likely that this would pair with a capture card on a pc/mac from back in the day. Someone uploaded a video of a commercial for this last year on YT (Fujifilm Fotovision FV-10 Advert (1995)), but there's a review of one where they used it to "create complete image databases, record movies, acquire 3D objects as images for editing and web-sites, and even preview negatives." using an old video capture card to a mac. Definitely the golden age of odd tech.

[@Nantawat_Kittiwarakul]

It is in fact purely ANALOG scanner - sort of. Once had a similar product from Tamron called fotovix something. It's nothing more than an analog camera pointing to its inbuilt film carrier. Then outputting analog video signal to tv display and that's it - nothing more, nothing less. That's understandable as it's the product from pre - digital era when the idea of storing / editing images on your own pc was still a daydreaming.

[@BlendyStick]

Considering the rest of the lot, yeah, this is probably what the cops used to display the crime scene photos on the meeting room projector! Crimey!

[@sdjager]

We used to have one, and you are right, the connector is a-video where you can still find adapters for recent pcs. It works rather well. A fun trick is that there is a lever where you can turn the legs to the other side, so the device is upside down. That way you can use it as an object scanner for items that are on your desk. E.g. for use in classrooms

[@robert_may]

Good to see someone else addicted to importing boxes full of random stuff from Japan 😆 I'm sure I'll find a use for the delicate gold-leaf appetiser bowls I bought someday.

[@shijimip9930]

Am from Japan

[@d3xmeister]

SDM lenses have a capacitor that will discharge in time if the lens is not mounted on a working camera for a period of time. And they can revive if you just let it sit for a while on a powered on camera

[@spearmintderg]

So being a 90's kid I have to have a guess that the purpose of that Fujifilm Fotovision FV-10 would be to auto-convert negatives and display your pictures on a TV screen. It might be meant for digitizing, but connecting that to a TV was my first thought. Seems like a very 90's way to look at your pictures with the whole family

[@G1s3tnot]

You nailed it That's exactly what it was. (I worked for Fujifilm)

[@mrmet7]

japanese here. as horrifying as seeing all these not wrapped and protected, people selling camera gear in bulk on yahoo auction (assuming that's where you got them) usually don't even care to bubble wrap and they say that in description. so it's like by placing bids you tell the seller you'd be ok with it.

[@amermeleitor]

@@mrmet7 some years ago I bought a box full of lenses, some very good vintage lenses. Without caps, without wrapping, no protection at all, completely covered in dust. It was painful. I got it very very cheap, I cleaned the lenses and learned that scratches on the front element aren't so bad, but in the rear element could be very noticeable in photos.

[@amermeleitor]

Oh God, my 3 hobbies together! Photography, flipping things and hoarding!! 😂😂😂😂 (That's what my wife says, but I'm not a hoarder!! I own a lot of stuff, that's a different thing!) (Well, maybe I'm a bit of the hoarder type)

[@peterchristopher2258]

I'd imagine this was sold by a city police department in Japan from "old tech and equipment found in the basement" for funds. A lot of it makes sense with the special SD card camera for the DSLRs, the abudant amount of flashes and macro lenses, and the slide film scanner that hooks up to a monitor for the film side of it. Fun fact, slide film was used for forensic photography, better archival and easily/readily seen with a projector when needed in court or during an active investigation case.

[@leiflang8097]

That's my thinking as well, a police or forensic lab selling old equipment. You can see the story of time as they moved from film to digital.

[@tncowdaddy]

Fellow Pentaxian here. You left out the most important piece of information ... the link to your ebay store! I need one of those K-20 Ws! Also if I opened a "mystery box" and found 6 DA* 16-50 I'd celebrate! It is by far my favorite lens of all time.

[@Skux720]

The NIkon F80 was Nikon's last consumer-level film SLR and packs most of the features of the F100. It's the most advanced camera of its size class and you can get them for a bargain because everyone else is lusting after an F5, F6 or F100.

[@GlennSchultes]

And you have the Pentax Hammerhead flash - It was used for off camera flash. Quite rare - but can be used of every Pentax model - mostly seen on Pentax 6x7's

[@amermeleitor]

The film scanner is great! Please try it and show us the results! I imagine it's low resolution because the age, but anyway, it could be interesting

[@snappiness]

It was such a fun random find! It'll go perfect with another project I hope to show in a few months in the same film->digital tech era

[@speakertomeat]

@@snappiness The "serial" port seems to be S-Video rather than serial. The only (commonplace) serial port to use that same connector was Apple's ADB, but the port in the video is labeled "S" and it's right next to the composite video out, so I'd bet it's an S-Video out

[@classic.cameras]

Please try to use it as a camera if you do make a video. We'll all be wondering that. ​@@snappiness

[@snappiness]

@@speakertomeat good info, thanks

[@idkwhatisthis2887]

Holy shite catching snapp iness within 1min of uploading is kinds cool

[@snappiness]

yooooo! 🥳

[@michaelcroff7097]

Watching your channel is the true cure to GAS 😀 I don’t need to collect cameras if your eloquent voice can expunge upon them. Your mic is nicely matched to your voice by the way

[@tsbrownie]

About 6 years ago I was in Thailand and stopped by a strange warehouse shop that bought container loads of second hand stuff from Japan. They had shelves with hundreds of the top 35 mm cameras from 50 years ago. (Also some of the "gotta have" stereo gear from that same time frame.) Fast forward to a recent trip there and all the film craze stores that popped up, all the imported second hand stuff from Japan is drying up. There were more shuttered film camera shops than open ones, and the open ones were dumping stock at 30% to 50% off.

[@wafflicious359]

Wild because these devices are probably like rare collection to others but the seller just goes "nah imma ship this raw!" and threw everything in a box together

[@eatswodo]

The MX brings back some memories - I had a black one with a motor drive in the mid 80s. Terrific camera.

[@sabamacx]

In trendy parts of Seoul, I sometimes see "old camera popup shops" filled with refurbished only point-and-shoots, camcorders and basic SLRs. I see prices ranging from US$80 to US$350. It's easy to imagine them outbidding you on bulk old cameras.

[@RascalKyng]

Thank you for the Pentax video [Been waiting...lol]. You got me into Buyee. I have saved a boat load! Recently got three $200 priced cameras for only $100-$120. Couldn't believe I won. Lots are fun to bid on!

[@kcphotogeek6207]

I love going through odd camera gear

[@snappiness]

It's like a treasure hunt!

[@liambaillie218]

That canon 28-70 is actually a really good lens. Back then their kit lenses had genuinely good optics.

[@marcp.1752]

Exactly! But AF was noisy as hell, i got one with my EOS 650.

[@Nedski42YT]

The Pentax MZ-5 and MZ-3 are my favorite Pentax 35MM of the late 90's. BECAUSE they do not have multiple button "modes" with a big LCD. The small LCD is for frame count and battery check. None of those redundant "creative mode" icons. They just have the green "A" for automatic on the traditionally looking shutter dial and the lens aperture ring. Exposure modes are manual, aperture priority, shutter (time) priority, and fully automatic (program) mode. The MZ-3 is slight newer and has a slightly better top layout for metering mode and self timer.

[@marcp.1752]

The Pentax MX was my #1 35mm SLR into 1987, together with the SMC-A 50/1.7 prime...

[@WatchmakerErik]

The *ist was actually the smallest 35 mm autofocus camera body ever made. 🥰 I've shot with one before many a time and loved it. The best part is the little light show on the mode dial during the power on self test.

[@munnsie100]

20:00 also compatible with the original Pentax 645 (and later versions, I think) with the appropriate bracket.

[@matchc0635]

One downside of importing camera lot from Japan is you will see something cool, goes "damn that's cool" just to find out it's broken or beat-up and you will be sad

[@StephenStrangways]

This is a case where paying extra for the "add protective packaging" option would have been a good idea.

[@conrad4094]

In terms of quality, the MX is the star of the show here . They’re so nicely made . My very battle scarred black mx is my go to film SLR. Those MZ cameras are very plasticky but great backup cameras and they have lots of features and abilities and as you surely know you can mount all the lovely vintage K mount lenses on them. I’m sure those of the K20W digital models that work will be cool for people to have .

[@jonlouis2582]

You are much braver than I. I used to live buying gear from Japan, but I stopped years ago. Standards have really changed, I suddenly got a lot of damaged gear, fungus, misrepresented items, and more. Never again.

[@snappiness]

I keep my expectations low (and my bid price likewise low) and then I'm usually pleasantly surprised. This was definitely the worst packaged item, and I'll let the seller know in my feedback score.

[@JohanKhoo]

The EOS 630 was my first camera, which I still have and use today. Excellent AF film SLR with really good features we take for granted today. Solid build. The 28-70 with it is the mark 2 version of the lens I had - super sharp and contrasty. Do try a roll of film or two through it - it’s a beaut.

[@CRS204]

I love how you immediately acknowledged the weird way of counting to seven 😂 thank you

[@sdhute]

❤ Pentax back in with a KF for digital and still shooting Pentax for film.

[@DoRC]

This seems like the entire old photography inventory of a police department or something.

[@hoorayforpentax3801]

Japanese sellers are usually much more conscientious than this.

[@WoodyDemon6421win]

Serendipity happily rather than schadenfreude! Went to a trash and treasure market last weekend and bought an Olympus E-330 in new condition in the original packaging. The seller had a number boxes of cameras and lenses randomly arrayed. Collection included some late film era gear but also some stuff from the very beginning of the digital transition. Disc drives and other oddities.

[@IanInChengdu]

I travelled the world with that camera the Canon powershot a200 in 2004. I still have it and it’s 2 megapixel sensor. The biggest card at the time was 512mb.

[@WatchmakerErik]

I've used Olympus Canon Minolta and Konica manual film slrs, but the best all mechanical manual film SLR of them all is the MX. Size, handling, features, reliability... Honestly I think it's the platonic ideal of the manual 35mm SLR.

[@MarkCranerium]

I plan to do the same thing, but with vintage Japanese woodworking tools.

[@MostBever]

The Canon with eye controll lets you look to the left, center or right, and it will change focus area from where you are looking.

[@AlainDumasblogphoto]

The new version of Pentax SDM motor not failing like the older version, I had my 300mm F4 repaired 2 years ago and it is still working, the older version would last only 6 months. Mine was repaired 3 times.

[@JdTV79]

Wow, the Pentax 50mm 1.4 is an amazing lens. I have used it on film or adapted to Sony or Fuji and it's really sharp.

[@mmbeno]

Can't wait for a separate video about that Fuji camera

[@StarrysLostandFound]

These are fun adventure. I actually left Iowa yesterday and am now in Japan.

[@angelgrace1175]

This was really fun to watch! It was like a box of mystery candies! 😂 Some terrible and others a pleasant surprise! I enjoyed oogling vintage gear I didn't know existed! 😊 I too made an audible cringe when seeing everything just tossed into the box with no packing material! 😮😮😮💀

[@terryclair2914]

Boy the Pentax MX brought back some great memories!

[@StephenStrangways]

It's not the "star ist" it's the "ist." The * is a wildcard, so the concept is that this is the camera meant for everyone, if you're an artist, linguist, guitarist, snowboardist... uh... golfist...

[@ej22_gc86]

So it’s a wildcard-ist? XD

[@wrenchmonkey3920]

heh better than *-er.

[@oscarg.5561]

ahhrgghh cant wait to travel to japan and make a bunch of hauls myself. Until then I love watching your videos, its like watching your cool uncle unbox some cameras :)

[@lachlanlau]

sounds like a police department dumped all their gear

[@MattysChannel1357]

The Powershot A200 was my first digital camera, I still remember it!

[@classic.cameras]

That Canon 28-70mm lens is actually surprisingly good. Adapt it to a mirrorless and test it out. Maybe even make a video. And be ready for your kids to think it sounds like a robot.

[@ashliehiggins]

With the state of the packaging, I'm surprised the boxes got there in 1 piece as I'd expect lenses and bodies all over UPS warehouses.

[@GlennSchultes]

see you scored a MZ-5. I had an MZ-5n - Brilliant camera. I used mine for 10 years.

[@gearhead-quarters30]

I remember lusting after the 16-50 when I first got into digital photography. Would love one of those for my K-10 haha

[@Nantawat_Kittiwarakul]

Importing used stuff from Japan is quite a business in my country (Thailand) by now. All imaginable stuff that can be imported including camera & related product. Some company do that as a HUGE job lot - thinking of a container box full of photo gear! The fun part is that some place would have clearance sale at regular interval too. Sometimes it would be as much as 90% discount. So it's possible to get some decent glass or camera for flat price at only about $10 each. In some extreme case it would be sold BY WEIGHT - imagine getting 10 kg of all sorts of photo gear for only about $15 - how insane is that!😄

[@dlyon9673]

Thank you for this very entertaining, well made video. And thank you for giving me the pleasure of buying a huge lot of cameras without having to deal with the realities of it myself. (Believe me, I have already exceeded all reason in buying vintage cameras!). I hope you sell everything quickly and for good prices. As a note, you can request Buyee to add protective packaging -- they will wrap things up in bubble wrap -- to ensure safe shipping from Buyee's location to the US and the price is very reasonable.

[@venomiel]

the eye control is one of the most awesome technology you can find on any camera and i don't know how it works, it's like black magic. Basically the camera focuses on the focus point your eye is looking at and it works soo good every time it's scarry XD

[@MykeBatez]

Always a fun time watching your hauls. Cheers!

[@thissidetowardscreen4553]

Brilliant and fun video to watch. Not much of a flipper myself, but looks like you did get some decent lens though and some sweet cameras. Can not imagine why more things did not get destroyed with no protection, but lucky you! Always great content and thanks for sharing!

[@brianmckeever5280]

These are mesmerizing to watch!

[@ohmwai]

I would love to see a video on that scanner. Please.

[@snappiness]

I'll get something working with it. It looks pretty fun.

[@vincentgraffeo9030]

Very enjoyable and relaxing video. Lots of fun in those boxes.

[@incohesiveglue]

Didn't know that about the K20 W! I got one on buyee that was converted to IR. Have been loving that camera and all this time I've been thinking that the W means like water resistant or something.

[@snappiness]

Hey that's pretty sweet! Nice find

[@forkwit2848]

I am jealous of you getting a lot of those K20D DSLRs

[@larx4074]

Literally late-tech archaeology......... Fab video, many thanks for sharing.................

[@TheMikeharris7]

I shot a EOS 620 and 630 back in the - HUGE bang for the buck and very robust cameras. Kind of a prosumer level body and they did get used a lot professionally. Very fast for the time as well. I seem to recall the 620 was slightly more desirable I think because it had a higher flash sync speed.

[@marcp.1752]

Had the EOS 650. Fugly as hell, but it worked. Anyway, no comparsion to my other gear at that time period. It's too bulky, plasticky. 🙂 The 28-70 Mk II was good, but with plastic gears, instead of metal from the Mk. I.

[@TheMikeharris7]

@@marcp.1752 I didn't think they were ugly but I really didn't care about that much. I believe the 620, 630, and 650 had metal chasis's.

[@Adreno23421]

292 dollars for all that? Holy sheit! That's insane! What a score!!

[@hubertthong7405]

I did bring in a box of 12 Pentax lenses from Buyee and yes there was no bubble wrap. What's the deal with them lately?

[@WhoIsSerafin]

Love to see other people risk their money 😂

[@lackoliver55]

I enjoy watching these, and am quite impressed/pleased you are able to turn a profit on this gear. Good work. I tried briefly in 2020 to sell off some extraneous cameras/lenses/gear I had laying around that I got in thrift stores years prior. Every listing included my assessment, that everything was tested working but not every item was in good shape. (even included developed film that I had shot using the gear) Even though (unbeknownst to me at the time) old camera prices were rising. I listed about 10-15 cameras, lenses, camera+lens combos. Each with a roughly 2 week bid window, starting at $1. Now looking back at that, possibly foolishly. Every. Single. Item. Sold for $1. I forgot to select the buyer covers the shipping on about half the listings. So it actually COST me money to get rid of the gear. Would have been better off donating them lol. But that's life. Live and Learn some say. But it put a sour taste in my mouth to ever try flipping cameras again.

[@frstesiste7670]

I'm not thinking about details, but it would be interesting to hear if you break even, loose or make money on deals like this. Or if it's different from box to box.

[@sklba632]

Did you not pay for buyee's inspection service? I've ordered several times and never see anything so unprotected sent from them.

[@lackoliver55]

20:18 Sell it as a base for a lightsaber Comicon prop.

[@zielscheibchen7773]

13:03 "Serial port" showing the S-Video and Composite connectors ^^

[@happylemming6343]

16:35 I actually do have a Pentax *ist D that I got for roughly $10(shipping included, since both the seller and I are from Romania), and it is a tiny BEAST of a camera. At 17k shutter count, it was also pretty much unused before I got it

[@snappiness]

This channel all started with a Pentax *ist DL :) (you can go back and see the video from 5 years ago. It's cringey, but a good piece of snappiness history)

[@lackoliver55]

15:12 dang. That listing for 165 cameras bidding at $3,500 before shipping. You would have to hope at least 90% are in somewhat a working order and get a minimum of $25 per camera (after costs of order shipping, and shipping to buyer) just to break even. That's a wild gamble someone is playing.

[@Gabriel-wv1uz]

But there was no bid, atleast at that time.

[@lackoliver55]

@@Gabriel-wv1uz touche

[@KathyXie]

That's a steal, I just paid $140 for a MX and the 50 1.4

[@FlickyFrames]

you might be able to find a cord that is serial on one side and usb (or another computer connection) on the other side to test the film scanner or an adapter that plugs onto one side of your serial cord to convert it to another connection. essentially, the conversion cord is more reliable than an adapter.

[@joelee24]

I'm jealous, you bought half of Japan including my most wanted goodies ha ! btw that round plug cable is not serial but Super VHS I believe.

[@rafaeljimenez197]

Where are you gonna post them for sale?

[@davidharman24]

Wow ive had a hard time finding the film version of the Pentax *ist and you had two in your lot that’s amazing

[@jojurgens]

Approximately 90% of the world's population have absolutely no idea how much 73 lbs is. I'll assume it's a lot, since you made a video about it

[@FIRNVS]

He mentioned it is 33 kg.

[@Desmond-Hume]

Whats the name of that auction? Buyee doesn't work in my country.

[@snappiness]

I used Buyee for Yahoo Japan and Mercari Japan. I don't know if either of those places would sell directly to your location.

[@Desmond-Hume]

@@snappiness I'll try to find some other middleman for my location. Thank you!

[@wrenchmonkey3920]

that FA macro would be my pick. Also the MX to replace my k1000

[@DavidBirchphoto1.]

Very interesting, I’m very interested in early digital cameras/ photography too. I’ve been watching a lot of camera shopping videos in Japan.

[@kabaottoemulsion1869]

I have doen what you done before but no time to fix at the moment. But no one buys broken ones here in Australia. Probably, I can get 10.00AUD( 5USD?) for one broken unit...... Hope you have got money back and kept one or two good ones! Enjoy your strange passion to old wired digital cameras!

[@Skipsul]

Serial (RS232) to USB adapters are pretty cheap. I've used a lot, but they can be finicky.

[@snappiness]

Perfect, I'm excited to give it a try and see if it will work. I also do have an older laptop I can plug it in directly, if I can find the software (if needed)

[@Michael-fw5ef]

You can turn a big enough profit on this Lot after flipping it that you might be able to buy a new Pentax camera with the proceeds.

[@ChezBred]

Great video!

[@lockhartrocks]

i will say it is kinda wild that they sponsored you and didn't even give you the extra protective packaging they offer :/

[@adriancozma6102]

Was looking forward to see you find at least one Fujix DS-565 / Nikon E3S by accident :))

[@kafkaian]

Man after my own heart...although I'm not that much into Pentax...more Olympus and some of the more obscure "by the wayside" companies like Yashica, Mamiya, Minolta etc). Despise Nikon for their snobbery - except for the F2 which is my fave camera of all time and the Nikon FM2 which I loved and used until it was stolen. Great video again. Keep the industry alive Ian, Birmingham, UK

[@TheOffertonhatter]

Nice set of gear in the bundle, and of course some less good. The 28-70 F4 is not a bad lens at all, I have to get another one as mine had some beer accidentaly spilled on it (don't ask). But on my K-1 it produced nice images, if not outstanding. However a bit of PP they do come out really nice. Oh and it is so much smaller and lighter than my monster 24-70 F2.8. As for the 360 and 540 flash guns, they are brilliant! Finally those *ist bodies, the only pentax film bodies with the 11 point AF system that early DSLR's used, and not the 3 point one in earlier film bodies. Shame the shutter cog is so brittle.

[@luatnguyennamkhanh]

The moment you open the box I have an uncomfortable feeling, one man trash is another man treasure. I understand it's just trash to them but at least try not to make it worse. They just throw a box of everything they have delivering all its way to US and magically somehow these not become a mesh after all.

[@xmeda]

Ah geez, poor lenses and cameras. Once loved and then just tossed in some box without covers. I guess that the source is coming from those actions like "give us your old camera, we will give you 5% off for the new camera". I have that same ring flash. Unfortunately on digital you cannot use the TTL much. FW switch on DA*16-50/2.8 is 5 minute task. FA50/2.8 Macro is excellent lens! Very sharp. FA24-90 is very good lens, definitely much better than 28-70/4. Clean it and put it on your K1 :) That grey F28-80/3.5-4.5 has brutally fast AF on modern DLSRs.

[@midnightsomewhere]

that scanner is so cool

[@barcooter8248]

looks like a local Japanese CSI dept had a clearout

[@IJN_Haruna]

Lol got a 500D and a 35-70mm f3.5-4.5a lens made in japan the only Problem with the 500D I received is Metering is Malfunctioning I think 😅like in Full Auto even in a sunny well lit Day it took photos at a very bad exposure like it sets it at -2 full stops and sometimes 1/4000 and f12😭

[@TewaAya]

My country puts too much import tax on things it can't make. Indonesia and Philippines suck for these types of massive packages without getting robbed via bureaucracy in the ports.