Camera Gear Doesn’t Need To Be Expensive.

If you have an interest in photography, you likely have an interest in gear. You’ve also likely been disappointed in some of the gear, especially used, that you have bought in the past.

There are lots of techniques and strategies that can save you money when you buy gear. I’ve learned these from years of being a professional online seller. That’s where my interest in photography came from. Good photos sell.

The Buying Guide will help you save money on cameras, lenses, and other gear. You should be able to save enough money to where you can break even when you buy and sell gear.

Picking Out Vintage Lens Winners.

All lenses aren’t equal. 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 just aren’t that 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 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.

Nothing Depreciates Faster Than A Camera.

Cameras are the fastest depreciating pieces of photography gear. That’s bad if you buy a new camera. If you buy used, you can get a high-end camera from 10+ years ago for pennies on the dollar.

Being able to use flagship cameras of years gone by is an interesting experience. Medium format in both film and digital become obtainable for non-professional uses. Or owning many cameras is remarkably affordable.

The camera reviews section showcases all of the cameras I have reviewed. You can also find information on camera manufacturers that are no longer in business.

Recent Posts

Nikon BR Bellows & Macro Accessories

Nikon BR-2 BR-2a BR-3 BR-4 BR-5 BR-6 Nikon BR accessories are designed to be used on a Nikon bellows or for macro photography. They can be used to reverse a lens, control aperture diaphragms, and attach filters to reversed lenses. They are: Camera bellows that will work well with the BR accessories are the Nikon PB-4 and Nikon PB-6. WARNING: The BR-2 and BR-4 will cause damage to camera mounts and lens CPU contacts.

Minolta MD 50mm f/3.5 Macro Lens Review

Minolta MD 50mm-f/3.5 Macro Lens Over more than 2 decades, Minolta made 7 versions of their 50mm macro lens for the SR mount. The Minolta MD was the last version made, starting production in 1981. Used Prices and Where to Buy Prices were checked on October 15, 2018. With some patience, copies of the lens can be found on eBay for as low as any macro lens can be found.

Panagor 55mm f/3 Macro Lens Review

Panagor 55mm f/3 Macro Lens Panagor was a brand name used by Jaca Corporation in the UK, Europe, and Asia. Jaca distributed re-branded photography gear manufactured by other companies. The Panagor 55mm f/3 macro lens was made by Komine. Used Prices and Where to Buy If you’re in the US, don’t bother looking for a Panagor version. The Panagor brand was marketed throughout Europe. The Vivitar version can actually be found.

Canon FD 100mm f/4 Macro Lens Review

Canon FD 100mm f/4 Macro Lens The Canon FD 100mm f/4 macro lens is front heavy and only goes to 1:2 magnification. Despite that, the lens is sharp when stopped down to f/8. A 50mm extension tube is needed to get to 1:1 magnification. Adapting the lens to a mirrorless camera body adds even more extension. For the lens to be usable on a mirrorless camera, a tripod collar will be needed.

How to Load Film into the Nikon FM2

This guide will show you how to load film into your Nikon FM2. If this is your first time using your Nikon FM2, make sure to read through the before you load film section. Before You Load Film Check the Batteries The Nikon FM2 is a completely mechanical camera. Batteries are not required for the camera to function. However, if you want the light meter to work you will need batteries.

How to Rewind and Remove Film from the Nikon FM2

This page will cover all of the steps needed to rewind and remove a roll of film from the Nikon FM2. If you need help with loading film into the camera see this step-by-step guide on how to load film into the Nikon FM2. How to Rewind Film Time needed: 1 minute. Here are all the steps you need to follow to successfully rewind film from your Nikon FM2. Unlock the film take-up spool.