35mm Vivitar Camera

<p>Hello-<br>

I went to WalMart last night to drop off some Kodachrome and Super 8 film, and to my suprise they were selling a 35mm SLR. That was an unusual site. They had the Vivitar SLR with a 50mm lens, a flash, and a camera bag for $200. Although it may not be the best camera, I think it is certaily a step in the right direction to have WalMart selling film cameras.</p>

<p>Seriously? Wow, that is different. I'm trying to remember when was the last time I saw "real" 35mm cameras (SLR's) at Walmart...maybe sometime in the early 2000's, I guess. Although back then I really didn't know anything at all about photography and I wouldn't have been able to tell the difference between a "modern" 35mm SLR and a digital camera...well unless I actually looked at it up close and saw an LCD screen. And back then, they were all too expensive for me so I really wasn't that interested and I would have just walked past them.</p>

<p>I do see 35mm P&S cameras at Walmart...but just really basic, plasticky cameras. Like the kind I used when I was a kid in the 90's. They sell them with a roll of 35mm Kodak film for around $12 I think.</p>

<p>I'll have to check the Walmart where I live! That would be interesting if they had 35mm SLR's here too. Although I have a couple of vintage Minolta SLR cameras now, and I'm doing just fine with those :)</p>

<p>I have three Vivitar 4000S cameras and one V4000. I don't know if I paid more than $25 for any of them and some came with lenses. On Wednesday I used a V4000S with a 55/2 SMC Pentax lens. These cameras don't have the solid feel of a K1000. They have shutter speeds up to 1/2000 and very good meters. I don't think I would pay $200 for a new one even with a lens but a used working model for $25 might be the best camera buy around.</p>

<p>Was it the model 3800? It's a Pentax K mount I think. Looks like a good value if you're, say, a student needing a manual camera but don't want used. I believe it's Cosina made. Personally I'd rather a used manual camera in good condition for less money but for some people being able to buy things at Walmart is a plus.</p>

<p>I also saw that the company that bought Vivitar last year is going to start selling film SLRs (among other products) this year under the Kodak brand.</p>

<p>This is a little off-topic, but the lab my WalMart sends to will not process Kodachrome or Super-8! Where are you from?</p>

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<p>I went to WalMart last night to drop off some Kodachrome and Super 8 film, and to my suprise they were selling a 35mm SLR.</p>

 

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<p>Patrick,</p>

<p>Me thinks you walked into a time warp. In any case, that is interesting. By the way, that camera is made by Cosina (just like the Bessa rangefinders and Nikon FM10). In any case, amazing! I hope this isn't just limited to your specific Wal-Mart.</p>

<p>Val</p>

<p>PS: Promise me you weren't dreaming. ;-)</p>

<p>Jake, Walmart doesn't develop Kodachrome, or 8mm or Super-8 movie film. They sent it out to a lab for it to be developed. In fact, as far as I know, Dwayne's Photo in Parsons, Kansas is the ONLY lab left that develops Kodachrome. (There are many different kinds of 8mm and Super-8 movie film, but if you have Cinechrome 40, which is the movie version of Kodachrome then only Dwayne's Photo can develop it). You can either mail the film directly to Dwayne's Photo, or if you take it to Walmart you have to put it in the send-out box so they will send it to them.</p>

<p>Patrick can tell you all about it :)</p>

<p>WalMart doesn't make it easy. There is no simple sign telling you about slide processes or other available services. And the clerk usually doesn't know. You just have to trust that when the envelope is filled out right you will have your film processed OK. So I wonder what the clerks are now saying about the 35mm camera - maybe something like "They now have these cameras that take film <i>and</i> have interchangable lenes <i>just like some of the digital cameras</i>!"</p>

<p>DOH! Terence, I didn't even think about that! Probably some of the idiot clerks at Walmart don't even know anything at all about film cameras...so they probably wouldn't understand that 35mm SLR's were around long, long, <strong>LONG</strong> before DSLR's!</p>

<p>I remember one time I thought I had overexposed a roll of film in my Argus C4 (had it set on the wrong shutter speed for most of the shots). So I actually asked the girl at the photo lab if they could "pull" it. She just kind of gave me this weird blank "huh?" look and I could tell she didn't have any idea what I was talking about. Freaking idiot. I have no patience whatsoever for that. If someone works in a photo lab, they better know what they're doing. Or get a different job. Period. Film is photography. They work in a photo lab, which means they MUST know film too, whether they like it or not. As long as that lab is developing film, then they <strong>HAVE</strong> to be familiar with it. That's their job, that's what they get paid to do. NO EXCUSES.<br /><br />Hey Patrick, here's an interesting test you should try. The next time you're at that Walmart, ask them questions about that camera. Just play dumb and pretend like you don't know anything about SLR's, but you want to get a film camera with manual exposure. Tell them you don't want digital, you want a film camera. Let's just see what they say and if they really know anything about it.</p>

<p>I am going to Wal-Mart today I will check to see if they have it there and then play stupid. I will then pull out my Fed-3 and ask them what is the difference and if I should upgrade. :-)</p>

<p>That sounds like fun. Every time I drop of Kodachrome, super8 and double8, I ask the clerk about movie film and processing and she is rude and clueless. I only could see one other envolope in the box besides mine when I went thursday.....one day it was full...</p>

<p>Do you really think it's a good idea to hassle the employees of a company because they've started stocking a film camera? What are you trying to accomplish? Just want to feel so, so superior?</p>

 

<p>We were joking..... :-)</p>

<p>Patrick, I meant that the lab my Walmart sends out to will not do Kodachrome. I asked for a roll of E6 to be cross-processed, and it came back undeveloped with a list of services they don't offer.</p>

<p>Actually, I think it would be kinda funny. <br>

And since when is asking the employees questions "hassling" them? We would be asking them questions about a camera that they sell in their store. As far as what I would accomplish...my accomplishment would be to know whether or not they actually know anything about it. I'm getting really sick of clerks in photo labs who don't know anything about film. </p>

<p>And yes, it would be fun.</p>

 

<p>Out of curiosity I just ordered one of these cameras off Ebay. It was $10.50 with the 50/1.7 lens and I couldn't resist, but it's not Minolta mount so I'll probably give it away :)</p>

<p>nooo...keep it, Andrew! If you give it away to someone, they'll probably just use it as a paperweight. Well, except for me...I'd use it :)</p>

<p>But yeah, when you get it, shoot some film and post your pictures here. </p>

<p>I gave mine to one of my kids. She loves the fact that it makes her think. She had a little Digital and a 35mm P&S.</p>

<p>I work at Vivitar and can confirm our manual film SLR should indeed be available at most wal-mart stores. This is not old stock or a mistake - we believe in film! It is a pentax mount and wal-mart are the only ones selling the particular kit - 50mm f/1.7 lens, b&w film, case, and a few other accessories. More info can be found at http://www.vivitar.com/slr.php</p>

<p>Michael<br>

Can you tell me who makes it for Vivitar?</p>

<p>I'm in IT, not production, so I don't really know anything... as far as I know, we make it...</p>

<p>As I understand, it is a Cosina, and is mechanically the same as the Nikon FM-10, but with different mount and cosmetics.</p>