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Got a camera for less than $2 :)


silverscape

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Hi guys,

 

I'm so excited right now! About an hour ago, I decided to stop by a thrift shop nearby and I'm so glad I did! I just

bought an Olympus XA2 for less than $2! The price was $1.98, and everything was on sale today. It was 25 percent

off, so I got it for $1.60! I can't believe it, I just bought a camera for less than the price of a soda!

 

It's a cool little 35mm camera. I've always read about the Olympus XA and XA2. I really wanted an original XA

since it has more manual controls, but it seems to be kind of hard to find and expensive. When I was looking

around the thrift shop and came across the XA2 and saw how cheap it was, I couldn't pass it up. There was even a

battery still inside, and the shutter works!

 

It needs to be cleaned, and the paint is a little nicked here and there. But otherwise, it seems to be in really good

condition. The lens looks good as far as I can tell...it's clear with no scratches or any other obvious problems.

 

What's the cheapest you guys have ever bought a working camera for? Share your stories. If you got really lucky

and someone gave you an especially unique camera, or you found one in an unlikely spot (mixed in with other stuff

that you bought at a yard sale or whatever, or found in the trash!), lets see your stories!

 

I can't wait to clean it and put a roll of film in it. I'm sorry, I don't have a picture of the camera for you guys, but I literally just bought it less than an hour ago.

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hey Mike, how's the availability of the battery? I just looked and it takes what looks like a little lithium battery. The battery that was already in there is "DL1/3N." Is that battery relatively easy to find? The one that's in there is still working, but of course I have no idea how old it is. I'd like to start with a new battery for my first test roll.

 

I'm planning on taking some pictures with it this weekend.

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<p>Nice catch. 2 years ago I picked up a Njkon EM + 50/1.8 series E lens + case for a grand total of $8.00 at a charity shop. Although the case was worn, the camera and lens were immaculate. A new battery and I was good to go.</p>
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<p>At a thrift store I found an Olympus XA2 for $4.98. At the same store a few weeks later I found a Yashica T4 Super for $5.98. The pictures from the XA2 is nice but that Zeiss T* lens on the Yashica is a great lens. The T4 and Fuji Velvia 100 is one heck of a combination!</p>
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Thanks for the comments, guys!

 

Louis, you know, that's true. There have been so many times where I've seen something interesting and I wish I had a camera with me. (And yeah, I have a cell phone and it has a "camera" but we all know that is NOT the same!) I've been seriously thinking for a while now that I should keep a 35mm camera with me all the time. This one is small and light enough that I could do that. It easily fits into a jacket pocket.

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I know most of you in the forum are probably already familiar with this camera, but I finally have a picture for you guys. I took this today (with my cell phone...ugh). Here's my new toy: <p>

 

<img src="http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f86/gatewaycityca/OlympusXA2small.jpg"><p>

 

I cleaned it up and loaded it with a roll of Fuji 200 film. I've already started taking a few pictures and I'm planning to take more tomorrow. One thing that I'm really surprised about is how quiet the shutter is. It's amazingly quiet, just a really soft click. It's a really fun camera to shoot with...it's so small and easy to hold. It has a nice, solid feel to it though and seems really well made. Even though it's plastic, it doesn't feel "plasticky" if that makes any sense. It feels like it has metal parts. I just hope the pictures turn out. I'll post some photos when I get the film developed.

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<p>I got my last XA2 for a buck, but you are well off at $2. I have a few of these, plus a couple of XA's, and actually prefer the XA2. For most shots the zone focusing and exposure settings are right anyway, so you end up with an unusually sharp, quiet, dependable point and shoot.</p>

<p>I rarely go anywhere without an XA2 somewhere within reach. </p>

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<p>A few weeks ago, my local Goodwill store had a half-price sale. An almost new, barely dust on it,was a Pentax Zoom 60X, point and shoot, in a nice case. Price $2.25 incl. tax. The batteries cost $9.04! Works like a charm.<br>

The Olympus Stylus 140 Zoom, with battery, case by Minolta, was caught for $5,35. It was, when made in the 80's?, weatherproof. Larger than the XA but \easy into a pocket.Used both already and results very nice!<br>

I was a pro photographer and NEVER considered these point and shoots! I carried a heavy retail shop of equipment with me! The Leica-M with normal lens began the slide to less is more..<br>

I mostly use a P/S digital and spare batteries. These 2, only 1 at a time,nice addition when i need film results.<br>

Not purchased some cameras were gifts because I still expose film. A Canon AE-1P, 50mm,28mm and 35~135mm, all Canon lenses: Praktica SLR,2 normal lenses,Fuji SLR(like Spotmatic) with a really sharp 50mm lens. A few others..</p>

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<p>My good fortune began when I came home one day with some items I had bought from an antique mall. My neighbor saw a framed print of General U.S. Grant and family and admired it to the point of asking "How much for it". I said $650.00 and he said would I be interested in some cameras and equipment I said lets have a look. I am not now or have I ever been a fan of General Grant. However, I am a fan of photography. He had a Nikon FE and 4 prime lens and a Canon AE-1 Program with 3 primes as well and case and filters and lots of goodies, filters, etc. He had no interest in his equipment at all. I had bought the framed print ( litho ) for the frame and boy o boy did I say yes, but not the frame. He was very happy. I was, and am still happy. I have had lots of enjoyment and I saw him last year (he moved) and he has added a few more U.S. Grant prints since that day. We both added to our collections and I have to say, mine has really got out of hand. I need more room. Oh, and the best part, I had paid $25.00 for the framed print.</p>
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