Minolta Tour (under $60!!)

I got 2 new used 35mm film cameras this year, for a total of under $60!

📷The first is the Minolta Riva/Freedom Zoom 90EX QD that I got on eBay for $33 with shipping. It’s a point and shoot with a zoom that includes a flash, auto zoom, landscape mode, and a self timer among other neat features. It’s a bit on the heavier side, but it’s a lot more durable than my other p&s so I’m looking forward to traveling with this one

📷The second is a Minolta X-370. It’s an SLR with aperture priority mode so it’ll select the appropriate shutter speed for the selected aperture. I got it at a booth at a giant vintage sale for $25 and it’s so easy to use

💵when buying a used camera from a person and not a company, there are some things to look out for to make sure you’re getting a camera that works and that you’re not going to lose any money.

- confirm that the camera has been tested. While some untested may still work because the seller may have just found the camera and not known how to test, there’s no guarantee, but a tested camera is a good sign

- if possible, make sure the camera looks clean, especially on the inside. Cosmetic wear and tear is fine but you don’t want fungus or mold inside the camera

- compare the price to other listings of the same camera. If it’s too high or too low it might be too good to be true or you might be getting ripped off

Unfortunately you can’t guarantee a camera until you run a roll through, but depending on where you buy from you can always return the camera, or you can sell it for parts.

Bonus tip: when you first buy a new camera the first thing you should always do is read the manual. These are cameras # 5 and 6 for me but I still went through the manuals to make sure I knew how to turn them on, load the film, and use the features. Film can be expensive and you don’t want to waste it because you didn’t read a manual!

#film #filmphotography #minolta #analogphotography #photography #35mm #photographyideas