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Nebular89

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So I have 2 options. I have a working Chinon CS I bought a while ago for about £20. I have never run film through it but whilst the light meter doesn’t work all the shutter speeds sound good. It came with a lens I really don’t like though, a 35mm 2.8. It has a non-automatic aperture stop down and is clickless, it’s a huge pain. The Chinons viewfinder does seem a little dark too.
So I could buy a 50mm 1.8 for the Chinon for around £30-£40.

The second option is a Canon EF with a 50mm 1.8 for £80. According to the seller it has a working and accurate light meter and the shutter speeds are good.

In my mind the canon makes more sense. If I’m going to get a lens for the Chinon anyway then in a sense the canon body only costs £40-£50 as it comes with a 50mm 1.8.

They’re both about the same weight. The light meter working is a bonus but as I only use film for my own pleasure being slow doesn’t matter. When I need speed I use digital
 
The Chinon CS is m42 mount so there are loads of 50mm or 55mm options out there, many f1.8s can be picked up for a lot lower than £30. I highly rate the m42 CZJ Pancolar 50mm f1.8 (my go to 50mm) or 55mm f1.8 Takumar and Mamiya lenses.
Another option if you go with a m42 lens is there are a lot of 50/55mm f1.4 vintage lenses for around £45-60, sometimes for a lot less is you nab a deal bidding. Last year I got a mint Yashinon DS 50mm f1.4 for £34 bidding on the bay, not as good as the Takumar or Mamiya 55mm f1.4s imho but a solid bit of glass nonetheless.
 
RyanB said:
The Chinon CS is m42 mount so there are loads of 50mm or 55mm options out there, many f1.8s can be picked up for a lot lower than £30. I highly rate the m42 CZJ Pancolar 50mm f1.8 (my go to 50mm) or 55mm f1.8 Takumar and Mamiya lenses.
Another option if you go with a m42 lens is there are a lot of 50/55mm f1.4 vintage lenses for around £45-60, sometimes for a lot less is you nab a deal bidding. Last year I got a mint Yashinon DS 50mm f1.4 for £34 bidding on the bay, not as good as the Takumar or Mamiya 55mm f1.4s imho but a solid bit of glass nonetheless.
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It is a bit of a head vs heart argument! Not that I dislike the Chinon! I need to put a roll through it really to make sure it’s good.

I haven’t seen any that cheap but I’ve not looked for too long.
 
Nebular89 said:
It is a bit of a head vs heart argument! Not that I dislike the Chinon! I need to put a roll through it really to make sure it’s good.

I haven’t seen any that cheap but I’ve not looked for too long.
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Have a look at job lots they often go for much less than the individual lenses are worth and many come with perfectly good bodies as well. My best recent buy was a lot which had 2 zebra Pancolar's with 9 other randoms (mainly crap zooms) 2 Pracitika and 1 Zenit bodies for just under £50 bidding.
It should be mentioned I have a problem when it comes to bidding on lenses...
 
The Chinon CS is a chunky camera. Sort of reminds me a bit of the Canon FT. It's very nice to use in practice, though. Chinon are greatly under rated in my opinion, and have a very solid build quality. As regards lenses. Well, the world is your oyster.
 
RyanB said:
Have a look at job lots they often go for much less than the individual lenses are worth and many come with perfectly good bodies as well. My best recent buy was a lot which had 2 zebra Pancolar's with 9 other randoms (mainly crap zooms) 2 Pracitika and 1 Zenit bodies for just under £50 bidding.
It should be mentioned I have a problem when it comes to bidding on lenses...
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You’re probably right to be honest. My main film camera is a rollei 35. I don’t think either slr’s will get enough use to justify too much money! Probably better off with the Chinon (providing it works) and spending the extra on film
 
Plain Nev said:
The Chinon CS is a chunky camera. Sort of reminds me a bit of the Canon FT. It's very nice to use in practice, though. Chinon are greatly under rated in my opinion, and have a very solid build quality. As regards lenses. Well, the world is your oyster.
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It is, with the lens it weighs nearly 1kg, 900g. But it doesn’t feel like it’s going to break! I had a Canon F1 quite a long time ago but it had a fault so I had to return it. Weighed about the same
 
The Pancolar has had a couple on mentions. It was originally (?) an Exakta lens - the top 50mm that was offered. Mine is a very good performer, even wide open at f/2.
 
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