The Charity Shop Collection

Every camera and lens found hunting through Portsmouth's charity shops.

Total spent

£518

Retail value

£2230

Saved

£1712

Discount

77%

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

British Heart Foundation, Portsmouth · Aug 2023 · Good

£15

RRP £350

The one that started it all. First charity shop camera find that made me realize gear doesn't matter.

Fujifilm X-T2

Age UK, Southsea · Mar 2024 · Excellent

£350

RRP £1200

Body only but in pristine condition.

TT Artisan 23mm f/1.4

eBay, Online · Jul 2024 · Excellent

£30

RRP £80

Manual focus prime lens. Sharp and compact for street work.

Zuiko 50mm f/1.8

British Heart Foundation, Portsmouth · May 2024 · Good

£8

RRP £150

Classic lens, perfect for street photography.

Canon AE-1

Oxfam, Southsea · Jan 2024 · Good

£15

RRP £200

Film camera with working light meter. A classic.

Olympus OM-10

eBay, Online · Jun 2024 · Excellent

£100

RRP £250

Not from a charity shop, but a classic SLR I couldn't pass up.

Charity shop hunting tips

Best Portsmouth shops

Age UK Southsea, British Heart Foundation Commercial Road, and Oxfam Albert Road are goldmines.

When to hunt

Monday mornings after weekend donations are sorted. Wednesday afternoons work too.

What to check

Always test the shutter, check for fungus in lenses, and ensure the battery compartment isn't corroded.

Pro tip

Be friendly with the staff. They'll sometimes hold items for you or give you a heads up on new stock.

See what I've captured with this gear

View Prints