pagpow
Well-known
I've been offered a Lynx 14, described as in good condition (haven't seen it yet). Any help on a fair price for it?
pagpow
pagpow
Fair price on a Lynx 14?
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btgc
Veteran
I doubt there's such thing as fair price. Or, to define somehow, fair is price both seller and buyer agree. To somehow get closer to real numbers, let's start with basic price US$9.99 for "nice Lynx 14 from estate sale, sold AS IS".
Let's assume, seller have put array of pictures and responds well. If we ask questions and get answers, we can add some sum for each positive answer, and so go on.
- Is lens barrel and lens rim not bent ? YES. Add 10-15$
- Is lens clear, no fungus, no scratches, front and rear elements ? YES. Add 10$
- Does aperture works as supposed ? YES. Add 10$
- Does camera winds and shutter opens and closes ? YES. Add 5-20$, how you rate this.
- Is battery compartment clean, in case of 14e it even opens ? YES. Add 5$
- Is RF clear and RF patch is clearly visible ? YES. Add 10$
- With installed battery and pressed "switch", meter needle reacts to controls ? YES. Add 5-15$, how you rate this.
So one can continue with another, incl. cosmetical, issues and build price he's ready to pay. Mostly this depends on how many cameras are on market at the moment (I'm sorry for so stupid sentence). To say, seller loves this camera much as he bought in 1973 and is ready part with it for us$100, but I can get very similar for, to say, for us$50. Is it worth to pay extra 50 bucks for chance to see camera and try all controls before buying ? Answer is yours, but last feature for so many is main selling point. If one can get camera for sub9.99 then one can win, can loose and and not cry if camera is junk. Really hard to say exact number.
Well, after seeing number of 14's going off for ~us$50 during a month, I immediately snatched one with "buy it now" for 25, but I'm cheap and try to buy cheap but this time I just went for "want it right now". Some people here have got their 14's for 9.99 with patience. See - we again come back to how badly you want piece of gear, right ?
Let's assume, seller have put array of pictures and responds well. If we ask questions and get answers, we can add some sum for each positive answer, and so go on.
- Is lens barrel and lens rim not bent ? YES. Add 10-15$
- Is lens clear, no fungus, no scratches, front and rear elements ? YES. Add 10$
- Does aperture works as supposed ? YES. Add 10$
- Does camera winds and shutter opens and closes ? YES. Add 5-20$, how you rate this.
- Is battery compartment clean, in case of 14e it even opens ? YES. Add 5$
- Is RF clear and RF patch is clearly visible ? YES. Add 10$
- With installed battery and pressed "switch", meter needle reacts to controls ? YES. Add 5-15$, how you rate this.
So one can continue with another, incl. cosmetical, issues and build price he's ready to pay. Mostly this depends on how many cameras are on market at the moment (I'm sorry for so stupid sentence). To say, seller loves this camera much as he bought in 1973 and is ready part with it for us$100, but I can get very similar for, to say, for us$50. Is it worth to pay extra 50 bucks for chance to see camera and try all controls before buying ? Answer is yours, but last feature for so many is main selling point. If one can get camera for sub9.99 then one can win, can loose and and not cry if camera is junk. Really hard to say exact number.
Well, after seeing number of 14's going off for ~us$50 during a month, I immediately snatched one with "buy it now" for 25, but I'm cheap and try to buy cheap but this time I just went for "want it right now". Some people here have got their 14's for 9.99 with patience. See - we again come back to how badly you want piece of gear, right ?
Last edited:
Sonnar Brian
Established
Mine was $25, needed some work, I fixed an electrical contact causing the meter to be out, cleaned the lens and the viewfinder. That would add $60 to the cost if I could not do the work myself.
Make sure the RF spot is reasonably bright. The beamsplitter goes out on Lynx', the spot gets dim.
Make sure the RF spot is reasonably bright. The beamsplitter goes out on Lynx', the spot gets dim.
bmattock
Veteran
That is true. Fortunately (and thanks to greyhoundman for the knowledge), the top is easy to remove and the ranging mechanism comes off as one unit - very easy to play with.
Austintatious
Well-known
Like all old camera gear, you get what you pay for. If you can do the work yourself you may get a nice camera for a reasonable cost. I gave $30 for one on ^bay.Then sent it to Greyhoundman for the spa treatment. I got a nice Yashica 58mm lens cap and a screw on hood and the leather case is in great shape. The Lynx 14 is now looking and working perfectly. The patch is a bit dim but useable.
I don't think I would part with it for less than a hundred.They will all need some TLC
Charles
I don't think I would part with it for less than a hundred.They will all need some TLC
Charles
pagpow
Well-known
Thanks for the help. I get to see, touch, shoot with it tomorrow. Looks like we have a range from $9 to more than $79 (if I add all the premium features -- like various elements are undamaged and work <grin>). Looks like a lot of them are listed at $50, some at $25 or under and there is a premium to be considered for the risk reduction of having inspected and operated it -- vs a repair. Nothing wrong with cheap -- some of my best friends are Scots and they have trained me well -- sometimes I am overcome GAS and weaken, tho.
jan normandale
Film is the other way
Prices on that camera can be all over the map. Good ones with a case and the meter working and calibrated correctly go for $75 -$100 if they've also had a CLA. Still pretty cheap for a f1.4 lens. Go see what you can price a lens like that for.
BigSteveG
Well-known
I paid about $30. Then bought $10.00 battery converter w/ battery included. It's something that can be made...I prefer to put out 10 bucks. Just bought a cheap Hoya filter for it too. Meter works great. No serious issues with it. Once considered selling it, but I'd probably sell my M2 before I'd sell the Lynx 14. Then, I'd have several hundred in my pocket and a nice camera to shoot with.
BigSteveG
Well-known
Come to think of it...I've never seen a "mint" example of that camera for sale. It seems to be one that get used by everyone who owns it. Good stuff!
NickTrop
Veteran
It's a crap shoot. But my take is even if it's working now? You're on borrowed time before the ancient shutter goes, the oil gums up, the soldering goes... whatever. These cameras were made in the mid-to-late 60's. My take is buy a "serviced" functional cameras and pay a fair price for it. Or get a "decent" camera, bite the bullet, and send it off to Mark Hama for an overhaul and CLA or buy one here from Greyhound man or someone else here (or elsewhere) who has serviced it. Figure you'll spend $100-$125 for the camera and servicing from a pro like Hama.
Folks might "balk" at this price but I genuinely think these old film cameras take better pics than those $250 mid-level digital point and shooters and with servicing will outlive them. They're also - to me, more fun to use and you learn more about photography.
My Lynx cost $3.00 from a Goodwill eBay auction and I put about $100 in servicing and shipping costs approximately. Alot? I don't think so. My camera operates as if it was new. This isn't a novelty item for me. It's one of 2 or 3 "go to" cameras in 35mm, and 1/2 to 1/3 the price of a "cheap" new digital point and shoot.
Folks might "balk" at this price but I genuinely think these old film cameras take better pics than those $250 mid-level digital point and shooters and with servicing will outlive them. They're also - to me, more fun to use and you learn more about photography.
My Lynx cost $3.00 from a Goodwill eBay auction and I put about $100 in servicing and shipping costs approximately. Alot? I don't think so. My camera operates as if it was new. This isn't a novelty item for me. It's one of 2 or 3 "go to" cameras in 35mm, and 1/2 to 1/3 the price of a "cheap" new digital point and shoot.
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