are the prices of used film cameras going down dramatically?

[rover]

I think so. There was a very nice M4 in the RFF classifieds for $750. That camera would have sold for over $1000 a couple of years ago. Maybe it's because of the recession, and maybe it's also because digital options are becoming more interesting.

M4 prices are definately down, but I think M3, M4-2 and M-4p prices are up. I think the M2 is about the same.

Not that I have been looking. :angel:

 

[rover]

WRT lenses, some became cheaper in the last 6-12 month, some much more expensive, for example the 2.8 Summaron (price double), DR Summicron (price double) and 35/2 Summicron.

I have seen this exactly regarding the lenses. Prices are pretty strong, even the abundent 50 Summicrons are up.

 

[David Murphy]

The reason eBay prices are up for good cameras (and they are) is due to two factors. The first is eBay's new policy to emphasize fixed price listings over auctions - this leads to camera-store like prices. The second is eBay's (+ PayPal's) very high fees and their generally hostile attitude towards small sellers. This results in fewer special cameras for sale (less supply=more demand) and higher buyer prices since the remaining small sellers will pass those substantial fees on to buyers.

Tight money is having some effect but students are still looking for manual film SLR's. I'd sy that the biggest price drop is automatic SLR's, but in a lot of categories over on the auction site prices seem steady or even slightly upward. Pro photographers have pretty much completed their migration to digital. They're no longer dumping Hasselblads an 4x5 view cameras on the market. The only current TLR on the market is the Chinese Seagull. Rolleiflex, Minolta Autocord, and Yashicamat prices seem to have bottomed out and are moving up. In many cases a good user will bring double or triple what it sold for new years ago while one that spent thirty years tucked away might bring five or more times it's original price.

 

[splitimageview]

Buyers are on ebay are going to bid up to the amount they are comfortable, the seller fees will then directly relate to this amount. I rarely if ever get interest in a 'buy it now' for what a lens is worth; instead, I start all bidding at 0.99 and let things go as they may. Often a lens that got zero bids on a BIN will go higher at auction.

There are lots of BIN auctions that expire and are relisted over and over again, the only BINs that matter are the completed ones. And often those BINs are under priced bargains.

 

[Mcary]

I think its important to understand that film sells to professional photographers and serious amateur's were never a huge percentage of Kodak's over all film sells. So while interest among serious amateur may be picking up its only a small blimp on the radar compare to Kodak's former sells number which came primarily from families buying 3-5 rolls a film a year to use in their instamatic's at holiday's b-day's and vacations.

 

[wgerrard]

I am currently in love with the m4/3rds format and have little interest in handling and scanning film and negatives any more. So, I am a net seller of film cameras and lenses. I suppose there must be others like me helping drive down the prices of film gear.
/T

I suspect I am potentially very much like you. If an m4/3 camera comes on the market that hits my spot (and the viewfinder is the spot) I can see me jumping in feet first. I like my film cameras, I'm now developing my own b&w, and I'm putting together a makeshift darkroom. But, c'est la vie.

 

[Chris101]

"If anything, film is making a resurgence, amongst amateurs and pros alike."

I think Kodak would disagree. Their film sales tumble double digits year to year.

Check your stats PW. Especially compare 2004 through 2008. Looks like a surge of interest to me.

 

[kermaier]

Film bodies are down, but certain lenses are seeing an uptick. For example, prices of Canon FD lenses had been asymptotically approaching zero for several years, as people moved away from film and their orphaned mount, but now those lenses are getting a new lease on life via 4/3 adapters. So the better/faster FD lenses - 20/2.8, 24/2, 28/2, 35/2, 50/1.2L, 85/1.2L, 100/2 - are seeing an upswing in prices.
::Ari

 

[palker]

I have been searching for a cheaper alternative to a M8 or R-D1 and I'm sorry to say that the prices for film is still way too high - I have not seen much downward movement. and so i keep looking. The used prices for 'M' digital are so high that the micro 4/3s are looking an option.

 

[David Murphy]

Buyers are on ebay are going to bid up to the amount they are comfortable, the seller fees will then directly relate to this amount. I rarely if ever get interest in a 'buy it now' for what a lens is worth; instead, I start all bidding at 0.99 and let things go as they may. Often a lens that got zero bids on a BIN will go higher at auction.

There are lots of BIN auctions that expire and are relisted over and over again, the only BINs that matter are the completed ones. And often those BINs are under priced bargains.

That's how it used to be, but it's quickly changing. Now that auctions are being de-emphasized by eBay, fewer and fewer desirable items appear on auctions. eBay's stated policy is to move away from the auction model, and they are. They want to become like Amazon or other online stores selling mass produced goods for large sellers. This of course is a travesty for small sellers of specialty items.

 

[Mcary]

Check your stats PW. Especially compare 2004 through 2008. Looks like a surge of interest to me.

Do you happen to know what percentage of film sells from 2004-2008 came from the sell of rolls/cassettes "35mm" vrs the percentage that came from film loaded in disposable cameras?

 

[mark-b]

On the one hand, there is the economic climate, which should cause used film camera prices to drop; and then there is the fact that the production of new film cameras has decreased quite a bit.