Bessa III Price released!

Japan Exposure.

http://www.japanexposures.com/

I've also asked Stephan Gandy to keep me in the loop with info on the Voigtlander though friends have ordered through dealers in Hong Kong.



Mike

I should add that I work in Japan so this is a convenient route for me.
 
I guess what is confusing to me is why would they delay the launch because of demand? That seems to say, "we have NO cameras to sell." Not, "Wow, we only made a 1000 cameras and we have orders for 5000, so it will take a while to fill more than the first 1000 orders. I can understand delaying the launch if they like, it's just the reasoning that makes no sense.
 
I can only guess its to stop the whining buggers who will ask why somebody else got a camera and they didn't.


Mike
 
I think a fair few people will buy this camera because it's flavour of the month and then discover that shooting a lot of 120 is not particularly cheap and they'll go back to their digitals or whatever.

If I can't get one in a year or so for $1000.00 second hand I'll be surprised!
 
This camera would take the place of my R3A w/40mm nokton and my Baldax and Iskra folders...and if I sold all of that, I'd have about half the money I needed.

Maybe in a couple of years....
 
Chippy,

The price here is 230,000 Yen. I earn in USD so also get hit with the poor exchange rate.


Keith,

I don't know how much 120 cost's in Aus but its about 2USD in the Philippines for Neopan. I've over 700 rolls of various 120 film in 2 fridge/freezers so I don't really get where your complaining about the higher cost. With 35mm I shot more frames but also get more crap frames, with 120 I take my time more and get a better keeper rate.

The comparison with the M8 is not a good one I feel. How about the only other digital Rangefinder? They are still holding there price nicely, are they not?
 
mgd711 said:
Chippy,

The price here is 230,000 Yen. I earn in USD so also get hit with the poor exchange rate.


Keith,

I don't know how much 120 cost's in Aus but its about 2USD in the Philippines for Neopan. I've over 700 rolls of various 120 film in 2 fridge/freezers so I don't really get where your complaining about the higher cost. With 35mm I shot more frames but also get more crap frames, with 120 I take my time more and get a better keeper rate.

The comparison with the M8 is not a good one I feel. How about the only other digital Rangefinder? They are still holding there price nicely, are they not?
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I think Chippy summed up the cost situation here ... film is damned expensive and with the current Oz to US exchange rate I can't save much by buying from the US ... which I could do previously. With 35mm I shoot from bulk loaded and develop my own film so I'm able to keep the costs low but I love MF and the more deliberate approach it tends to give you. I actually wish now that when the OZ dollar peaked a while ago at 95 US cents I'd bought a lot more film to stash in the freezer! The income from part time employment and MF are not good bedfellows! Occasionally I think I should shoot more digital with my M8 but if you love film you love film and digital images just don't replace that feeling! :(

In regard to the price situation and the possibility of dramatic drops for used I do believe it could happen. I think a lot of hype has been attached to the folder and that logically always attracts numerous dewy eyed enthusiasts as it did with the M8 ... I think people fall in love with the idea of owning the camera more than actually having a purpose for it and these people often as not have healthy disposable incomes and tend to sell on a whim where a quick sale and the associated loss is par for the course.

Well ... I'm hoping because it's the only way I'll be getting one in the future. I just can't afford the $3500.00 AUD new the camera will have to cost here in Oz!

[edit] ... as an example of our film pricing a well known photographic supplier here in Oz, Vanbar Imaging, sells a roll of HP5+ in 120 for $8.48. If I buy the budget priced Arista 120 from Freestyle in the US, by the time it gets here with freight, it will owe me at least $4.50 AUD per roll .... please send me all your two dollar 120! :p
 
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I think I paid S$4.25 for HP5+ (Singapore $) from Ruby photo last Feb. Fuji in the Philippines is determined to keep film alive and sell's quite a lot of film at unbelievable prices. (Velvia 100F USD 4.00 (120's) etc..). However Kodak sell's 120 Tri-X at $5.00.

There is no doubt that there will be many well healed people who will buy the GF670/667 and these cameras will ultimately be dumped on E Bay however that I think will be short lived and in 2 to 3 years time you will struggle to buy this camera.

I can't understand why the M8 has depreciated so quickly when the Epson has held its price so well.

I worked in Aus last year and was quite surprised how much more expensive some things where there. Hopefully the economic situation will change soon.
 
I can't understand why the M8 has depreciated so quickly
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Possibly because it was wildly overpriced in the first place ... you didn't hear that from me though! :p
 
Well, it seems like a lot of hype to me. The whole story that they couldn't ship ANY cameras because the demand was higher than they expected just doesn't make any sense.
 
Its in my hands......

Many thanks to Dirk at Japan Exposures for shipping it to my hotel, I got it last night.

First impression is that its very light and the shutter is extremely quiet. Other than that I'll have to wait 4 weeks until I get home from this trip to develop the film and see what the lens is like.


Mike
 
mgd711 said:
Its in my hands......

Many thanks to Dirk at Japan Exposures for shipping it to my hotel, I got it last night.

First impression is that its very light and the shutter is extremely quiet. Other than that I'll have to wait 4 weeks until I get home from this trip to develop the film and see what the lens is like.


Mike
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Congratulations Mike! Let me know if I could cuddle your new toy when you get back.:)
 
I do not understand this thread at all. People think nothing of $4800 for an M7 or $6000 for a so-so digital M8.2 but get spun up about $2300 for a medium format camera. Have your priced a Hassie with a digital back lately. You can save a lot by buying a $30K back over buying 120 film.
 
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