There was a time when I wanted an rf645
There was a time when I wanted an rf645
However, while i've had great luck and good shots with the Bronica SLR's (ETRSi in 645 and SQ-A in 6 square), whenever I have found an rf645 for sale, I have always considered them overpriced. That's pretty much my opinion on the Mamiya 7 as well.
Furthermore, if you ever think you will feel a desire for the 100mm lens, I hear that is a long hard search and way pricey as well.
Another consideration.... do you have an idea how you will feel about the default portrait mode transport of the film, rather than landscape? All 645 rangefinders I know of use this portrait default, unlike the larger format rangefinders. That tends to put some off.
Also, i don't know the battery designation of this camera, but is it possible the wrong battery is being used in terms of alkaline, Silver Oxide, or lithium. Mamiya 645s, up to a certain point clearly stated in the manual NO LITHIUM. I gather however, the battery drain is a known issue from some other posts here.
Lastly, if you have never used or depended on reliability from a camera with battery issues, you cannot appreciate how joyless such a camera is in the field.
So, with the concept of "too high priced anyway" and with an issue like this, I would expect a healthy discount, unless you are willing to pay a premium for the right to say, "Yeah, I had a Bronica RF645 once.". Unfortunately, that type of ownership appeals to more people than you might think, with a lot of different cameras.
It's kind of like looking at a car you've longed for and having the seller tell you, "Yeah, it's a classic, and a great car, but I don't know how much longer the engine is going to keep running." Do you know that Ferrari's spend roughly 30% of their time in the shop?
