Cameras priced like art?

[sooner]

I find myself annoyed this Easter morning because the Contax N digital camera I am following on EBay is now priced at $1,800! Granted, it is a very rare full frame camera, but it's old and only 6 mp, and doesn't even come with a lens. Personally, I would never spend more on this camera than something newer and arguably better. Thus my question, is this pricing more like a piece of art than a functional photographic tool?

 

[thegman]

Well, certainly it's being pricing beyond what it could be considered to be worth based on it's technical specification. That could be said for any Leica camera though. In all honesty, I don't think $1800 is all that crazy. It's a good brand, it's rare, and there will never be any more of them.

I find it more anger-worthy that newer and arguably not better items succeed due to the fact that manufacturers find it so easy to convince people that while 6MP was great 10 years ago, it's crap now. Or while 400 ISO was great 10 years, it's crap now.

Not having a go at you personally at all, just the idea that something newer is necessarily worth more money.

 

[I Love Film]

You want it, so do several thousand other people. They are no more of them. Simple supply and demand.

It's just that other people want it more than you do, and have more money.

You can't set the price with your imagination.

 

[Speedfreak]

I find myself annoyed this Easter morning because the Contax N digital camera I am following on EBay is now priced at $1,800! Granted, it is a very rare full frame camera, but it's old and only 6 mp, and doesn't even come with a lens. Personally, I would never spend more on this camera than something newer and arguably better. Thus my question, is this pricing more like a piece of art than a functional photographic tool?

The biggest problem with this camera back in its time was the Contax N mount (opposed to the Contax / Yashica mount of the RTS series).

Personally, I would not spend 1800$ on anything old and digital. Digital cameras, like any computers, are more or less disposable when technology moves on.

 

[thegman]

Personally, I would not spend 1800$ on anything old and digital. Digital cameras, like any computers, are more or less disposable when technology moves on.

I feel that way myself, but purely from a reliability point of view. Technology only moves on in fits and starts, and only changes, it does not necessarily improve. I'd rather have £400 worth of used laptop than £400 of new Android tablet for example.

I do agree from a purely practical "what happens if it breaks" point of view though.

 

[JeffL]

The biggest problem with this camera back in its time was the Contax N mount (opposed to the Contax / Yashica mount of the RTS series).

Personally, I would not spend 1800$ on anything old and digital. Digital cameras, like any computers, are more or less disposable when technology moves on.

I agree. Are there any repair parts, parts cameras, or service available? Doubt it. When it fails it'll be a shelf or closet queen. That's a lot to spend.
I think the N lenses have shot up in price too. They can be mounted on Canon (by changing mount) with full functionality. A lot of the 17-35 and 24-85's looked like the were being scooped up by high end Canon users and converted. (See Conrus)

 

[Jamie123]

I don't know if it applies to this specific camera but products that are priced 'like art' are usually called 'collectables'.

 

[sooner]

Don't worry, I don't take your comments personally, and I agree that older or a mere 6 mp is necessarily inferior to newer and more resolution. I owned an R-d1 for a while and loved it, in fact continue to bargain shop for them. But all things being equal, newer electronics and more resolution and faster af etc. are better. Point is just that clearly this camera at this price point is all about the cool factor and not really about the photographic tool. I'm just griping--hopefully amiably--that I don't have more money to spend on such toys.

 

[Nikon Bob]

I don't know if it applies to this specific camera but products that are priced 'like art' are usually called 'collectables'.

Mostly that and consider that there are people that collect old computers already. Today's outmoded items may well be tomorrows collectibles.

Bob

 

[Keith]

I find myself annoyed this Easter morning because the Contax N digital camera I am following on EBay is now priced at $1,800! Granted, it is a very rare full frame camera, but it's old and only 6 mp, and doesn't even come with a lens. Personally, I would never spend more on this camera than something newer and arguably better. Thus my question, is this pricing more like a piece of art than a functional photographic tool?

Well someone else is not annoyed, has $1800 to spend and wants it!

Watching things on eBay is like stabbing yourself in the eye with a sharp stick ... you feel much better when you stop doing it!

 

[pinkarmy]

i think i know why
http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/article/NEWS/20120229/206630/

google's wonderful translation art:
Kyocera Kyocera Optec Co., Ltd., to enter the business interchangeable lens for the camera since April 2012
since April 2012, to enter the business exchange for the camera lens Kyocera Kyocera Optec Co., Ltd.. The company, optical lenses, optical equipment manufacturer inherit the flow of the old Yashica. With expertise in the development and manufacture of interchangeable lenses from the same flow.

In recent years, the mirror-less camera and gaining in popularity, growing market for interchangeable lens for the camera can be expected. The company has also received a consultation on the development and manufacture of interchangeable lens camera manufacturers from several companies in Germany, decided to enter the business interchangeable lens for the camera.

now everybody is whispering "Contax's coming back...in digital".