Contax T2/T3 prices
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bucs
Well-known
I've seen several go for at least $500. And still going strong
ProviaFan
Member
I completely agree and would add the Fuji Klasse to the list. It is light years ahead of the T2 in features (manual ISO, flash always off setting, pre-focus with half shutter button press) and although a bit bigger than the T3 it just feels better in the hand. I've had all 3 cameras and still have the Klasse, my only regret is I sold the T2 and T3 before the market peaked.
ColSebastianMoran
( IRL Richard Karash )
Sure, $250 seems about right. Where shall I send the check?
Just kidding... Hang on to it, Raid! Or sell it for $600+
aizan
Veteran
most of what's driving up prices is that the cameras are getting harder to repair. you gotta have backups. it's the death throes of the contax t series.
mani
Well-known
Rubbish.
Anyway, back in the real world, T2s are selling for around the $600 level here in Sweden - to enthusiasts and new film users.
I'm still on the hunt for a reasonable T3 - they are out of reach these days.
telenous
Well-known
That's a consideration too. Years ago Aperture and Ffordes used to sell a lot of Contax T/T2/T3s but, if you look, they don't any more. The repair person in Aperture UK expressly told me what you are suggesting when I showed him my T3. They just didn't want a camera that, in case of a sale, might have involved them in a tricky repair trip. (And that despite the fact my T3 didn't look like it might need a repair in the near future.)
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mani
Well-known
So let's do a totally unscientific survey here: how many people on this thread are looking for a backup for their 'broken' T2 or T3 - and how many are looking for a T3 they can shoot the hell out of?
If it's broken T3s that are driving up the price I hardly think sellers would be asking $1500-1800 for a used T3. There's a shop in Stockholm with a black T3 right now for the equivalent of $1650. Someone gonna buy that as a 'backup' because it's in its 'death throes'?
And if it's 'death throes' for the T3 - how come cameras like the Klasse are going sky-high? I got in touch with a guy in Gothenburg who was supposedly selling a Klasse W a few months ago - he wanted more than they'd cost new! I cooled off for a few weeks then got back in touch - expecting he'd have softened up a bit for a lower price. He'd sold it of course.
The demand is there for these cameras.
PS: I'm remembering why I don't come to RFF so much anymore. The grumpy old men brigade - finding negativity in everything. Should just stick to the buy-and-sell. Find me one of those broken old T3s that no-one really wants.
telenous
Well-known
I don't know how many people are looking for backups. I was commenting on the "harder to repair" (boldened in the quote) bit which seems to be true. The repairman at Aperture did tell me that he was seeing increasingly T3s fail and that they didn't want to have to do with them. Choose to disbelieve him if you like but looking for T3s (or T2s or Ts) in the second hand shops I usually buy from doesn't bring anything up. It seems that, for reasons which we can only surmise upon, quite a few second hand shops stay out of the sale of luxury compacts. There's certainly no glut of compact Contaxes like it used to be the case, say, ten years ago. That leaves T3s mostly on Ebay and they are priced quite highly like most of the stuff one sees there.
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David Hughes
David Hughes
Hi,
A lot of cameras that rely on a lot of electronics are failing and can't be repaired because the old electronics are no longer available. And the moral is, hold on to your Leica M2...
Regards, David
A lot of cameras that rely on a lot of electronics are failing and can't be repaired because the old electronics are no longer available. And the moral is, hold on to your Leica M2...
Regards, David
HHPhoto
Well-known
At least my local camera repairmen disagree 🙂.
They told me
- electronics very seldom fail, mechanics fail much more often in cameras ( I have the same experience: In the last decades I have never had an electronic fail in my film cameras)
- lots of electronic spare parts are still in the supply chain
- if there are no more electronic spare parts, then they just take them from bodies they have as spare parts spenders.
Cheers, Jan
bucs
Well-known
You are lucky then because not all repair guys would say the same thing
A Hexar AF died on me two years ago and no one would accept ot for repair. Of course people would say just buy another one but how many cycles do I have to go through? That's why I decided to just convert the lens into an M mount
A Hexar AF died on me two years ago and no one would accept ot for repair. Of course people would say just buy another one but how many cycles do I have to go through? That's why I decided to just convert the lens into an M mount
Solinar
Analog Preferred
My older Rollei 35S is pretty much a mechanical, Antediluvian beast by comparison - but I was able to send off to Harry Fleenor at Oceanside camera a couple of years back to have the meter calibrated for silver oxide batteries and have the slow speed escapement serviced.
Granted that the Rollei 35S is not a point and shoot camera, but the image from the HFT 40mm Sonnar rivals the Contax - if you get the focusing right.
Granted that the Rollei 35S is not a point and shoot camera, but the image from the HFT 40mm Sonnar rivals the Contax - if you get the focusing right.
Peter_S
Peter_S
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Same experience here. My mechanical Ms spent more time in repair than in hard use (I sold them in the end due to unreliability). Also my M7 and Bessas - all failures were mechanical. The Contax T3 I use in rough conditions since years and has not failed (except the tooth in the winding spool - a 15min self-fix job) - same for the G2, which I found more robust than the M6. I have no idea who services Contax, never needed it. Who services Leica I know pretty well.
I forgot what my T3 cost me, and its irrelevant, it has served me more than expected and if it would fail I would probably buy one again. They are that good.
Yes, the used prices are sky-high, but there is a good chance they will serve longer than most other cameras at the same price.
I forgot what my T3 cost me, and its irrelevant, it has served me more than expected and if it would fail I would probably buy one again. They are that good.
Yes, the used prices are sky-high, but there is a good chance they will serve longer than most other cameras at the same price.
aizan
Veteran
just think about it. kyocera stopped repairing the t2 in 2014 because they don't have the parts anymore, and only certain things can be repaired on the t3.
http://www.japancamerahunter.com/2014/07/camera-repair-news/
what would drive up demand for a working camera more strongly? the knowledge that the situation will only get worse for repairability, and once a glitch comes up (which is inevitable, despite anybody's experience to the contrary thus far), the camera is probably a goner?
or is a renewed appreciation for film driving up demand? while there is more interest in film and film sales seem to be on solid ground, that doesn't explain why the bubble for these particular cameras is expanding. they've always been the most desirable p&s film cameras in recent history. what's changed?
anyhow, mechanical cameras may break more often than electronic cameras, but it's also more likely that you can get them working again.
http://www.japancamerahunter.com/2014/07/camera-repair-news/
what would drive up demand for a working camera more strongly? the knowledge that the situation will only get worse for repairability, and once a glitch comes up (which is inevitable, despite anybody's experience to the contrary thus far), the camera is probably a goner?
or is a renewed appreciation for film driving up demand? while there is more interest in film and film sales seem to be on solid ground, that doesn't explain why the bubble for these particular cameras is expanding. they've always been the most desirable p&s film cameras in recent history. what's changed?
anyhow, mechanical cameras may break more often than electronic cameras, but it's also more likely that you can get them working again.
anerjee
Well-known
bucs
Well-known
My heart broke into a million pieces when my Hexar AF died
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brennanphotoguy
Well-known
At least there are places (MS Optical) that can retrofit a lot of point and shoot lenses into LTM and M mount rangefinder coupled housings when your camera dies.
Those prices have been pretty steady for a long time except for the random cheap finds and short price hikes that go back down to that $500 level for T2s and $1000 level for T3s (at least the double tooth model). Usually you can find them second hand from people not on ebay for $350-$400 in ok condition but the minty ones are definitely gonna cost you.
Those prices have been pretty steady for a long time except for the random cheap finds and short price hikes that go back down to that $500 level for T2s and $1000 level for T3s (at least the double tooth model). Usually you can find them second hand from people not on ebay for $350-$400 in ok condition but the minty ones are definitely gonna cost you.
BlackXList
Well-known
My T3 sold for $1000 today, (minus ebay fees of course).
Very sad to see it go, but at that price I couldn't justify keeping it around compared to what it could pay for.
Still have a T2, and for now I'm holding onto it, they're outstanding cameras.
Very sad to see it go, but at that price I couldn't justify keeping it around compared to what it could pay for.
Still have a T2, and for now I'm holding onto it, they're outstanding cameras.
David Hughes
David Hughes
When three nice, neat and almost perfect Contax cameras have failed on you, you give up; well, I did.
I was talking to a well know and highly respected repairer and he said that no one wants to pay out serious money to have a camera stripped down, tested and then reassembled if it can't be repaired because the parts aren't made any more.
As for mechanical ones and mechanical bits in electronic cameras (things like switches etc), they can usually be cleaned and adjusted (like meters) but sometimes are worn too badly.
Regards, David
I was talking to a well know and highly respected repairer and he said that no one wants to pay out serious money to have a camera stripped down, tested and then reassembled if it can't be repaired because the parts aren't made any more.
As for mechanical ones and mechanical bits in electronic cameras (things like switches etc), they can usually be cleaned and adjusted (like meters) but sometimes are worn too badly.
Regards, David
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