Do You Buy New?

Rarely do I buy anything new. As someone who tends to buy and sell gear too much, I'd really rather not take that initial depreciation.
 
New...
Vivitar 400SL (my first camera) 50mm 1.9 & 200mm 3.5
Pentax MX w/Winders (x2)
Zone VI 4x5 view camera
Vivitar Series 1 35-85mm & 70-210mm
Caltar II 75mm, 90mm 150mm & 210mm
Vivitar VI Enlarger w/Color Head & El-Nikkor 50mm 4.0

Last month I bought a Takumar 35mm 3.5 lens that would appear as close to new as one could get today, then about two weeks later I found a Takumar Lens Hood that's just as nice as the lens...they're not new but pretty darn close!!!
 
The last new camera I bought was a Nikon F2. I bought it in 1971 and am still using it.

Last year, I bought a new lens.
 
Most of the equipment I have is I bought used. Not everything.
I'd be hardpressed to buy a DSLR used. You really have no idea how hard some of them have been used and what can go wrong. I'd prefer a warranty over $100-200 off in that case.
 
I think with my DSLR, I had to buy it new obviously...and with my Polaroid 600. All my film cameras are second hand.
 
Talking FILM cameras, I am very eager to support camera manufacturers but new Leicas are not exactly affordable 🙂 I wanted to buy Zeiss Ikon but I don't need it at the moment. I never had a new film camera and I don't mind it. I actually feel more comfortable buying used gear from private sales because the equipment is proven to work. And manufac. warranty is a complete b.s. since sending cameras heck knows where and wait heck knows how long is not acceptable, IMHO
 
Last edited:
one camera and one lens new (M8 and 28 Elmarit, the lens still had a $300 rebate program), the rest used. Some of it very used. Newest purchase a 35/3.5 LTM Summaron. Makes me wonder why I bother buying anything new. Thinking a Barnack next.
 
All my DSLR gear and lenses were purchased new in 2004, but the camera is now considered outdated, I'm sure. Still takes great pics when I need to use it.

My latest camera was purchased used on Ebay for under $1,000 last December (2008). It was a Leica M6 classic in black. Not a scratch, mark, or finger print on it. It still had the plastic on the bottom plate and came in the presentation box. I think I got a great deal there.

I did seem to put a small mark on it this weekend, though in a not so noble way. I kicked it with my feet while in flight. I was holding it in my hands and decided to put in down by my feet so I could fall asleep without dropping it. I forgot it was there and when I moved my feet I knocked it against the seat. Result - small mark on the back side of the top. No big deal. I plan to give it plenty of use anyway.

Also purchased a Summicron 50 used through KEH for a pretty good deal.

I have several other cameras, some purchased new (Canon Elan IIe, zero image pinholes), some used (a 4x5 wista and lenses), and some were given to me, like my grandfather's Argus, and my dad's Minolta SRT 201 - all in the same weekend.
 
Last edited:
Ducky said:
New digi, used film. I've often wondered about our (RFF) recycling not doing the industry much good.
Click to expand...

Well, new camera gear is rather expensive. Digital has in general dropped old film gear prices. Film itself is being kept alive, but isn't always inexpensive either. As for myself:

About 1962 I bought a Minolta 16 new. About 1971 I bought my Yashica TL Super new. About 1975 I bought my Fujica ST 901 new. A little before and after I bought several lenses, Fujinon and Vivitar mostly, and other equipment such as tripods, flash units and such new. In 1975 I bought my Super Press 23 w/100mm lens and back. About 1983 I bought a Contax 139Q and 50mm f/1.4 new, and a Yashica FX 3 new. I bought an 18-28mm Phoenix/Samyang new about 2005. Nothing else. All of it works but the Contax 139Q and I don't use the Minolta. Everything else still works and I use it.

I have bought new, but the majority of my purchases have been used, and most of that off ebay (carefully). I am sort of stuck in a time warp due to my early commitment to M42 cameras and lenses. It all worked for me so I saw no reason to expend a lot of money for a new system. Even most of my Contax/Yashica equipment is used as is most of my Mamiya Press equipment.
 
Last edited:
I have bought much of my equipment new as it tends to be rather unusual. I don't mind supporting the manufacturers--where would we be without them (still coating window glass with egg white and silver, no doubt). As others have noted, there are somethings that are not manufactured anymore.

On the flip side, I rarely sell my equipment. I really don't like buying stuff, so I am very careful in what I invest in.
 
I realized the other day that I have never bought a used digital camera, though I have bought refurbished (probably won't again, one soon had a problem that negated the savings from both and then some). That only accounts for 5 cameras I've owned.

I have never bought a new film camera. I must have owned several dozen in my life and not one of them was new. Odd, I am not opposed to it, I just never have.
 
film and digi bodies - all used

lenses - most used, a few new

pretty much everything that's come into my hands has worked well, allowing for a few minor repair trips. mostly because the people of rff and fm are such good folks.
 
Papercut said:
I buy film new, yes. Used film is somewhat problematic for my purposes. 😉
Click to expand...

Beat me to it!🙂

I brought a ZM new! ah, thats a Mamiya ZM ,way back in 1983, its still a one owner camera. And an FE2,
them was the days, young and no fiscal responsibilty required.
Now days it is all used and it is amazing to see what you can get for less than 1/10th the new price of the above two.

I have never paid anything for a digital - people i know are always `upgrading', so they give em away😱
 
New digital and a couple of new af nikkors.
All Leica gear s/h. Maybe a new M9 a little later in it's cycle. Got to be cheaper though on principle otherwise I'll stick with the D700.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

A
Shooting another wedding this weekend
2 3
Replies
40
Views
3K
Ko.Fe.
Ko.Fe.
D
New year resolutions (photo-centered) for 2025
2 3
Replies
41
Views
2K
JohnGellings
J
B
The $15,000 Question: what would you get?
2 3 4
Replies
73
Views
4K
Gordon Moat
Gordon Moat
J
  • Article Article
Will the long-anticipated Leica M11-V with built-in EVF arrive in 2025? Probably, but it’s taking longer than expected and rumors are still flying!
2 3
Replies
50
Views
4K
Freakscene
Freakscene
Pál_K
Viewfinders- what do you like?
Replies
15
Views
593
agentlossing
agentlossing
Back
Top Bottom