doubs43
Well-known
Frank's thread about waiting for the Postman has gotten me to thinking about finding bargains on ebay. I'd like to hear about the great deals you think you've gotten.
I've gotten a 35mm LTM Summaron that had hazy elements for $120. It was relatively easy to disassemble and clean the lens. It's now crystal clear and takes a great picture.
Or, a Leica IIIc body in great condition and working like it had a recent CLA for $250.
Today I bought a Hanimex Practika Super TL for $19.99. I don't really care if the body is working or not because what I really wanted was the 50mm f/1.8 Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar lens. The lens alone often sells on ebay for 2 -3 times what I paid for the whole kit and I've wanted one for a long time.
So let's hear about the bargains you guys have found lately.
Walker
I've gotten a 35mm LTM Summaron that had hazy elements for $120. It was relatively easy to disassemble and clean the lens. It's now crystal clear and takes a great picture.
Or, a Leica IIIc body in great condition and working like it had a recent CLA for $250.
Today I bought a Hanimex Practika Super TL for $19.99. I don't really care if the body is working or not because what I really wanted was the 50mm f/1.8 Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar lens. The lens alone often sells on ebay for 2 -3 times what I paid for the whole kit and I've wanted one for a long time.
So let's hear about the bargains you guys have found lately.
Walker
R
Roman
Guest
Well, my Pancolar 1.8/50 for 7 Euros might be in that category... 
Roman
Roman
doubs43
Well-known
Roman said:Well, my Pancolar 1.8/50 for 7 Euros might be in that category...
Roman, that is a great deal but it's also my understanding that Zeiss Jena products are both plentiful and cheap in Germany today. They are less common in the States and command higher prices.
If you happen to run across a really nice 20mm Flektogon in either Exakta or M42 mount for a really good price, let me know. I'd be happy to send you the money for it. Seriously!
Walker
R
Roman
Guest
What's a really good price? The 20mm Flektogon goes for much more money here to, I always stop watching once they pass the 100 Euro line, don't know what they usully go for...
Only the 50s can be had really cheap, even the CZJ 35mm lenses go for a bit more.
Roman
Only the 50s can be had really cheap, even the CZJ 35mm lenses go for a bit more.
Roman
R
Roman
Guest
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=80454&item=7504079736&rd=1
- this one in Exakta mount (I think) might go for little money - if you want me to bid on it, just tell me (you'd have to figure in abou 15 Euros postage from Germany to Austria, and the postage from Austria to the US - I guess around 20 Euros - though, which might not make it a good deal).
Once I sign off here in a few minutes I will be away till Sat. evening, though (at my parents' place in the 'hinterlands' -> no internet...)
Roman
- this one in Exakta mount (I think) might go for little money - if you want me to bid on it, just tell me (you'd have to figure in abou 15 Euros postage from Germany to Austria, and the postage from Austria to the US - I guess around 20 Euros - though, which might not make it a good deal).
Once I sign off here in a few minutes I will be away till Sat. evening, though (at my parents' place in the 'hinterlands' -> no internet...)
Roman
My good deals on eBay tend to have had "defects" in the auction listing that discourage bidding. Example: Like-new condition Pentax 67 with meter prism, 45mm, 300mm, 2x extender, misc filters, LowePro PhotoTrekker backpack for $1175. Weird combination worth at least twice that price that would have done better broken up I think. No photos. Poor description. Zero feedback. Auction ends at 1am weekday. Good for me is that the seller is 90min drive away, so transaction can be made face-to-face after inspection, during which I put a roll of film in and shot the seller!
R
Roman
Guest
I got a large photo hard-case with a Pentacon Six TL (working), CZJ Sonnar 180/2.8 (MC-version, it had a macro ring stuck on that needed a bit of force to come off, but was mint otherwise), a table-top tripod, and lot of little knick-knacks (hoods, filter adapters, cable releases, macro rings, etc.) somewhere in the 130 to 150 Euro range (don't remember the exact amount - this was before the change from German Marks to Euros). Was listed under 'Photo accessories - diverse'...
Roman
Roman
doubs43
Well-known
Hi Roman,
I was going to say that if you can get the lens you linked to for 100 Euros or less, that would be fine. But, if they go for much more than that, then the postage begins to make them not such a great deal. What do you think?
Another lens I really want is a 100mm f/2.8 Oreston in either mount.
Walker
I was going to say that if you can get the lens you linked to for 100 Euros or less, that would be fine. But, if they go for much more than that, then the postage begins to make them not such a great deal. What do you think?
Another lens I really want is a 100mm f/2.8 Oreston in either mount.
Walker
Roman said:
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doubs43
Well-known
Doug said:
Doug, that's an excellent point and one that I've found to be true. Items that are incorrectly described (my 29mm Pentacon lens was described as a 50mm) or poorly listed (my Carl Zeiss 35mm Flektogon was listed as one long continuous word) or described as defective when they're not (my Iskra 2 needs film in order for the camera to work properly) are where the real bargains are to be found.
Conversely, what's NOT posted can lead you to believe something that's just not true. Fuzzy pictures are normally a warning but not always. Items described as "mint" or "excellent" when the pictures show a battered piece of junk are a warning about the seller's honesty.
Patience and observation as well as knowledge of your quarry are needed to find the best bargains. Some of the guys on here are too modest to stand up on this thread but we have some really well-educated members when it comes to Canons, Nikons and Leicas. They know who they are!
Walker
Good points too, Walker! I bid and "won" a Zuiko 25mm f/2.8 for Olympus Pen that was incorrectly described as fitting any Olympus SLR. I could easily tell from the picture it was a Pen lens, but worried that the error would encourage other bidders to join, in error.
The pics also showed the lens covered in dirt, that gave a really bad impression but close examination indicated to me it was superficial. Risky bid, but it turned out to be powdered adhesive from the inside of the leather case, and it cleaned up fine. Remarkably it closed at only $69... cheap even for the much more common f/4 version, and a steal for the f/2.8 lens.
The pics also showed the lens covered in dirt, that gave a really bad impression but close examination indicated to me it was superficial. Risky bid, but it turned out to be powdered adhesive from the inside of the leather case, and it cleaned up fine. Remarkably it closed at only $69... cheap even for the much more common f/4 version, and a steal for the f/2.8 lens.
W
wlewisiii
Guest
Most of my bargans (my J11 & J12 for example, were seriously miscategorized and described. "Russian lens with a wierd mount" in Lieca lenses for the J11.
OTOH, my all time best bargan was probably my Kiev 5 - in the correct category, good pics, accurately described, and a starting bid half of what I'd ever seen before. He had two recent bad feedbacks but lots good prior to that point and he mentioned the 2 in the ad with his version of the story. 10 minutes left with 0 bids. I bid the minimum trusting the earlier feedback and got a great camera at a great price as a result. Had there been longer left, I might have dithered and let it go...
William
OTOH, my all time best bargan was probably my Kiev 5 - in the correct category, good pics, accurately described, and a starting bid half of what I'd ever seen before. He had two recent bad feedbacks but lots good prior to that point and he mentioned the 2 in the ad with his version of the story. 10 minutes left with 0 bids. I bid the minimum trusting the earlier feedback and got a great camera at a great price as a result. Had there been longer left, I might have dithered and let it go...
William
K
Kin Lau
Guest
My best bargains were Kiev's from fellow RF'ers here, both DIY jobs, but cheap and fixable.
Otherwise, on Ebay my Konica S2 was less than $20, and a BIN Minolta X-700 kit for CDN$100-, where the camera was listed as non-working (true), with some accessories and lenses, but the items were not separately listed. One of the unlisted lenses was a 100/4 macro (goes for about $300-) but it was clearly visible in the pics. A databack & a flash and the TTL-off camera cord was also included.... those other accessories were another $300-.
Otherwise, on Ebay my Konica S2 was less than $20, and a BIN Minolta X-700 kit for CDN$100-, where the camera was listed as non-working (true), with some accessories and lenses, but the items were not separately listed. One of the unlisted lenses was a 100/4 macro (goes for about $300-) but it was clearly visible in the pics. A databack & a flash and the TTL-off camera cord was also included.... those other accessories were another $300-.
JoeFriday
Agent Provacateur
not camera related, but still..
my best deal was a book that I bought for 1 cent.. I actually sent the seller a penny in an envelope.. for the price of the postage, I could have bought 37 more books!
my best deal was a book that I bought for 1 cent.. I actually sent the seller a penny in an envelope.. for the price of the postage, I could have bought 37 more books!
T
tedwhite
Guest
I bought a Yashica Electro 35 GSN for the opening bid of $17.50. Two minutes left and no bidders. When it arrived it looked brand new. Description said "it looks good but it doesn't work." Simply needed a battery. The Yashinon lens on this camera is just simply amazing.
I bought a Spotmatic body with two lenses in an old tan leather camera bag. Second lens was described as a "longer lens." From the pics I could tell it was probably a 135mm Super Takumar, but you couldn't see the front of the lens to determine whether it was the 3.5 or the 2.5. Got the whole lot for $84. The body was mint, everything worked perfectly, just needed a battery, and the normal lens was the Super Takumar 50/1.4, the "long" lens was the incredibly sharp 135/2.5 Super Takumar.
I bought a Spotmatic body with two lenses in an old tan leather camera bag. Second lens was described as a "longer lens." From the pics I could tell it was probably a 135mm Super Takumar, but you couldn't see the front of the lens to determine whether it was the 3.5 or the 2.5. Got the whole lot for $84. The body was mint, everything worked perfectly, just needed a battery, and the normal lens was the Super Takumar 50/1.4, the "long" lens was the incredibly sharp 135/2.5 Super Takumar.
back alley
IMAGES
my best ebay deals have been 10 soft releases where i was the only bidder. the second set of ten was a bit higher as a fellow rff'er bid against me.
i have also won a couple of sets of series vi filters for next to nothing as the sole bidder.
a couple of lenses on ebay also, dirt cheap, likely because they had no caps (either end) or finders/cases.
on the forum, probably my canon 7 from brian.
joe
i have also won a couple of sets of series vi filters for next to nothing as the sole bidder.
a couple of lenses on ebay also, dirt cheap, likely because they had no caps (either end) or finders/cases.
on the forum, probably my canon 7 from brian.
joe
doubs43
Well-known
tedwhite said:
Ted, that's a great buy. My Spotmatic II shows a lot of use but functions well and I think I paid $35. It needs a new battery now as the Wein zinc-air cell has died.
I'm on the lookout for an M42 mount lens in the 85 - 105mm range. I'm patient and one will come along that I can afford.
At the moment I'm watching a camera that has an extra lens but that fact is buried in the text and not shown in the pictures. I'm hoping to nab the set pretty cheaply.
Walker
Walker, that's a good deal if the Spotmatic II was in good shape! BTW, no need to use battery workarounds with a Spotmatic; they have a circuit that allows variations in voltage, so a PX 625 S silver cell will work fine.
Pherdinand
the snow must go on
I've got two bargains, not on e-bay but on "marktplaats.nl", a dutch e-bay clone. Or, bad copy in fact, not clone.
One was a rolleicord for 50 euros. Very good working condition except a shutter overhaul which cost me just below 100, very clear nice lenses, everything was fine with it. A perfect user camera.
An even better bargain: super ikonta III (6x6), coated novar anastigmat 75/3.5 in synchro-compur - fully in working condition... 20 euro +5,50 shipping.
I also got a yashica GSN for euro17.50 incl shipping...
A minolta x-370 + MD 50/1.7 dirty but working for euro 30 incl shipping...
A minolta x-500 for my girlfriend, with 28/2.8, 50/1.7, 35-70 and 80-200 zooms, 2x TC, and a big Sunpak flash, in a bag, with batteries, euro 85 +5,50 shipping... clean and ready to shoot... My jaws are dropping regularly from the photos she takes with the outfit.
One was a rolleicord for 50 euros. Very good working condition except a shutter overhaul which cost me just below 100, very clear nice lenses, everything was fine with it. A perfect user camera.
An even better bargain: super ikonta III (6x6), coated novar anastigmat 75/3.5 in synchro-compur - fully in working condition... 20 euro +5,50 shipping.
I also got a yashica GSN for euro17.50 incl shipping...
A minolta x-370 + MD 50/1.7 dirty but working for euro 30 incl shipping...
A minolta x-500 for my girlfriend, with 28/2.8, 50/1.7, 35-70 and 80-200 zooms, 2x TC, and a big Sunpak flash, in a bag, with batteries, euro 85 +5,50 shipping... clean and ready to shoot... My jaws are dropping regularly from the photos she takes with the outfit.
Jeroen
Well-known
I paid about the same for my GSN, Pherdi. Bought it over dutch eBay. One can find real treasure on Marktplaats ('Marketplace'). I found my CC for thirty-something euros.
Canon Junkie
Established
I got a BLACK Canonet G-III QL17 for $100 including the Canolite flash, hood, uv filter and bag with all the paperwork. The buyer did not list it as black, and I emailed an offer which he accepted.... conisidering that these sell for over $300 sometimes, I think I got a deal. By the way, it was mint, just needed new light seals.