konishiroku pearl IV

Well, you could definitely sell for a profit. I would use it... and then sell it! Confirmed proper operation of the camera by a photographer always boosts the value of old cameras that are users. This doesn't apply to collectibles or things people would rather look at and not use. Of course, if your camera hasn't been used in 50 years then it might not work properly!



I thought about getting a Pearl a few years a go but prices were a bit high; I wanted something to use but already had a Fuji 645 so the idea died on the vine.
 
That's a real bargain. I've used Pearls RS, II and III. These are much smaller than the IV but as far as i'm aware have pretty similar lenses which are very good indeed. I'd use it before considering selling it.
 
My first camera of this style was a Pearl RS which I truly loved. Somehow I convinced myself I needed a Pearl IV with the faster 75/3.5 Hexar and later coatings. After finding one in mint condition from a Japanese seller, I purchased for $800. I soon found after using it, I did not like the larger size and kept returning to my Voigtlander Perkeo.
I eventually sold it for a small loss but then picked up a Pearl III MXV and have never looked back as it's size and quality Hexar fit my needs much more so than the IV.
The IV is one of the best 645 classic folders if the larger size is not an issue for you. The quality of the Hexar is first class and the images it can deliver are stunning. Great find for $300....
 
A Konica Pearl IV for that price is a steal. Make sure you test it properly before even considering to sell. I have the Pearl III and it's really the best folder I've ever had. But now it's got a leaky bellow that I'm not able to fix, and I have not managed to source a new pair of bellows or somebody who can fix it. It's a shame, but the bellows on these small folders have to be very thin. I've talked to Sandeha Lynch, but he says he is not able to make them.
 
I was shopping for a Pearl about a year ago and finally lucked into finding a IV for less than $300. I had gotten a III just before that but had to return it due to some undisclosed issues, the most severe being holes in the bellows. The bellows on my IV are in wonderful condition, especially for a camera that probably hadn't been used for several decades. I assume this because the take-up spool inside the camera was branded "Sakura" - Konica's house brand film back in the day. This leads me to think the bellows material on the IV series are more durable than on earlier series.
 
Peter Jennings said:
This leads me to think the bellows material on the IV series are more durable than on earlier series.
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I had to return a III not because of bellows but because of lens alignment issues which lead to parts of the image being very soft. I never did get an answer to what the problem was as on the macroscopic level it seemed fine. Its bellows were ok as are the original bellows in the RS and the II that i still have.

The II was bought off the bay from Japan in NM condition which of course turned out to a bit off the mark as the lens clearly has some long fine scratches. Too much hassle to return I kept and it's a great user. The marks on the lens don't appear to affect the image quality. Edge to edge sharpness is surprisingly good even wide open (save the extreme edges).The RS was a bargain and it's lens (f4.5) is every bit as good if slower.
 
I had a Pearl III for a while, until the RF linkage, which seemed fragile when I bought it, proved itself to be fragile and sort of self-destructed. The lens was pretty good though.
 
I greatly regret selling my fujica GS645 folder. Absolutely the sharpest lens around with fantastic coating. However, it too had bellows issues after a while and fixing not easy.
 
Anyone try diluted PlastiDip for refurbishing bellows? I have a Pearl IV on the way which, from the photos of it, may need it.
 
Jimhbc said:
Anyone try diluted PlastiDip for refurbishing bellows? I have a Pearl IV on the way which, from the photos of it, may need it.
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I've had some luck laying in a small piece of thin black masking tape. Then cost it with a mixture of Elmers Glue, carbon black acrylic paint, and water. The 'paste' mixture was rather thin and used more to wet down the tape and inner bellows, not form a solid layer. Let dry for a couple of hours, exercise bellows, repeat the paste.


If there is a large area needing fixing, well, this might build up too much.
 
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