Odd camera prices at an "antique mall"

[rbiemer]

I just returned from taking my brother to a job interview and while he was interviewing, I had 45 minutes to kill. Really didn't want to hang out in the parking lot and had noticed on the way in an "antique mall"--big building with multiple booths and one person collecting money for the mostly absent sellers--went there and didn't see many cameras. LOTS of consumer movie projectors from the 20's through the 50's. Finally, off in a dim corner there were two camera cases. Checked them out and one was a very nice looking OM-10. The other was a very nice looking Zenit-E. I have more SLRs than I need or use right now but that FSU fever was trying to get my attention. Until I saw the price tag. "Rare Russian camera!" And , yes, the italics were on the tag. And the price? $75. Not totally outrageous in it self, perhaps, but: the OM-10 was marked $20. I almost got it just to flog here but decided not to. Mostly because I know myself better than that--I would've kept it and then needed to start looking for more of that excellent Olympus glass...
I was chuckling to my self about the price structure the dealer had decided on when one of the folks that worked there said to me, "I could give you 10% off if you want that Russian camera but I can't go any lower 'cause they are really hard to find now. It was what the Russian press used, you know." I declined nicely--didn't have the $68.50 to spend anyway--and left.
Not earth shaking but , just odd.
Rob

 

[flashover]

I went into the local antique mall a few times and this is what I found. Canonet 28 not working 75.00, Yashca TL electro 95.00, Minolta Hi-Matic F 69.99, and Zorki 2 I think Looked like a Leica III I had, anyway the price on that was 295.00 yep that's what I said $295.00. I have found a couple of deals like the Canonet D flash with case (working) for 8 bucks.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Interesting story, thanks for sharing. An OM-10 for $20 bucks, though. I would have picked it up...but you're right, then the glass quest ensues and that "bargain" is then anything but.

You should have printed funny money. You could have said "you know, it's what they used to pay the press back then..." Nah, maybe not.

The Zenits, I hear, are kind of a cultish thing, just like the Holgas. I'm more interested in the glass (I've seen some shots with some Helios lenses that has some pretty funky and interesting ::cough:: bokeh)

 

[FrankS]

Some folks are a little in the dark about the normally accepted value of things, (as indicated by the free market of E-bay for example.)

 

[Ash]

I've got two helios "44-2" 50mm lenses, one in minty condition that I originally bought, and one in scratched condition that may yet prove a 'fun' lens (with more interesting bokeh). I love my Zenit.. I'll go out an shoot a roll of film sometime soon, and see whether I can handle SLR's anymore.

I saw a miniature (127?) kodak folder in an antique shop for £25, but it was in excellent condition for the age, and a huge box camera in awful condition for £30 I think.

The disappointing thing is when people buy the cameras at an exaggerated price, then expect to make a profit on them, or pass them on as a gift to a relative (who then finds the item useless).

 

[Finder]

Here is a conversation I had when I bought an old Omega Enlarger:

Me: I will give you $40 for the darkroom equipment.

Seller: How about $20?

Me: OK.

This was about 15 years ago when darkroom equipment was not installed on a computer.

 

[jlw]

Here is a conversation I had when I bought an old Omega Enlarger:

Me: I will give you $40 for the darkroom equipment.

Seller: How about $20?

Me: OK.

Wimp! You should have said, "$15 and not one penny less - take it or leave it!" Then let him try to bargain you down from there.

 

[David Murphy]

I walked into an antique store recenty and bought a $500 telescope for $20 dollars. I went back a few weeks later and bought a working Leica I for $25. The same store is asking about $80 for a run-out, half plastic Minolta SLR (this impresses them).

 

[matt fury]

Wow, that's nuts David.

I never run into good deals at antique stores, so I've basically stopped going. I collect fountain pens, and I always here about guys going in somewhere and finding a 1930's Simplo for $3.50, but all I can ever find is more like a Schaeffer with a broken nib and a cracked cap for $175. I have a feeling it will be the same for cameras, but I plan on doing some checking in the near future.

 

[nrb]

Surely these are crazy prices for russian stuff.
It makes me feel the urge to reassure myself about the true value of things by reading the classifieds section of rff.