Oly 35RC - Is this rediculous?

[ZeissFan]

I wonder if the price increases is because of digital photographers delving into or returning to film.

If they happen to be a digital-only photographer, then they might be used to overpaying for their gear. And when they buy a film camera, they don't realize that they're paying too much, because they're used to paying too much already.

Or it could be that eBay buyers are simply people with too much money and too little sense.

 

[racoll]

I wonder if the price increases is because of digital photographers delving into or returning to film.

If they happen to be a digital-only photographer, then they might be used to overpaying for their gear. And when they buy a film camera, they don't realize that they're paying too much, because they're used to paying too much already.

Or it could be that eBay buyers are simply people with too much money and too little sense.

In my case it's sometimes "too little money and not enough sense!"

Andy

 

[ruben]

It seems to be the season:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390047534627&ssPageName=MERCOSI_VI_ROSI_PR4_PCN_BIX&refitem=120410897393&itemcount=4&refwidgetloc=closed_view_item&refwidgettype=osi_widget&_trksid=p284.m263&_trkparms=algo%3DSIC%26its%3DI%252BC%252BP%252BS%252BIA%26itu%3DFICS%252BUFI%252BUA%252BIA%252BUCI%26otn%3D4%26ps%3D10

 

[MRohlfing]

Got mine for Euro 29,- in an auction, including a case, battery, neck strap and postage.

WOW, what a great little camera! Automatic exposure and flash pictures are just perfect. And what a lens!!

Can anyone tell me what for I need my other 19 cameras?

 

[Bill58]

The RC cost approx. $100 in the early 1970s as I recall. I bought one then. BTW--does Sauli Särkkä have a website or email address? What kind of customizing (modding) does he do?

Thanks,
Bill

 

[ColinW]

Now it's getting insane. 😱

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Olympus-35RC-with-Hood-and-Filters_W0QQitemZ330325655379QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Photography_Film_Cameras_ET?hash=item330325655379&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A13|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A0|293%3A1|294%3A50

It's a beautiful example but c'mon!

 

[Lilserenity]

Seems utterly bonkers, £250 is only £50 less than I paid for my Leica M2!

It must be the Ken Rockwell effect.

All I need him to do now is boost the profile of the Oly XA. Kerrrching!

That said, I do like my XA though the RF patch is quite pants these days.

 

[Darkhorse]

hoooly craaaaap.

 

[Lilserenity]

Now it's getting insane. 😱

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Olympus-35RC-with-Hood-and-Filters_W0QQitemZ330325655379QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Photography_Film_Cameras_ET?hash=item330325655379&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A13|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A0|293%3A1|294%3A50

It's a beautiful example but c'mon!

Ok I saw the £250 one and thought that's mental.

But sorry, £342?! That's more than I paid for said M2 and an MR meter, a PX625 replacement battery with 12 months warranty by £12!!!!

I'm so gutted I didn't buy one of these last year, it was a bit of a beater but it was fine for £30.

Oh well, I've got a call to make to the Government with a plan of how to repay all our national debt: Sell Olympus 35RCs 😉

 

[Paul C. Perkins MD]

Shooting one afternoon in northern Montana last month - I found the auto-exposure feature on my RC had crapped out. I just went to manual and kept shooting. It was impossible to frame anything accurately with my Panasonic LUMIX DMC LX2 - couldn't see anything in the LCD. I've since sent the RC in for repair. Damn - I really do like my RC (and my SP).

 

[bagdadchild]

Can't be too difficult to glue a piece of goatskin onto the rc... its really sad to see... it may be a nasty surprise for someone if his or hers £343 rc breaks down after little use... the camera is lovely but it just isn't worth it... I paid 30 Euros for mine to an epay seller off epay and he said I probably overpaid him but the camera is in excellent shape..

its quite sharp but the bokeh is poor.. Ken Rockwell should stop comparing old 70s cameras to digital slr's, it doesn't help anyone but makes some poor guy rush into buying those cameras for crazy prices thinking its a 5D mkIII that fits in your shirt pocket

 

[Darkhorse]

its quite sharp but the bokeh is poor.

I love the RC but yes I agree with this. That's why I picked up an SP so compliment the RC.

 

[literiter]

The Olympus 35RC is a nice little camera, I'm sure. My opinion of this camera seems to be echoed by everyone else it seems. So I ask.....what the heck is so special about this thing?

Are we really missing something?

Were these little cameras used by someone really famous? Should I toss my Canonet and scour garage sales, Ebay and junk stores, get one and it will change my life? (if my wife found out what I'd have paid for it, my life would change)

 

[btgc]

£343 isn't even clearly stated as fully working, do I miss something? EXCL condition is fine, new skin is irrelevalent for me, battery included - good, it gives hope, but isn't guarantee AE is working, hood and odd-sized filters are OK though not worth even hundred pounds!

That said, I'm happy I were given beater 35RC (AE is dead) and I'd have to accumulate them before to finance some fancy gear now 🙂

Maybe people are afraid money will loose buy value sooner than RC's ?

 

[nome_alice]

i bought a 35rc for my girlfriend last year. i thought $80 aussie was a bit rich even though it was in pristine condition.

if she gets sick of it maybe i should wrap it in a $15 cameraleather kit and put it up on ebay for a few hundred bucks!

craziness...

 

[Richard Ross]

I bought my 35RC last month at the local household auction sale. It was half of a lot described as "two old cameras". The other half was a scruffy Voigtlander Brillant. I paid £12 for the pair and sold the Brillant for a fiver. The 35RC came complete with case and a UV filter, it's in very good condition, and after replacing the light seals and resoldering the corroded battery wire it works as well as new! I got an original hood too for another fiver. It's a lovely little camera, but I wouldn't pay £343 for one ...

Richard

 

[sfb_dot_com]

Well, Well, Well!

I just bought a 35RC for £2.29 at my local charity shop, in it's box with Olympus UVa filter, and lens cap. No manual, or case though. First impressions are that the light seals need replacing, the battery should have been replaced some time ago, and there are some bits of corrosion. Optically, it looks perfect, and the rangefinder focussed sweetly. Shutter sounded OK. I'll run a roll through to assess light leaks then decide what to do with it. Handling wise, it feels as though Olympus slightly overdid the miniaturisation thing, and it's not quite Leica quality. However, it feels solid and well-made, so it might be nice to carry around with a roll of HP5 or C41 in.

£343?? No way, I'd take £43! though.

My take on the ebay thing is it's a scam to drive up prices.

 

[Spider67]

....with the Canonet it was the "Pecker"-effect (A movie by John Waters) yes it could be the Rockwell effect. Bought the first one for 49 € very good condition with the UV Filter and got another one for 14 € in not so good condition......
They are really good cameras that can baffle people who think that anything older than 5 years can not be used to take a decent photo

 

[Trius]

I'm guessing it went for about $69-79 USD, not adjust for inflation.

In any event, the auction cited in the OP is rigged, IMO. Lots of games played on eBay.

 

[David Hughes]

It's the ebay effect...

It's the ebay effect...

When you are looking for one and buying they are selling for £20 or £30.

When you decide to sell it they go for 99p (the opening price).

And the next week 5 or 6 appear with prices up to £300 and 10 people fighting for them...

Insert whatever currency symbol you like.

Regards, David