What's with the exorbitant pricing for the Electro 35 GSN?

[m1ckDELTA]

The GSN was the first camera I ever owned, saved up an entire summer to buy one from a family friend when I was thirteen. I've been wanting a film camera for a bit now and thought, "Why not a GSN? I thought it would be an inexpensive proposition what with all the, "I paid $25 for one in mint condition.", stories but man-o-man. Even the ones going for $40+ seem to be dirty and of questionable functionality. Many are going for $70 - $150; some claiming a complete CLA has been done, other as questionable as cheaper ones.

What is up with these prices?

 

[alienmeatsack]

Sadly, it's all about perceived value, if it's "cool" looking, and that whole "I just checked on eBay and it says this here camera is worth $xx.xx USD".

There's also a growing number of people who want Electros for their shooting because the cameras are just way cool looking and many of those will start with an E35, realize they need a GSN for the faster ISOs, and then that's yet another person out there looking and buying them up.

You can find a nice working GSN for $50 or less. I know you can as I've done it three times. You just have to watch auctions, sales, ads, etc and leap on them and try and try until you find one that is what you want. For the 4-5 Electro's (and GSN versions) I've purchased, I've never never paid over $50. The last two GSNs were both $30 or less each.

I've yet to find a black one that is in that price range, and only one of the ones I got had a case, but still they are out there. You just have to want it enough and be saavy.

If you are in the US, goodwill's site almost always has some Electros and there's usually at least one GSN in there. I've had good luck there. Just make sure you have the battery (or adapter) on hand to test it when it arrives. 😀

I think I've had a harder time finding certain Konica and Canonets then anything. But I'm sure someone somewhere on some hip site will mention a new must have old camera and then the others will be free for us to purchase. Who knows. 😀

I'll be happy to keep an eye out for them. I pretty much buy any E35s I run across if they appear to be working but aren't tested and snag GSNs as well. So who knows.

 

[anjoca76]

I paid $35 for mine a few years ago and think I overpaid by about $34.50. It might be the only camera I've ever owned that I just couldn't get along with, and mine was in pristine condition. Something about it, I don't know.

If you are looking at online auctions, that would explain the crazy prices. There are good deals sometimes, but usually not.

Then again, I don't see them around in the RFF classifieds too often, so I am not sure where to suggest looking for one.

 

[B-9]

Never pay more than 50$ for an Electro, I've owned atleast 5 different electrons from the MG-1 (my fav.) To the GSN and GTN and CC.

Deals are out there, just be patient.

I made a good amount of coin when I decided to sell a few years back, but at these recent prices, I could have made a lot more!

My personal suggestion? Go for a Minolta Hi-Matic 7. There's not anything really special about the Yashicas, and just about every camera company made a compact RF with a fast 1.7-1.8-1.9-2.8 lens.

 

[Clark.EE]

Get a GX.
The daddy.
You want black or silver?
Could sell you either!

 

[Frontman]

The GSN has long been undervalued. A clean, good working GSN is going to be able to take some really nice photos. A GSN will do 90% of what a Leica will do, for much less than 90% of the price of a Leica. I have sold top condition GSN cameras for more than $100 on eBay, I wish I could find more.

 

[CliveC]

Plus Peter Parker used one in a recent movie.

 

[Harryo1962]

I really like the lens quality, but being fully auto only is a drawback when the meter fails. Which has happened on the last two that I have had.

 

[lxmike]

don't have the camera any more but do have the yashica mini tripod that came as an optional extra with the camera

 

[Moto-Uno]

^ Not sure if fully auto is the term I'd use,as the GSN does require you to manually adjust the aperture . Regards,Peter

 

[lxmike]

Plus Peter Parker used one in a recent movie.

Cool gif by the way, did you find it on the WEB, Peter Parker ..............web, oh dear me time for bed as my puns are getting bad😀

 

[02Pilot]

I just bought a GSN that needed the POD replaced and some other work, but now that that's done it's damn near perfect. Came with a full case, too. It's a nice camera, with what seems to be a very good lens, but I have to say that I haven't really connected with it. Maybe it's the size, maybe it's the aperture priority-only operation, or maybe it's something else, but I don't feel it's likely to stay around for all that long. In that context, I can't say I'm sad to hear that prices are unreasonably high right now.

I think the Electros served a particular market segment, and served it well. The camera is really easy to use - the lights and arrows in the VF make it very intuitive for almost anyone to use well. But today, with fixed lens film RFs being used primarily by a small group of skilled enthusiasts, the Electros have lost a lot of their initial appeal. For me, something like the Olympus 35 SP I just got or my old Canonet QL19 offer a lot more because of their fully manual capabilities, something the Electros don't have.

 

[Darshan]

bought one for $45, used for a year and gave it for free to a RFF member during Christmas giveaway..

 

[goamules]

The GSN has long been undervalued. A clean, good working GSN is going to be able to take some really nice photos. A GSN will do 90% of what a Leica will do, for much less than 90% of the price of a Leica. I have sold top condition GSN cameras for more than $100 on eBay, I wish I could find more.

....because it's underquality. A clean [insert any rangefinder from Japan, Germany, or the Soviet Union] any camera is going to be able to take some really nice photos and do 90% of what a Leica can do (which is take pictures and focus by rangefinding). It's a fad, hype, or posts like this if the prices are going up. They're cheap and everywhere, I passed 2 in a antique store this afternoon. Used one a while, they're big and klunky and cheap looking. I'll keep passing, and let the hipsters buy them.

 

[Frontman]

....because it's underquality. A clean [insert any rangefinder from Japan, Germany, or the Soviet Union] any camera is going to be able to take some really nice photos and do 90% of what a Leica can do (which is take pictures and focus by rangefinding). It's a fad, hype, or posts like this if the prices are going up. They're cheap and everywhere, I passed 2 in a antique store this afternoon. Used one a while, they're big and klunky and cheap looking. I'll keep passing, and let the hipsters buy them.

Having worked on these cameras inside and out (as well as far more expensive cameras)they were built with a surprisingly high level of quality. The heart of a camera is it's lens, and the Yashica lenses are remarkable performers. Every once in awhile I bump up the "GSN photos from China" thread. Photos like the ones posted in that thread are good enough reason to push up the prices of these cameras.

 

[goamules]

Having worked on these cameras inside and out (as well as far more expensive cameras)they were built with a surprisingly high level of quality. The heart of a camera is it's lens, and the Yashica lenses are remarkable performers. Every once in awhile I bump up the "GSN photos from China" thread. Photos like the ones posted in that thread are good enough reason to push up the prices of these cameras.

Is the surprising quality the cheezy top made of thin stamped metal? Or the goofy logos? Or the cheap imitation vulcanite body?

How is the Yashica lens remarkable? Because it's a lens? I'm sorry, but you could say the same things about an Argus C-3 brick or a Petri 7S. They where cheap cameras with a surprising level of quality and a remarkable lens. But that doesn't mean they're half as good as a Canon P, A Voigtlander Vitessa, Nicca 5L, or any Leica. Those have quality and great lenses. The Yashica has an OK lens and OK quality. So their prices are just OK.

 

[btgc]

GSN isn't bad for what it is, but people quickly move on to other cameras - either smaller or with more exposure controls.

 

[Steve M.]

I don't get it either. $25 would be all I would pay. Owned a few of them over the years. The lens is sharp but very flare prone, the cameras are big and heavy, and you have no idea what shutter speed the camera has selected, nor any way to override the auto feature other than play w/ the aperture. Meaning, no exposure lock. You would have to fiddle w/ the ISO setting to get any sort of exposure compensation. Try doing that on the fly! Really, a properly working Konica C35 or one of its many clones is a lot better camera (and smaller by far), and if you need a fast lens the Hi-Matic mentioned or a Konica S2 will be better choices for less money. My vote goes for the S2 because it's built better than the C35. It's a bit big and heavy also, but has exposure lock and a pretty flare proof sharp lens. Fun cameras!

 

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

The lens is sharp but very flare prone, the cameras are big and heavy, and you have no idea what shutter speed the camera has selected, nor any way to override the auto feature other than play w/ the aperture. Meaning, no exposure lock.

Agreed. I bought this GT on a whim in 2001 and after two rolls I re-sold it on eBay. Interestingly, I made a small profit over what I'd paid for it at a West London camera shop. 🙂

 

[Rodchenko]

The price for Electro 35s goes up and down rapidly, and it's a bit silly at the moment. Sure, it's a great camera, but...

The same thing is happening with Olympus 35SPs, so I'm tempted to sell the 'spare'.