Wish you had bought before the boom? Cameras

[mod2001]

...supposedly obsolete products using purportedly dying technologies...

well obviously not 😉, same with Vinyl, luckily I never stopped shooting film and listening to vinyl, still have a unused Garrard 301 in my basement, bought in the 80's in UK for around 50 GBP.

...current prices of Contax T3, T2 and G2 are too rich for my blood...

Don't look at the prices in the bay, especially not the 'buy now' from Japanese sellers, this is wishful thinking (today i saw a nice Leica MP with 0.58 finder in silver for 2.200 € in a German forum from a well known user, the same camera is listed in Japan for twice the price in eBay. At least in Europe, mainly Germany, UK and Netherlands you can get still a decent T3 or the other cameras you mentioned for a decent price if you observe the market for a while, with focus on photo forums and local trading platforms.

Jürgen

 

[HHPhoto]

At least in Europe, mainly Germany, UK and Netherlands you can get still a decent T3 or the other cmeras you mentioned for a decent price if you observe the market for a while, with focus on photo forums and local trading plattforms.

+1.
So far lots of the "trendy" cameras have been cheaper here in Europe compared the the US, Australia and Asia. For example the prices for Contax 645 are also often lower here than in the US. Because in the US lots of professional wedding, portrait and newborn photographers go for it and increase the prices. The popularity of the Contax is lower in Europe, resulting in a lower price level.

Cheers, Jan

 

[HHPhoto]

A 6x7 camera 🙁

Hi Sara,

look for a Zenza Bronica GS-1, a Mamiya RB-67 or RZ-67 (first model).
The price level for these is still quite low / reasonable.

And definitely lower than the prices for the Mamiya 7 (II), Plaubel Makina 67, Pentax 67 (II), Fujifilm GF 670, Voigtländer Bessa III, Mamiya RZ-67 II. All these have gone up significantly in the last years. Not surprising at all: Excellent cameras, which were only build in relatively low volumes.

Cheers, Jan

 

[cnphoto]

mine is more a list of things I regret selling 🙁 mostly the XPan... I sold everything at a slight profit, but not the eye watering profits I would have gotten today. Unfortunately, my tendency to not have excess "stuff" meant that if I wanted to try something new, some older things had to go. luckily the buying was also at the lower end of the prices over the last 10 years! though never any crazy bargains...

 

[mynikonf2]

I've been very fortunate & purchased the following: NOS Canon F-1 w/50/1.4 (first version),works perfectly
NOS Canon F-1n body works perfectly
NOS EF body works perfectly

 

[znapper]

Are there any cameras you wish you had bought before the boom? How do you feel about the rising prices of niche film gear?

There has been a boom? Never heard one.

From my understanding, it was a crash around 2000 onward, where cameras, previously had for $10000, could be had for $1000 (typically pro gear).
After that, the prices have risen slowly, to the point where the $1000 camera now will cost you $2000.

But that's over 18 years.....I would hardly call it a boom 🙂
- Unless I've missed something, that may very well be the case.

How I feel about it?
I find it completely normal and much less dramatic than many others I suppose, but then again, I do have the Hasselblad 503CW, the Rolleiflex 2.8F, The Mamiya 67 pro II, the Bessa II, The Canon 1v with HS battery pack, The Leica M3, the IIIf and the M6, the Radioactive collapsible summicron, the 50 f2.0 summicron with goggles that match and various lenses and accessories for all of my cameras (among them, complete box-sets of filters for my 2.8F and my Automat), but I tend to use it all, they are not there for show and tell.


2 weeks ago, I was hauling my Mamiya RZ 67 Pro II around a small town doing infrared and yesterday I completed a roll of Acros @ 400 in my Rolleiflex 2.8F, using the green and red filters in the corresponding filter-pack.

Always had the approach "If you pay for it, you better friggin use it", so I do 🙂
- The price-hike for the past 18 years, hardly even beats general inflation 🙂

However..

...And I've pretty much given up on the Pentax 67ii ever coming down to earth.

This.....
Always wanted one, always put it on the back-burner because of the price, they seem to be around 2000-2200 (body only) out of Japan these days....$500 more than the average price when I started looking about 10 years ago 😀

 

[znapper]

+1.
So far lots of the "trendy" cameras have been cheaper here in Europe compared the the US, Australia and Asia. For example the prices for Contax 645 are also often lower here than in the US. Because in the US lots of professional wedding, portrait and newborn photographers go for it and increase the prices. The popularity of the Contax is lower in Europe, resulting in a lower price level.

Cheers, Jan

Good!


May they buy up all the 645 cameras there is. 🙂
Never understood the allure of 645.


Yes, the cameras are on the lighter/smaller end of the medium format scale, but the gain is small too. If you're going to leave 35mm behind, 6*6 is IMO minimum of what you should be looking at.


What are the other pro's of the 645 format? I can't think of any, a couple of shots more per roll.....?

 

[miha]

I wish I'd bought another Mamiya C330 when they sell for peanuts... on the other hand Leica R camera are hitting rock-bottom prices right now! One can have an R8 for 299 eur from a reputable German dealer which is a steal if you ask me.

 

[jsrockit]

Never understand this logic. Is buying any digital camera for 1,5k or even 3,5k like a Sony RX1R2 which looses half of their price in 2 years then also bananas? Or a M10 and so on and so on. If you buy a new car you loose the same amount of money in the moment you turn the first time the key, a normal smoker pays the same amount in one year for cigarettes. You get the idea.

Yes, we all rationalize things in our own ways. I think for some of us, it is hard to buy these for double the price they were brand new in the 90s when many of them cannot be repaired anymore. However, like you...if I NEEDED it to do my photography, I would not hesitate.

Digital cameras do not need film, so the depreciation is similar to film costs in the past (if you actually shoot often)... that's my rationalization. They can also be fixed currently... though, 30 years from now...no chance!

 

[raid]

I wish I'd bought another Mamiya C330 when they sell for peanuts... on the other hand Leica R camera are hitting rock-bottom prices right now! One can have an R8 for 299 eur from a reputable German dealer which is a steal if you ask me.

Add a Summicron 50/2 R and you have a great set.

 

[Robert Lai]

Get in ahead of the rush

Get in ahead of the rush

After Leica discontinued the M7, I noticed that all of the left over new stock on dealer's shelves were quickly sold off. Used prices rose also.


It would seem to be only a matter of time before Leica stops production of the MP and M-A. Stock up now?


Similarly, does Nikon still make the F6?
Or, are they just selling off left over stock?

 

[nickthetasmaniac]

.

But that's over 18 years.....I would hardly call it a boom 🙂
- Unless I've missed something, that may very well be the case...

I suspect you may have missed something 😉 A lot of film stuff has seen a steady but gradual increase over a number of years, as you say. But certain gear, particularly premium 35mm compacts it seems (Contax T3, Ricoh GR, Minolta TC1, Olympus Mju II, Nikon 35Ti etc.), have gone rather bonkers in a rather short period of time. Hence people talking about the 'boom'.

 

[valdas]

What are the other pro's of the 645 format? I can't think of any, a couple of shots more per roll.....?

I am using Fuji GA645 and I love it (I am also a user of Rolleiflex and Mamiya TLR). The whole point of this 6x4.5 is that it is basically medium format P&S. Auto focus, auto exposure, other "auto" functions and in such a compact body... So it is my preferred travel camera.

 

[Skiff]

Similarly, does Nikon still make the F6?
Or, are they just selling off left over stock?

No, it is still made.
On very low volume, but still in production.
People who want one should use the chance and get one now, as it is in production and they could get a brand new one.
I am using the F6 for almost ten years now (bought mine with MB-40 vertical grip brand new). It is by far the best camera I've ever used. It is extremely near to being "the" perfect camera.
I highly recommend it. An awesome photography tool.

 

[steveyork]

Back in the dark days of circa 20006-07, when there were whispers of possibly Leica going out of business, and retailers were dropping at least the R line, I picked up some real smashing deals, at dealer cost or less, of M and R, mostly lenses, but a camera body too. They make today's used prices seem expensive. Only wish I had kept the stuff longer, because they appreciated much.

But a lot 35mm film stuff today is still cheap, cheap, cheap. Check out the selling prices of Nikkor non-ai lenses, for example, or Nikon F or F2 bodies, even those with plain prisms.

 

[valdas]

I bought most of my Leica stuff 10-15 years ago. I am seriously tempted to go cheap now - sell Leica and use other stuff (CV and SLRs). I can easily get twice as much compared to what I paid. I sold cron 35mm v4 in chrome made in Germany version for 2.2k€ (I paid for it 900€ and was told I was stupid). I am happy with CV and Bessa and my SLR Contaxes...

 

[Robert Lai]

I sold some things off in 2013 when I had financial difficulties. My Nikon F3 and Leica M7, as well as the Coolscan 5000 scanner come to mind. I had paid a lot more than what I sold it for. I think the F3 went for $250, with 50mm f/2 + MD-4, NiCd battery packs, databack, the whole works. It had just been recently serviced too.
Now, last week I bought an F3HP body from a fellow RFFer for $350, because I missed it.


The M7 was a 0.85x viewfinder model. I had it updated to the MP finder, with optical DX film speed reader. Again, it had just come back from Leica NJ when I had to sell it. It pains me to remember this, but I think it went for $1250 or so. It was virtually new in box, with boxes and manuals.


The Coolscan had all the boxes, the film feeders (including the automatic slide feeder), everything. I can't remember the selling price now, but it was at a huge loss. A very shrewd buyer from Germany bought it. Well, at least I still have my Coolscan 9000 that I never sold.


So, while you may be tempted to sell now and live cheaply, just be sure you never want to change your mind in the future.

 

[miha]

Add a Summicron 50/2 R and you have a great set.

I did so in 2008 when I left Nikon for Leica R.

 

[gb hill]

I haven't been keeping up too much with the prices on camera gear lately but I still regret not grabbing a Voigtlander 75/2.5 way back when it was under 300 US dollars. I still can remember the shock when they almost doubled in price.

 

[mchgst]

i regret not to have bought a lot of MjuII when you could find them in flea markets for 5€. Mine still works, but prices are well over 150€ now.. i think that's the highest growth in price for a compact, ever. I am guilty of selling a G2+45+TLA200 for 1000€, i wasn't using it that much and the fear of a sudden breakdown was too high.