Alpa - In case you have a bit more to spend than $20,000

[Paul Howell]

Have no idea why over 20 grand, not even gold plated. At KEH

 

[madNbad]

Huss will probably find one on the LA craigslist for five hundred bucks.

 

[Huss]

Huss will probably find one on the LA craigslist for five hundred bucks.

Gimme me a minute…

 

[Paul Howell]

Remember, needs to have red leather.

 

[Huss]

Funny thing that pic looks like a very basic computer rendering, not a real camera.

 

[ph]

the flashy crest was used ouside of Europe while various body covers apparently might be ordered through the US importers Karl Heitz. I do not think the Swiss Ballaguies factory offered any red ones (at least it does not feature in my copy of their routine price list.) The bodies distinguished themselves by being very sturdy and the Optics were excellent. Curerntly the firm "Capaul&Weber" owns the name.

p.

 

[Paul Howell]

If I were to get an Alpa it would be for the lens. My understanding is all the lens were rebuilt to very tight tolerances at the Alpa factory and a test glass plate was used to record the resolution and kept on file in the lens was returned for servicing.

 

[Thesecondone]

What makes this camera special?

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

Funny thing that pic looks like a very basic computer rendering, not a real camera.

That's because it is a Non-Fungible Token of a camera - not a common, plebian physical camera. That's why it is so expensive.

 

[ph]

The US importer Karl Heitz could deliver different colours. In the price lists from Pgnons in Ballaguies there is no sign of colour variation apart from black or light gray for some bodies and lenses (shiny for lenses) . And like all companies which need extra cash and have fashion victims as customers they did produce a golden version before they went broke. Today Capaul &Weber owns the name.

p.

 

[Paul Howell]

What makes this camera special?

That is the question, the Leica M4 also at KEH is a bit less than $20,000 and is gold plated.

 

[Helios 1984]

The badge is crooked.

 

[Sal Santamaura]

What makes this camera special?

Its price.

 

[MarkS]

Alpa cameras were hand-made in Switzerland by a company that also made watch movements. Highest quality, semi-custom, an old design upgraded through the decades (so, idiosyncratic in many ways). The Rolls-Royce or Bristol of 35mm cameras. And like those cars' owners, Alpa users are unlikely to care what anyone thinks about their choice.
I'd also mention that asking price doesn't always equal selling price.

 

[Paul Howell]

The seller is KEH, due the price they might be willing to haggle over the price, but as a rule as a large brick and mortar store they usually do not come down on price.

 

[Huss]

The seller is KEH, due the price they might be willing to haggle over the price, but as a rule as a large brick and mortar store they usually do not come down on price.

Yah but asking $20K when it is $7K everywhere else is a stretch. And some of those places are brick and mortar stores. They just happen to be using ebay.
At $20K they are looking for a mark, which is sad.