Analog camera prices

[gbroadbridge]

What an Amazing 2025

Sounds similar to the AI hawkers.
And who wouldn't given large capital expenditure.

 

[film4Me]

Four bidders, 27 bids. Starting bid was US$49.90

With film cameras, we live in a world of extremes. "Shopping around" has never meant more than it does today ... and lots of patience.

Checking Sold listings shows the true picture. I'm shocked at the high prices being paid for some film stuff, and equally bewildered by many good items going for almost a song ... act quick when they come up for sale.

 

[RezaLoghme]

Not all are going up. Just look beyond the meme cameras.

 

[Prest_400]

Consider that the global economy is in a state of being simultaneously in stock price ATH (USA mostly), high inflation towards stagflation and (borderline) recession. Folk are struggling and film cameras are more of a luxury good than a necessity nowadays.
I don't purchase much cameras, and mostly looked at the usual Japan listings given that US and UK (specially latter since brexit) always had an extent of tax and high shipment cost.

This thread is in the 35mm but a Rolleiflex repair related topic popped to my mind as I was giving a bit of advice to an acquaintance that was struggling with the issues of an unserviced Rollei. Basically in this Facebook group about repair, a user (Billy P, greetings if you are here too!) as a really good contribution regards the cost of the cameras and servicing:

Lately we are seeing repair bills that are $1000 to almost $1500.
At that point, I think the cost effectiveness of repairs is getting out of hand; Jimmy Koh, can sell you a fully refurbished 100% working Rollei camera, for around the same price or just a little bit more.
I think that prices have been jumping exponentially since the Covid pandemic, interence in film resurgence; I think most repair shops are slammed right now for traditional, mechanical film camera repairs and so we are kind of at their mercy.

That went into looking on the prices of cameras themselves; where under $500 for a 3.5 was usual pre-covid and now it's the rare low end. Of course we do have the usual issue of limited supply and age.

Outside the popular and go-to models there are still good deals, but I honestly and with emphasis on medium format which has a much more limited set of high performance options, many of those go-to hyped cameras do have something that makes them valuable. Perhaps not to the crazy extent of prices seen however.

EDIT:

It fluctuates and focus changes. The shop where I work can’t really sell Rolleiflex cameras even close to the prices 1.5 years ago. The interest has evaporated.
Nikon FE/FM series has gone 50% up the past year. Compact point and shoot is still strong and crappy digicams fly off the shelves.

Not now but that Rolleiflex insight is interesting!

Also addenedum about the film prices. Kodak being based in the US is very well affected although B&W wise there is Ilford Harman Kentmere and Foma for budget conscious photography.

 

[Arthurwg]

Prices of Leicas and Hasselblads haven't softened

Not sure that's true. A while ago, Leica M6 bodies could easily bring $4000. These days that has fallen to $3000.

 

[RezaLoghme]

Meanwhile, good R bodies (cosmetically and technically sound) have risen from the ashes. Rightfully so!

 

[GregY]

Not sure that's true. A while ago, Leica M6 bodies could easily bring $4000. These days that has fallen to $3000.

priced @ $4k ....or selling at that price?

 

[Faraz]

I was offered £3k for my M6 by a shop here in the UK 2yrs ago, they would sell it for at least £500 more than this. Perhaps today it'd fetch that at Flints auctions, but not on the bay, generally it feels like prices have softened here since then.

 

[logan2z]

I'm watching Plaubel Makina 67 prices. As soon as they drop under $1K, I'm a buyer

 

[mshchem]

Not sure that's true. A while ago, Leica M6 bodies could easily bring $4000. These days that has fallen to $3000.

So when I bought a M6ttl with a 50mm Summicron in the clamshell for $1300 USD back 20 years ago I did ok. Of course I sold the outfit for $2500
Condition is everything.

 

[brbo]

I'm watching Plaubel Makina 67 prices. As soon as they drop under $1K, I'm a buyer

I said that when they were going for 1.300 EUR...

 

[Craig]

I was seeing the Fuji GW670/690's on Ebay pre covid for $500 anytime, now they are in the $1500 range. Mamiya 6 are similarly high priced.

 

[GregY]

I'm watching Plaubel Makina 67 prices. As soon as they drop under $1K, I'm a buyer

Don't hold your breath... the cheapest one i ever had was $1400....25+ yrs ago

 

[GregY]

I was seeing the Fuji GW670/690's on Ebay pre covid for $500 anytime, now they are in the $1500 range. Mamiya 6 are similarly high priced.

Mamiya 6 MF were always more than the Fuji. I paid $40 for my first F690..... and $600 for a minty GW680 lll in 2018..... and $450 for a GW670 lll.

 

[logan2z]

Don't hold your breath... the cheapest one i ever had was $1400....25+ yrs ago

Breath not held. Although one in very nice condition just sold on the auction site for $1999 from a US seller, one of the lowest I’ve seen for a while. There may be hope.

 

[Pieter12]

Breath not held. Although one in very nice condition just sold on the auction site for $1999 from a US seller, one of the lowest I’ve seen for a while. There may be hope.

About the same as 4 years ago. Price seems to be holding strong. I started pricing Hasselblads (it's all your fault, Andrew O'Neill!) and the prices are all over the place, from $750 for a late 500CM body only to over $5500 for a 503C with a lens, back and prism finder.

 

[logan2z]

About the same as 4 years ago. Price seems to be holding strong. I started pricing Hasselblads (it's all your fault, Andrew O'Neill!) and the prices are all over the place, from $750 for a late 500CM body only to over $5500 for a 503C with a lens, back and prism finder.

It seems like most of the ones I've seen being sold in the US have been in the $2500 range, or higher - I haven't seen many in excellent condition go for under $2K. Of course, like Hasselblads, pricing is all over the map, and I see some with asking prices as high as $3700 despite being nothing particularly special.

 

[mshchem]

Condition is a huge factor. Before the seismic shift in exchange rates and tariffs, buying from Japan, with the usually very well cared for equipment was a no brainer. Today I would still look at retailers in Japan, just don't expect low prices.
I don't know what it is about Americans that compels us to beat the tar out of cameras, not all of us, but lots of us.

 

[GregY]

Condition is a huge factor. Before the seismic shift in exchange rates and tariffs, buying from Japan, with the usually very well cared for equipment was a no brainer. Today I would still look at retailers in Japan, just don't expect low prices.
I don't know what it is about Americans that compels us to beat the tar out of cameras, not all of us, but lots of us.

The seismic shift was in prices....not exchange rates or tariffs......

 

[Craig]

I don't know what it is about Americans that compels us to beat the tar out of cameras, not all of us, but lots of us.

Not just cameras, there are very different attitudes towards maintaining cars in the US vs Europe for example.

I knew a fellow who worked for a major oil company and said it was a remarkable difference between what people would pay for motor oil in the US vs the rest of the world. They made bargain basement spec oil for the US market and a premium quality product for the rest of the world. He said Americans simply wouldn't pay for quality motor oil.

 

[Pieter12]

Not just cameras, there are very different attitudes towards maintaining cars in the US vs Europe for example.

I knew a fellow who worked for a major oil company and said it was a remarkable difference between what people would pay for motor oil in the US vs the rest of the world. They made bargain basement spec oil for the US market and a premium quality product for the rest of the world. He said Americans simply wouldn't pay for quality motor oil.

American change the oil in their cars? Do they even know that there is oil in them? I worked with a fellow who owned a newer BMW that had a light on the dash that said "add oil" or an icon to that effect. He went to the auto parts store, bought some oil and promptly put as much as he could into the power steering fluid reservoir and couldn't figure why the light was still on.

 

[MattKing]

FWIW, the USA Fiat enthusiasts website I visit from time to time is full of people who wax eloquently about the pros and cons of the various high spec (and relatively expensive) oil options there are for the quite demanding requirements that the Fiat (and Alfa Romeo and Ferrari and Maseratti and Lancia, etc., etc.) engines have.
As many of those participants seem to also have experience with "American" high performance cars, I think it must be more to do with how crazy about cars/trucks/vehicles the users are.

 

[Pieter12]

FWIW, the USA Fiat enthusiasts website I visit from time to time is full of people who wax eloquently about the pros and cons of the various high spec (and relatively expensive) oil options there are for the quite demanding requirements that the Fiat (and Alfa Romeo and Ferrari and Maseratti and Lancia, etc., etc.) engines have.
As many of those participants seem to also have experience with "American" high performance cars, I think it must be more to do with how crazy about cars/trucks/vehicles the users are.

My '74 FIAT 128 ran on many oil that was on sale at the time. Until the timing belt broke, of course. No surprise, since pretty much everything rubber or plastic on it deteriorated quickly in the Southern California air.

 

[MattKing]

The '70s era Fiats are entirely different cars then the more modern ones.
The modern, high torque, high efficiency engines are really quite advanced.
The 2014 Fiat 500 we have is probably the best car we have ever owned, in my 50 years of owning cars. And it definitely is the most fun!

 

[braxus]

I noticed this as well, but the Japanese sellers seem to be holding the prices high still. In North America I noticed you can only sell something for half of what Japan sells for. Of course Japan seems to have most of the gear out there today.