Bottom dropped out of MF market. Who is taking advantage of it?

[JosBurke]

I recently picked up a Mamiya 7 II w/80 mm myself off ebay, of course!! I did have a RF focus issue that's been resolved--Nice camera but not cared for like I've cared for my Hasselblad equip--I do not make a living as a photographer but I do enjoy quality just as everyone else here does--I bought my first Hasselblad years ago in the 501 C/M kit form and have bought most of my lenses used--ebay pretty much---yes, the lenses have really come down but what surprises me is that the highly overpriced backs have REALLY dropped as have most accessories--I still have a substantial investment in my gear but my equipment is still really like new and I'm not about to unload it for chicken feed-----I think I would greatly regret that!! As someone mentioned the RolleiFlex TLR's (I have several)-- I notice the prices for the premium models (12/24, Planar /Xenotar/Tele and, of course, the RolleiWide) has really held much better than the Hasselblad line--I'm not comparing 5 years ago versus now but rather the last couple of years! Hmm! I hope this bounce back idea holds at least a little water ! I see it this way--If there are any goodies out there MF wise you've always wanted then it is a buyers market--go for it---I'd Love to have a 30 mm Hassy fisheye but they're not dirt cheap yet and likely won't be anytime soon !!

 

[hka]

Last February I snagged an Mamiya 7II with an 43mm - 80mm and 150mm and also the Polarizer. This whole set was cheaper than buying any used 50mm wide angle lens for my Hassi.

 

[reellis67]

I think apug needs to start the rumor that using a tripod...a really good tripod...is so over and analogue. Why only a troglodyte film-shooter would use one. Any self-respecting digigrapher knows that IS circuitry and related technology obviates the need to do anything other than hand-hold the digicam and fire away with the expectation of museum quality results. Right? Just say yes...

I like the way you think!

- Randy

 

[smudwhisk]

My only regret is getting my 40mm ETR series lens when I did in October. At the time it was a good deal for a very clean lens but this week I've seen two sell on ebay for less than half the price I paid for mine. That said, they've not been going quite so cheaply until the last week. Prior to October I couldn't even consider buying medium format, since then I've managed to get myself both ETR and SQ series kits, now just need some prolonged nice weather to actually make use of them. Some have been real bargains, other have been OK priced but still much cheaper than even a year ago. I just feel sorry for anyone that bought them new ......

 

[Sandeep]

I've renewed my love affair with the Mamiya RZ67 system after 20 years. Absolutely love it, those Provia 100 transparencies are mind blowing. With some strategic bidding over the last few months I've gotten:
Body with waist level finder (Ex++): under $200
120 back (Ex++): $100
180mm W-N lens (mint,boxed): less than $200
110mm lens (mint): $117
50mm ULD (my dream lens) (mint,boxed): $500
PD Prism Finder: $90
and my funniest purchase: a lot of 29 Mamiya RZ/RB rubber lens hoods of all types for $15

I'm in medium format heaven and can't believe these prices.

 

[David Brown]

The year that Mamiya stopped TLR production, I tried to sell my near mint C220 with two lenses. I was offered not much money and decided to keep it until either: 1) it appreciated to where I got more money for it, or 2) they got so much cheaper that I would buy more lenses and use it.

I now own 6 of the 7 focal lengths available.

Cheers, y'all.

David

 

[cbettis]

I have managed to get a pair of Pentax 645 bodies, 3 120 film backs, a 45mm, 75mm, 120 macro, 150mm, 200mm and a 2X. All for slightly more than $1200. One guy even tossed in a Soligor Digital Spot meter with the 200mm lens because he "didn't need it for digital"!

 

[david b]

About 3 years ago, I bought my Hasselblad 503cw kit for $999 including overnight delivery.

And I recently bought my Xpan II kit for $1325 including shipping from a student who needed cash.

 

[tom_micklin]

I gave digital a try for a while and, of course, gave up on it. Traded the Canon 20D for a Hasselblad 500CM and three lenses. They are all in beautiful shape, hardly used. (The other guy just couldn't use it because he was so in love with the digitals).
I sold one of the lenses, bought a second body and now have what to me is a perfect system.
I'm finding that between eBray and KEH and with a little patience, I can get all the accessories I want at pretty nice prices.

 

[gr82bart]

I dunno folks....I've been watching a couple Hasselblad lenses on the used market. I already have a full complement of lenses I 'need to have', but I wanted to add a couple lenses that are 'nice to have' - 30mm CFi, 50mm CFi, 100mm CFi and 150mm CFi. I'd say the cost of these used lenses have gone up since 2002 when I first bought my Hassey.

Additionally the CFi and CFE lenses are harder to find. There's a flood of C and CF lenses on the used market, but if I'm going to get something used for my Hassey, it better be the latest model. That's just me. Everytime a decent CFi or CFE lens get listed on KEH or anywhere else, it's snapped up pretty quickly and the cost has gone from about 50% to 65%-70% of retail. Which is still a good deal I guess.

Regards, Art.

 

[ingnes]

I bought my first MF camera 6 months ago. It's a Mamiya C330 with 65 and 180 mm lenses, a Lowe shoulder bag, cable release and more. All in good condition and at a price equivalent to a simple P&S digital camera. An old dream came true.

Brgds
Ingmar

 

[Gibran]

It's the older equipment in EX+ to Mint shape which has dropped significantly. To the tune of around 70% to half in price since 2002. As just one example, In 2002 I purchased a Mint 50mm FLE CF lens off eBay for about $1350 and sold it later that year for about the same. This week, I decided to give the 50 FLE CF another chance and found one in EX+ shape for $850! Now, that was a "buy it now" and I was only the 2nd person to view the page but that sort of deal was never around only a few years back. If your patient, you can find such deals such as $450 60mm CB lenses to $300 Mint shape 501CM bodies. The newer equipment does not come up that often and indeed gets top dollar. That goes for the CFi, CFe FLE lenses and the 203 -205 bodies and special backs. If you look at eBay completed sales you will see this. As more people snag these deals up though, I do think the supply is bound to go down and Price up. It's as if everything was dumped on the market at once. Eventually, that situation will start going in the opposite direction. Keep in mind, a lot of this epuipment was never produced in huge numbers like Pentax, Mamiya, Bronica. Some of the FE lenses have total manufactured numbers of less than 3000 units(thats the 110FE lens).

I dunno folks....I've been watching a couple Hasselblad lenses on the used market. I already have a full complement of lenses I 'need to have', but I wanted to add a couple lenses that are 'nice to have' - 30mm CFi, 50mm CFi, 100mm CFi and 150mm CFi. I'd say the cost of these used lenses have gone up since 2002 when I first bought my Hassey.

Additionally the CFi and CFE lenses are harder to find. There's a flood of C and CF lenses on the used market, but if I'm going to get something used for my Hassey, it better be the latest model. That's just me. Everytime a decent CFi or CFE lens get listed on KEH or anywhere else, it's snapped up pretty quickly and the cost has gone from about 50% to 65%-70% of retail. Which is still a good deal I guess.

Regards, Art.

 

[smudwhisk]

I'm finding that between eBray and KEH and with a little patience, I can get all the accessories I want at pretty nice prices.

Same here, picked up a Pro Lens Hood for my SQA for £20 ($33) on ebay this week - may sound a lot to all in the US but most are going for at least twice as much if not more and it's in good condition. I purchased my first medium format camera about 6 months ago, an ETR, since then have got an SQA via ebay for a very reasonable price. Between mxvphotographic.com (in Sussex), Ebay and KEH I've picked up virtually all I really need (a few lenses and accessories), now just need some nice weather to go out and play!

 

[Woolliscroft]

Yes I got myself a 67II about 18 months ago and (under orders) got my wife a C330 this christmas, with a couple of lenses, all in very good shape and all for more or less peanuts.

David.

 

[GeneW]

I picked up a Hasselblad 500CM kit with 80mm, 120mm macro and several backs. It's as delightful to use as I always imagined it would be. Thank you, digital!

Gene

 

[fparnold]

Not nearly as dramatic, but the WLF on my C220 was pretty shot (can you have it re-springed?), so I bought a Prism for the same price as another WLF. Focusing is much quicker, and easier to use on the tripod now.