Bronica sold out

Mats_A · May 24, 2010

What is happening with analog cameras?
I have been biding my time waiting for a good Bronica SQ to turn up. Just had a look at KEH. Only 7 Bronica SQ bodies and NO 120 backs!

I have been axpecting a return of film photography but this is crazy. Or could the supply of MF-format cameras just be drying up?
If this continues we might see some new cameras coming on the market.

Or am I just hallucinating?

r

Mats

spolly74 · May 24, 2010

Not sure about the bodies, but with all the 220 film drying up I can see a run on 120 backs.

Tom Kershaw · May 24, 2010

Mats,

Try Fffordes, based in Scotland.

www.ffordes.com

Tom

TSSPro · May 24, 2010

I run 120 through my 220 SQ backs all the time. It just seems like the 220 backs die faster than the 120s. :-(

Changeling1 · May 24, 2010

Yes, the kids are grabbing up the Bronicas like cotton-candy

spolly74 said:
Not sure about the bodies, but with all the 220 film drying up I can see a run on 120 backs.

But... I just purchased a like-new Bronica GS-1 120 back for $31.00 and a flawless PG 150mm lens for $90.00 I've been thinking about picking up a couple of 6.45 backs (I know where some are hiding) but the large 6x7cm neg was why I went with the GS-1 in the first place some 25 years ago. Now, if I could just get some of that Maco/Rollei 120 25asa b/w film before the hipsters hog it all.....

erikg · May 24, 2010

Only seven bodies? How many do you need?

Mats_A · May 24, 2010

erikg said:
Only seven bodies? How many do you need?

A man with less than 10 cameras of each kind is no real man

Seriously. I have been lurking at KEH whole winter and there has always been 10-20 Bronicas for sale. And a lot of 120 backs.

Not anymore.

r

Mats

guyjr · May 24, 2010

shimoda said:
Seriously. I have been lurking at KEH whole winter and there has always been 10-20 Bronicas for sale. And a lot of 120 backs.

Not anymore.

Mats

Hmm... maybe that's it - now that warmer weather is here for a while, folks could be snapping up a new toy to enjoy the outdoors with.

Ian David · May 24, 2010

I think people who like to hoard analog cameras are buying them all up and putting them in the back of cupboards.

Ian

Mats_A · May 24, 2010

iandavid said:
I think people who like to hoard analog cameras are buying them all up and putting them in the back of cupboards.

Ian

Stop doing that! You are ruining my plan.

r

Mats

Ken Nadvornick · May 24, 2010

shimoda said:
Seriously. I have been lurking at KEH whole winter and there has always been 10-20 Bronicas for sale. And a lot of 120 backs.

Not anymore.

I've noticed the same thing at KEH with Mamiya C330 TLRs. Used to be a decent selection. But lately just half-a-dozen BGN grade examples.

What I really want is a NIB NOS C330f that was sitting in the corner of a mom & pop camera store, and all they want is to get rid of the infernal non-digital dinosaur for $35. Just get it out of our sights, sucker.

Pop turns to Mom and says, "He really thinks he got a good deal!"

Mom knowingly snickers back, "Heh, heh. Loser..."

Ken

NJS · May 24, 2010

because they are bang for a buck.

tim elder · May 24, 2010

This might have more to due with KEH. I hope it is indicative of a renewed interest in film, but KEH's stock in general seems depleted - which, at the very least, means that someone's buying it, but it might also mean that KEH's not as interested in replenishing their stock at the same rate they did in the past. All speculation on my part...

Tim

NJS · May 24, 2010

I was looking for an SQ-A last X-mas. I looked on Keh and found sweet deals. back then they weren't listing my country on their site so ordering was impossible. I craved on for few weeks and regularly checked their stock... well, after x-mas, 90% of deals were gone.

and I was lucky for that because a month later, just around my birthday, some local guy few kilometers away offered me SQ-a kit for $450: 2x120 backs, one body + wlf, 50/3.5 PS, 150/4 PS and rare 105/3.5 S plus some hoods and caps for the body and stuff... coincidently, I picked it up on my birthday.
if keh's out of stock there's always craiglist for you folks there in USA, which is even better because you can check the stuff before you purchase it.

removed-user-1 · May 24, 2010

tim elder said:
T... but it might also mean that KEH's not as interested in replenishing their stock at the same rate they did in the past.

KEH does list almost all the Bronica cameras and lenses in their "Sell Your Gear" section, which suggests they are interested in stocking this equipment (if I understand their policies, they don't list things in the buying calculator that they don't want). I think there is a renewed interest in this equipment now that used prices so much lower than new.

ic-racer · May 24, 2010

shimoda said:
lurking at KEH whole winter

Seasonal effect??

I noticed many nice field camera lenses on KEH that just sat there all winter. Some of the prices were so low (like Fuji LF 90mm lenses) I thought something must be wrong with the lenses. Now that I want to buy one they are all gone. My thought is that with the good weather, everyone has the same idea to go out shooting (at least in the northern hemisphere )

Pupfish · May 24, 2010

I'd think it'd be harder to turn a profit buying and selling journeyman MF gear like old Bronica stuff, considering it's going so cheaply and there's such a glut of it. Maybe KEH just doesn't want to be bothered carrying a lot of inventory of it and decided to sell down their stocks without replenishing it.

Edwardv · May 25, 2010

Don't wait to buy the camera you want from KEH, buy when you see it regardless of the price in EX to LN. Once its gone its gone. Glad I got all my bodies and lenses from KEH a year ago.

Good luck finding what you need.

Edwardv · May 25, 2010

tim elder said:
This might have more to due with KEH. I hope it is indicative of a renewed interest in film, but KEH's stock in general seems depleted - which, at the very least, means that someone's buying it, but it might also mean that KEH's not as interested in replenishing their stock at the same rate they did in the past. All speculation on my part...

Tim

Disagree. KEH will be at the Photorama Camera Show to buy used cameras, lenses and other items in Washington DC/VA Saturday 5 June 2010 at the Holiday Inn - Arlington/Ballston. 4610 N Fairfax Drive at Glebe Rd, Arlington, VA 22203

For more information: www.photorama.com

jovo · May 25, 2010

KEH, as I understand it, has been buying up used camera stock both from individuals, and camera stores. At certain times of year, like Christmas for example, the stocks are seriously depleted. Springtime may also be a peak buying season. This past December there were very, very few Hassie kits or bodies. Perhaps it's cyclical enough to just wait a bit, and the Bronica gear will return.

kauffman v36 · May 25, 2010

if you visit keh for a enough time youll notice that as jovo stated, they seem to have certain times of the year where their stocks are up and other times where you cant find sh*t. idk why it is but thats the trend ive noticed after 2 years or so.

Mats_A · May 25, 2010

It would of course be best to "buy them when you see them". If only they didn't demand money for each and every one. Bastards! :rolleyes:

r

Mats

Lanline · May 25, 2010

KEH was at the Minneapolis swap meet a couple months ago. Several dealers offered me $200-$225 for my Fuji GS645S WIDE - I went to the KEH table and he promptly offered me $350...CASH. I think KEH buys all they can when ever they can and at good prices. I also sold them my Bronica ETRS system. I left the show with a mint Rollei SL35ME and a little Rollei 35 and several hundred more dollars more than I started with at the show.

I looked a long time for a Rollei SL35. I find a lot of gear is hard to find these days... unless you do the standard Nikon F3 or ETRS. What I think is happening is MANY ex-film shooters paid $3500+ for these cameras (Hasselblads, SQ-A setups, etc) and they refuse to sell them for what they consider is peanuts.

CGW · May 25, 2010

I agree, Lanline, that some potential sellers fear getting beat black and blue on once-pricey gear. It can be brutal.I snagged a NOS(probably an unused back-up)RB67 Pro S body with 120 back and WLF last summer for US$120 off the big auction site. However, there's a raft of utter crap floating on higher demand now, so some variant of Gresham's Law is driving quality gear back into storage.KEH was prowling Toronto swap meets last fall offering top $ for quality and refusing schlock. They're fine if you're in a hurry but no bargain.I'd rather beachcomb and hold off for quality at the right price--works for me.

DWThomas · May 25, 2010

Although I already have more Bronica gear than I originally intended to buy (yes, friends, GAS!) I still click frequently on a bookmark I have set up to show Bronica auctions on ePrey. I have noticed that prices on items like SQ-A bodies appear to have gone up noticeably from where they were a year or so back. Perhaps demand has caught up with supply. I got email from KEH that they will be at Dan's Cameras in Allentown, PA, sometime next month, they're out there scouring the territory.

Bronica sold out

removed-user-1

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