Ebay listings mainly from Japan for RB's.

Ric Trexell · Oct 19, 2014

From time to time I check what is out there for Mamiya RB's on ebay and lately it seems 95% of them are from Japan. Using the time ending mode, today there was one from Korea and another from Sweden, the rest that are there are from Japan. I'm wondering why that is? It used to be that most RB's were from the US. Aren't people in the US selling their cameras? Even if the prices look about right, the shipping can add a considerable amount. Got any ideas as to why this is or is this just when I look at ebay and other times it isn't so? Thanks. Ric.
PS. I assume this is probably true of others, I just haven't looked at Hassy' and other MF's.

Old-N-Feeble · Oct 19, 2014

I don't know but the same is true for Toyo view cameras. Lately there's been tons of them dropped on the market all at the same time... all in Japan. This selling strategy completely devastates selling prices. When this happens it quickly becomes a buyer's market for those items.

mopar_guy · Oct 19, 2014

One seller on eBay used to have the following in his adds-- "Japan, where the streets are paved with Mamiyas."

analoguey · Oct 19, 2014

I think it's the Japanese stores who've discovered ebay selling is profitable than perhaps just to someone like JCH.
I dont about prices deflating, but film gear prices seem to have stabilised - the *good ones*, I mean. And given the sales/bidding seen there, looks like quite a few interested parties.

Sent from Tap-a-talk

snay1345 · Oct 19, 2014

I lived in Japan from 2010 to 2013. During that time I used to visit about 5 camera shops on a regular basis. They would have their windows lined with RBs and all kinds of other cameras. Towards the end of my time there some of these places closed and I started to notice some of their merchandise ending up in places like Bic and Yobadashi ? camera stores. I would assume alot of the stuff is now ending up on ebay so they can sell it all. I just ordered a polaroid back for my RZ from one of those Japanese sellers of all the Mamiya stuff and it arrived in perfect condition about a week later. It came faster than Adorama is sending the Fujifilm that I ordered at the same time.

digital&film · Oct 19, 2014

I ordered a 120 back, which came amazingly fast, and in great shape. Meanwhile, a lot closer to home, Adorama advertised a 120 back but didn't actually have it (seems to be a regular thing) and offered a lesser quality. Of course (after paying $32 for parking) I take the item. Turns out the seals in the back turned to like a tar substance which got all over everything. Adorama is now not being realistic with rating the used items.. caveat emptor.

Trail Images · Oct 19, 2014

I had a need most recently for a possible on the shelf collecting dust "new" RB67 Prism with light meter. I looked at KEH and did not see anything at the time. I followed up with emails to MAC and a big Mamiya seller in Honk Kong, for which all my emails went totally unanswered. At the time while awaiting answers I was watching eBay for those units and noticed the sales mostly from Japan that were being bought up quickly. I finally caught an "Excellent ++" rated one and it looked good. Although not new I bought it.

It arrived recently after a week shipping and is truly like new......

analoguey · Oct 19, 2014

Yup, my experience is quite similar on the quality of cameras/equipment on offer.
The RB I got looked almost new! I also ordered other stuff and most were in very good nick! (and shipping is fast!)

Sent from Tap-a-talk

mnemosyne · Oct 19, 2014

analoguey said:
I think it's the Japanese stores who've discovered ebay selling is profitable than perhaps just to someone like JCH.
I dont about prices deflating, but film gear prices seem to have stabilised - the *good ones*, I mean. And given the sales/bidding seen there, looks like quite a few interested parties.

Sent from Tap-a-talk

exactly. i've been following prices for used horseman gear on ebay and in japanese brick'n'mortar stores and I would agree that prices are so depressed on the domestic market that it is much more attractive for dealers to sell to the international audience through ebay.

Gesendet von meinem MB526 mit Tapatalk 2

johnha · Oct 19, 2014

Most of the Pentax 6x7 gear on ebay (at least in the UK) is listed as from Japan. Import duty & VAT are likely to add a substantial cost in the UK for anything but small accessories.

Nuff · Oct 19, 2014

I think it's because all of the RB owners in Japan are upgrading to Hasselblad

On more serious note, there's huge amount of used equipment in Japan. In Tokyo, Shinjuku, in space of 3 blocks, there are 5 shops which sell used film cameras.
All of them have shelves lined with gear. In one of them few weeks ago I bought a great condition, but not mint Leica M3.

There are even better deals to be had outside of main cities in older more sleepy towns.

Here's a guide by JCH to shopping in Tokyo and it's only tip of the iceberg: http://www.japancamerahunter.com/2013/05/the-complete-tokyo-camera-shopping-guide/

I will be moving to Tokyo in few weeks and I will have to keep my wallet in check with so many toys around.

M Carter · Oct 19, 2014

Start hunting for Nikkors, same thing (kinda want a 28 2.8 AIS... the cleanest ones are always Japanese listings).

I did buy an RB 250mm and it was a US listing a few weeks back. There's usually quite a few US listings.

Alan Klein · Oct 19, 2014

Maybe they know something about the production of film that we don't.

Trail Images · Oct 19, 2014

Maybe they know something about the production of film that we don't.

I had similar thoughts, but keeping on a positive note most of the gear is in excellent shape and it's hard to figure exactly where this stuff has been hiding. Anyway, I'm staying positive about film going forward. They're still seems to be A LOT of folks turning a dollar in the industry so far and hopefully for years to come.......

Nuff · Oct 20, 2014

Alan Klein said:
Maybe they know something about the production of film that we don't.

Most of the digital camera manufacturers are Japanese as well. And the amount of advertising and push to latest and greatest is staggering.
Although on positive note, Japan likes to stick to it's traditions as well.

250swb · Oct 20, 2014

And the same again for Fuji GSW/GW 690's, loads for sale in Japan and scarce in the UK. But I don't think there is anything sinister in it, such as everybody is getting out of film, or even everybody is getting into film, but there are simply more of them to sell in Japan. With import duties there wouldn't be much reason for a Japanese photographer to buy a Hasselblad rather than something sold much cheaper in his/her own country. Just as nearly all the MPP technical cameras sold on Ebay are in the UK, so nearly all the Toyo technical cameras are sold in Japan. It is a different case with 35mm cameras because the Japanese invented the market and there was no UK, US, German, etc. alternative to a Nikon F.

Steve

analoguey · Oct 20, 2014

It is not just the Japanese made ones - even brands like Sinar etc., being sold by those based in Japan (albeit much smaller sample than Toyo, Nikon, Mamiya, Canon et al) seem to be quite well maintained.

There's the odd beater of course, but makes you wonder if the equipment was treated much more gently over there!

Nuff said:
Here's a guide by JCH to shopping in Tokyo and it's only tip of the iceberg: http://www.japancamerahunter.com/2013/05/the-complete-tokyo-camera-shopping-guide/

I will be moving to Tokyo in few weeks and I will have to keep my wallet in check with so many toys around.

Or you could turn out to be JCH 2 and list those cameras out on APUG yourself!

M Carter · Oct 21, 2014

Just from eBay browsing the last couple years, I have been impressed with the condition (at least as stated) of stuff from Japan. Much more mint things, items with boxes and manuals (I save all that stuff myself since it's often the sign of a more meticulous owner), the occasional new old-stock. It's always something to see some 60's era consumer rangefinder with the boxes, warranty cards, even the receipt. Maybe there's a little less of the throwaway culture there? At least in the generation that was buying decades back? Maybe it was easier to get things repaired in their country of manufacture so more impetus to keep gear clean and functional for longer than here?

I do wonder if there's a cultural aspect to it.

And it seems international shipping has simplified the last few years? It's certainly gotten cheaper. Most every part of my video rail system rigs came with "epacket delivery" stickers from China or HK.

film_man · Oct 22, 2014

I generally don't buy from outside the EU as having to pay import duties only to find a fault with the item is a pain. Happened once with a KL lens I got from South Korea, luckily the seller gave me part refund and I kept the lens.

Saying that, I bought quite a few RB67 KL lenses from Japan, even after paying import tax on them they still are a bargain, like total price (inc taxes) for a 180KL £80, 65KL £140 (which I sold for £250 then decided I want another one, bought it again for £150 and sold for £200 when I finally decided I don't really want a 65!), 250KL for £80 and so on. I wish I bought the body from them too, could have paid something half-price! And they seem to be conservative in their descriptions, a couple of those lenses were absolutely mint.

digital&film · Oct 23, 2014

I have to report this *AWESOME* service from a Japanese E-Bayer Musashi-Photo !

Placed order for two lenses for my RZ (110mm 2.8 & 65mm f4) on 10/20/14

Items arrived (well packaged) in Metro NY area this morning- 10/23/14. Dayum! That's faster than Adorama which is IN New York!!!

The description was dead on... both items in extremely Excellent condition.. again, not like Adorama who tends to exaggerate the used items.

dynachrome · Oct 23, 2014

I bought a number of Mamiya items from Japanese eBay sellers this year. The first one was a Pro S body. It was in excellent condition and got here fast. I got a 120 6X4.5 back for my GS-1 cameras as well as a 120 6X6 back for the same cameras. Last week I received a 6X7 120 Pro S back. It needs seals but is otherwise excellent. I bought a Pro S parts body for US$12 + $28/shipping. It arrived with a broken mirror but I don't know whether it was broken before being shipped. One side of the body was not well padded on its way here. The focusing screen and revolving back adapter are worth more than $40 and if I can get a replacement mirror I might have the body overhauled. At least one lens came from a Japanese seller. My theory is that a certain number of Japanese photo enthusiasts stayed with medium format film cameras after U.S. users dumped them in favor of digital equipment. Now the aging or passing of the oldest film picture takers is causing a large amount of equipment to appear on the market at the same time. The shipping cost, at least to the U.S., causes sellers in Japan to lower prices for the equipment to remain competitive but at this time there are just more medium format cameras than medium format equipment users. That can only depress prices.

Xmas · Oct 24, 2014

could be Fuji pulling out of film lots of people here 'only' use Ilford. The only foreign film I used last century was Kchrome25, that was only after ilford stopped colour.

250swb · Oct 24, 2014

dynachrome said:
Now the aging or passing of the oldest film picture takers is causing a large amount of equipment to appear on the market at the same time.

I don't think that takes into account the cultural differences and the Japanese public's enthusiasm for photographs. There is a massive market for souvenir photographs in Japan and this is/was fed by professional photographers who would use camera's until they were worn out, but like any real working pro (not the glamorous fashion shooter working with the latest digital MF) they hate to have to upgrade kit, or throw kit away, it takes money away from buying the groceries. So at tourist sites they work like cruise ship photographers, snapping all day and taking orders. If the costs are covered by what the public will pay there is/was no reason to spend thousands on new digital equipment, so the last bastion of professional MF use probably is in Japan. It is nothing to do with aging or dying photographers dumping equipment on the market, it is that the transition from film to digital has been very slow simply because the camera's are very reliable and repairable and just kept going. As soon as the price of servicing or repair becomes greater than the cost of a new digital camera, and all the necessary paraphernalia, and when digital cameras can do a reliable days work without being fed endless batteries, that is when the store cupboard of MF film camera's is sold on to camera shops.

Steve

Nuff · Oct 24, 2014

Xmas said:
could be Fuji pulling out of film lots of people here 'only' use Ilford. The only foreign film I used last century was Kchrome25, that was only after ilford stopped colour.

I'm pretty sure APUG consumes less than 0.1% of film production. And there's around 5 people or less on here from japan.

Fuji will not reveal if they pull out. All this speculations and conspiracies. Let's stick to facts. People are moving to digital. Especially working photographers. Who mostly own a MF cameras? Professional photographers. My friend who is working photographer in Tokyo used to shoot pentax 67 until about 6 years ago. He moved to full frame canon and sold his 67. The margins are small in Japan as well as wages. Not to mention you have to be very competitive if you want to earn enough to eat.

Xmas · Oct 24, 2014

Nuff said:
I'm pretty sure APUG consumes less than 0.1% of film production. And there's around 5 people or less on here from japan.

Fuji will not reveal if they pull out. All this speculations and conspiracies. Let's stick to facts. People are moving to digital. Especially working photographers. Who mostly own a MF cameras? Professional photographers. My friend who is working photographer in Tokyo used to shoot pentax 67 until about 6 years ago. He moved to full frame canon and sold his 67. The margins are small in Japan as well as wages. Not to mention you have to be very competitive if you want to earn enough to eat.

The fact is if you were using 400 IS0 mono in your RB67 you now need to use 100 ISO, or switch to yellow or white boxes.

Most of the kit is in good condition?

Do you need a picture?

Ebay listings mainly from Japan for RB's.

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency