For Sale FS: Complete 8x10 outfit

[CollinB]

My reason for selling is simple: The older I get the worse gravity is becoming. It appears that the earth is changing.
My back just can't take work, let alone hauling around this outfit. Even my 4x5 is becoming a questionable venture,
and if my back doesn't heal well that will also go on the block. :-(

Pics will come this evening.
I will begin with this as an outfit first, and later will consider splitting it up if there are no takers.

Eastman 2-D 8x10 camera with new gridded ground glass. Very clean wood and brass.
Protar VII triple convertible in a Volute shutter. A little edge separation, but nothing that's a problem. Surfaces excellent.
Caltar II-N (Rodenstock Sironar-N) 240/5.6 in a modern Copal 3 shutter. Perfect glass and perfect operation. Mounted on a Wista type board.
Nikkor-M 450/9 in a modern Copal 3 shutter. Perfect glass and perfect operation. Mounted on a Wista type board.
Case -- hefty. I lined a case with felt that I picked up @ Dayton Hamvention last year. Makes a great surface.
10 film holders. 7 wood in excellent condition and 3 or so modern Lisco Regal plastic units.
Some film that is good. Ilford 125.
Pentax Spotmeter V.
Adapter board for 4x5/wista type boards.
Cable releases.
and more -- like a Majestic tripod with geared head. You could almost hold an elephant with it.

$2500 + shipping.
(That's roughly $900 for the camera & Protar VII, $800 for the Nikkor, $400 for the Caltar, and $400 for the rest -- case, holders, film, spotmeter, and other stuff.)

 

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[daleeman]

I hear ya. My rangefinders are becoming good companions on the trails of life.

 

[nsurit]

Tough decision when you have to decide between a new camera or a new knee. Choices change as we celebrate more birthdays. Perhaps, they become easier. Thank goodness for that little blue pill . . . Advil PM. Bill Barber

 

[jp80874]

On the other hand if 8x10 photography is very important to you, there are work arounds. This may not do it for you, but it might be worth a try. I am 72 and shoot 8x10 and 7x17. I carry camera, tripod, film holders and lens bag in a three wheel baby jogger. I took physical therapy last fall and learned a bunch of simple exercises that while boring and frustrating, allow my back to keep moving the gear. My retirement project has been to wear out two Labrador Retrievers walking ten miles a week. Windmill tilting had been taken. One of the Labs, now age 12 is in retirement, replaced by a 2 year old. The six year old is still a big challenge. My doctor says all those things are also good for blood pressure, Alzheimer’s, diabetics, heart, bad joints, over weight and insomnia. If 8x10 photography is worth it, give it a try.

John Powers

 

[CollinB]

Thanks, folks. Nice to see a couple of others from Ohio offer comments.
I have considered a lighter camera, but that's probably going to run me
more money that I want to spend on a hobby.

 

[Mahler_one]

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.


Many are in the same position....who knew that it would take effort to put a view camera onto a tripod!

Don't give in...take the camera back, and use it until the light fades...

Elliot

 

[jp80874]

amen

John Powers

 

[jp80874]

Collinb,

I apologize. Several of us have told you what we feel, but it is your decision what you do. I would suggest that if you want, or feel you must sell the camera, that you start a new thread. I would also look at the large format forum, if you are not already a member. http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/index.php. If you are new to them, they require a thirty day membership before you can sell things. I have posted LF gear here and there, finding it sold faster there even though many of us read both forums.

On both forms, in general, complete setups do not sell as easily or for as much money as when they are broken into components, i.e. camera, each lens, film, film holders, pieces parts, priced separately. Many people already have part of the gear and are looking for other pieces. Buyers will ask for decent digital pictures of each piece to be posted. People will want some reassurance that they will get what they pay for in a reasonable time frame. For this you need references such as a sales record. Since you don’t have that here, perhaps somewhere else; eBay, the Range finder forum or Photonet. I have found that a simple statement that you will stand behind what you sell, that if it is not as described you will take it back within X number of days of receipt also helps build confidence.

Good luck, what ever you choose to do.

Raging John Powers

 

[jp80874]

CollinB,

I apologize. Several of us have told you what we feel, but it is your decision what you do. I would suggest that if you want, or feel you must sell the camera, that you start a new thread. I would also look at the large format forum, if you are not already a member. http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/index.php. If you are new to them, they require a thirty day membership before you can sell things. I have posted LF gear here and there, finding it sold faster there even though many of us read both forums.

On both forms, in general, complete setups do not sell as easily or for as much money as when they are broken into components, i.e. camera, each lens, film, film holders, pieces parts, priced separately. Many people already have part of the gear and are looking for other pieces. Buyers will ask for decent digital pictures of each piece to be posted. People will want some reassurance that they will get what they pay for in a reasonable time frame. For this you need references such as a sales record. Since you don’t have that here, perhaps somewhere else; eBay, the Range finder forum or Photonet. I have found that a simple statement that you will stand behind what you sell, that if it is not as described you will take it back within X number of days of receipt also helps build confidence.

Good luck, what ever you choose to do.

Raging John Powers

 

[CollinB]

John,
Thanks for your thoughts.
For the duration, I am keeping my 4x5. I'm not giving up shooting -- only giving up size.
I put the complete outfit here first because there have been periodic WTB requests for whole outfits.
I will look into LF forum as I am certainly not in a rush.
Tx,
Collin

 

[c6h6o3]

I've been shooting a lot less 8x10 and a lot more 5x7 as I slide into geezerdom. I just love it. It's almost twice the surface area of a 4x5, and I'm good for miles with my trusty Ries tripod in its case and a little backpack to hold the 5x7 and a lens or two. I urge you to consider it. 4x5 really is a little too small. I find 5x7 the perfect compromise.

 

[Roger Cole]

4x5 enlargers are common and cheap now, 5x7s are not. 8x10 is large enough to make nice contact prints, 5x7 is a bit small for that. I think the difficulty of enlarging it mostly accounts for the lack of popularity of 5x7.

 

[waynecrider]

I've worked in the trades for over 30 years and have hurt my back multiple times including a bad 1 story fall. Recently I've been doing a lot of walking and hiking and my back feels much better. Start slow and build up to inclines up hillsides or mountains. The trick is strong stomach muscles which will become toned thru the walking/hiking. I'm 60 now and if I can do it so can you/others. I did switch back to 35mm film since I don't really need to print out bigger then 8x10 most of the time. Nowadays everything is shared online anyways.

 

[CollinB]

Wayne,
I appreciate the thought. I grew up in farm country in Wisconsin and have thrown my 10s of thousands of hay bales, many of them green enough to require salting down to prevent barn explosions. (Not always successful.) I don't mind good hard work. In fact, I relish it.
But last year I did some damage to my back and on my new job I found just how easy it is to aggravate it. Though I'm a relative child @ 56 and thoroughly enjoy film photography, I also have some other goals in life that are better accomplished with less clutter in my life.
I find 4x5 (and even a good medium format) to be so good up to 16x20 that getting a quality print is not a problem -- because most of it is in the lenses.