Good price for Contax 645?

[Lens Flair]

Hello APUG, first time posting, long time lurking.

A second hand shop is willing to sell a contax 645 for $1350. This includes the full package, with a film back, a prism viewer and the old battery guzzling grip. The lens included is a 120mm f/4 Carl Zeiss Apo Makro Planar which i'm already falling in love with.

My two questions are whether this is a good price and whether it's worth it for me to buy it. I've never used medium formal before, but would like to get into it at some point, but maybe i should get more experience with 35mm first? I'd never say i'm a terribly good photographer. People who don't take photos like my pictures, but i don't think they'd pass muster with anyone with experience.

Or would the camera be worth picking up0 to take a few photos with and then selling on, possibly for more? fleabay is full of people offering them for much higher prices, but i don't know if anyone would be willing to pay that.

tl;dr 1350$ good for contax 645 and 120mm?

 

[faustotesta]

Hello Lens Flair. I'm a 35mm contax user and i do appreciate it. This said i would never buy a Contax 645 simply because it's electronic.
What if any component stops working ? It maybe no longer available on the market. Any other mechanical MF can be repaired by a good repairman (until they'll be available ). I'm sure lenses are top notch. But what would concern me is the electronic. In my opinion 35mm and MF are two different things. Stick into MF, do your experiences and you'll find your way. A suggestion to self assess your pictures is doing a scan of some of them and post them here. If you get zero comments than they are average/below-the-average pictures. If you get some (positive) comments than they're ok. Buona Fortuna

 

[Jeff Kubach]

You might look up KEH and check out the prices.

Jeff

 

[Lens Flair]

I'm UK based, so i'd rather not get hit on shipping when sending it in, but are they know for being reasonably priced?

Thanks for the replies so far

 

[Steve Smith]

I'm UK based

Try Ffordes instead (I'm sure this is the second time I have advised this today!).


Steve.

 

[brucemuir]

In the US that would be a pretty decent deal if the kit is not ragged.
They were going for around 1600.00-2000.00 usd awhile back. (standard kit w/80 f2, one back, no accessories).
The 140 is one of the best for that system and runs 800usd and up.

Here in the US a spare back can run 300usd and up. L:enshood are rediculously priced.
Seems prices lately may have even gone up a bit.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

I'm also a 35mm Contax shooter, specifically the G1/G2 family. They've been unfailingly reliable for me, so I would have little hesitation about the reliability of the Contax 645 system. I've shot the 120 Makro lens before in its Hasselblad incarnation. Beautiful lens for general purpose shooting and for close-up shooting, but I found the bokeh to be a bit harsh for portraits, although they may have remedied that with the transfer to the 645 lens mount either in re-formulation of the lens and/or changing the aperture diaphragm.

As to KEH pricing/gear quality, do a quick search on APUG - they've got a huge devoted following of thousands of highly satisfied customers. Myself included. On the odd chance you buy something from them and are dis-satisfied with it, they will make sure you are happy with outstanding customer service. The shipping/VAT costs are something you yourself will have to analyze to see if it is worth the extra to buy in the States and ship over.

 

[F/1.4]

That's an awesome deal if you ask me, I have a friend who's selling his for just under $3000, so for $1300, TAKE IT.

 

[faustotesta]

I forgot to mention my experience with KEH. I bought an AS-IS contax 167 mt 7 yrs ago for 5$. I've been using it since then without problems. Their reputation and professionalism are top flight.

 

[Matus Kalisky]

I have been watching Contax 645 Prices for some time - and can tell you that Camera + 120 macro costs normally a LOT more than that. In fact - that would still be a decent price for Camera + 80 lens.

The macro is supposed to be one of the best of its kind and sells in Germany for around 1000 € alone.

So you are being offer the 120 lens for a very good price and the camera for free.

 

[chioque]

if it really is $1350 for the whole lot, I will take a flight right now to where the shop is and right away buy it. The 120/4 Makro lens is a gem of a lens.

 

[tywynn]

Lens Flair ... if it works, I'd buy it. But that's just me.

 

[Shannon Wilkinson]

I got my outfit for 1750 usd. Contax 645, 80mm Zeiss Planar, one back with insert.

I love my 645 and will use this bad boy until I simply can't use it anymore. I say that is a great deal and you should grab it up.

Shan