Historical prices of MF gear

anjo · Apr 25, 2009

In the pre-digital era, how much did new MF gear cost? I'm asking out of sheer curiosity. Are we talking on the order of $30k-$40k (like a digital MF system might cost today), or were the prices saner back in the day?

Q.G. · Apr 25, 2009

They were not saner. Very expensive they were!
But about 1/10 - 1/20 of what a digital MF kit costs. At most.

The price of a digital MF kit is in the back.
Much, much too expensive still.
The cameras, lenses, and al the rest, though still expensive, are practically free compared to what the backs cost.

25 years ago, you could get a complete Hasselblad kit (camera, standard lens and magazine) for about US$ 1.500. New.
And that was considered very, very expensive then.

ic-racer · Apr 25, 2009

1969 Rolleiflex Dealer Retail Price List:

T = $329 ($1911.33)
3.5F = $522 ($3032.57)
2.8F = $577 ($3352.10)
Tele = $659 ($3828.48)
Wide = N.A.
SL66 = $999 ($5803.72)
40mm Distagon = $899 ($5222.76)
Prism = $299 ($1737.05)

All 1969 US dollars followed by equivalent 2008 dollars.

anjo · Apr 25, 2009

Interesting. Expensive, but not luxury-car-expensive.

Steve Smith · Apr 25, 2009

Luxury by my standards!

Steve.

Paul Sorensen · Apr 25, 2009

Mamiya still makes film bodies, their list for an RZ67 with lens and back appears to be around $4200. I think that after accounting for inflation, that is about where they were when they were introduced as well.

ic-racer · Apr 25, 2009

1968 Ferrari 365GTB/4 List =$19,500 ($119,403)

glaiben · Apr 25, 2009

ic-racer said:
1968 Ferrari 365GTB/4 List =$19,500 ($119,403)

Yeah, and that same Daitona has appreciated 50-100x (depending upon the market timing)

mike c · Apr 25, 2009

In 1979 I bought my 500CM complete for $1100.00. In 1966 I bought my Speed graphic with flash,6 film holders,film pack holder and case for $150.00. The hassel. has deprecated but not the Speed Graphic.

ajuk · Apr 25, 2009

Paul Sorensen said:
Mamiya still makes film bodies, their list for an RZ67 with lens and back appears to be around $4200. I think that after accounting for inflation, that is about where they were when they were introduced as well.

So do Hassy don't they?

Pumal · Apr 26, 2009

ic-racer said:
1968 Ferrari 365GTB/4 List =$19,500 ($119,403)

Paid US$25.000 in 1974
Comparation: Jaguar XKE that same year; 9.000

dougjgreen · May 7, 2009

In the late 1980s, I actually bought my first MF system - a Pentax 67. Around 1987 I paid $700 for a used Pentax 67 body with the TTL meter head, and around $250-400 each for used lenses - everything in Excellent to Ex+ condition. If bought new, the body plus meter head was around $1200, and the lenses were $400-600. Mamiya RB67 was similar in cost, RZ67 was around 50% more. The low end mechanical Hassy's were similar to the RZ67 for the bodies/backs, but more for the lenses. So basically, 20 years ago, a good comprehensive MF kit with maybe 2 lenses and the critical accessories such as backs could be gotten for $1200-2000 used, or maybe $2000-3000 bought new in 1987 nominal dollars at that time. To adjust for inflation, multiply by around 2.5-3X.

DWThomas · May 7, 2009

In 1981 my Konica FP started acting up and I said. "18 years, time to upgrade." I spent some time in those small-print ads in the back of a few photo magazines. One had an oversize listing (still postage stamp size) with a picture of a Bronica, don't remember the model. "BRONICA XYZ $829!" I began to actually contemplate how I had wanted for some time to try medium format. $800 was a lot of money for a hobby, but I had a half decent engineering salary at the time. As I faded in and out of the trance-like state, suddenly my eye caught some microscopic print at the lower right "Body only." Oy, I think I priced out the body, one back, a WLF and one lens at about $1800. After which I bought a Canon A-1 with 50mm 1.4. I don't remember what I paid for the latter, but it was way less than a thousand bucks. The FD 35-105 f3.5 macro zoom I bought for it a year or so later was something like $319, as I recall.

Now, twenty-some years later, I finally have the Bronica, and for way less than $1800, especially 1800 1981 dollars!

DaveT

keithwms · May 7, 2009

Anjo, frankly, if digital hadn't happened, I wouldn't have been able to afford my MF gear. Anyway, it's quite clear that the real value of all camera gear is in the images you produce and not the book value...

Ranger Bob · May 7, 2009

I paid 1200 for a 500 cm an a-12 and 80c lens in 1997.

Historical prices of MF gear

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