Is anyone else amazed at how cheap MF gear is right now?

DWThomas · Nov 28, 2006

I think MF stuff has become too cheap -- I can no longer maintain any discipline!

DaveT -- about to go test the Zenzanon-PS 65mm f4 that arrived yesterday

Paul Goutiere · Nov 28, 2006

Now there is a definite preponderance of film cameras on the used market. It is so large that to add one of mine to that hoard would net me nothing. I keep my film cameras.
But as in the previous note by DWThomas "I think MF stuff has become too cheap-- I can no longer maintain any disipline!" I'll continue to haunt Ebay and badger the local professional photgraphers for used equipment. I cannot believe that so many excellent cameras can be had for so cheap.. and the prices are still going down.
Earlier this year a young fellow sporting a brand new, pro digital camera looked at my Nikon F2 hanging around my neck and said "Wow, there's a classic! Where do you get film?"
Was it my job to enlighten him? I'm still thinking about it.
Paul

Kilgallb · Nov 28, 2006

I have been shooting with 4x5 Calumet camera fitted with a Calumet 6x7 roll film back. The whole outfit cost me less than $300. Does this count as MF or baby LF.

DougGrosjean · Nov 28, 2006

Kilgallb said:
I have been shooting with 4x5 Calumet camera fitted with a Calumet 6x7 roll film back. The whole outfit cost me less than $300. Does this count as MF or baby LF.

Now you've got me wondering how much it would be to shoot with a 4x5 film back? $300 doesn't seem like much....

Johnkpap · Dec 1, 2006

The wonderefull thing is all the cameras that we dreamed of owning are now at really low prices, I have been putting a Bronica GS-1 kit together, I just bought a 65mm Lense For $110.00 !!! because it has a 1mm mark near the edge of the front Element !!!! This lense was over $1500.00 New

The prices have got to level out soon once everyone has sold us all their worthless cameras and Lenses, Hmmm lets hope it is not too soon I want a 50mm PG for My GS-1 and a few other cameras too

Steve Smith · Dec 1, 2006

Well. I have just ordered myself one of these:

http://www.therightimage.biz/specials.html

I needed to do a bit of clever financial juggling and some even cleverer wife persuading though!

This from their web page:

We are selling a complete Mamiya kit consisting of:

Mamiya RB PRO SD 6 X 7 body (with waist leval finder and film back) with a standard 90mm F3.5 Lens +50mm F4.5 Lens and a spare film back. We will also throw in 20 rolls of 120 film free of charge.

This kit has a few signs of wear that you would expect to find on a camera of this age but it is completely free of defects. The lens are free of fungus ect and are very clean. This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone wanting to use one of these cameras.

We have a few of these kits available due to a bulk purchase, so if you wish to buy more that one kit at this amazing price please telephone us or post a question.

The price £499.99 includes the VAT (about $900 US)

I was told in a separate e-mail that these were a bulk purchase from West Yorkshire Police Photography Department so they have not had heavy studio use.

I just have to wait for it to arrive, wrap it up in christmas paper and forget about it for a few weeks!

Steve

Greg_E · Dec 1, 2006

The problem is that some people are buying adaptors that fit some of the MF lenses onto their digital cameras, and this is driving the price on some lenses back up. The tilt/shift lenses and certain other often non-retro focus lenses are the popular choices.

Greg_E · Dec 1, 2006

Steve Smith said:
I just have to wait for it to arrive, wrap it up in christmas paper and forget about it for a few weeks!

Steve

Yeah... Like that's going to happen.

Steve Smith · Dec 1, 2006

Greg_E said:
Yeah... Like that's going to happen.

Well, I may have to test it first!

I forgot to say that they still have a couple left if anyone is interested.

Steve.

rpsawin · Dec 8, 2006

DWThomas said:
I think MF stuff has become too cheap -- I can no longer maintain any discipline!

DaveT -- about to go test the Zenzanon-PS 65mm f4 that arrived yesterday

Dave,

I feel your pain. Forget the 401k with these prices....

Bob

john_s · Dec 17, 2006

Paul Goutiere said:
..............Earlier this year a young fellow sporting a brand new, pro digital camera looked at my Nikon F2 hanging around my neck and said "Wow, there's a classic! Where do you get film?"
Was it my job to enlighten him? I'm still thinking about it.
Paul

I would be inclined to point out that his camera will be in the rubbish bin soon (too expensive to repair) while the F2 will be continuing on its merry way. But, come to think about it, maybe that would not be a worry for him. There will be numerous new models then (Gigapixels......), and he will lust after them as a good digi-consumer should.

Sorry for the outburst, just showing my age.

max_ebb · Dec 20, 2006

The prices I'm seeing in this thread seem high to me compared to the prices I've been seeing on KEH and on craigs list (in the PNW). A few months ago I bought a pentax 67 outfit (found on craigs list) with a 90mm f2.4, a 165mm f2.8, and a spot meter for $275. Just a few years ago I payed over $1000 for a P67 with just the 90mm lens.

Bromo33333 · Dec 20, 2006

max_ebb said:
The prices I'm seeing in this thread seem high to me compared to the prices I've been seeing on KEH and on craigs list (in the PNW). A few months ago I bought a pentax 67 outfit (found on craigs list) with a 90mm f2.4, a 165mm f2.8, and a spot meter for $275. Just a few years ago I payed over $1000 for a P67 with just the 90mm lens.

Prices vary - seasonally. I would expect eBay prices to rise until about Jan 8th or so, and then slump until spring. I think camera stores will vary a little bit, but not as much.

All I know is that we got a 501CM for a song, and love it.

digiconvert · Dec 23, 2006

Steve Smith said:
Well, I may have to test it first!

I forgot to say that they still have a couple left if anyone is interested.

Steve.

I am but I'm not sure my darling, long suffering wife would understand , "But you've got 4 cameras already !" is the likely response

Steve Smith · Dec 23, 2006

digiconvert said:
I am but I'm not sure my darling, long suffering wife would understand , "But you've got 4 cameras already !" is the likely response

Only four?!!!

Is anyone else amazed at how cheap MF gear is right now?

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency