KEH 'buy' price difference between Nikon N8008 and N8008s

[David Lyga]

The two models look identical, the only difference, I believe, is that the 's' has spot metering and its autofocus motor is slightly better. However, KEH pays for 'excellent' condition $2 on the N8008 and $22 on the N8008s. What am I missing here? Is this just a 'merchandise need' factor (that comes into play under capitalism) or is there something more profound that I am missing? - David Lyga

 

[Paul Howell]

Wonder if it's a mistake, should be $20.00, if you in market for a 8008 I would pick it up for $2.00 quite the bargain.

 

[MattKing]

It may be that any time they have both versions in stock, no one wants the N8008, and everyone wants the N8008s.

 

[David Lyga]

Essentially, the two cameras are very, very similar. They are semi-professional. But I really DO wonder about the 'need' factor. Sometimes strange things happen. - David Lyga

 

[Pieter12]

Wonder if it's a mistake, should be $20.00, if you in market for a 8008 I would pick it up for $2.00 quite the bargain.

It is the price KEH would pay for the camera, not the selling price.

 

[David Lyga]

Yes, both $2 and $22 are the KEH BUYING prices that they are PAYING.

 

[Paul Howell]

Misread pays. What does KEH list both models for?

 

[Willy T]

I paid them $39 for a pristine 8008S a couple years ago.
They currently have a 'bargain'-condition specimen at $34.92 and an 'excellent' F801S/8008S) at $54.57...

 

[Ariston]

I have bought too many n90s cameras for well under $40. I don't know for sure how they compare, but I think they are similar.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

I have a N6006 that I bought for real years ago. Works great. It's a heartbreaker that they want to sell these for $25. I wouldn't sell it to them on principle. I'd rather throw it in the garbage. Screw 'em.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Frankly, the lens is the key. My N6006 does everything. Auto focus, A T P S bracketing etc. As long as the film plate keeps the film flat, all film camera are pretty much the same except for features. Unfortunately the lens 24-70mm is not the greatest. I have a manual focusing lens from my Nikkormat FT3 a 50mm f/2.0 that i think has better IQ. I tworks, but then I have to manually set the aperture shutter and focus like an ancient.

 

[Prest_400]

I have the F801s and a F90 bought on eBay for $50 both. Non US designations of the N8008s and N90.
Damn, just 2 bucks for such a high tech body... That may have been worth grand back then. A bit of an insult and you'd get a better deal here, too bad I'm on the other side of the pond.
I'd say the issue of course is pairing it with a lens, but with a kit zoom these are nice P&S and would do great service for someone like a photo student. Of course these aren't as sexy as manual SLRs but IMO are the bargain of the time. I would expect the N8008 to be clumsier compared to the s as updates back then might have been noticeable.

I have bought too many n90s cameras for well under $40. I don't know for sure how they compare, but I think they are similar.

Specially the N90. For some reason they are going quite cheaper in the US compared to europe where below $40 requires some patience.

 

[Willy T]

I have a N6006 that I bought for real years ago. Works great. It's a heartbreaker that they want to sell these for $25. I wouldn't sell it to them on principle. I'd rather throw it in the garbage. Screw 'em.

I know the feeling. I paid over a grand for the N90s back when, and later added a nice used one at about $500 for back-up. Gonna make you a little resentful and ill when they're selling them for the price of lunch for two and offering to buy for the price of a newspaper.

 

[mgb74]

Did KEH have a 8008 and 8008s - in same condition - for sale on their site? If so, what was the difference in selling price? That would tell you their view of the relative marketplace demand.

Also, at the time you checked buying price, they may have had what they considered to be too many 8008 bodies in stock (your "merchandise need" factor).

 

[Willy T]

Did KEH have a 8008 and 8008s - in same condition - for sale on their site? If so, what was the difference in selling price? That would tell you their view of the relative marketplace demand.

Also, at the time you checked buying price, they may have had what they considered to be too many 8008 bodies in stock (your "merchandise need" factor).

Only two 8008s' when I checked; 20 dollar spread between "bgn" and "ex": https://www.keh.com/ . Fewer seen at KEH in the last couple months than formerly; N8008 not often seen there.

As of this morning, many, many on EBay...

 

[David Lyga]

Misread pays. What does KEH list both models for?

Various prices according to condition. Look at the site: KEH.COM

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

What's a good lens for the n8008? Should be good for my N6006 as well.

 

[David Lyga]

I agree with this statement but I would like to know WHY this is so. Why are manual SLRs 'sexier'? - David Lyga

 

[MattKing]

Because they play "harder to get"?

 

[reddesert]

It must be hard to run a used camera store. You carry a lot of inventory that sells for a tiny fraction of its prices in the 1990s, even if it sells for a small increase over its price in say 2010. If you charge too much for a Nikon AF film slr, people will say you're price gouging, and if you charge too little, people will be insulted.

My guess as to why film [manual focus] SLRs are more attractive is that the people still using film, or who are converts or returnees to film, are in part rebelling against the high degree of automation and electronic-ness of digital cameras. So they are often more likely to want a fairly manual, mechanical SLR, than a battery-eating bulky, motorized, plastic clad film AF SLR. I like manual cameras, but an N90s is a great camera with great metering that now sells in the US for the about the price of processing two rolls of film.

As for the title question - the N8008s has better metering and faster AF than the N8008, so when the price difference is about the price of a large pizza, it makes sense to buy the N8008s. I imagine demand is lower for the N8008.

 

[Prest_400]

(...) rebelling against the high degree of automation and electronic-ness of digital cameras. So they are often more likely to want a fairly manual, mechanical SLR, than a battery-eating bulky, motorized, plastic clad film AF SLR. I like manual cameras, but an N90s is a great camera with great metering that now sells in the US for the about the price of processing two rolls of film.

Exactly as I would put it. Not only that, but I have observed on our local camera club scene how things are going around. A newcomer specifically asked for a camera without any automation (it precludes chrome classics like the Pentax ME or Canon AE1 as well). The black blob design of 80s-00s SLRs and similarity to DSLRs is another factor, and the weight differences are significant on the top end (F800- to F4, 5, 6). I also really like the N90 but the thing is rather heavy compared to the cheaper F60-80 or an old OM1, Pentax MX, etc.

I am example, soon before joining this forum I got into film in 2008 using dad's old Nikon F401s. That thing oozed so much kitsch 80s clunkiness that I went over to get an Olympus OM1 with a 50mm. Perhaps eventually that 1980s quirkiness will get fashionable and people will see the value of these 80-90s cameras.

What's a good lens for the n8008? Should be good for my N6006 as well.

The 50mm f1.8 AF is great. I try to seek them $50 cheap, which happens rather seldomly. The following is a bit OT but a contribution anyhow: With any of the kit zooms they are a very nice snapshooting "battle camera". I killed a F80 due to exposing it to salt water spray, it was a whole summer in my beach pack to photograph on that location. The automation is good for single hand use and speed, $50 rigs that can give great long service but not risking too much with a classic SLR. Another personal factor is that I have Medium Format with manual cameras, don't need to think too much settings in 35mm

 

[MFstooges]

I have bought too many n90s cameras for well under $40. I don't know for sure how they compare, but I think they are similar.

I have to strap my self to avoid this

 

[dynachrome]

I think I have both 8008 models but why not just get an N90S? I got a roll of Ektachrome back today. I shot it with a Canon F-1. Processing and shipping came to $17.63. When I add in the cost of the film, you can see why I didn't shoot with a motorized camera. At more than 75 cents per frame, shooting with a fast motor or winder is expensive and probably not warranted for a film if this type or speed. Eventually the motorized cameras will stop working and it will be difficult to repair them. A Nikkormat or Canon FTb or Minolta SRT will still be working and repairable long after something like a 8008/S has ground to a halt.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Exactly as I would put it. Not only that, but I have observed on our local camera club scene how things are going around. A newcomer specifically asked for a camera without any automation (it precludes chrome classics like the Pentax ME or Canon AE1 as well). The black blob design of 80s-00s SLRs and similarity to DSLRs is another factor, and the weight differences are significant on the top end (F800- to F4, 5, 6). I also really like the N90 but the thing is rather heavy compared to the cheaper F60-80 or an old OM1, Pentax MX, etc.

I am example, soon before joining this forum I got into film in 2008 using dad's old Nikon F401s. That thing oozed so much kitsch 80s clunkiness that I went over to get an Olympus OM1 with a 50mm. Perhaps eventually that 1980s quirkiness will get fashionable and people will see the value of these 80-90s cameras.


The 50mm f1.8 AF is great. I try to seek them $50 cheap, which happens rather seldomly. The following is a bit OT but a contribution anyhow: With any of the kit zooms they are a very nice snapshooting "battle camera". I killed a F80 due to exposing it to salt water spray, it was a whole summer in my beach pack to photograph on that location. The automation is good for single hand use and speed, $50 rigs that can give great long service but not risking too much with a classic SLR. Another personal factor is that I have Medium Format with manual cameras, don't need to think too much settings in 35mm

I have a f2.0 50mm manual focus from my Nikkormat FT3 which is probably sharper than the N6006 zoom AF I have with the N6006. Of course the zoom is convenient as its automatic with the N6006, just that its IQ is not as good as the manual 50mm. I'll probably use both cameras and both lenses and see how it goes.