One of the most ridiculous camera markups ever

demonboy

Member
Joined
May 2, 2012
Messages
27
Location
Langkawi, Ma
Format
35mm
lxdude said:
I'm pissed that I thought of it first but didn't do it!

Though I never would have thought of charging that kind of money..
Click to expand...

I'd been thinking about this idea too, damn them.

I think they look great and if they revitalise a camera and it goes to a good home, rather than locked up in some cupboard in bits, then that's ok, isn't it? If the business model works, hats off to them. I'd be pretty stoked if someone bought me one of these as a present.

I certainly woodn't (did you see what I did there?) buy one myself though. The mark-up is ridiculous, but it's no different to me buying a VW Beetle, de-chroming it, tinting the windows, adding a nice pastel two-pack paint job and some tear-drop rear lights, and selling it for more that it's worth. Up until the 80s you could pick up a Beetle for next to nothing, until enthusiasts started pimping them up.
 

Moopheus

Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2006
Messages
1,219
Location
Cambridge MA
Format
Medium Format
demonboy said:
I'd be pretty stoked if someone bought me one of these as a present.
Click to expand...

I would have to slap them silly.

Just for laughs, I googled the company, and it seems they've been getting a lot of notices in the non-photo blogosphere. People are just agog over these things!
 

wesleyfurr

Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2012
Messages
2
Format
35mm RF
I had to register just to add my two cents... I actually did an Argus C3 in wood covering some years back. Wish I'd known it was worth nearly two grand...I would have started making them like crazy! Though perhaps it is not too late... Here's the one I did: http://www.megley.com/argus/wood.html Wesley (ps - sorry - not sure why my line breaks are disappearing and making my message one ugly blob of text...I tried to make it look nice!)
 

richard ide

Member
Joined
Nov 8, 2005
Messages
1,217
Location
Wellington C
Format
Multi Format
For a real challenge; when I have a few days with nothing to do, I think I will try to veneer my F4. I think making the grain match each segment will be the real B*****d. Just trying to decide which wood to choose. No! I will not provide updates on progress.
 

summicron1

Subscriber
Joined
Jul 28, 2010
Messages
2,920
Location
Ogden, Utah
Format
Multi Format
you guys are being kinda harsh -- a full cla on any camera costs about $125-$175 or so and their site seems to claim a more extensive job than that -- plus hand-fitting a veneer covering, plus the snob mark up -- what the heck, if they can make money at it, let them, it's supporting film use.
 
OP
OP

Newt_on_Swings

Member
Joined
Mar 30, 2011
Messages
2,147
Location
NYC
Format
Multi Format

Haha dragging out the lurkers

You beat them to the punch! Now to sue em for everything they got! Jk! Also how did it hold up over time? I expected a veneer finish to have been quite slippery, but since its an argus brick I dont think any amount of griptac would have made it more manageable.
 

Steven L

Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2012
Messages
97
Format
Large Format
It's definatly something for DIY and not to buy, unless you've got the money and haven't got the skills to DIY. The product is kind of like custom bicycles, motorbikes, cars. Downside of this kind of industry is that it is extremely personal. People who wants camera's like this, want something exclusive and creative. The only way to make shure it is exclusive, is by making it yourself. Or pay $$$ to fit your needs.
As for my own DIY project, the Revueflex AC2 (aka Chinon CE4) has a bit of a challenge. The sides wrap around the camera, so I have to ply the wood into shape.
A practical question for who knows the answer: Does a coloured camera have any influence with marco photography? I think it might bounce off some coloured light on the subject.
 

wesleyfurr

Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2012
Messages
2
Format
35mm RF

LOL...actually not even a lurker...a member of the Argus Collector's Group that knew of my camera alerted me to this thread...so I signed up just to post.

I doesn't get used heavily, about two rolls of film per year, so I can't say but so much about how well it holds up, but so far just fine, and I think it's been like 7 years. The other thing that helps is I keep mine in a nice leather case such as were designed specifically to hold C3's. The other thing it has going for it is the finish...dad works in a custom cabinet shop. He used the same catalyzed varnish on it that they use on their cabinets. He has told stories about being able to actually wipe it down with lacquer thinner and not begin to budge the finish. So...if lacquer thinner can't bother it, I'm not worried about my hands messing it up. As for grip, it holds just as good as an original leatherette covered one...

Wesley
 

E. von Hoegh

Member
Joined
Sep 14, 2011
Messages
6,197
Location
Adirondacks
Format
Multi Format
It's not really a new idea, except for the ridiculous price. There was a guy who covered a Mk.II Jaguar with rosewood veneer back in the late 60s.
 

Moopheus

Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2006
Messages
1,219
Location
Cambridge MA
Format
Medium Format

It's true--they also claim to clean the lenses, which most techs would charge extra for. And a few square inches of veneer must cost them at least $10 or so. So it can't really be more than 60 or 70 percent snob markup. As snob markups go, that's not too bad.

But even if I was going to pay snob markup for a vintage rangefinder, it wouldn't be for an Argus (I am biased against them; I had one as a kid and it was horrible to use).

I don't really see this as supporting much film use. How many cameras can they sell this way? Not very many, I'd guess.
 

E. von Hoegh

Member
Joined
Sep 14, 2011
Messages
6,197
Location
Adirondacks
Format
Multi Format

A full CLA includes cleaning the lens - otherwise it isn't a full CLA.
An Argus brick is worth maybe $50 for a clean one with case. Say (to be safe) the CLA brings that to $200. They sell it - without even retouching the paint on the shutter release - for $1850. Thats a 925% markup, not 60-70%
 

cliveh

Subscriber
Joined
Oct 9, 2010
Messages
7,545
Format
35mm RF
Does anybody convert antique film cameras to digital? Now there's an idea.
 

GRHazelton

Subscriber
Joined
May 26, 2006
Messages
2,249
Location
Jonesboro, G
Format
Multi Format
I noticed that the site has an extensive glossary, defining terms which anyone who's done photography for any length of time already knows. This suggests to me that they're aiming at people with more money than brains. Hmmm, not a bad business plan! To clean up an Argus C-3, readily available for what - $30 or less? - and offer it as a woodie for $1,875.00...I wish I'd thought of it first!
 

Marc B.

Member
Joined
Oct 24, 2010
Messages
357
Location
USA, Pac/NW
Format
Multi Format
Last edited by a moderator:

Steven L

Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2012
Messages
97
Format
Large Format
Those coloured leather camera's look awesome. Especially the Honeywell Pentax. But, as I asked before, does a coloured camera have any influence with marco photography? I think it might bounce off some coloured light on the subject.
 

Marc B.

Member
Joined
Oct 24, 2010
Messages
357
Location
USA, Pac/NW
Format
Multi Format
Steven,
Camera body color is basically a moot point in Macro.
Often you shoot through a white board with a hole, just large enough for your lens to protrude through.
This technique allows you to reflect more light on the subject, and the light appears to come from a larger source.
Or, as in many situations, you're using a micro/macro ring flash attached to the lens. Again, camera body color is moot.

Marc
 

Nicholas Lindan

Advertiser
Advertiser
Joined
Sep 2, 2006
Messages
4,248
Location
Cleveland, Ohio
Format
Multi Format
The Fool: Lucas Allen Buck, co-founder of Synthetic, maker of Hipstamatic*

The Money: $1,850.00

The Parting: Quoted from page D16 of the Wall Street Journal - “I’m currently obsessed with this vintage Argus C3 Mansonia** camera wrapped in wood. This will by my ‘Wayne’s World’ moment: ‘She will be mine! Oh yes, she will be mine!’”

---
* A Holga-like plastic case for an IPhone and software that turns a phone picture into the fuzzy likeness of a Holga picture.

It used to be that ‘hip’ meant, among other things, being true to oneself; un-plastic, as it were. The current culture that calls itself hip is very, very un-hip. Hip died many deaths - the last being October 6, 1967. Let it rest in peace.

** From The Wood Database: Mansonia [a tropical hardwood from West Africa] is on the short list as one of the worst wood species in terms of toxicity and commonness of allergic reactions ... heartwood [has] been found to contain cardiac poisons ... Ah, schadenfreude
 
Last edited by a moderator:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…