Pentax 645N used rate

ptt · Oct 6, 2008

All,
I've recently obtained some MF equipment from my dad. Its hard to find what the going rate is for this used equipment. I've searched ebay and the classifieds...but nothing conclusive.

Can you guys give me an idea what I should be asking for the following?:

1) Pentax 645N Body
2) Pentax FA 645 45-85mm f4.5 Auto-Focus
3) Pentax 645 200mm f4
4) 120 Back, 220 Back x 2

All are in great condition.

Thanks!

Pupfish · Oct 7, 2008

One way to get a quick read on what equipment has recently sold for is to do an Advanced Search on Ebay and look at completed listings (auctions that have recently closed, whether the item was sold or not). You would need to be a registered Ebay user and signed in for this feature to work, however.

A 645N body in this condition will typically sell for $325-425. A new 200mm recently sold for $250, a new 45-85mm for $400, so you might expect to get $150-200 for the 200 tops, and I'd think that $250-300 would be about as much as you might hope for with the 45-85mm. The 220 inserts are sorta hard to give away-- the 120 ones are worth more, perhaps as much as $75 apiece if in nice shape. Now is probably not the best time to be selling it for top dollar, but if you've decide to regardless, break it up into the component parts and put a low starting price on all with a reserve-- see what happens.

Whatever you do, don't make the mistake of putting a couple of rolls of a nice color slide film like Velvia 50 or Astia 100F through the camera, then forget about it and only process the film some weeks later-- after you've sold the whole lot for $500 and shipped it down the road. (You or your father might really, really kick yourself, then. These were-- and still remain-- really top-notch pro caliber film cameras capable of exceptional results).

titrisol · Oct 7, 2008

You have me drooooling here
Look into KEH and see what the prices are. Then think they'll pay you about half of that.

I agree with pupfish, DO NOT run roll thorugh htat camera or you'll never sell it.

ptt · Oct 7, 2008

Thanks for the replies. I just got a roll of Fuji Pro 160C 120 to play around with.

I don't even know how to load the film.

winger · Oct 7, 2008

ptt said:
Thanks for the replies. I just got a roll of Fuji Pro 160C 120 to play around with.

I don't even know how to load the film.

It's not that tough. Do you have the manual? It's likely to be online at Pentax's site somewhere - even their older ones are, I think. You don't say where you are (though I doubt you're close enough to me for me to help), but maybe you're near one of the many APUGers.

Pupfish · Oct 7, 2008

Download the manual here:
http://www.pentaximaging.com/customer_care/manuals_literature/show_manual

The least intuitive part about learning to load the film might be figuring out that the take up spool is in the wrong place once you've removed a roll and not yet swapped out the empty spools (or when the previous owner left the empty one where the new roll of film goes). Black side of the paper faces out. Too, you'll want to keep the spooled film roll from springing open and unravelling and accidentally exposing it to light. It's a tad fumbly at first, what with trying to get the spool-end notches aligned with the swing-out spool end retainers. But you only need do it half a dozen times til you'll be an old hand at it.

What I liked best about the process was that after I got a 2nd 120 insert I didn't have to try to do this all out in the open at the beach (blowing sand, etc). Once you've loaded film an extra insert at home and slipped it into the box cover thing, changing inserts in the field is super-quick and sure with a quarter turn fastener. Much easier and faster than 35mm, I find.

thebanana · Oct 7, 2008

Don't sell it. Use it!

ptt · Oct 7, 2008

Bethe: I'm in Houston.

Pupfish: Thanks for the link. I was able to find the original manuals.

Banana-fana-fo-fana: I've been so spoiled with digital and 6fps. This will requires a new discipline. I shoot alot of candids....

papagene · Oct 7, 2008

I am sure Bethe will agree, you can shoot candids with the Pentax. It is a very good camera, but alas I have enough (that's what the wife says) cameras already.

gene

ptt · Oct 7, 2008

Youtube is your friend. I don't understand what he is saying....but it looks pretty obvious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERilYA78Xd0

Phillip P. Dimor · Oct 7, 2008

Fantastic piece of kit, I would keep and use it but I'm biased. KEH.com can give you a good hint at the going price. The 645N is a fairly quick camera and indeed it is capable of outstanding results. I think that the 645 (the original older one) is probably one of the few cameras i've ever owned that need no maintenance and are dead simple to use.

It can be near foolproof once you get a few key points down.

benveniste · Oct 13, 2008

Pupfish said:
A new 200mm recently sold for $250, a new 45-85mm for $400, so you might expect to get $150-200 for the 200 tops, and I'd think that $250-300 would be about as much as you might hope for with the 45-85mm.

That $150-$250 figure is for the AF version of the 200mm f/4; a manual focus copy goes for considerably less.

The biggest downside to the 645n I've found is that unless you can track down one of the optional focus screens, it's not an easy camera to focus manually.

Yes, a medium format camera requires a different style of shooting than a 35mm-based dSLR, but seeing your first medium format slide is a literally jaw-dropping experience. I ran some Velveeta 100 through my 645n this weekend -- I should get the film back tomorrow or Wednesday.

winger · Oct 13, 2008

The biggest downside to the 645n I've found is that unless you can track down one of the optional focus screens, it's not an easy camera to focus manually.

I think that might be dependent on the person 'cause I love focusing it manually. In fact, I fried the autofocus with a bad flash and didn't realize it for 6 months. Maybe it's the lenses, but I think it's easier to focus than my 35mm Pentaxes.

ptt · Oct 14, 2008

Still haven't has a chance to shoot a roll with this equipment. I'm married to digital. These will be on the market soon.....for what ever is fair.

Thanks again for the help.

Thomas Bertilsson · Oct 14, 2008

Your loss, somebody else's gain. It's a wonderful camera that with a decent scanner will knock the socks off of most digital cameras quality wise. The lenses are superb. You'll get so little money for it. Why not keep it, run a few rolls through it at a different pace than your normal style of photography?
When I moved up in format from relatively quick 35mm I found that when I slowed down my results were better. Maybe you don't want to be shooting quick all the time?
A camera like that new is pretty spendy, and you get virtually nothing for them now. But that's subjective of course. If I had the cash I would buy it from you in a heart beat. But I'm cleaning house and getting rid of most cameras I don't use. So I can understand if you don't want to keep it. I guess I'm just pointing out that you may be making a mistake by selling it.

- Thomas

Pentax 645N used rate

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