Point and shoot price inflation

Scotthenrylabonte · Jun 15, 2022

Why is the price of point and shoots like the contax t3 so inflated?

Sirius Glass · Jun 15, 2022

Supply and demand. Just like almost all the other photographic equipment.

dxqcanada · Jun 15, 2022

Because Bloggers say so.

Paul Howell · Jun 15, 2022

Not only Contax, at the local shop near me Olympus Stylist are going for $200, Pentax IQ $120. Contax over a grand. A Minolta TC 1 $1400. All of which could be a high price paper weight at any moment.

xkaes · Jun 15, 2022

The good news is that Yashica made many cameras similar to the Contax models -- sometimes VERY similar -- with T* optics. They usually go for a lot less, and often have features that Contax models didn't have.

BobD · Jun 15, 2022

Photo faddism.

dxqcanada · Jun 15, 2022

xkaes said:
The good news is that Yashica made many cameras similar to the Contax models -- sometimes VERY similar -- with T* optics. They usually go for a lot less, and often have features that Contax models didn't have.

I just noticed a defective Yashica T3 (electrical problem) asking $250.00

BobD · Jun 15, 2022

Many of the 1980s AF P&S models with prime lenses (Canon Sure Shot, Nikon L35AF, etc) have gone way up in "value" recently. Trouble is, they are complex little buggers crammed into a small body with lots of comparatively fragile plastic parts and often found with corroded AA battery chambers and dead flash capacitors.

Dismayed · Jun 16, 2022

Because hipsters want to shoot film, but they don't want to learn the nuances of exposure.

Nitroplait · Jun 16, 2022

Contax point and shoots are not particulary inflated. The pricing is close to what was charged when new - which is not bad after 25-30 years of inflation. Olympus Mju 2 and Yashica T4-5 on the other hand are changing hands at up to 3 times the original price - which is insane.

Cholentpot · Jun 16, 2022

Dismayed said:
Because hipsters want to shoot film, but they don't want to learn the nuances of exposure.

That's fine. Let them eat film and send it off to labs. They're keeping everything afloat while I work my way through my freezer stash.

xkaes · Jun 16, 2022

Nitroplait said:
Olympus Mju 2 and Yashica T4-5 on the other hand are changing hands at up to 3 times the original price - which is insane.

Some Konica cameras, like the BIG MINI, have developed a BIG following as well. I'd call it a crazy craze.

Huss · Jun 16, 2022

Dismayed said:
Because hipsters want to shoot film, but they don't want to learn the nuances of exposure.

Why do they need to if the camera gives them what they want? Like buying a car with an auto transmission instead of manual.

Huss · Jun 16, 2022

The Contax T3 at $1500 is for chumps. Step up to the Leica CM w/ the 40 2.4, now going for $3000.

cooltouch · Jun 16, 2022

The Olympus XA is something of a cult classic. The XA's prices have increased -- somewhat -- since I bought mine over 20 years ago. I paid about $100 for it back then, maybe less, I don't remember anymore. These days, you're looking at $140-150 to get a good clean one in full operating condition. Considering inflation, that's not so bad.

I also own a Canon AF35ML, aka the Super Sure Shot. This is a solidly made camera with a metal case and casting. It has always delivered well-focused images, although when I use the flash, it tends to over-expose slightly. I bought this camera for a pittance over 20 years ago. Nowadays? I guess I don't want to know, in case I ever need to replace it.

Sirius Glass · Jun 16, 2022

Dismayed said:
Because hipsters want to shoot film, but they don't want to learn the nuances of exposure.

Or they do not have enough experience or knowledge to know that they could improve the expose. Perhaps you have forgotten that none of use, at least certainly myself, were born with this knowledge. On rare occasion, when I talk to one of them about exposure techniques they are all ears.

Paul Howell · Jun 16, 2022

Although not going for much as others, the Minolta Duel, Weathermatic. A clean example with the dive bag and waterproof film canisters are fetch up to $200.

ericB&W · Jun 18, 2022

Just this morning i've seen a Contax t2 titanium in almost perfect
shape at 1450 eu. in an e-shop in Rome that has really a lot great stuff of
analogic in almost perfect conditions .
i remain astonished to see that my Yashica t5 i bought in 90's costs today
twice the price i paid .

Huss · Jun 18, 2022

I was at Walters Camera Repair in Los Angeles a couple years ago. A young dood came in with his brand new old stock Contax T2. It was a dead brick - the tech said there was nothing they could do to fix it, age just took its toll on the electronics. An old electronic camera that has never been used is still an old camera, and actually most probably worse for that.
This dood had paid $1500 to get this perfect sample.

Sirius Glass · Jun 18, 2022

Huss said:
I was at Walters Camera Repair in Los Angeles a couple years ago. A young dood came in with his brand new old stock Contax T2. It was a dead brick - the tech said there was nothing they could do to fix it, age just took its toll on the electronics. An old electronic camera that has never been used is still an old camera, and actually most probably worse for that.
This dood had paid $1500 to get this perfect sample.

A shelf queen

Huss · Jun 18, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
A shelf queen

I spoke to the unlucky owner, he bought it from a Japanese vendor NOS. Came with the box n everything. This guy was the definition of buying the trendy camera because the saw it on a blog...The tech at Walters mentioned to avoid those Contaxes because they have seen too many dead T2s and T3s. Interestingly the original T - the one with the rangefinder - seems to be doing ok.

gone · Jun 18, 2022

If something becomes fashionable to people like the hipsters (who will probably play w/ film cameras for a while, then go running back to digital if they can find one in a cool retro style) then prices go up.

But there's hope! In the past, I used expensive, high end cameras and lenses thinking it would give me better pics. That wasn't always true, or even often true. Once you understand film and darkroom work you can use any old $25-$50 camera/lens and get great results.

It was an expensive lesson to learn, but it becomes real for everyone at some point.

ericB&W · Jun 18, 2022

I ask how is possible spend so much money for that sort of russian roulette
with that small electronic cameras.
For 1500 eu. one can buy a complete Hasselblad kit , for about 200 a
Yashica Mat or, for some more a Mamiya C 220 or 330, completely mechanical
medium format good cameras, if one want a small one buy a Rollei 35 T or S and
take great shoots too without spend a fortune .

Sirius Glass · Jun 18, 2022

When one is new to a device or technology choosing and buying mistakes are a hazard.

Huss · Jun 18, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
When one is new to a device or technology choosing and buying mistakes are a hazard.

Yup, those buyers have no idea that they could be buying junk, even if it looks brand new.

Point and shoot price inflation

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