Prices on Medium Format Film Gear

[warden]

I just saw a Mamiya 7 II body in EX condition listed for $3,363 at KEH. I laughed when I saw that because it's so over the top; body only, no lens, of course.

wow. Too rich for my blood.

 

[shutterlight]

People are buying. You can search "sold" listings on eBay. I was looking for Mamiya 7II last year and did not want to pay too much over $2K, saw a bunch in $2,300-2,400 range and now look at this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/254968039225?hash=item3b5d478739:g:Yh8AAOSwcSdgkrZG - sold for $3,700 and there are others like it.

I can't be sure, but I think I saw a listing today that was higher than that already-ridiculous price. It may have been this one:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/114792055156?epid=52102880&hash=item1aba23c174:g:MnkAAOSwsYNgkGFg&LH_BIN=1

That's a U.S.-based sale as well.

 

[xtolsniffer]

I don't know where all the people come from with the cash to buy at these prices. I certainly can't.

 

[Kino]

I don't know where all the people come from with the cash to buy at these prices. I certainly can't.

Exactly. Where does all this money come from?

 

[btaylor]

Exactly. Where does all this money come from?

Bitcoin. C’mon guys, get with the program.

 

[Kino]

Bitcoin. C’mon guys, get with the program.

You mean my Chuck E Cheese tokens are back in the game?

 

[4season]

Dogecoin's up 14,000% since the beginning of the year.
https://www.theguardian.com/technol...-shoots-the-cryptocurrency-to-wider-attention
Could've bought that Mamiya 7 outfit with pocket money if you had timed it right.

 

[Wayne]

You mean my Chuck E Cheese tokens are back in the game?

Typewriters are going up too. Not like MF gear, but what used to get thrown out people are charging a couple hundred for. I broke my portable that I paid $20 for a couple years ago and I'm going to have to pay at least 3-4 times that to replace it. Maybe more.

 

[grat]

Dogecoin's up 14,000% since the beginning of the year.
https://www.theguardian.com/technol...-shoots-the-cryptocurrency-to-wider-attention
Could've bought that Mamiya 7 outfit with pocket money if you had timed it right.

Yeah, but then Musk torpedoed it on SNL.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/09/investing/dogecoin-elon-musk-snl/index.html

 

[Pieter12]

Or you could have bought GameStop stock....

 

[cptrios]

I used to have 16-point-something bitcoin that I bought for $100 back in the early days. The laptop they were on went into the trash. Sigh.

On the bright side, I just managed to get a GS645S for $435 from a US seller. It was "cheap" because the rangefinder mechanism is a bit slow (which looks like a problem I might be able to fix myself). Everything else is in surprisingly great shape, and my test roll turned out well. A huge relief after loads of broken eBay cameras! I know the price would have seemed high a year ago, but they rarely come up from non-Japanese sellers and the average from them is over $600.

 

[prado333]

I just saw a Mamiya 7 II body in EX condition listed for $3,363 at KEH. I laughed when I saw that because it's so over the top; body only, no lens, of course.

Now usewd mamiya 7II bodies cost much as i paid for a new ones long time ago. iTs insane.

 

[Michael Firstlight]

Now usewd mamiya 7II bodies cost much as i paid for a new ones long time ago. iTs insane.

Same for the Pentax 67II bodies and lenses, if not more expensive for ones in minty condition - and I only see them getting more expensive from here.

MIke

 

[Auer]

Same for the Pentax 67II bodies and lenses, if not more expensive for ones in minty condition - and I only see them getting more expensive from here.

MIke

I feel the 67/67II has become a bit of an obsession to some ppl atm.
It's nice gear, but cmon...
Maybe it's the hunt? And of course bragging rights...

 

[Arthurwg]

Exactly. Where does all this money come from?

Stimulus checks?

 

[Wayne]

Pfizer stock?

 

[abruzzi]

Same for the Pentax 67II bodies and lenses, if not more expensive for ones in minty condition - and I only see them getting more expensive from here.

fortunately, most of the Pentax 6x7 lenses, thought they’ve gone up, are still pretty reasonable. The main exceptions are the 105/2.4, 75/2.8, 100 macro, and most of the really long lenses (including the 39lb 800/4.)

 

[campy51]

Is $1400 for Pentax 67 with 105mm a good price? It looks in good condition and tempted to look at it.

 

[Michael Firstlight]

I feel the 67/67II has become a bit of an obsession to some ppl atm.
It's nice gear, but cmon...
Maybe it's the hunt? And of course bragging rights...

I admit I am a P67II cult member - starting back in 2001 or so when I bought my system. I just love it. It has only one major fault in that it has no interchangeable back like my RBs, but a lot less weight, a superb AE finder, excellent glass, solid build, and handles like an oversized 35mm SLR (a Texas SLR), etc. Otherwise, it's a wonderful 6x7 SLR.

Mike

 

[abruzzi]

Is $1400 for Pentax 67 with 105mm a good price? It looks in good condition and tempted to look at it.

I'm not really sure because I haven't been buying for a while, but looking at eBay prices I'd say that if its in true mint condition, its in the ballpark. If you're trying to find something cheaper, than you can definitely do better--and still get a good camera. (this is based on 105's being $400-1000 on ebay, and 67s being 600-1000 on ebay.)

 

[Pieter12]

I admit I am a P67II cult member - starting back in 2001 or so when I bought my system. I just love it. It has only one major fault in that it has no interchangeable back like my RBs, but a lot less weight, a superb AE finder, excellent glass, solid build, and handles like an oversized 35mm SLR (a Texas SLR), etc. Otherwise, it's a wonderful 6x7 SLR.

Mike

Interesting that the lack of an interchangeable back would be an issue for a camera that gets just 10 frames per roll. If it's really important to swap out film in the middle of a roll, what do you lose by burning the roll and reloading? You can get quite a lot of film and processing for the cost of a back and insert. And you don't have to tote them along.

 

[Old_Dick]

Is $1400 for Pentax 67 with 105mm a good price? It looks in good condition and tempted to look at it.

I was wondering the same thing, CL.

 

[Michael Firstlight]

Interesting that the lack of an interchangeable back would be an issue for a camera that gets just 10 frames per roll. If it's really important to swap out film in the middle of a roll, what do you lose by burning the roll and reloading? You can get quite a lot of film and processing for the cost of a back and insert. And you don't have to tote them along.

Yes, I've done that more times than I can count LOL.

 

[johnha]

I understand the fascination with the P67, they are wonderful cameras, but I don't understand the fascination with the 105/2.4. It's roughly equivalent to a 50/1.4 on 135 film, a standard lens and was the cheapest lens in the line-up. For portraits I prefer either the 165/2.8 or later 200/4, for a standard lens I prefer a 90/2.8.

Many of the older 105/2.4 seem to suffer from yellowing due to the thoriated glass, I'd only pay $$$ for the later versions. I'd recommend buying a P6x7 only if you get a good return policy or warranty (unless it's a real bargain). PentaxForums is full of new purchasers posting with problems, sometimes user error or unrealistic expectations, but often issues with the cameras. I'm convinced many are returned and then re-sold only to then reappear with a new purchaser. They're well built and robust cameras but have various idiosyncrasies you need to be aware of from the start.

 

[braxus]

Im a P67II member as well. I bought mine used back in 2012 when prices were down. I paid a bit over a grand Canadian for it. It did have a couple issues with it, but I recently sent it in for repair and all those issues were fixed. Its back on its way to me, but tracking hasn't shown anything for 4 days which is making me nervous. I can't replace this camera should it be lost in the mail. I'd probably go back to the old model if I had to get another one today. P67II cameras cost just too much to even consider buying now. And you still end up with a camera that will need some service.