Prices on Medium Format Film Gear

PerTulip · Jun 7, 2021

Carlini Fotograf said:
..... I'm comparing it with
what things normally sold for from 2012-2018.. ..t.

2012 there was less demand and people were happy to get rid of gear that was not being used and just took up space. Demand went significantly up. And the gear is becoming less. A good example was mentioned in the thread: winder cranks for Bronica SQ. Almost impossible to find. And I think I found one of the last new Nikon DK-17m eyepieces at a dealer for my trusty F5. 5 years ago they were being sold on eBay for 1/2 the price. I will get this one for "suggested retail price".

I shoot with a Bronica SQ setup. 10 years ago I could have gotten a SQ-Ai+80mm+WLF for ~400. And there were always 2-4 for sale online locally. Now once in a while one appears and it's 800 bucks. Don't even start with Leicas. And we, as film photographers, are a part of the problem, because we are looking for the gear and buy it. We encouraged people to shoot film. Film became a thing.

So, since available gear will become less, with stable or even rising demand, expect prices to go up even more, especially for what it's considered good gear (Nikon Fm3a, medium format,...)

Carlini Fotograf · Jun 15, 2021

campy51 said:
I wish it was the Mamiya 7 since I have too many 6x6 cameras.

I know what you mean.. I currently have Ten 6x6 TLR Cameras and tonight on eBay I just won a
Zeiss Ikon Ikoflex 854/16 with the Zeiss Opton Tessar lens for $56!!

Photowithfries · Jul 19, 2021

Often it took a year to really learn how to use a good film camera. Maybe it would be good to plan on keeping one for a while instead of buying and selling so much, unless that is your intended business. To explore your creativity, find your proper tools and get to it, especially in this pandemic. The rule for buying a camera used to be to buy the cheapest camera you can use with the best lenses you can get. The rule for image making was to work backwards from your final print(or image) and standardize everything all the way to the image capture and the technique for it. This way you have a shot at being artistic or journalistic rather than suffering as much from the economic issue. And... do it as an avocation.

MarkVII88 · Mar 8, 2022

Over the past 2 years, prices for any medium format camera gear has gone up quite a bit. I bought a M645 1000s with 80mm f/2.8 lens, metered prism finder, single film insert, and strap during Summer 2019 for about $260 (including shipping). Now, you can hardly find these for under $500. Lens prices have jumped up considerably too. It's a combination of people having more time on their hands due to COVID, not being able to travel due to COVID, and having stimulus money available due to COVID. That and social media has really hyped up the value of film camera gear too.

eli griggs · Mar 8, 2022

Hasselblad accessories are out of control in my opinion.

I've seen items such as a bent leg shutter release attachment selling for $75U.S. and mask sets for the price of a late model 'V' series A12 back with dark slide keeper in good condition, at about $350U.S. and up.

I can't even find a good 70mm back, likely the least desirable back, besides the Polaroid back, for use and a motorized CM which routinely sold for a couple hundred is no where to be seen even close to that price.

I have bought a parts 150mm from a good, Japanese dealer and it is in much better condition than I thought it'd be, but, again, Japanese prices are still at high sellers market prices.

European prices are just as high or higher than Japanese, it seems.

Even used 70mm cassettes seem out of line for what the are, IMO, and budgets are strained across a lot of the Photorio community.

I also wonder how many Hasselblad bodies and lenses, etc are sitting on the back of shelves, because repairs by able techs are as high or higher than the kit itself, particularly film backs and some lenses?

Consumables, film, paper, etc should be the largest part of most budgets, but building a decent kit and maintenance seem to be keeping many from 'investing' in their own photographic future.

IMO.

shutterlight · Mar 18, 2022

I got my RZ67 just in time three years ago. I paid $350 or so for a BGN condition body from KEH, along with a 90mm for less than that on eBay. I'm not sure putting those two together would get me halfway to an RZ67 today.

cooltouch · Mar 20, 2022

I'm so glad I bought my medium format gear when I did. 2009 was probably close to the nadir with regard to prices for medium format gear. That's when I bought my Bronica ETRSi (in Exc+ condition) with prism finder, lens, and a couple of backs for $129. This was an eBay auction and I was the only bidder! During the next couple of years, I added a few more lenses to the outfit and was able to pick them up for good prices. A few years later I picked up a Yashica Mat 124 for about $100. About five years ago, I bought a Pentax 67 (mlu) with TTL fnder, and a couple of lenses for less than $500. I've added a few more lenses to that outfit since, and have been able to find them for reasonable prices. The last one I bought, a 400mm, I paid only about $200 for. Most recently (a couple years ago or so), I found a Zeiss Super Ikonta BX on eBay for about $125. It had just been listed, and I think I just got lucky on that one. Oh, and I also bought a Russian knockoff of the Super Ikonta C (6x9) about this same time, paid about $100 for it as well.

So, there's still some deals to be had, depending on what you're willing to end up with. But I agree, the really sweet deals that were around, say 12 years ago or so, are long gone.

gone · Mar 20, 2022

It's those pesky Japanese collectors who have rigged the prices on a lot of gear that you see for sale on auctions. at least on eBay. Good cameras and lenses have always been pricey though, and inflation has caused a lot of these prices to inflate. Fortunately, I don't need what most of these folks are selling. KEH has certainly changed as well. Their prices are far higher than they used to be. Everything film related has gone up, just look at the cost of film now.

braxus · Mar 20, 2022

I agree Japan is the one selling most of the gear for sale today, and as such, inflated the prices for them. I purchased my RZ67 from Japan last year at an inflated price. When I went to sell it here in North America, I couldn't even get half back for what I initially paid for it in total. Prices in North America are more down to Earth. Japan seems to be ripping people off.

Alan Edward Klein · Mar 20, 2022

Japan had a larger selection of cameras that are in better shape, especially Japanese cameras. So their prices are higher. That's not rippng people off.

abruzzi · Mar 20, 2022

I don’t have anywhere local I can buy cameras, though I do check the usual online suspects. I’ve found that, for the most part, stores like KEH are in line with the prices being offered by Japanese sellers on eBay, but both are a little high compared to person-to-person sales. When I go on eBay, I try to find auctions rather than buy-it-now listings. Even if I don’t bid or win, it gives me a better sense of the real world prices. I’m most cases the auction closes maybe 20% lower than other BIN listings, but there are exceptions. Last year I got a Horseman VH on auction for about half the usual BIN listing price. Also I saw (but didn’t win) a Sinar Norma go for 20% more than a BIN listing.

At the same time, four years ago, before I bought a Bronica GS-1, I saw the 80mm listed and sold for under $200, now that people have discovered that it is very rare (but not particularly special) they are all listing for $1500. I’d pay $250 for one, but current asking prices aren’t based on actual sales, just speculation.

braxus · Mar 20, 2022

Alan Edward Klein said:
Japan had a larger selection of cameras that are in better shape, especially Japanese cameras. So their prices are higher. That's not rippng people off.

Not in my case. I got a camera that immediately had the rubber coming off. That wasn't mentioned. And as I said I couldnt resell it for half of what Japan wanted for it. So to me they were ripping people off.

Luckless · Mar 20, 2022

braxus said:
Not in my case. I got a camera that immediately had the rubber coming off. That wasn't mentioned. And as I said I couldnt resell it for half of what Japan wanted for it. So to me they were ripping people off.

Why didn't you just buy a cheaper one from North America if Japanese sellers are 'ripping people off' so badly?

braxus · Mar 20, 2022

Because at the time no one was selling one on Ebay in North America. Everyone knows Japan inflates their prices because often they are the only option. If they listed them on an auction instead of Buy It Now, they wouldn't often get the prices their BIN list for.

Arthurwg · Mar 20, 2022

Let's remember that top-of-the line digital stuff is also rather expensive. Take the Fuji GFX 50S II, which is selling new for $4000,00 without lens. Yes, it's 50.4 MP, but what will it be worth in five years?

braxus · Mar 20, 2022

GFX will be half price in 5 years, as it was in my case. I got a demo 50R with 3000 shots on it for less then half of its original new price. I suspect the new models will go the same route, especially the 50Sii

Luckless · Mar 20, 2022

braxus said:
Because at the time no one was selling one on Ebay in North America. Everyone knows Japan inflates their prices because often they are the only option. If they listed them on an auction instead of Buy It Now, they wouldn't often get the prices their BIN list for.

You willingly paid the lowest listed price... That's not ripping people off, that's literally selling at what the market accepts... You paid the markup for being able to buy right then rather than waiting and hunting and hoping to find the same thing at a lower price.

braxus · Mar 20, 2022

Frankly I didn't know what the real value of the camera was when I bought it. Only after trying to resell it, did I find out what people were willing to pay on my side of the pond. I would have waited if I knew I could have gotten it cheaper. Not long after I bought, my camera store was selling the same thing used also with the 110 lens included for what I paid for the body only from Japan.

Alan Edward Klein · Mar 20, 2022

braxus said:
Not in my case. I got a camera that immediately had the rubber coming off. That wasn't mentioned. And as I said I couldnt resell it for half of what Japan wanted for it. So to me they were ripping people off.

I'm sorry to hear that. Buying used stuff is always a crap shoot. I don;t like buying used but had to when I started to shoot 4x5. New lenses aren;t available. Didn't they offer a return policy? When I bought from Japan, I would only buy from sellers who had at least 100 sales on Ebay and were at 98+%.

Andrew O'Neill · Mar 20, 2022

I'd rather buy from Japanese sellers. I can trust them. They are not going to rip you off. Every purchase I made over the last few years for the RB has been fine. Even the old Mamiya Six folder...

braxus · Mar 20, 2022

Andrew O'Neill said:
I'd rather buy from Japanese sellers. I can trust them. They are not going to rip you off. Every purchase I made over the last few years for the RB has been fine. Even the old Mamiya Six folder...

Normally yes Andy, but that RZ purchase really soured me. The Japanese sellers know they are sometimes the only choice, so they raise the prices higher to the breaking point.

My 35mm T-90 camera I purchased late last year from a Japanese seller crapped out on me from just sitting. I hadn't even put a roll through it yet, and now it won't power on- at all.

Alan Edward Klein · Mar 20, 2022

Luckless said:
You willingly paid the lowest listed price... That's not ripping people off, that's literally selling at what the market accepts... You paid the markup for being able to buy right then rather than waiting and hunting and hoping to find the same thing at a lower price.

Reminds me of the joke about the old lady who went shopping for chop meat.

So she goes to the butcher and asks for one pound and how much is it?

The butcher responds, “Well, it’s $4 a pound but we’re all out right now. It’s backordered.”

So the woman leaves the shop and goes to another butcher down the block.

“How much is your chop meat and do you have any?”

The second butcher responds, “Oh, it’s $5 a pound and we have loads.”

“$5?” complains the woman raising her voice. “The other butcher only charges $4 a pound.”

“Well,” says the second butcher. “When we’re out of chop meat, we only charge $3 a pound.

logan2z · Mar 20, 2022

Alan Edward Klein said:
Didn't they offer a return policy?

It doesn't really matter either way. If a seller says 'no returns' and the item you receive is not as described, eBay/PayPal will ensure you are refunded.

I don't know why eBay sellers bother with this 'no returns' thing. It just turns off potential buyers (well, it turns me off anyway) since the seller is essentially saying that they are not willing to stand behind what they're selling.

Alan Edward Klein · Mar 20, 2022

logan2z said:
It doesn't really matter either way. If a seller says 'no returns' and the item you receive is not as described, eBay/PayPal will ensure you are refunded.

I don't know why eBay sellers bother with this 'no returns' thing. It just turns off potential buyers (well, it turns me off anyway) since the seller is essentially saying that they are not willing to stand behind what they're selling.

Some people just buy stuff to try it out and return it if don't like it. So I can see a no return sale. Frankly, I don't know how companies selling new products with guaranteed return policies make any money at all. How do they handle a new camera that is returned? It's not new any more. How do they re-sell it?

braxus · Mar 20, 2022

My camera store won't accept returns if a new camera has been used for even once. Basically for your mentioned reason- its not new anymore.

On used items they will for 1 to 2 weeks only.

Prices on Medium Format Film Gear

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