I took the original question as being what $US550 in 1977 equated to today, not the actual selling price of the same camera today.
An F2AS sold here in Melbourne, Australia, on 10th March for AUD$275 -- "for parts".
My understanding of talking to the dealer at the time was the buyer planning to offer it as an "antique camera" at his country antique market table (!)
There will always be the film in one way or another - someone has to satisfy all the hipsters out there. However, if no new cameras are introduced, sooner or later all of their shutters will be exhausted along with spare parts.If no new film camera introduced film photography would last as long as there is film. I don't worry about no camera only no film.
Yes, I believe that Nikon F6 is now made to order.By the way, not a reintroduction but Leica is still make film cameras. Nikon, although I don't think they still make them, still sell the F6 new.
I know many of the APUG members have a lot more cameras than I do but with my 42 perfectly working film cameras they would last long after I am gone. Besides DIY cameras are much easier than DIY film. If I have film and no camera I am sure I can make one. I don't even have the faintest idea how to make film.There will always be the film in one way or another - someone has to satisfy all the hipsters out there. However, if no new cameras are introduced, sooner or later all of their shutters will be exhausted along with spare parts.
but with my 42 perfectly working film cameras they would last long after I am gone
Film as an alternative will remain available into the future, most likely in diminishing volumes and choices from fewer manufacturers with Fujifilm likely to pull up stumps within 2 years leaving Ilford, Kodak and lesser known boutique brands. For many, those increasingly limited choices in film are often a springboard for deserting analogue to migrate to digital.
I think it's more than that, just figure the inflation per annum from 1977 to 2018.You misunderstood Herr von Hoegh. US$550 in 1977 is roughly US$2346 today.
https://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl?cost1=550.00&year1=197701&year2=201803
Three grand!?
Come off the glue.
$275 here in Australia.
That's what I meant. $275 for a 40 year old camera wasn't what I had in mind. What I meant that if one could afford $550 in 1977 and if I need a camera today I can certainly pay the price of the F6.Chan was asking what today's eqivalent in purchasing power would be.
Perhaps it you should lay off the glue.
Yup. Lack of actual film will kill film photography before a lack of cameras does.
I guess we'll see in a couple of years after Fuji have run out of remaining stocks and we know what kind financial shape Kodak are in.
I have been critical here about these start ups, even showed misleading activity. But I referred to them as they show that some entrepreneurs, and even them trying rip offs, see a market for newly manufactured cameras, and that is what the OP asked about, to my understanding.
Concerning Lomography, they introduced even unique cameras as the Spinner or their 35mm cine camera.
If nothing else, film will become the province of large format, which cameras can be (and are) made on a boutique basis, and do not require any degree of sophisticated automation (or even mechanization) in order to function. It would in some ways necessitate the return of very slow emulsions, which are in fact easier to home-brew on glass plates. And goodness knows large format cameras can last forever - I have one that is almost 140 years old, and when I get a new bellows on it, will be functional. I have lenses made in the 1860s that work just fine. I know some wet plate and daguerreotype folks who are shooting with cameras that predate the US Civil War. So if you want to keep doing analog photography, there are always ways to keep doing it - the only obstacle is your level of commitment and need for automation.
An F2AS sold here in Melbourne, Australia, on 10th March for AUD$275 -- "for parts".
My understanding of talking to the dealer at the time was the buyer planning to offer it as an "antique camera" at his country antique market table (!)
According to the US govt. Consumer Price Index, it is $2,306.80.The OP was complaining about the price of new camera. I bought my F2AS new in 1977 for $550. How much is that worth in today money?
Sorry, but the quoted price of $500 (todays 3k ) was for a NEW camera, not used. That was an example of how expensive cameras are to make.
Current film cameras (Leica and Nikon F6) are expensive because they are being made on small batches but also because it is expensive to make them. We all currently enjoy cheap used cameras but don't realize they where bought much more expesive when new. Its not like today used camera price where the original price when new.
Best regards
Marcelo
Speaking of the FM-10....it makes me wonder what happened to Cosina? Wasn't Cosina making 35mm SLRs for many of the name brands until relatively recently?
Cosina makes the Zeiss and Voigtlander lenses that are currently available, in multiple mounts.
Good, high quality cameras have always been expensive in the money of the time. Probably more so than now. When VW bugs first started coming into the U.S. in numbers, they (the Bug) sold for $2,000 or less. Today, a computer driven robot built similar vehicle can cost you 10 times that amount. Things are expensive out there folks and companies must make a profit or go broke, in spite of what many of you believe. Where I worked, we sold new M3 Leicas with 50mm, f:2 Summicron lenses, NEW, for just over $300.00 U.S. To make and sell that same camera and lens today with a 10x multiplier would be over $30,000. I have not seen a new Leica and lens priced anywhere near that price. Can I afford a new M type Leica? No. Neither could I afford one when they sold for %300.00. I do own one (M3) now. The answer is get all of your rich friends to buy new Leicas because THAT is where USED Leicas come from.......Regards!Have you seen the prices on new film cameras??? Leicas? No one is making a reasonably priced film camera. I'm limping along on a Sigma SA9 with a dim viewfinder.
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