Where can i buy a MF in Melbourne?

[Yanluk]

Looking at Mamiya 645 Pro TL, and was wondering if there is place in Melbourne where one can be bought.

Cheers

 

[polyglot]

I would suggest online is your best option, e.g. KEH or the APUG classifieds. Local secondhand shops tend to be very expensive because the store needs to make +20% just to make it worth having on the shelf.

 

[munz6869]

Vanbar in Fitzroy has had one sitting there for ages, for about 4x cost of what you can pick up a very nice body/lens on ebay...:-(

Marc!

 

[munz6869]

...if you want to have a sticky beak at one, to see if it's right for you, send me a PM and I can meet you in the city one day - I use a Pro TL and an older Super a fair bit.

Marc!

 

[Yanluk]

Thanks Marc, I've sent you a PM.

Yeah it look like eBay will be the place to go. Can get a great looking kits from US for a very good price.

...if you want to have a sticky beak at one, to see if it's right for you, send me a PM and I can meet you in the city one day - I use a Pro TL and an older Super a fair bit.

Marc!

 

[LJH]

Another place that you might find one is The Camera Exchange in Box Hill. Same thing with the retail price premium...

 

[SMBooth]

there half a dozen on sale here in the for sale section. Also a RB67 in NSW
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?92586-For-sale-Mamiya-RB67-and-5-lenses

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

I am not happy with bricks and mortar stores in photography. It used to be fun buying from them e.g. in the 1980s and 1990s. Not now. Not at all. The game changer is online, and every street level store will tell you how true that is, to whoever's detriment/benefit. Do the wise thing and scout through the APUG classies. Wise up and go walkabouts in eBay. With the exception of my EOS1N and pinhole camera, scant little of my equipment has been bought in shops: all from eBay since 2001-2003, much of it ex-USA for far, far less than what could at any stretch of possibility be found locally, at a respectable price, and in a timely manner.

 

[LJH]

I'm with Gary.

Make it easy on yourself: go to Michael's Camera Store and chat to them. Once you've had a shower to try to remove the feeling of being dirty and somewhat defiled, you'll head directly to the Internet.

And never look back!

 

[SMBooth]

LOL @ Above

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

You might want to call by Alan Lane's cubby, "Camera Lane" on the corner of Hardware and Little Bourke Streets. What you can't see in the cramped display window might be lurking several layers back in dark shelves inside. It's sometimes very surprising what he's ferreting away. If nothing turns up, at least you might have the privilege of being served by the eyecatching Venus, Al's very sharp second-in-command and Leica-tragic.

Meanwhile, if you're satisfyingly convinced by LJH's side-splitting swipe at Mikhail's Kamerahaus, check out this Mamiya pup on FleaBay — here in Australia.

 

[Yanluk]

Thanks again guys!
I have absolutely no problem buying online (I've been doing so for last 10 years).
Just thought there may be a place to go see/buy locally.
I've seen few cameras in VANBAR, month or so ago, but yeah they prices are quiet extreme.
I haven't been to camera lane for at least 6 months, will check them out this week.

I'm not in a hurry so will take my time finding the right one

 

[Oxleyroad]

ditto above.

 

[warmtone]

You can still find the occasional great piece of medium fomat and large format gear at Camera exchange
This store used to be in Lonsdale St but has moved to Box Hill to survive
I recently picked up a zone vi 8 x 10 camera in great condition for a very reasonable price!
But I also shop on eBay and recently picked up a 240 MC Apo Ronar for $280 in mint condition!
At least there are options!