Good cameras (new or used) have always been expensive. In 1966 I bought my first Rolleiflex TLR, a 3.5E2, for the equivalent of six months' salary - 52 years later it's worth much less, even with good care and several CLRs which have kept it in top if not entirely pristine condition. It had served me well and I won't sell it, but if I had to, I would be lucky to get A$500 (less than two weeks' average salary in Ozzy) for it on THAT web site haunted mostly by cheapskates looking to buy low and onsell higher. Such isl ife. Tempus fugits, Time passes, things change, and so on.
But I do agree with those posters who say prices are way up of late. In 2009 I bought a Rolleiflex T kit (camera and case, lens hood, several filters, a 16 exposure kit) for $700 and I thought I was paying too much, but I wanted that camera. These days they sell for A$1,200 and up.
Ten years ago I would've had any camera in need of repair or service done without a second thought - not so now. Prices in Australia are way too high and I find it's easier to just buy another (again on Ebay) and keep the oldie for display or give it away to someone needing parts. The good service people in Melbourne have retired now, one or two still do the work but the waiting times are getting ever longer. Also the costs. For most cameras other than the 'classics', a full repair may not be worth the cost of buying another.
The bargains are out there, tho. Last month in Kuala Lumpur, I saw a camera shop with a collection of Nikon SLRs (mostly F3s and F4s) on sale for what I considered to be absurdly low prices - from A$200 up. An F4 with motor drive was on offer for A$300. I was tempted, but with a large collection of almost new Nikkormats gathering dust at home, decided to pass. Most likely these were ex news media anyway, and probably worn out, tho they looked in OK enough condition. A just Sayin' moment - I'm not drawing any conclusions beyond to mention what I saw in passing. I'm convinced there are many such bargains out there to be found, if one takes the time to look and inputs a little determination and patience into the search.
Prices go up and down. In 2016 I sold my last Hasselblad (a near-mint late 1970s 500CM with a 1998 Planar 80/2.8 with two A12s and a box of useful accessories) for A$1,600. At that time the buyer was convinced he'd scored a true bargain. Maybe. Now he has it up for sale in various places (Ebay included) but is getting offers of A$600-$900. Hm. A cautionary tale or a good op to buy? It depends on your viewpoint.
This said, I believe most good classic gear can still fetch high prices. The Rolleicord Vb and Rolleiflex 2.8E kits I found (and bought quickly-smartly!) in 2017 for very low prices, were one-off events even if I did luck into two such prizes in the same year. Again, just to say such finds are around, if you go hunting for them with cash to buy on the spot in your pocket.
