Paul Reading Posted November 16, 2013 Share #1 Posted November 16, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) I am a bit mystified but I used to find it relatively easy to buy any camera I wanted via ebay. At one stage there were lots of for sale. these days try looking for a CLE or Contax T3 or a Leica Digilux 2 and you will be luck to see an auction for one. There are some available from time to time at huge prices from dealers with buy it now but second hand film cameras are becoming difficult to buy. Is it because they are not worth the effort of selling or is it that people are sentimental or are people buying adapters to use the lenses on digital bodies... or am I going mad? Probably the latter. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 16, 2013 Posted November 16, 2013 Hi Paul Reading, Take a look here Where have all the manual cameras gone?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
tobey bilek Posted November 16, 2013 Share #2 Posted November 16, 2013 I can not find used film either. Same reason, little demand. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 16, 2013 Share #3 Posted November 16, 2013 Where have they gone? Just an example: Two each of exactly these analog models in mint condition to me in 2012. They function like clockwork. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adan Posted November 17, 2013 Share #4 Posted November 17, 2013 Here in Denver, we have about a half dozen colleges and secondary schools with basic photo classes taught with film. Students are required to obtain a film camera with manual analog controls for shutter speed and aperture. We routinely acquire and sell such cameras - about 100 split between the two semesters (August and January). Most commonly Pentax K1000s, but with a mix of AE-1 or FTb Canons, Olympus OM bodies, Minoltas from SRTs to XG or X700s, and the occasional Nikkormat, all with 50 f/2 or 1.8 lenses. Anything that we can reasonably sell and warranty for 6 months, for $95-$150. Our sources are usually someone who inherited father-in-law's old camera(s), or used one in college themselves, and have had it "sitting in the closet for 20 years." We get a couple of dozen K1000s each year from an American ex-pat living in Latin America - he buys up failed cameras, gets them serviced and working cheaply in his adopted country, and we sell them for him on consignment. The cameras listed by the OP tend to fall outside our market, however. Either not manual enough (T3) or outside the student price range (CLE). Electronic film cameras "of a certain age" are a shrinking pool, since they are not as repairable (or "economically repairable") as clockwork cameras if a 1970's-1980's-era chip or circuit-board fails. Especially if they come from a defunct marque (Minolta, Konica, Contax, etc.). Once something critical fails, they are paperweights. In addition to that, I would guess the flow of people transitioning to digital and selling film cameras has passed its peak. Those who wanted to - have. And those who don't want to, are holding onto their analog film cameras at this point. Although - as mentioned above - we do get a small, consistent inflow of such gear. 6 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spydrxx Posted November 17, 2013 Share #5 Posted November 17, 2013 It seems to me that when prices were low, the really choice ones were snapped up. As more people became aware of the finer ones the demand increased as did the prices. Now that prices are considerably higher than they were 18-24 months ago, a lot of people are holding on to what they have for even higher prices. Also, the micro 4/3 movement encouraged people to buy lenses which were just passing into the lens graveyard,,,and drove up those prices as well. Outside of 2 LTM bodies, I haven't picked up a manual camera in over 2 1/2 years...just enjoying the fruit of earlier acquisitions. I still look for a couple I'd like to acquire, but not at current prices. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted November 17, 2013 Share #6 Posted November 17, 2013 (edited) Having been at a presentation by the Chairman of Ilford last week the answer seems clear, more people are buying 35mm film, a decline in sales having turned around over the past year. In recent years Ilford has seen sales of 120 and sheet film increasing steadily from the all time low, while 35mm was still on a slow downward curve. Yet he'd had to change his slide presentation with the recent company results showing 35mm was now moving upwards again. And if film is being bought camera's are being bought, fuelled by an increased awareness of 'craft', the Lomo movement introducing young photographers to higher end film use, and the gradually increasing ease and awareness of getting film processed and printed again after the shakeout in the lab sector. And that is why you can't find a good manual camera, you missed the boat Steve Edited November 17, 2013 by 250swb 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted November 17, 2013 Share #7 Posted November 17, 2013 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) I just found about 60 hits on 'bay for those items. Speaking for only for myself, I have a few Nikons from the mechanical age that I will probably give away to motivated students. It seems unlikely that the demand will continue because our university shut down its darkroom. The department Chairperson is just unfathomable. Edited November 17, 2013 by pico Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guido Posted November 17, 2013 Share #8 Posted November 17, 2013 After having watched a documentary recently about the new generation of young creative artists, photographers and photojournalists in China, I am pretty much convinced that this is where all the stuff goes to. Film cameras and darkrooms to no end, with impressively competent handling by 20-year olds who exhibit at Moma. Of course, those poor souls shooting fashion and commercial are forced to make do with digital gear Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted November 17, 2013 Share #9 Posted November 17, 2013 After having watched a documentary recently about the new generation of young creative artists, photographers and photojournalists in China: My very most informed, frequent and monied clients for quality film cameras are in Asia. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 17, 2013 Share #10 Posted November 17, 2013 Contax T3 on ebay galore and relisted in vain from Japan. Not interesting for Europeans because of import taxes. Practically none however from European sellers. All other quality 24X36 film gear starts with a capital L for me Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
honcho Posted December 8, 2013 Share #11 Posted December 8, 2013 (edited) ...... There are some available from time to time at huge prices from dealers with buy it now but second hand film cameras are becoming difficult to buy..... Someone posted on this forum a couple of days ago that there is a camera fair in Wolverhampton today. I'm working in Birmingham for the next 5 days, so for the first time ever I went to a camera fair! Most of the stuff for sale I would regard as junk, I throw better stuff away but there was plenty of mechanical manual cameras and lenses of many different types and formats on offer, including Leica R, M and LTM. Manual lenses seem to attract a lot of attention as you might expect. Not a wasted visit from my point of view, though. I picked up 50 rolls of 2016 dated 120 HP5 and FP4+ for a fraction of the usual cost. I also couldn't resist a mint, boxed D3s body with less than 30k actuations either. Edited December 8, 2013 by honcho Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
semi-ambivalent Posted December 8, 2013 Share #12 Posted December 8, 2013 My very most informed, frequent and monied clients for quality film cameras are in Asia. Nobody in the world is more attuned to fashion than a 14 year old Japanese schoolgirl. Increasing wealth and cheap credit in Asia (read 'China' for now) and the desire for things they've wanted for a long time will help people to discover "older" technology. Many will find that it's valuable in its own right and not just as a stepping stone to (here) the latest transient electronics. It would be refreshing to discover there's a tipping point where analog photography's perceived inconvenience is being cancelled by its hardware longevity just as digital photography's convenience is being cancelled by it's perceived relentless obsolescence. s-a 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkP Posted December 8, 2013 Share #13 Posted December 8, 2013 Contax T3 on ebay galore and relisted in vain from Japan. Not interesting for Europeans because of import taxes. Practically none however from European sellers. The only camera I regret selling. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipus Posted December 8, 2013 Share #14 Posted December 8, 2013 At least the CLE is readily available at dealers. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mr. B Posted December 13, 2013 Share #15 Posted December 13, 2013 I never got rid of mine. I still have 4 manual 35mm cameras (Nikons & Leica) and 2 medium format cameras (Hasselblad & Mamiya). Other than my point and shoot digital camera I've never owned a auto anything camera of any kind. I have used them but never purchased one. Mr. B Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GenevieveKelly Posted December 17, 2013 Share #16 Posted December 17, 2013 it has confused me more as i was on the verge to deal the one but now looking to juggle with other options as well .. but which one now ?? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted December 17, 2013 Share #17 Posted December 17, 2013 I have far too many cameras. I am seriously thinking of having a bit of a clear-out and updating some of the equipment I do use regularly. Most people probably think that their manual film cameras are worthless, but look at ebay - they always seem to sell! (not including over optimistic sellers in this). Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wizard Posted December 17, 2013 Share #18 Posted December 17, 2013 I am a bit mystified but I used to find it relatively easy to buy any camera I wanted via ebay. At one stage there were lots of for sale. these days try looking for a CLE or Contax T3 or a Leica Digilux 2 and you will be luck to see an auction for one. There are some available from time to time at huge prices from dealers with buy it now but second hand film cameras are becoming difficult to buy. Is it because they are not worth the effort of selling or is it that people are sentimental or are people buying adapters to use the lenses on digital bodies... Well, I for one still use my CLE. If for whatever reason I do not want to take my M7 or M3 with me, the CLE is on duty. Took it to Italy and South Africa this year, and the results on slide film are impeccable. Andy Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abhinava Goswami Posted December 19, 2013 Share #19 Posted December 19, 2013 I also love film cameras I have Leica M2,M6 & M7 as well as 2 medium format Hasselblad 503CXi and Mamiya M 7II lovely cameras. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
imsilly Posted December 31, 2013 Share #20 Posted December 31, 2013 I've sold lots of collectibles and antiques in the past and good manual film cameras sell better then anything else. There is a big market for used film cameras in general, especially the ones that get a lot of hype online. Certain models are desirable and people pay accordingly. If I list something like an Olympus OM1, Contax T2 or Pentax Spotmatic in working order then I'll have a buyer within the day. The high end point and shoots from the 1990s are especially desirable. There is a big market for them. Especially the Contax T and Ricoh GR1 series. If I found a new old stock stash of those I'd make a killing. Leica M cameras of course fall into that category of desirable, but in truth they are not as cool as random old film cameras. They tend to be used by bald old white dudes with cargo pants, or super gauche nouveau riche Chinese people who frankly turn all the cool kids off. Plus a lot of the Asian street photographer types already have an M or two. I think something like 60% of all Leicas are currently in Japanese hands, so the prices are more stable. Unlike cool Japanese cameras going the other way. The supply is limited so things go fast and get expensive. Affordable medium format stuff is also rocketing in price, but the expensive stuff is probably going down. The market seems to be for young hobbyists with film, so in that sense fun, interesting and cool cameras do well. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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