The wonders of *bay !

[Dave Dawson]

I have been watching some 5x4 dds's for sale on that well known auction site.....There was a guy selling one lot of three and another lot of four, both lots in similar condition and ending within 3 minuets of each other.

The lot of 4 finished at £18
The lot of 3 finished at..............wait for it...............£40

I wish the site sold logic

Cheers Dave

[IanG]

That's nothing compared to the rip off prices of some some UK Ebay Stores (all prices But Ut Now):

US/Canada prices for a good condition Linhof Select 90mm f6.8 Angulon from $120/£75 and up to around $200/£125

One UK seller has the same lens £249 & £255, or 237 upwards for a non Linhof version( usually 6 or7 listed), most other LF lenses are similarly over priced and all these prices are way over the prices for similar lenses from reputable UK dealers who offer a warranty.

So it's buyers beware.

Ian

[dave_whatever]

I think the main culprit for flooding ebay with grossly overpriced LF buy-it-now items is this guy.

My favourite "you must be having a laugh" items are this, this, and this.

[IanG]

Most reputable dealers sell dark-slides S/H for about £8 maybe slightly more if absolutely mint, but then they'll usually do a deal on quantity.

That Ebay store is a total rip-off and because he floods Ebay.co.uk with LF items (at one time over 1500) many new LF users might not realise that ALL these high priced items are his sales and assume those are normal prices.

I paid £80 for a mint 90mm f6.8 Angulon about 3 years ago which was a very fair price, particularly as these lenses are very variable in performance and not all are good, some are truly awful. (Mine's used only when shooting hand held with a Crown Graphic, I also have a 90mm f6.8 Grandagon here in Turkey and an f5.6 SA in the UK)

MW Classics sell 90mm Angulons via their website at reasonable prices up to about £120, and they also sell them with NO RESERVE on Ebay if they have a few in stock. That's a good example of a very fair dealer, I've not used them but will if they have what I'm after).

Ian

[Peter B]

I think the main culprit for flooding ebay with grossly overpriced LF buy-it-now items is this guy.

My favourite "you must be having a laugh" items are this, this, and this.

I've often wondered why I've never seen his name mentioned on here, but didn't like to ask. What really bugs me isn't actually the high prices, it's the way that he gives virtually no information other than dubious terms like "Excellent Condition". Now the items may actually be good enough, but on the scale of Mint, Mint-, Exc++, Exc+ and Exc it isn't very enticing at all. Mind you, 99.8% satisfaction from 6,600 transactions means that some folks must be happy.

[SteveH]

Caveat emptor. If people will pay the prices he is asking, that'ts their lookout. They don't have to buy from him but they seem to be satisfied - look at the 99% rating.

Just goes to prove that market forces don't work for rare or specialist items!

Another example - 35mm N back for Bronica ETRSi - London Camera Exchange, Bath - £89 before Christmas (no thanks) £14.99 after Christmas - (yes please ). Similar back on US website $450.

And no - he is not me.


Steve

[IanG]

Caveat emptor. If people will pay the prices he is asking, that'ts their lookout. They don't have to buy from him but they seem to be satisfied - look at the 99% rating.

Steve

Perhaps I'm cynical but when 64% (113 out of 174) of the listings on Ebay (UK) for LF lenses are from one seller at highly inflated prices that seems like an attempt to rig the market.

Ian

[dave_whatever]

Especially when a lot of that LF stock has been sitting there at that same price without shifting for well over a year or so.

[SteveH]

Rigging the market would imply collaboration between sellers - can't see that happening on ebay. Setting market expectations is another thing - again caveat emptor! It needs someone to go into competition with him - watch the prices fall then...

And if he wants buy loads of stock and sit on it (costing him money unless prices are rising) that's his lookout. Not.

Steve

[gari]

I have to say that LF gear has become very expensive in the past few months, 8-9 amybe. Predominantly quite unrealistic too, you see old monorails that used to be had for maybe £150 going on at £3-400BIN, I am guessing non photographers are seeing the resurgence in LF and thinking that as the demand is growing so will the prices. Of course they could actually believe that this is what the stuff is worth. I shall continue to shop here and on other forums, rom people who know/do... shame though as I used to get lots of bargains on the bay.

Anybody have a light field camera? can't see anything on *bay for less than a grand

Gari

[dave_whatever]

Anybody have a light field camera? can't see anything on *bay for less than a grand

These are pretty light. There's even one for 325 bananas on here too.

[IanG]

If a Speed or Crown graphic would do there was a refurbished one for peanuts in the US and even with postage/tax (if caught) it was a steal, it sold for £78 this morning and that was the Buy It Now price

So keep your eyes open, the glut of LF camera's seems to be coming to an end and like you've noticed prices are rising again, but there are bargains still to be found. I paid $80 for two Speed Graphics, both in terrible condition sold as a pair to make own good one from the parts, only problem was when they arrived they were entirely different models nothing was interchangeable, but with a bit of TLC both are now fully restored.

Ian

[SteveH]

Keep a lookout for MPP Mk 7 or Mk 8 as well.

Steve

[gari]

Thanks for the input folks. Nice link Dave, not come across that dealer before. The ebay guy is Photo-arte as was is he not? I have been looking at the TFC for a few days actually, I told myself if he relisted it again I would have a punt. I would like a little more reach as it were but I have a plan re that!

Ian, I have had a crown graphic, nice light camera but with a wide I found using drop bed a pain/almost impossible with a 75mm, not to mention having no swing due to a non rotating back. Most of my work is upright so the lack of swing means a lack of tilt for me.

Steve, I have an MPP in a box somewhere, not very light I am afraid. About the same as my TK, a little less maybe but not much.

I was after something around 1.5-2kg, would prefer to be able to use a 180@ infinity but not desperate. something with about 200/210 of bellows would be perfect. SW and RSW are WAY over priced in my opinion before somebody suggests the Ebony route. I know that is heresy round here, just my opinion
I have hankered after a Walker for a while and would love to get my hands on one. One of the few downsides of living in the Highlands.

Gari

[dave_whatever]

Thanks for the input folks. Nice link Dave, not come across that dealer before. The ebay guy is Photo-arte as was is he not? I have been looking at the TFC for a few days actually, I told myself if he relisted it again I would have a punt. I would like a little more reach as it were but I have a plan re that!

yeah I believe its the same foto-arte guy/people.

The bellows on these I think if i remember correctly go out to 190mm (NOT the 150mm that guy advertises), so with say a 180mm symmar-s with a flange distance of about 170mm you'll be able to focus down to a few meters. Then there's tophat lens boards or telephoto lenses etc . I currently do reachy shots with a 6x7 back and a 150mm lens.