See new table of 1975/6 Bronica prices below showing prices have gone up under 1% a year in dollar terms. But today's buyer is getting 60% off the equivalent inflation-adjusted new cost of the same items. Everybody wins!

Zahorcak Files - buying old cameras..
Big Texas Swapfest leads to Yalie's WWI camera saga
What Camera Ratings Really Mean! (hysterical)
Honeywell Prices from 1964 (Henry Matthes Rollei Site)
Olympus 35mm Camera Prices over Time

There is more variability in prices between dealers today (about 40%) than there is between prices measured in constant dollars in 1987 and 1997. By comparison, the Consumer Price Index increased 50 per cent since 1987 (60 per cent since 1982). In other words, if today's price is 50 per cent more than the price in 1987, the prices are about the same in constant dollars.

Historical data suggests to me that prices for Bronica classic cameras have remained relatively stable in constant dollars. Average prices may be down maybe 10-15 per cent in constant dollar terms over the last decade. If we ignore inflation, prices have gone up about 25 to 50 per cent since 1987 in dollar amounts.

In short, everybody wins! Sellers get their purchase money back and then some, plus the use of a Bronica over that time period. Buyers get cameras at price values that are similar to those of a decade or more ago. In constant dollar terms, the prices look like they are approximately stable, or perhaps drifting downward one or two percent a year.

But what about overall medium format camera prices? You probably already know the answer to that question, especially if you have been shopping the ads for current systems. As the U.S. dollar declines over time (e.g., against the yen from 400:$1US to 240:$1US to 110:$1US), the price of imported Japanese optical goods goes up in dollar terms. In other words, Bronica classic cameras seem like more and more of a bargain as prices for new medium format cameras continue to get higher and higher. But then, you have probably already figured that out, or you wouldn't be reading this page ;-)!!

1982 Prices

Brooklyn Camera Exchange - Shutterbug Ads - November 1982 (15 years ago)

Bronica S2 75mm f2.8 nikkor 120/220 mag exc $318
120/220 mag for S/S2 exc $79
300mm f4.5 zenzanon for s2/EC mint $339
75mm f2.8 auto-nikkor exc. $79
Bronica Bellows II for s2/s2a/C demo $114
extension tube set (4) for S2/EC exc $54

Adorama Camera - Shutterbug Ads - November 1982 (15 years ago)

Bron S2A 150/3.5 lens new in box $225
Bron S2A 80/2.4 lens new in box $195

1987 Prices

EC-TL 75/2.8 WL mag exc+ $495
S2A - black, f2.8 nikkor 120-220 $339
50mm f3.5 nikkor exc+ $229
75 f2.8 nikkor exc $69
80mm f2.4 zenzanon mint $99
105 f3.5 leaf shutter ex+ $198
135 f3.5 nikkor exc+ $159
Komura 2x ex+ $79
vivitar 2x new $98
120 bronica S mag $49
4.5x6 E mag bronica EC mint $189

KEH Camera - Shutterbug Ads - November 1987 (10 years ago)

S2 75f2.8 nikkor P 12/24 back wl hood ex- $329
50 f3.5 nikkor ex+ $189
75 f2.8 nikkor PC ex + $89
80 f2.4 zenza LN $109
100 f2.8 ex 4145
135 f3.5 nikkor Q ex $249
100mm f2.8 komura $119
12/24 back grey ex $89
insert for S2a back ex $39
tube set (4) ex $79
rear cap grey ex+ $4

1997 Prices from our Bronica For Sale/Wanted to Buy Page

The Bronica sample prices from Shutterbug Ads of Nov. 1982 (15 years ago) and Nov. 1987 (ten years ago) show reasonable price stability. A table for Consumer Price Index below shows that prices overall have gone up about 60 per cent since 1982 and 50 per cent since 1987. For constant 1982/4 dollars, multiply 1982 prices by 1.6 (60 per cent) and 1987 prices by 1.5 (50 per cent).

I have included CPI values as of January for each year since the Bronicas were introduced (1959) in case you want to convert original prices to current dollars. Multiply the ratio of 1997 CPI (161.2) divided by the year of purchase CPI times price paid for given item or camera. Result is equivalent price in today's dollars.

If you sell for more, you made money in constant dollars. Did you sell for less? Divide the difference by the number of years to see your annual ownership costs. In my case, it has cost me under $1US per month to own an S2A if I sold today (not counting maintenance etc.).

Source: Historical CPI table

Camera Pricing Deja-Vu
	CPI 1975 to 9/97 = 3.11			CPI 1976 to 9/97 = 2.92
Bronica (June 1976 Pop Photo Ad)
Medium Format Camera Item:	New Prices 1975-6 $	Used Prices 1997 est.	Ownership Costs % Gain or Loss(-)	Ownership gain+/loss- $/year	Equiv. New Prices in 1997 US$	Discount % Adjusted $
Bronica S2a body w 120/220 back	$264.95	$325.00	23%	$2.73	$823.84	61%
Bronica EC body w 120/220 back	$439.95	$475.00	8%	$1.59	$1,367.98	65%
Bronica ECTL body w 120/220 back	$629.95	$575.00	-9%	-$2.50	$1,958.77	71%
80mm f/2.4 auto zenzanon	$146.95	$149.00	1%	$0.09	$456.93	67%
75mm f2.8 auto nikkor	$172.95	$124.00	-28%	-$2.23	$537.77	77%
40mm f4 auto nikkor	$507.95	$549.00	8%	$1.87	$1,579.42	65%
50mm f2.8 auto zenzanon	$302.95	$325.00	7%	$1.00	$941.99	65%
100mm f2.8 auto zenzanon	$183.95	$169.00	-8%	-$0.68	$571.98	70%
105mm f3.5 auto nikkor	$328.95	$409.00	24%	$3.64	$1,022.84	60%
150mm f3.5 auto zenzanon	$187.95	$149.00	-21%	-$1.77	$584.41	75%
200mm auto nikkor w closeup lens	$357.95	$299.00	-16%	-$2.68	$1,113.01	73%
200mm f3.5 auto zenzanon	$317.95	$275.00	-14%	-$1.95	$988.64	72%
film back for S2a	$139.95	$169.00	21%	$1.32	$435.16	61%
prism finder A for S2a	$147.95	$224.00	51%	$3.46	$460.04	51%
prism finder C for S2a	$147.95	$249.00	68%	$4.59	$460.04	46%
Bronica S2a bellows	$154.95	$375.00	142%	$10.00	$481.80	22%
L grip for S2a	$59.95	$99.00	65%	$1.78	$186.41	47%
prism finder A for EC	$149.95	$250.00	67%	$4.55	$466.26	46%
prism finder C for EC	$149.95	$295.00	97%	$6.59	$466.26	37%
CDS TTL meter for EC	$174.50	$210.00	20%	$1.61	$542.59	61%
Magnifying Hood for EC	$72.50	$149.00	106%	$3.48	$225.43	34%
film back for EC	$157.95	$219.00	39%	$2.78	$491.13	55%
eveready case for EC	$29.50	$50.00	69%	$0.93	$91.73	45%
L grip for EC	$59.95	$99.00	65%	$1.78	$186.41	47%
Bronica EC bellows	$169.50	$349.00	106%	$8.16	$527.04	34%
Bronica (January 1975 Pop Photo Ad)
50mm f2.8 nikkor	$429.95	$350.00	-19%	-$3.48	$1,252.73	72%
300mm f4.5 zenzanon	$674.95	$449.00	-33%	-$9.82	$1,966.58	77%
					avg discount=	60%
Kowa (June 1976 Pop Photo Ad)
	New Prices 1975-6 $				New Prices in 1997 US$
Kowa super 66 w 85/2.8 12/24 mag	$454.95				$1,414.62
kowa super 66 body	$314.95				$979.31
eveready case	$29.95				$93.13
12/24 magazine	$149.95				$466.26
16/32 magazine	$169.95				$528.44
55mm f3.5 kowa wide angle	$349.95				$1,088.14
110mm f5.6 macro	$359.95				$1,119.23
150mm f3.5 kowa telephoto	$349.95				$1,088.14
hand grip w release	$49.50				$153.92
rapid focus level	$13.50				$41.98
90 degree prism viewfinder	$109.95				$341.88
TTL meter finder	$179.50				$558.14
45 degree TTL meter finder	$259.95				$808.29
45 degree prism view finder	$109.95				$341.88
Mamiya (June 1976 Pop Photo Ad)
	New Prices 1975-6 $				New Prices in 1997 US$
Mamiya RB67 Pro S body	$267.95				$833.17
120 roll holder	$99.95				$310.79
90mm f3.8 Mamiya NB lens	$207.95				$646.60
50mm f4.5 C	$438.95				$1,364.87
65mm f4.5 C	$399.95				$1,243.61
127mm f3.8 C	$289.95				$901.57
180mm f4.5 C	$334.95				$1,041.50
90mm f3.8 C	$289.95				$901.57
Pentax 6x7 (January 1975 Pop Photo Ad)
	New Prices 1975-6 $				New Prices in 1997 US$
pentax 67 body	$439.95				$1,281.87
6x7 prism	$125.95				$366.98
TTl pentaprism	$257.95				$751.58
6x7 folding hood	$42.95				$125.14
6x7 rigid hood	$72.95				$212.55
35mm f4.5	$586.50				$1,708.87
55mm f3.5	$421.95				$1,229.42
75mm f4.5	$237.95				$693.31
101mm f2.4	$285.95				$833.16
150mm f2.8	$269.95				$786.54
200mm f4	$292.95				$853.56
300mm f4	$659.50				$1,921.56

Note: Past U.S. store camera prices are hard to get due to so-called Fair Trade Laws, which prohibited direct price quotations on listed or fair trade items. These practices were later abandoned as a restraint of trade and a price-fixing constraint. But it meant in practice that consumers had a difficult time shopping around in ads for the best price. So while used items or demo items could be quoted, new prices were usually not quoted. Non-fair trade listed items such as Komura lenses could have prices listed. Multiply the above prices by about 4 to get current 1997 dollarette inflation adjusted prices. In practice, the consumer usually had to pay exactly or very close to listed fair trade prices, although they might get a discount on other items as part of a bulk purchase. The above ad is also interesting as it relates the price of a used polaroid back as being more than a 500mm f/7 lens, or about $700 in today's inflated dollarettes. Now you know why so few polaroid backs were made or are available on the used market today!

1970 Prices

From p. 11, Camera Buyer's Guide - 1970 in Life Library of Photography:

Bronica S2 with 75mm lens - $499.50
50mm f/3.5 $255.00
50mm f/3.5 $190.00
75mm f/2.8 $115.00
100mm f/2.8 $136.00
135mm f/3.5 $229.50
150mm f/3.5 $160.00
200mm f/4 $359.50
200mm f/3.5 $175.00
240mm f/5.6 $286.75
400mm f/4.5 $525.00

[Ed. note: the above evidently mix Komura and Nikkor/Zenzanon prices, e.g. 200mm f/4 nikkor versus 200mm f/3.5 Komura...]

This table provides us with some surprising results. First, the annual cost of owning a Bronica camera or accessory measured in dollars per year has been rather trivial. See column titled Ownership gain+/loss- $/year. Cost of owning an S2A or EC over this time period has averaged a gain or loss of a few pennies a day for most major items like cameras and lenses.

Another interesting column answers how much we would have to pay in today's 1997 dollars to own an S2a, an EC/TL, or an accessory. This calculation uses the CPI or consumer price index ratio for prices in the mid 1970s to today's prices - roughly a three-fold increase (3x). So if you triple the 1975 prices, you get the equivalent new prices in 1997 dollars (see table column).

The last column compares the equivalent new price in 1997 dollars to the current 1997 price of the item, albeit used (EXC+ shape). The average discount is 60%. In other words, you pay on average only 40% of the new price in current 1997 dollars for the used item.

Remember that the CPI has increased three-fold? If an item cost $100 in 1975, it would cost roughly $300 today in 1997 dollars thanks to inflation. But we observed a 60% discount off of that price, so the item would probably cost $120 in today's dollars. The seller gets $20 more for his item, but you save 60% or $180 off the equivalent new price for the used item.

Another way to look at this is to compare today's model prices and features with those of 1975. The new prices for current models are higher than the inflation adjusted (CPI 3x) prices for older models, but you get a lot more features thanks to the advanced electronics.

So here are some conclusions we can draw from this table. For each $100 spent on Bronica items in 1975, you might expect to pay $120 today (in 1997 dollars). That's less than a 0.9% per year price increase. This observation proves my claim that dollar prices for Bronica items have been relatively constant over time.

If you look at it from the constant 1997 dollar viewpoint, prices have declined roughly 2.25% per year compounded (i.e., 60% drop overall). A $500 Bronica from 1975 represents $1500 in today's inflated dollars, but would probably cost you only $600.

From the seller's viewpoint, they are selling their used equipment for slightly more than the new price even after years of use. From the buyer's viewpoint, they are getting used Bronicas for effectively 40% of the new price in constant dollars. In short, everybody thinks they are winning, and they are right!

Discussion:

For more information on these lenses, see Adapter Mount Lenses in the Bronica Lens Page.
Lenses marked * are dual 35mm and 6x6 format mounted lenses by Ercona Corp.

Prices from 1966 lens listing as shown. Prices were converted into late 1997 dollarettes, adjusting for inflation (CPI=5.069x). Estimated prices are based on observed average price increase (circa 1.25x) for similar Bronica lenses over same 1966-1997 time period.

In other words, the new price of these lenses in current (1997) dollars is about five times the 1966 price just to keep up with inflation. The actual price of used Bronica lenses has gone up only slightly (about 25%) since 1966 measured in dollars. For our estimate we apply a similar price appreciation rate (1.25x) to get our estimated current (1997) used selling price. The best price guide would be a current selling price, but I haven't got recent prices for these Bronica mount lenses. See Bronica FAQ for camera pricing guide sources (e.g., McBroom's Guide).

Some of these lenses were very rare (e.g., 2000mm) and might therefore even be considered collector's items. However, other lenses will be viewed as out-of-date preset/manual lenses. The Astro- lenses by Ercona Corp. were used on both 35mm and 6x6 mounts with different adapters. You might therefore find any of these lenses on a non-Bronica and even 35mm mount. Only one of these lenses (240mm f/4 Kaligar) was automatic diaphragm, so the rest are preset or manual operation lenses.

These adapter based preset/manual lenses should be relatively easy to get remounted for use on the Bronica classic cameras, perhaps using a simple 57mm x 1mm pitch screw thread mount as on the Bronica S2a lens mount. Some of these adapter based lenses offered terrific speed (e.g., 150mm f1.8 Astro-Tachar) for a 6x6 lens, or come in focal lengths not otherwise available on the Bronica lens line.

These adapter mount lenses remind us that Bronica third party lenses include more than just Komura lenses, but also a wide range of adapter based lenses by many third party manufacturers. Besides these official adapter mounts, other users report buying special or custom modified Telyt and other lenses which have been modified to mount on their Bronicas. So the listing of official Bronica lenses depends on how you define these adapter and custom mount lens conversions. But at over 60 lenses and counting, the number of lenses available for Bronica continues to amaze me, even as it continues to grow.

Finally, if you couldn't find the lens you needed in a Bronica mount, you could buy a Bronica lens blank mount and mount the lens yourself. This possibility relied on the Bronica focal plane shutter and helical lens mount in the later cameras to provide these basic functions. As these preset/manual adapter lenses demonstrate, all you needed was a lens, a diaphragm, and an apropriately sized Bronica lens mount.

From: Kelvin Lee
[1] Re: Life expectancy of various cameras
Date: Sat Nov 01 06:55:28 CST 1997
Organization: University of Queensland

From my own experience:

Mid-range compact cameras: 5-7 years (but my dad's Nikon 35-70AF is more than 8 yrs old and still works very well-never needed servicing)

Budget AF SLRs (EOS500N class): minor problems will develop after 2-3 yrs of use.

For these cameras, I suspect people will replace it after 5-8 years of use (Depends on how often it is used, and how well looked after). Out of warranty repairs/servicing will not be worth the money. Besides 5-7 yrs down the road, there'll be better models around anyway.

For mid-to-top range manual focus cameras, it is not uncommon to hear of people using them for the past 15-20 yrs.

Popular Photography magazine had an article about camera longevity. Can't remember which issue; maybe you could write to them to find out?

Yes, I believe Popular Photography has used the figure of 50,000 mean operations before an unrepairable failure for amateur equipment and double that for professional stuff. Obviously, storage and general care of the equipment has a lot to do with it. If you tend to keep your equipment in the trunk of a car in the hot summer, the lubricants might "gas" out and drift to surfaces they do not belong. Certainly sand and grit getting into the mechanism will shorten the accuracy and reliability.

Charlie charlesw99@aol.com

[Editor: - Taking 100,000 operations to mean 100,000 photographs, we get 8,300+ rolls of 120 film, or a roll of film every day for the last 23 years. Camera cost per photo would be well under one cent, or under a dime a day to own a medium format classic Bronica camera! Even if you only shoot 2-3 rolls a month, cost of film and processing will be 5 to 10 times higher than your camera hardware costs in most cases.]

1954: 1000F w/ 80 2.8 and 12 magazine - $379.50
1961: 500C w/ 80 2.8 and 12 magazine - $549.50
1965: 500C w/ 80 2.8 and 12 magazine - $650.00
1973: 500C/M w/ 80 2.8 and 12 magazine - $995.00
1977: 500C/M w/ 80 2.8 and A12 magazine - $1635.00
1988: 500C/M w/ 80 2.8 and A12 magazine - $1999.00    
1996: 500C/M w/ 80 2.8 and A12 magazine - $2199.00
1998: 500C/M w/ 80 2.0 and A12 magazine and Acute-Matte screen - $2695

1954: 135 3.5 - $297.50
1961: 150 4.0 - $333.00
1965: 150 4.0 - $425.00
1973: 150 4.0 - $755.00
1977: 150 4.0 - $1185.00
1988: 150 4.0 - $1750.00
1996: 150 4.0 - $1975.00
1998: 150 4.0 - $2756.00

Remember that a Volkswagen or a Toyota is $20k+ today!

[Editor's Note: see inflation updated figures courtesy of Clyde Soles...]

Personally, I used to buy only new/demo equipment up until 5 years ago or so. I found the used market allows me to pick up a virtually new piece of equipment for %30-%50 less than I could get a new one for, and so far, I have been very pleased with what I have purchased.

Austin Franklin
darkroom@ix.netcom.com

rec.photo.equipment.large-format
From: dickburk@ix.netcom.com (Richard Knoppow)
[1] Re: Need Goerz info
Date: Tue Jul 14 02:58:01 CDT 1998

bartn51729@aol.com (BartN51729) wrote:

>According to my 1911 (twenty fifth anniversary) catalog, The section on the
>Syntor F6.8 says "The Goertz Syntor double anastignats are particularly
>intended for use on  hand cameras. They meet the demand for an inexpensive but
>throughly efficient anastigmat. They are only made up to the No6 (12 inch focal
>length). ..... The amateur photographer who wishes an anastigmat lens for his
>hand camera, but  does not wish to invest heavily, will find the Syntor a very
>satisfactory lens.   ....   Its simplified construction is the principal reason
>that permits its moderate price.
>The catalog says the No. 6 will cover 8x10. The price in barrel is given as
>$72.50 and in Compound $92.50. A 12 inch dagor in the same catalog is $107 in a
>barrel. of course it says it will cover 16x18 at f. 32.
>BArt Nadeau

Thank you for this wonderful bit of history:-) Those prices have to be seen in the light of a loaf of bread going for maybe two cents.

---
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, Ca.
dickburk@ix.netcom.com

Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1998
From: Art Curths acurths@fcc.gov
To: rmonagha@mail.smu.edu
Subject: Kowa Super66 web pages

As I recent purchaser of a nice condition Kowa Super66 outfit, I have found your web pages to be extremely interesting and useful. In the event you may find some more info of use, I thought I would mention that in flipping thru a January 1975 issue of Popular Photography I came across a full page color ad for the Kowa S66 system featuring a photo of the typical system with body,85,WL,and 120/220 plus a montage of 5 photographers (some with "godawful" 1970's clothes) using various combinations of Kowa equipment.

If you haven't seen this (its the only full page Kowa ad I have come across) I will be glad to mail you a copy or send a .jpg file (likely to be a large file).

- - - - - - - - - - -

As an aside, I have noticed in several places on the web a mention of the fact that the Kowa 66 needs a tripod "spacer" to allow changing backs (or opening the back) while mounted on a tripod (or even when a tripod "quick change" adapter plate is mounted on the body). I have never seen one of the original Kowa adapters for sale (although I have seen a custom made adapter for sale). It may be worth a mention in your discussion of the Super66 that the Kowa side grip (not the pistol grip) incorporates a tripod spacer and an offset tripod mount which allows the film back to opened or changed while mounted on the grip and while mounted on a tripod.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The same issue included a Bronica EC ad that is mentioned in your "bad ad" section, along with some 1975 prices that may be interesting:

Cambridge Camera Exchange Jan 75 -
Kowa S66 body/85/12/24: 467.50
55mm/3.5 blk: 329.50
110mm/5.6: 359.50
150mm/3.5 blk: 329.50
200mm/4.5 blk: 329.50
250mm/5.6 blk: 356.50
45 prism: 109.50
90 prism: 103.50
TTL meter: 163.95
Prism TTL meter: 233.95
case: 32.50
focusing lever: 12.95
extension tube: 69.95
lens hood: 9.95
filters: 9.95
polarizer: 14.95

Competitive Camera Corp.
S66 body/12/24/85: 469.95
12/24 back: 149.95
16/32 back: 169.95
55mm/3.5: 256.95
110mm/5.6: 358.95
150mm/3.5: 256.95

by comparison, Competitive Camera Corp. had the following prices on
Hasselblad in same issue:
500CM/a12 back/80 2.8: 819.95
50mm/4 distagon: 694.50
100mm planar: 589.95
120mm/5.6 planar: 599.50
150mm/4 sonnar: 729.95
250mm/5.6 sonnar: 669.50

Considering the value in current dollars, these were all pretty
expensive items !!

For misc. info., same issue had price info on some now unusual medium
format equipment:

OLDEN Camera:

Kowa-6 outfit (body,wl,85) 239.50
40mm/f4 Kowa chrome: 524.95
Kowa-6MM outfit: 299.50

Graflex XLRF w/ Zeiss plannar 80mm/2.8: 372.50

Norita w/eye level prism/80mm/f2: 329.50
Norita w/ meter prism/80mm: 429.50
40mm/f4 Noritar: 349.50
55mm/f4 Noritar: 257.50
70mm/leaf shutter: 189.50
240mm/f4 Auto Noritar: 337.50
500mm Kilfitt Mirror: 419.50
Micro adapter: 74.95
WL finder: 41.50
Auto Ext. Tube set: 62.50
case: 14.95
Eye Level prism: 59.95

From Nikon Digest:
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1998
From: Dave Faulkner jdfalknr@midcoast.com
Subject: Price Lists

Dear Nikoners

I have a Nikon price list dated October 2, 1961 and another dated Jan 1, 1963.

They are both 7 inches high (17.8cm) by 4 5/8 inches (11.7cm) wide, 8 sides or pages.

I also have a 12 page brochure titled: "the inside story of the great new NIKON F automatic reflex 35", size 9 inches (23cm) high by 3 13/16 inches (9.6cm) wide.

I don't know if there is any interest in these, but would be willing to photocopy them for my costs.

I have an excerpt from the 1963 price list. It won't be lined up as the original, owing to the vagaries of the different programs used, but you get the idea. It was scanned then OCR'd (if that's a word), then corrected. Incidently I bought my Nikon F in 1961 from Hong Kong while I was stationed in Laos with the US Army.

REFLEX CAMERA
Retail list
WITH EXCISE TAX WHEN APPLICABLE

NIKON "F" AUTOMATIC REFLEX CAMERA - 35mm; 36 exposure, 1 x 1%. Available with interchangeable Photomic Finder (Nikon F Photomic) combining a meter and prism finder in one housing - or with a conventional pentaprism eyelevel finder. Features instant return automatic mirror and instant reopen automatic diaphragm; built-in depth-of-fieId preview control; built-in ground glass rangefinder - interchangeable with other types of ground glasses. Provision for locking mirror up. Accepts electric motor drive, accessory waist level finder. 13 shutter speeds, click-stop, from 1 to l/1000 plus T & B, on single non-rotating dial; full synch plus electronic flash at I/60; auto zero reset exposure counter; calibrated delayed action self timer; removable back; fixed take up spool; single stroke rapid film advance; high speed film rewind; tripod socket built into camera body.

CA1520 Nikon F, Photomic Body, chrome ..............................     285.00
CA1521 Nikon F, Photomic, chrome, with 50mm f2.0 auto ................ 375.00
CA1522 Nikon F, Photomic, chrome, with 50mm f1.4 auto................. 440.00
CA1525 Nikon F, Photomic Body, Black ............................... 304.50
CA1526 Nikon F, Photomic, Black with 50mm f2.0 Auto ...................  394.50
CA1527 Nikon F, Photomic, Black with 50mm f1.4 Auto .................. 459.50
CA1500 Nikon F, Body only; satin chrome finish ........................ 233.00
CA1501 Nikon F, satin chrome finish; w/50mm f2.0 Auto .................  323.00
CA1502 Nikon F, satin chrome finish; w/50mm f1.4 Auto .................  388.00
CA1505 Nikon F, Body only; satin black finish .......................... 252.50
CA1506 Nikon F, satin black finish; wl50mm f2.0 Auto .................. 352.50
CA1507 Nikon F, satin black finish; w/50mm f1.4 Auto .................. 407.50

Email me directly if you are interested.
Dave Faulkner
HC 61, Box 309
St. George, Maine,04857

Date: Fri, 5 Nov 1999
From: "Daylon W. Laws" dwlaws@email.msn.com
To: rmonagha@post.cis.smu.edu
Subject: Fw: Read your article on the first roll film camera

Robert:

I found the information through a round about process to get to Kodak. There is nothing on their home page, but by going to askjeeves.com and typing the question, "How much did the first Kodak camera in 1888 costs?," you will get various answers. Go down to the answers supplied by "Excite" and press the mouse over the arrow on the right side. Click the Eastman Kodak Company, and you will get a history of the first roll camera. It cost $25.00 and development for 100 frames was $10.00. You returned the entire camera and received a reloaded one with the developed pictures.

I hope this helps you by providing more info. Thanks for your help.

Daylon

[ed. note: another form of deja vu? medium format stuff looks alike because it is..]
Date: Sat, 05 Feb 2000
From: Mattei mattei@cts.com
To: hasselblad@kelvin.net
Subject: Re: bellows

Okay, All:

It should come as no surprise that the bellows look like Novoflex because they are. In a similar vein, prisms over the years have been made by outside contract. Attachments for Hasselblad, Rollei and even Linhof bear more than a passing resemblance to each other. It is simply too expensive to tool-up independently for low volume items. That's just good business sense. Notice how the hard cases for Hassy, Linhof and Rollei have been identical over the years? Yep, one company with different inserts and dimensions for each client. I think that the same may be true for rigid hoods on both Hassy and Rollei SL.

From Rollei Mailing List:
Date: Thu, 01 Jun 2000
From: "R. J. Bender" rjbender@apci.net
Subject: Re: [Rollei] ROLLEIFLEX OLD TIME PRICES

sunil manga wrote:

> While searching my collection of magazines, I found the 1965 POPULAR PHOTOGRAPHY
> 'DIRECTORY and BUYIN G GUIDE'.
> The Model 'T' is listed $219.50 List.
> The 2.8E3 PLANAR/XENOTAR at $330.0 List, Exposure Meter $37.0, Case $22.50.
> The 3.5E3 Planar/Xenotar at $269.50 eye-level pentaprism $79.50, Special back
> with glass plate $30.0, Rolleiflash 2BC $27.50, Polarizing Filter Bay3 at $27.0
>
> Similarly, the ROLLEIFLEX 2.8F $360 and 3.5F at $299.50.
> The TELE ROLLEIFLEX 135/4 at $395.0.
> The WIDE-ANGLE ROLLEIFLEX with 55/4 at $395.00list.

Hello Sunil,

In the 1951 Popular Photography GIANT Directory Issue they show:

Rolleiflex Automatic with 75 mm Tessar $275
Rolleiflex Automatic f/2.8 (2.8A) with 80mm/2.8 Tessar $325

I have also have the subscription card in the magazine.... 3 years for $9.

From Modern Photography's 1966 Camera Directory:

2.8F  $385
3.5F  $335
3.5T  $239.50
Tele  $435
Wide  $435

--
R. J. Bender (A Nikon, Mamiya and Rollei user)
mailto:rjbender@apci.net
http://homepages.go.com/~rjbender/home.htm

FRom Rollei Mailing List:
Date: Thu, 01 Jun 2000
From: Rich Lahrson tripspud@wenet.net
Subject: Re: [Rollei] ROLLEIFLEX OLD TIME PRICES

R. J. Bender wrote:

>   From Modern Photography's 1966 Camera Directory:
> 2.8F  $385
> 3.5F  $335
> 3.5T  $239.50
> Tele  $435
> Wide  $435

Hi,

Remember, these are 'list' prices. Street prices were less. In '59 I got my first Rollei, a T for about $75 to $85 in Germany. In about '62 I got a 2.8F for under $250 from a discount house in Switzerland.

Cheers,

Rich

From Rollei Mailing List:
Date: Fri, 02 Jun 2000
From: Bob Shell bob@bobshell.com
Subject: Re: [Rollei] ROLLEIFLEX OLD TIME PRICES

Yes, but you have to remember how much things cost in 1966! In 1966 my rent on a nice two-bedroom apartment near Dupont Circle in DC was $ 60 a month, so that 2.8F cost half a year's rent!!!! I made less than $ 100 a week at the time in a government job, so the camera cost about a month's pay.

In other words, these were damned expensive cameras!

I bought a well used Nikon F with a 50mm f/2 lens around that time for $ 75.

Bob

Date: Sat, 09 Sep 2000
From: "Noah Spam" nospam@never.net
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Subject: Re: Rangefinders

>I'm not looking for anything that small and light.  If it is a question
>of diverting from 35mm, what I would rather see is an affordable 6x7
>rangefinder camera. Remember when most Brownies used 620 film, and you
>could get a pretty nice foldable 120 from Germany for a reasonable
>price? A Mamiya 7II will set you back about $3,500 or more with one lens,
>and a fixed lens Fuji will still be around $2,000, or more with a zoom.
>Whew.  Maybe those old Zeiss Ikontas were comparably priced in constant
>dollars.

According to the NewsEgnin Cost-of-Living Calculator

http://www.NewsEngin.com/neFreeTools.nsf/CPIcalc?OpenView&Start;=1&Count;=30&Expa; nd=1#1

$2,000 today has the same buying power as about $280 in 1955. Anybody want to wade through old magazines and find out what a high-grade, fixed-lens medium format camera -- say, a 6x9cm Super Ikonta C -- went for back then?

Of course, you'd want to keep in mind that the C had a squinty, non-parallax-compensated viewfinder, separate rangefinder, no metering, and no AF, as well as a non-interchangeable lens, although it was undoubtedly made out of more expensive materials than a Fuji.

From Nikon MF Mailing List:
Date: Fri, 03 Nov 2000
From: Ernie winwon@concentric.net
Subject: Re: Re: Collectors, users and bargain hunters

>From Franchised Dealer Price List:         Sept. 1967

                                    Retail Price  Dealer Cost
Nikon F, Photomic Body Tn Chrome          $295.00 191.75
Nikkormat FTN Body, Chrome                $183.50 119.28
7.5mm f5.6 Nikkor Fisheye                 $499.50 324.68
50mm f1.4 Auto-Nikkor                     $148.00 96.20
300mm f4.5 Auto-Nikkor                    $279.50 181.68*
50-300mm f4.5 Zoom                        $720.00 468.00
85-250mm f4 Zoom                          $515.00 334.75
105mm f2.5 Auto-Nikkor                    $175.00 113.75
and finally, Wooden case to hold Tele-lens
(with focusing mount and camera attached) $65.00 42.25

I found this old, 1967 price list, NIKON, INC. Ehrenreich Photo-Optical Industries, Inc. while looking for my F2 manual.

Ernie

* I paid $214.00

PS Sorry for the "OT", but I thought it was interesting.

Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2001
From: clyde@clydesoles.com (Clyde Soles)
Subject: Re: rational pricing? Re: No more two-tier Hasselblad?

Robert Monaghan rmonagha@smu.edu wrote:

Here are those prices again, plus the calculation for inflation. Fair to say Hassles were always expensive.

> from Austin Franklin's posting:
>
> 1961: 500C w/ 80 2.8 and 12 magazine - $549.50         $3164.68
> 1965: 500C w/ 80 2.8 and 12 magazine - $650.00         $3352.70
> 1973: 500C/M w/ 80 2.8 and 12 magazine - $995.00       $3858.99
> 1977: 500C/M w/ 80 2.8 and A12 magazine - $1635.00     $4645.99
> 1988: 500C/M w/ 80 2.8 and A12 magazine - $1999.00     $2907.79
> 1996: 500C/M w/ 80 2.8 and A12 magazine - $2199.00     $2413.43
>
> 1954: 135 3.5 - $297.50     $1904.44
> 1961: 150 4.0 - $333.00     $1917.81
> 1965: 150 4.0 - $425.00     $2323.33
> 1973: 150 4.0 - $755.00     $2928.18
> 1977: 150 4.0 - $1185.00    $3367.28
> 1988: 150 4.0 - $1750.00    $2547.34
> 1996: 150 4.0 - $1975.00    $2167.59
> 1998: 150 4.0 - $2756.00    $2911.55

--
http://clydesoles.com

From Rollei Mailing List:
Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2002 
From: Marc James Small msmall@infi.net
Subject: Re: [Rollei] Re: MX EVS Type 2

Eric Goldstein wrote:
>I know in the 70s, inflation ravaged the
>exchange rate between the US and Germany... don't know if this had any
>effect of the quality of exported cameras...?

Inflation really wasn't the problem nearly as much as were German monetary
policies.

It was in the 1960's that Germany began to artificially preserve the 4DM to
$US 1.00 exchange rate to ensure that German exports would remain
competitive in the face of Japanese competition in the World marketplace.
In the end, this resulted in chaotic disruption of most Western currencies
and raised harsh protests from the Chanceries of Europe and the Americas.
When the Germans relented in '73 and let the Mark float, the "four-in-one"
fell to around 2.8:1 over a period of some six or eight weeks, a decline in
worth of 30%.  Thus, German products almost immediately jumped by a third
in price in the US -- the VW Beetle, for instance, went from $1900 to $3000
over a period of a year, with a dramatic collapse in Beetle sales in what
had been their second-biggest market.

The effect on Franke & Heidecke, Leitz, and Zeiss Ikon was immense and
immediate.  By 1974, F&H; had become Rollei Fototechnic, Zeiss Ikon was
gone, and the Leitz family were desperately seeking a buyer for their
Wetzlar works.

Old Soldiers still bemoan the loss of those ten-cent beers in German bistros!

Marc
msmall@roanoke.infi.net