Now is your chance to see if you can beat these examples of incredible
prices for simple photo gear. Let's face it, if Samyang can produce a
19-35mm ultrawide zoom lens with 14 elements for $109 US, how can the
manufacturers ask $300 for a strap or $900 for a lens hood?
We will also accept incredibly amazing prices for stupid stuff on EBAY,
but we already have an EBAY page documenting lots
of buyers paying more for a used item than a new one with warranty. So it
has to be really crazy, like collectors paying more for the empty box than
the item that went in it. I know they're out there, share what you
find!
So the next time you see a price so outrageous it makes you giggle, why
not share it with the rest of us? Email rmonagha@post.smu.edu to
share your finds and incredible price examples!
From: Agnius Griskevicius agnius@hotmail.com
Subject: Response to How can Fuji justify the price of the close up
accessory for the GA645?
Date: 1998-03-25
Fuji also sells a $300 neck strap for GX680. Go figure.
[Ed. note: what's funnier than a $300 plastic lens hood? Having to fix it
to make it work without creating flare!]
From Rollei Mailing List:
Date: Mon, 16 Aug 1999
From: jchow jchow@isl.melco.co.jp
Subject: Re: [Rollei] Schneider 40/3.5 lens hood
.....
I use the lens hood made for the 40/3.5 SA (in the Rollei catalog). If you
get this hood (expensive, like $300 despite being almost all plastic), you
should buy a sheet of self-adhesive black felt and cut it out to line the
inside of the hood. The reason is that if the sun is coming from the
front/low angle, it can reflect off the flat corner faces of the inside of
the hood and flare off the filter (if you're using one). I took a sheet of
notebook paper and a pen, traced out the inside panels of the hood, cut
them out, and used them as a template to cut the felt and stuck the felt
in the hood. Took about 20 min for the materials. Since then, I've had no
flare problems (I usually leave a 77mm heliopan UV on the lens for
protection...it's flare prone (shows up at the edges of the image). I got
the felt from the House of Fabrics for $1...hard to beat this price. :-)
--Jim
From Nikon Mailing List:
Date: Thu, 2 Mar 2000
From: "Christophe Heyman" christophe.heyman@attglobal.net
Subject: [NIKON] Re: Gigantic lens hoods
Alexander wrote:
>It appears to me that Nikon's hoods are getting larger and larger
Not only that, they're also hugely expensive: if you break the hood of
your 600mm f/4 AF-S, Nikon will smile at you
and offer a new one at a suggested MSRP of over 900$. A hood for the 300
f2/8 AF-S will set you back over 400$
(MSRP). Of course I don't know street prices, but when I went through the
price list of Nikon's Complete Line
Catalogue, I couldn't believe my eyes.
Christophe.
[Ed. note: Okay, I couldn't resist this one from EBAY! ;-)]
From Rollei Mailing List:
Date: Mon, 27 Dec 1999
From: Rich Lahrson tripspud@wenet.net
Subject: [Rollei] Nikon Camera BOXES
Hi Nikon Manual Focus Fans!
Tonight, an empty Nikon SP box, 'mint', sold for $685.00 on
eBay. You'd
think these were hand-made! Will these rangefinder boxes break the
$1K barrier? Stay tuned.
A Cheerful Y2K!
Rich Lahrson
tripspud@wenet.net
Date: Sun, 12 Mar 2000
From: David Hay Jones trv.north@okkmokk.mail.telia.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Re: fuji's $300 neckstrap
I bought a lens hood for a Canon FD400/2.8. Cost 537 US dollars. You
can get a good camera body or lens for that amount of money. 537 dollars
for a lens hood is robbery.
David
From Leica Mailing List:
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2000
From: Skip Williams skipwilliams@pobox.com
Subject: RE: [Leica] $5,000 for a Nikon lens hood (Down to $3,900 now!?)
It appears as if someone has retracted a bid on the Nikon RF 21/4 hood,
since the high bid is now ONLY a paltry $3,909.00.
Skip
Date: Sun, 19 Mar 2000
From: Gregg jurisdoc@teleport.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Re: fuji's $300 neckstrap
> I bought a lens hood for a Canon FD400/2.8. Cost 537 US dollars. You > can get a good camera body or lens for that amount of money. 537 dollars > for a lens hood is robbery. > David
Yes, but still a good deal compared to the $5,555.00 a guy just paid on
eBay for a rare Nikon Sp-3 2.10 cm lenshood!
G. Humphrey
Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2000
From: Michael Keydel michael.keydel@guug.de
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Re: fuji's $300 neckstrap (beat this! humor) Re: Fuji 680-
handheld??
Robert Monaghan wrote:
> actually, the Fuji Gx-680 neckstrap costs $300, which made it into my
and then you need the horseman quickshoe to put the camera
on a tripod, another $300.
Michael
--
Michael Keydel Deutscher Wetterdienst
E-Mail: michael.keydel@guug.de
Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2000
From: David M dmcs@cyburban.com
To: rmonagha@post.cis.smu.edu
Subject: Can You Beat These Incredible Prices for Simple Photo Gear?
Hi,
Incredible prices?
All you have to do is look at the "LINHOF" section of the B&H;
Professional catalog.
How about a filter holder $595 Soft side case $445 Combined filter holder, lens shade and vignetter $1224
Date: Wed, 15 Mar 2000
From: radiojon@means.net
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Re: fuji's $300 neckstrap
> > I bought a lens hood for a Canon FD400/2.8. Cost 537 US dollars. You > > > can get a good camera body or lens for that amount of money. 537 dollars > > > for a lens hood is robbery. > > > David > > > > Hmmm, a 400mm f:2.8... a lens that big, you could make a lenshood > > from a wastepaper basket ;) > > > Go to the nearest garden center. Get a black plantpot for $5-$10 > A bit of cutting and you have it.
I found a few 1940's photo mags that were FULL of home-brew solutions to
things like this. (I like the one where you use a lens from a pair of
glasses with a view camera to widen the angle of the lens!)
But it does seem that today, unless it is made for us and is the
"official" product, we don't want to use this stuff.
I use a $7.95 rechargeable gel-cell battery for my flash instead of a
$100+ Quantum battery pack. Has worked for 10 years!
John
Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2001
From: Heavysteam@aol.com
To: rmonagha@post.cis.smu.edu
Subject: Crazy prices
I was forced to purchase a graduated center filter for my Hasselblad
Xpan's 45mm lens at a price of $240. Despite what Hassleblad says, the
severe light drop-off in this lens prevents successful use even with print
film with most subjects. This filter should be provided with the lens or
camera kit, but is not. The price is about half of what you pay for the
whole lens. Conversely, I paid less than that for a huge (and beautifully
made) center filter for my LF Schnieder 75mm Super Angulon.
[Ed. note: you probably think the mfger knows what's going on and is on
your side, right? ;-)]
Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2001
From: "Samuel L. Stern" sstern@mplslaw.com
Subject: Re: Synch Cord Replacement Needed
Thanks to all who responded to my request for information a replacement
synch cord for my Metz 4504 flash.
After being told by Metz and my local reliable camera shop to expect to
spend about $300 for what I needed, Henry Posner send me info from the B&H;
catalogue with a photo of the cord (still manufactured by Hasselblad) and
a $79 price tag.
Given the fact that I'm just an amateur and not making any money even when
I replace equipment, I was thrilled to save the $200+.
Thank you, Henry, again, for your good service and support of this Users
Group.
--
Sam Stern
Minnetonka, MN 55345
efax: (734) 661-0212
[Ed. note: Okay, how about a $2,850.00 US lens filter? Beat that, I dare
you! ;-)]
Date: Tue, 16 Jan 2001
From: sanking@hubcap.clemson.edu (Sandy King)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format
Subject: Re: How Could You Build A Practical Center Spot Filter?
....
I have followed this thread (including the links) and found
some interesting ideas that might be worth a try for my needs. I would
certaily be interested in being kept informed of any follow-up information
that may become available. My situation is that I have a very large lens,
a 210/f/8 Super Angulon which I use with my 7X17 and 12X20 cameras. At
this coverage fall-off in illumination is quite severe. Since I do a lot
of work with this lens I would be happy to buy a center filter for a
moderate price. Unfortunatley, the only thing available for this lens
(which has a 136mm screw-in thread) is a sporadically available center
filter that would set me back $2850.00 list). Yes, that is right, no
transposition of zeroes as I first thought when quoted the price.
....
see Center Filter Page for full posting...
From ROllei Mailing List;
Gang,
I do not want to start another evil thread, but as someone was looking for
a wide angle TLR Rollei shade it so happens that some Italian guy is
selling one on Ebay. The price is through the roof (over 700 bucks as of
now) and there is almost another day to go.
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item;=1209018700&r;=0&t;=0&showTutorial;=0&ed;=980529978&indexURL;=0&rd;=1
The only other suggested source - Heliopan, does NOT have Bay IV shades on
their most recent list that I downloaded a week or two ago. So hang on to
your wallets if you want such a shade, or it is time to break out the
shades and turn them into cash this week on Ebay.
How much are you guys offering for my shade (new in box plus a separate
Exc+++ leather case for the Bay IV shade)?
OK, Stop drooling and don't flame me for Friday for sale day violations
because I am NOT selling my shade..
-_______________
Postscript:
From: latekhed@hotmail.com (Brian)
"Mark Morgan" mmorgan2@san.rr.com wrote
There's STILL a Pentax 1200mm F8 (non-mirror) lens that is available,
manual focus only. B&H; Price around $11,150 US.
Cheers!
From Rollei Mailing List:
$176 for a strap? Mis dios! I happen to have a spare perhaps I'll put it
in my safety deposit box tomorrow. mak@teleport.com
Date: Sun, 21 Jan 2001
The most expensive lens I've heard of is the Canon 1200mm "L". It is only
manufactured by special order, and costs *OVER* $100,000 US. Now THAT's
an expensive lens!
"georgio" milgs@mail.travel-net.com wrote
Postscript:
Date: Sun, 21 Jan 2001
One of the more expensive ones is the 1000mm Zeiss Mirotar,
which goes for about $ 35,000 . Want one? You pay up front and
they deliver in a year. The 500 is a little cheaper at only about
$25,000.
Bob Shell
Date: Sun, 21 Jan 2001
....
The Canon EF 1200 5.6 L is closer to $85,000
From Rollei Mailing List;
John
To put things in their proper perspective, let
it be known that the List Price for new Bay III
Rolleinars, Product #98801, is $272, Dealer
cost is $204. Don't be so quick to condemn
B&H.; ( BTW, for example, a Pistol Grip is $332.
Neck straps are $83.)
Jerry
...
Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2002
A well-known (well-known for its high prices) east Bay Area camera store
has a used Beseler motor base for $159.99. It's still there....
-Will Whitaker
Date: Sun, 17 Feb 2002
Before those thin filters came out, I purchased a "wide-angle" 82mm Heliopan
Kasseman polarizer for the 90mm f4.5 Grandagon I formerly used for view
cameras up to 5x7. The front diameter is 105mm! I think I paid $360 for it.
Having not used it in five years, I guess it will soon appear on eBay.
M. Denis Hill
From: Jerry L ski4aphoto@my-deja.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Subject: Re: most expensive lens ever??
Date: Tue, 23 Jan 2001
Correction: Circa. early 1998
Nikon catalog (in Japanese) had the 6mm Nikkor at
1,298,000 yen [a special order item.]
With sales tax, just under $12,000.
= = =
From Nikon Manual mailing list:
I've noticed that shades for 50/1.1 rangefinder lens go for $3000+ on
ebay.
Look here.
Rod S
From nikon MF mailing list:
sover.wong@alcatel.com.au wrote:
You must have missed the ebay auction a couple years ago where a
Japanese collector paid $2,200 for an original Nikon I (rangefinder)
instruction manual; a few pieces of dirty printed paper held together
with a rusty staple.
For me, I'm hanging on to several 8x10 B&W; portraits of my great uncle,
taken by none other than AA hisself.
Randy Holst
From nikon MF mailing list:
Date: Sun, 23 Feb 2003
From: monotreme@wmconnect.com
Subject: Re: Whats next..Ha!
camera911@cogeco.ca writes:
> I have always wanted, and still do, a 300mm F2.0 (drool drool drool)
I actually got to see and try one out briefly at a camera show once, maybe 10
years ago. Spectacular, amazing lens! The guy wanted $22,000, used. I
suspect that it was probably a bargain even at that price.
Steve
From rangefinder mailing list:
Date: Tue, 06 May 2003
From: Stephen Gandy leicanikon@earthlink.net
Subject: FS: Old RF without shutter, $12,000 and going UP
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item;=2927547795&r;=0&t;=0&indexURL;=4#ebayphotohosting
From leica mailing list:
Date: Wed, 13 Aug 2003
From: Jerry Lehrer jerryleh@pacbell.net
Subject: Re: [Leica] A $112,100.00 Leica M3!
Jack
When I lived in Japan, I met some of these "private collectors". They have
the money to buy what they want. Usually they want what I don't, so there
is no problem.
Jerry
Jack McLain wrote:
> I read in a magazine today that an M3 (sn700000) sold for $112,100. This
> camera was the first M3 made and was purchased (via acution) by an anonymous
> "international private collector".
>
> Is this nuts or what?
>
> What the hell is an "international private collector" anyway? An awfully
> rich guy without a country?
>
> sigh.... makes $2500 for an MP seem reasonable.
>
> cheers
> Jack McLain
From russian camera mailing list:
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2003
From: Bob Shell bob@bobshell.com
Subject: Re: [Russiancamera] Re: The most expensive photo item I have ever seen
To: Russian Camera Users russiancamera-user@beststuff.com
Marc James Small wrote:
> The 1000mm Mirotar is still available at around $US 125,000 and the 500mm
> at around $US 75,000. They don't sell all that many but, man, selling one
> makes a salesman's day!
Have they skyrocketed in price again? Damn. Just when I was saving up
for a matched set!!!
Outside of the samples Kyocera USA keeps for trade shows and occasional
loan to photographers, the only ones I've encountered belonged to
National Geographic (adapted for Nikon). Mead Kibbey used to have one
of each, but I think he donated them with the rest of his collection.
He once shot a newspaper page at some amazing distance with the 1000
and you could read every word in the print he made.
Bob
From rangefinder mailing list:
Date: Wed, 05 Nov 2003
From: Stephen Gandy leicanikon@earthlink.net
Subject: $3500 for a 50mm Brightline Finder?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item;=2962600197&category;=29965
currently on Ebay is one of Nikon's rarest items, the 50mm brightline
made only for the Leica screw mount version of the Nikkor 50/1.1. it
is very very rare. I've seen several dozen or more 50/1.1's, only one
50 brightline.
Stephen
From Rangefinder mailing list:
Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2004
From: Stephen Gandy LeicaNikon@earthlink.net
Subject: Re: [RF List] $9400 plus for worn ugly Rangefinder
Nikon collectors are very dedicated
people who have looked for years for a Nikon One and have not even had
the chance to see one in person will pay serious money. Considering
that it was in not so great condition, was altered by having flash sync
added, and did not have the original lens, I think it sold for top
dollar. Long term, I think the One on Ebay in Argentina for $27K is
actually a much better buy.
more Nikon One info at
http://CameraQuest.com/NRFOne.htm
and http://CameraQuest.com/NRFGS1.htm -- a $15 Garage sale treasure
the next meeting of the Nikon Historical Society will be in Tokyo in
February.
Stephen
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Subject: Re: Can Contax survive?
From: Edwin Petree edwinpetree@example.invalid
Date: Mon, 09 Feb 2004
"Hugo Drax" hugodrax@aol.com wrote
> Its like the big quartz watch shakeout where most mechanical watch makers
> dissapeared except for a few expensive niche sellers.
Er, you know that very many companies still make mechanincal watches, and
that many expensive niche brands are, in fact, cheap movements in cheap
cases sold with huge margins?
The folks in news:alt.horology have some more information.
From: oneofmany@nix.nix (one_of_many)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Re: 35mm lenses on MF was Re: missing MF converts
Date: Sun, 20 Jun 2004
rmonagha@engr.smu.edu (Bob
Monaghan) wrote:
> probably easier and cheaper to just ask Solms/Leica about the coverage; my
> bet would be that getting 400 lpmm (aerial?) resolution would require
> Leica to optimize the lens for the smaller format, yes? ;-)
>
> now if you are really looking for a unique leica mount tele-lens, see
>
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category;=30077&item;=3821317427&rd;=1
>
> it was $98,000 in 1970 dollars, about $700,000 today's dollarettes (?) ;-)
> this one is under $2k, a fixer upper though ;-)
This lens was $75,000 in Sixties US dollars.
http://course1.winona.edu/jstafford/newlens1/
Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2001
To: rollei@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: [Rollei] Wide angle Rollei stuff
Andrei D. Calciu
That amazing auction is over and the winning bid was over 1500 bucks. WOW!
Date: 25 Jan 2001
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Subject: Re: most expensive lens ever??
>The most expensive lens I've heard of is the Canon 1200mm "L". It is
>only manufactured by special order, and costs *OVER* $100,000 US. Now
>THAT's an expensive lens!
Brian
Date: Thu, 01 Feb 2001
From: Mark Kronquist mak@teleport.com
Subject: [Rollei] $176 for a strap?
From: "Mark Morgan" mmorgan2@san.rr.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Subject: Re: most expensive lens ever??
> i have seen in a photo mag that there are lenses that can cost over
>$20,000,00.. i find that to believe.. lots of 600 mm's in that price range?? yow!!
>
> what is the most expensive lens out there...laboratory and scientific lenses don't count..
>
> georgio
BTW--That's standard 35mm Canon EOS mount, auto-focus, with a 5.6 maximum
aperture, and is about 2 1/2 feet long (836mm).
I think it weighs over 30 lbs (whatever 16,500 g. comes out to...).
From: bob@bobshell.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Subject: Re: most expensive lens ever??
From: Andy White iso50@execpc.com
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Subject: Re: most expensive lens ever??
Date: Mon, 02 Jul 2001
From: Gerald Lehrer jerryleh@pacbell.net
Subject: Re: [Rollei] Ridiculous Rolleinar price
From: "William F. Whitaker" wfwhitaker@wfwhitaker.com
To: rmonagha@post.smu.edu
Subject: Incredible prices, etc...
From: "M. Denis Hill" denis@area360.com
To: panorama-l@sci.monash.edu.au
Subject: RE: Filter in general
Qualified Panoramic Photographer
Date: Fri, 09 Aug 2002
From: "roderickdsage" rsage@infi.net
Subject: Re: $1500 lens shade
http://cameraquest.com/5011.htm
--- In NikonMF@y..., sover.wong@a... wrote:
>
> Hi Nikon Fans,
>
> I never thought someone would pay more than $100 for a lens shade, but
> recently someone paid over $1500, yes one thousand and five hundred US
> dollars, for one lens shade. The eBay item number is 1368387976. I am a
> small time fish compared with those HUGE collector fishes.
>
> So, hang on to your Nikon bits and pieces. Your junk may be someone's
> highly valued treasure.
>
> Happy shooting/collecting,
>
> Sover
Date: Thu, 08 Aug 2002
From: Randy Holst mrvolvo@cableone.net
Subject: Re: $1500 lens shade
> Hi Nikon Fans,
>
> I never thought someone would pay more than $100 for a lens shade, but
> recently someone paid over $1500, yes one thousand and five hundred US
> dollars, for one lens shade.
[snip]
Boise, Idaho