Value of various view cameras by brand

Based on a very small sample of what I've seen on eBay and a few ads in
Shutterbug, the selling price (and presumably the value as well) of, say,
4x5 view cameras ranges over a 5:1 range with IIRC Omega on the low end and
other, more prestigious, names on the higher end of the scale. What exactly
could make one 4x5 view camera worth 5x or 10x another, assuming both are
pretty much metal framed and mounted on a metal column?

TIA
Norm

Some are better than others.




"Norm Dresner" wrote in message
...
Based on a very small sample of what I've seen on eBay and a few ads in
Shutterbug, the selling price (and presumably the value as well) of, say,
4x5 view cameras ranges over a 5:1 range with IIRC Omega on the low end
and
other, more prestigious, names on the higher end of the scale. What
exactly
could make one 4x5 view camera worth 5x or 10x another, assuming both are
pretty much metal framed and mounted on a metal column?

TIA
Norm

"Norm Dresner" wrote
What exactly could make one 4x5 view camera worth 5x
or 10x another, assuming both are pretty much metal
framed and mounted on a metal column?

Chevy: $20,000
Rolls: $200,000

Two bedroom shack in rural Ohio: $35,000
Two bedroom shack in Palo Alto: $1,000,000

--
Nicholas O. Lindan, Cleveland, Ohio
Consulting Engineer: Electronics; Informatics; Photonics.
To reply, remove spaces: n o lindan at ix . netcom . com
Fstop timer - http://www.nolindan.com/da/fstop/index.htm

Norm Dresner wrote:
Based on a very small sample of what I've seen on eBay and a few ads in
Shutterbug, the selling price (and presumably the value as well) of, say,
4x5 view cameras ranges over a 5:1 range with IIRC Omega on the low end and
other, more prestigious, names on the higher end of the scale. What exactly
could make one 4x5 view camera worth 5x or 10x another, assuming both are
pretty much metal framed and mounted on a metal column?


User?
Collector?
Polisher?


So now that we've got that out of the way. Some are lighter then others.
It seems to me that most of the interest in LF is from people that are
taking the cameras out doors. Light easy to carry increases the price.

Some of the cameras get glowing reviews by owners. Soon enough they turn
into a mini cult. Often pricing them against better models.

Flexibility. Some of the budget choices have other issues then just
weight. Maybe they've got fixed bellows or just don't handle short lenses
well.

The real budget choices are so cheap now that they can't go much lower
and still be worth selling. The other cameras have just held thier values
better.
Nick

--
---------------------------------------
"Digital the new ice fishing"
---------------------------------------

How?

A view camera is just an empty box?

What makes one better than another?

Norm

"None" wrote in message
...
Some are better than others.




"Norm Dresner" wrote in message
...
Based on a very small sample of what I've seen on eBay and a few ads in
Shutterbug, the selling price (and presumably the value as well) of, say,
4x5 view cameras ranges over a 5:1 range with IIRC Omega on the low end
and
other, more prestigious, names on the higher end of the scale. What
exactly
could make one 4x5 view camera worth 5x or 10x another, assuming both are
pretty much metal framed and mounted on a metal column?

TIA
Norm

"Nicholas O. Lindan" wrote in message
ink.net...
"Norm Dresner" wrote
What exactly could make one 4x5 view camera worth 5x
or 10x another, assuming both are pretty much metal
framed and mounted on a metal column?

Chevy: $20,000
Rolls: $200,000

Two bedroom shack in rural Ohio: $35,000
Two bedroom shack in Palo Alto: $1,000,000


So? The examples you've given involve familiar items with known
quality/location differences. What are the differences in view cameras that
are important?

Norm

"Norm Dresner" wrote
Lindan wrote
Dresner wrote
Blah
Blah Blah
What are the differences in view cameras that
are important?

That has to be up to you to determine. There isn't
any consensus and so there are ~100's of different
view cameras to choose from.

In a field camera all the asymmetric, rotating,
twisting contortion features are so many back-aches
and shin-splints. In a studio camera light weight
construction is just another word for unreliable.

First question is: what are you going to do with a
view camera?

--
Nicholas O. Lindan, Cleveland, Ohio
Consulting Engineer: Electronics; Informatics; Photonics.
To reply, remove spaces: n o lindan at ix . netcom . com
Fstop timer - http://www.nolindan.com/da/fstop/index.htm

"Nick Zentena" wrote:

So now that we've got that out of the way. Some are lighter then others.

People who seek the lightest camera aren't willing or able to suffer a
couple pounds for quality. What stupidity.

Some of the cameras get glowing reviews by owners. Soon enough they turn
into a mini cult. Often pricing them against better models.

Nick, let's name names. I'll begin with Deardorf - way overrated. Wista -
same. Linhof Super Technika - heavy, exceedingly well designed, impossible
to duplicate - and spendy as heck, but prices are falling like lead.

The real budget choices are so cheap now that they can't go much lower
and still be worth selling.

Whew! You nailed it. Truth hurts.

What exactly could make one 4x5 view camera worth 5x or 10x another, assuming both are
pretty much metal framed and mounted on a metal column?

Higher price can result from the following...

Demand:
Relative scarcity
Relatively higher price tag when new
Intrinsic value:
Increased flexibility/variety of camera adjustments
Increased precision of mechanism

Norm Dresner wrote:
"Norm Dresner" wrote
What exactly could make one 4x5 view camera worth 5x
or 10x another, assuming both are pretty much metal
framed and mounted on a metal column?

So? The examples you've given involve familiar items with known
quality/location differences. What are the differences in view cameras that
are important?

If that was the question you wanted answered, it might have
been better to ask in the first place and leave the dollar
values out of it. There are any number of differences between
the boxes that hold a lens and film. Wood versus metal may be
the least of it. Which ones are important depends on what
you want to use the camera for. Some I can think of:

Available movements
Bellows draw limits (short and long)
Rigidity
Weight
Portability/setup/bulkiness
Graflok back
quality of focusing screen
geared/ungeared movements
independent controls for movements
interchangeable bellows
fancy stuff like scales and calculators
compatibility with other stuff like hoods and focusing aids
overall fiddliness/ease of use
smoothness of movements/operation
Name value/bragging rights/aesthetic appeal

The sets of virtues desirable for different uses may
be disjoint or even opposed. Many of these things are
explained in books about view cameras, often available
at your local library. Or http://www.lfphoto.info.