Re: "Collecting" and Realist

[fj834@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Dr. George A. Themelis)]

I'll have to repeat something that I have said before:  I don't think that
collectors have a significant impact in the price of used 3-d equipment. 
It is the users and demand and supply that have set the prices at the level
that they are.  That's my impression... I might be wrong.

At the end, everything boils down to demand and supply.  No matter who is
driving the demand, if the supply is low prices will be high.

An example within the VM system:
- VM personal cameras can be found for under $100.
- VM cutter $250+ if you can find them.

There are many VM cameras in the market but not enough cutters, that's for
sure.  Still, why would any one call this price a collector's price?  If
you are into VM you need a cutter to use your camera.  You can either look
for a $10 cutter in a garage sale (good luck!) or put the $250+ down and
buy one (if you can find it) from a dealer.  It's that simple.  Saying that
you are a "user" will not get you the cutter any cheaper because there are
many potential users looking for one.

The bright side of the same argument is that you can still find a Realist
3.5 camera for $100 instead of over $500, the true value of this wonderful
camera.  You can thank the 150,000 cameras made and sold in the 50's and
the small (under 10,000?) group of people that have an interest for it today.

Demand and supply works both ways...

>     I am currently considering purchasing a Realist 3.5.  What makes you 
>     say it's "non-user friendly?"  That's not exactly a rave review....  

Yes, sure some people call the Realist "non-user friendly", but who cares? 
Any stereo camera from the 50s is so different than a modern SLR or P&S
that it takes some time and practice to get used to it.  Forget the
internal light meters and automations.  Get used to manual control.  After
getting used to the Realist I have hard time using a different stereo
camera.  Many cameras have gone through my hands but I have not seen yet a
reason to switch to something else.  7-p format could be a convincing
reason to use a different camera, but have you priced a Belplasca (hi
Mike!) lately?  Back to demand and supply...

George Themelis


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