Stereo Equipment Prices

[P3D Eric Goldstein <egoldste@xxxxxx>]

Spent some time at Photographic this weekend here in Boston... glad to 
say that "Stereo Equipment Fever" seems to have cooled somewhat, at 
least on the more common user stuff...

Sure, there were $175 Realist 3.5s and $400 2.8s, but no one bought 
them. I saw some decent realist 3.5s and kodaks with cases for $135 
(asking). Realist 2.8s could be had in the low $300s, saw a mint- 
Colorist I which the dealer would have taken "under $200" for. An 
excellent+ Vivid could have been had for $225. A clean late Sputnik 
complete with case, viewer, and print frame was offered for $300.

Viewers... saw some handiviewers w/achromats in the $60s, some kodaslide 
Is in the $70s, and some revere 22s, red buttons, and kodaslide IIs in 
the $120s. They were all pretty much users, nothing really clean.

On the top end, saw my first miniature Rolleidoscop (127 film). I've 
read so much about them for soooo long that it was a real treat to 
finally see one, and this particular camera was absolutely mint; it was 
beautiful! Clearly a collector's piece... it was priced at $3500. A very 
clean 120 Rolleidoscop had a $2500 tag on it. Both of these prices are 
somewhat lower than one year ago, but still plenty "feverish." A clean 
F40 in box was marked at $850, and a clean Belplasca with a gummy 
aperture ring was priced at $1100 (no case). Another clean Belplasca 
with viewer was priced at $1400, and the close up wedge was available 
for another $400. No price relief on these cameras.

The list's own Richard Koolish and Jon Golden were both spotted: Dick as 
one of the PHSNE members who helped run the event, and Jon as always 
attracting *lots* of attention with his RBT cameras, projectors, mounts. 
Jon was good enough to let me check out a brand-new Yashica 109 based 
RBT; seemed very nicely crafted, nicely balanced, good ergonomically, 
and stands a good shot at being quite reliable based on the reputation 
of the yashika bodies.

This evening, I explained to my wife that with this camera and a couple 
of 35 mm Distagons, and I wouldn't even need that quaint old 
Rolleidoscop I know she wanted to buy me for, ahhh, Easter! Yeh that's 
it Easter, or maybe Passover, that's a gift giving holiday, isn't it? 
Yeh, Passover, that's the ticket...


Eric G.


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