Inflation
Well, I’ve just been thinking about buying a Voightlander Bessa R3a. It’s a fantastic little rangefinder (I’m a fan of rangefinder) camersa.
It’s cheap (compared to Leica) and it works well…. people don’t think you’re serious when you use one (ideal for getting more genuine photos), and the Voightlander 40mm nocton single coated lens is superb. The soft focus (bokeh) is excellent.
The above image was shot on a nice little Grey Bessa R3a with 40mm nocton single coated lens at f1.4.
But the price is killing me. This is not a slight on the Bessa camera, it’s more a slight on the fact that due to the strength of the Yen and the weakness of the pound, camera equipment from Japan is now costing an absolute fortune.
I don’t know. The government tell us that inflation is currently 3.4% but that is ridiculous. I know my ‘measurement’ of inflation is based on camera equipment (hey – that’s just the way I work), but inflation is actually more than how it’s measured.
I’d love to get another Bessa R3a. I loved the 1:1 viewer, the lenses, and the images i managed to capture with it, but currently, the costs are too prohibitive for me.
Bruce, the good news is that your workshops are now cheaper for overseas visitors. One Aussie dollar now gets over 60p which is great compared to the roughly 40p that it has been for many years.
Comment by jeffg53 — 1 May, 2010 @ 12:42 am
Yes, that’s true. I get a lot of overseas visitors, which is nice.
Still, I’d love to buy another Bessa R3a (Grey if possible). Anyone want to donate one to a nice friendly, Scottish photographer? :-)
Comment by Bruce Percy — 1 May, 2010 @ 8:42 am
Here’s a link to the Australian guy. They are nice folks. How does the price compare?
http://www.mainlinephoto.com.au/category15_1.htm
Comment by jeffg53 — 1 May, 2010 @ 8:58 am
Hello Bruce
From France ( in Burgundy ), i’ve discovered your great photowork.
This nice picture’s looks like a MIYASAKI scene movie.
I will waiting for some results about the voigtlander lens.
See you soon.
Jean-Marc
Comment by jeanmarc schwartz — 1 May, 2010 @ 10:27 am
Hi bruce, have you tried the Contax G2?
I think it may be cheaper.
Comment by Ibraar Hussain — 1 May, 2010 @ 12:29 pm
Hi Bruce,
correct, for the people working with euros now the best place to buy equipment and books is from UK, it’s pretty cheap with the exchange rate of the pound.
I’m researching now for a solar recharger for camera and AA/AAA batteries and just realized that I should be looking again mostly in the UK Ebay.
So, how about buying a Bessa from UK?
Comment by Vladimir Donkov — 3 May, 2010 @ 9:01 pm
Hi Vladimir,
I live in the UK, so everything is expensive. We’ve got a lot of hidden inflation. The government says it’s around 3% but that’s nonsense. Everything else that is imported is costing easily 30% more.
I do like the idea of a Contax G2 though. But I have enough cameras to be honest.
Comment by Bruce Percy — 3 May, 2010 @ 9:08 pm
I just thought that buying with pounds may be cheaper than if you have to exchange yens, but I’m sure you’ve checked your own market… I’m not very good with economical topics, that’s true :)
Btw, have you tried the SSSRs copies of Leica (using the same screw) Zorkii 4k? For a second body it’s such a funny choice these days :) http://www.photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/index-frameset.html?Zorki4K.html~mainFrame
And with sure nobody thinks you’re a pro with that, such an advantage…
Comment by Vladimir Donkov — 3 May, 2010 @ 9:42 pm
Hi Vladimir,
No, haven’t tried those lenses.
I was thinking tonight how much I really liked the Voightlander Nocton 40mm f1.4 Single Coated lens I had. It seemed to ‘glow’.
Comment by Bruce Percy — 3 May, 2010 @ 9:45 pm
Hey Bruce,
Not exactly what your after, but my mate Ian is selling some of his Voightlander gear at very good prices here. Might be of interest to you.
I don’t think you can gripe too hard though, new 35mm gear is understandably becoming a niche market. The upshot is second hand film gear 35mm and MF is great value nowadays.
Adam
Comment by adam — 3 May, 2010 @ 10:16 pm
It’s not that 35mm gear is becoming a niche market Adam. Have you looked at the prices of Nikon and Canon gear in the past year? I know people selling their DSLR and lenses for more than they bought them for 2 years ago. Prices went up 30% due to the strength of the yen.
Comment by Bruce Percy — 3 May, 2010 @ 10:21 pm