Author Topic: refurbished rangefinders site (Read 9302 times)

LT · « **on:** June 05, 2012, 08:42:41 AM »

Look at those effing prices! They're 'avvin a larf! You can find most of these in a car boot sale for about a fiver. Madness!

http://store.ilottvintage.com/

sapata · « **Reply #1 on:** June 05, 2012, 10:13:57 AM »

What a r i p - o f f !!

charles binns · « **Reply #2 on:** June 05, 2012, 10:32:12 AM »

Mind you if they actually sell any, that's one hell of a business.

The cameras come in bespoke hand made box with lens cap, 1 roll of 35mm color film, service report and a limited edition 1/1 4x6" color print signed and numbered on reverse.

That's quite a package...I mean, a lens cap and a roll of film! And a picture you didn't even take! I think I'll buy a couple.

sapata · « **Reply #3 on:** June 05, 2012, 10:36:01 AM »

For just a moment... lomosociety doens't seem so expensive

charles binns · « **Reply #4 on:** June 05, 2012, 10:47:38 AM »

They probably bought the film from lomo - that might explain the pricing!

sapata · « **Reply #5 on:** June 05, 2012, 10:50:37 AM »

right...

According to their rating guide and please correct me if I'm wrong, the sold out Argus C3 brick had a mark of 3 3 3 which means:

-Showing signs of normal use and age
-Fully functioning camera, electric circuit not working (light meter/flash connection), shutter speeds not 100% accurate
-Fairly common

On the service report...

Shutter summary:
"Due to worn speed dial cam 1/300 - 1/50 = 1/150" (what does that mean?)

Status:
"Other than shutter speed camera in great shape"

And yet sold for $1.875.00 ??

man... it better be real mahogany!!

jojonas~ · « **Reply #6 on:** June 05, 2012, 02:02:34 PM »

whoa! that's a lot of dough for those kind of compacts!

still... if I was a rich and wanted a vintage camera, I could see the joy of getting one of these with the mahogany (that does actually look pretty nice), test reports and everything... but still, that price is ridiculous!!
I wonder if these sell more like collectors items? how much time did really go into each camera to accommodate that price? maybe those guys thought something like "hey, if we only sell one then we'll be in the green -LOL"

SLVR · « **Reply #7 on:** June 05, 2012, 02:22:39 PM »

i saw this last week. REALLY dumb. I would hate to see what the price would be for a screwmount leica! 5K anyone?

Considering that Argus can be had for under $50 at most places. Its a little ridiculous.

Dave Dunne · « **Reply #8 on:** June 05, 2012, 02:37:36 PM »

Expensive all right.

You can get fully working regular versions for way cheaper but the mahogany Canonet would look real nice in the study of my country manor. (I assume if you are contemplating buying one of these, money probably isn't an issue & you would be buying one for display.)

Aki · « **Reply #9 on:** June 05, 2012, 03:32:58 PM »

I don't get this. But then again, I never understood the pricing of Hermes edition cameras either....

Jack Johnson · « **Reply #10 on:** June 05, 2012, 05:36:15 PM »

I wouldn't want to try to recover a Canon in wood, but an Argus, now that's kind of brilliant. I've seen paper and obnoxious/audacious leather varieties, but wood could be kind of fun.

As a project, not a purchase.

Jack Johnson · « **Reply #11 on:** June 05, 2012, 05:37:10 PM »

Actually, covering an Argus in carbon fiber would be fun/funny, too.

hookstrapped · « **Reply #12 on:** June 05, 2012, 06:05:27 PM »

I prefer red snakeskin

http://www.cameraleather.com/argus/

jojonas~ · « **Reply #13 on:** June 05, 2012, 06:55:43 PM »

Quote from: hookstrapped on June 05, 2012, 06:05:27 PM

I prefer red snakeskin

http://www.cameraleather.com/argus/

hear hear!
I might be vegan and I would never buy it or endorse anyone else buying it but I can still think that those red skins look real nice on a camera~

here's a red lizard strapped around a minolta XD. rawr~

Randy B · « **Reply #14 on:** June 05, 2012, 09:29:53 PM »

glue + Ikea shelving veneer + $5 rangefinder = PROFIT!!!!

Francois · « **Reply #15 on:** June 05, 2012, 10:45:01 PM »

Personally, I prefer the fake wood like the one on the old Chrysler K-Cars

moominsean · « **Reply #16 on:** June 06, 2012, 01:12:10 AM »

all of those cameras can be found on ebay for around $30! being generous with the labor and supplies, that's still like $2,000 too much. and if your read the notes that come with the cameras, some aren't even fully functional. one says "advise not to use self timer". crazy. i guess if he/she can make it work, more power.

Late Developer · « **Reply #17 on:** June 06, 2012, 06:23:11 AM »

This is an effective demonstration, in my opinion, of the redistribution of wealth from overpaid rich idiots who have the money to buy these cameras but don't really care whether they work or not into the hands of those savvy enough to offer such "luxury" goods. Supply and demand; simple as that.

I don't condone it nor would I pay a penny for one. However, I feel the same way about a lot of luxury items that offer so-called "style" over substance. That said, while there's money sloshing around economies of the developed world, there will always be those offering trinkets like these aimed at relieving the rich of some of their wealth.

Jack Johnson · « **Reply #18 on:** June 06, 2012, 06:35:42 AM »

Quote from: jojonas~ on June 05, 2012, 06:55:43 PM

I might be vegan and I would never buy it or endorse anyone else buying it but I can still think that those red skins look real nice on a camera~

There's always fruit leather.

jojonas~ · « **Reply #19 on:** June 06, 2012, 10:14:23 AM »

Quote from: Jack Johnson on June 06, 2012, 06:35:42 AM

There's always fruit leather.

fruit leather? *googles dat shit* aaaahahaha!

so that's what they're called in english. good one

hookstrapped · « **Reply #20 on:** June 06, 2012, 01:17:57 PM »

Quote from: jojonas~ on June 06, 2012, 10:14:23 AM

Quote from: Jack Johnson on June 06, 2012, 06:35:42 AM
There's always fruit leather.

fruit leather? *googles dat shit* aaaahahaha! so that's what they're called in english. good one

Probably offers a better grip than wood veneer.

LT · « **Reply #21 on:** June 06, 2012, 01:32:24 PM »

The thing is, there is a ton of places that will laser cut these thin wood veneers to taste and deliver them with adhesive backing for about £20 ish.

even if you need to replace the seals (£5 kit from ebay), spend a few hours overhauling the camera and fitting the covering, your still looking at well under £100.

Paul et al - I hadn't thought of it like that. I'm not sure it is quite what Marx had in mind, but I see where you are coming from

My initial thoughts were "what kind of idiot charges those prices ...", but as you rightly say, the idiot is the one who actually pays that price for a less-than-£100-camera !

LT · « **Reply #22 on:** June 06, 2012, 01:39:27 PM »

http://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2012/06/04/presenting-the-woodies-ilott-vintages-refurbished-vintage-cameras-covered-i

More info on these cameras. Some intriguing quotes like:

"We have had some comments on some websites about the price tags, which we are aware are way higher than the average eBay listing, but the added value of the project and romance as a whole obviously isn't for everyone ..."

So the extra £1500 or so pays for the Romance and the Project. Now I understand.

sapata · « **Reply #23 on:** June 06, 2012, 01:47:01 PM »

Quote from: Leon on June 06, 2012, 01:39:27 PM

So the extra £1500 or so pays for the Romance and the Project. Now I understand.

And what about the smooth jazz music playing on the background while demonstrating the cameras??
Just priceless...

Olympus 35RD on Vimeo

Lino · « **Reply #24 on:** June 06, 2012, 06:37:19 PM »

Ok so if anyone's interested i'll gladly trade my canonet for a leica m (w/ lens please).

Ed Wenn · « **Reply #25 on:** June 13, 2012, 01:50:26 PM »

First Rush get a kicking and now Mauricio's having a pop a smooth jazz......can I join in?!

Leon, it's ALL ABOUT the romance of the project. To belittle the romance is to miss the point. To miss the point is to be a sensible human being.