> What are swapmeets like elsewhere? Do you actually see contemporary > autofocus equipment for sale? Or has that sort of stuff been shunted > to online auction sites for higher profits? > > - Neil K. >
Hi Neil, The swap meets out here in California are pretty good even though we are the geek capital of the world (hey, I can say this as I myself am a tech geek). In this month's issue of WIRED magazine there is an interesting article that has finally brought to the public eye (well to some of the public anyway), that in areas with high concentrations of real geeks like the Si valley there are huge numbers of children being diagnosed as autistic. Kind of scary as it seems that to be able to be skilled technically there needs to be some level of autism in your DNA. I guess this could explain a lot of things. Anyway, in Buena Park there is a large show that has been around for a long, long time. The BP show has contracted (hey, isn't that a new baseball term?), somewhat in the last two years but it still represents a large show with lots of EOS gear and virtually any EOS body or lens you might want to buy or not for that matter. There is also a huge collection of manual cameras of every type, model and condition for sale at every price you can imagine. Mint 1930's Leicas to 2001 limited edition M6's, 8x10 views and dozens and dozens of Rollei and Blads, Contax, Minox and mint boxed Kodak 110 cameras. I think that the slight contractions in my local camera shows is probably due the explosion of eBay but there is no substitute for seeing and handling a potential new toy. A lot of people like to deal directly with people, not through the ether and FedEx or UPS. The camera shows are not necessarily the best place to buy used gear but they are pretty good IMO and are also a good source of used camera dealers from around the country. I have probably spent $4,000-$5,000 over the last couple of years at the B.P. show and at the Pasadena show and am very happy with the quality and prices of the items I've purchased. As with any market environment you have to know what you are looking at (model, what you want, value, condition), and set a goal as to what you are willing to pay for a particular item of a given condition to get the best deals. I've been saying for years that if anyone wants to hook up at the B.P. show I'll buy the coffee and donuts for the walk around. Once in a while I get a taker and have to spring for the coffee and donuts. A serious look at all of the tables takes an hour or two and is a great way to have an inexpensive, interesting morning OR a really expensive one. It's worth the $5 admission to have a look around each month if you are always actively looking for equipment to add to your lens quiver or equipment bag(s). Speaking of bags, if you are a bag freak like so many of us, there are sometimes good used bags with name brands to be found there at good prices. Hey I was at Samy's Camera in L.A. and they have new condition, but marked as used 400mm Domke long lens bags for $50, a good deal if you are looking for a place to park one of these 14lbs., 14" lenses. Alternately you could just park it at my house! Additionally, if you are looking for film or filters, this is the place to buy them! The film prices are often lower than the sale prices of cold stored films with expired date codes and these are often times very fresh. I've got five or six bricks of my favorite pro Kodak and Fuji tranny and print films with fresh date codes stored in the deep freezer that I bought for less than $2 a roll. At these prices there is no reason to buy consumer films IMO. The filters are all there, Hoya, Tiffen, B+W and more brands I've never heard of than I ever thought possible. I bought all my filter there once I found this show. Also used and new EF lens hoods for $5-10 show up sporadically, just tossed into the Rubbermaid boxes on the tables. There is hope for camera show buyers but I only go to these two. There is also a pretty good show in Santa Monica CA and I've heard in San Diego CA also. Regards, Chip Louie * **** ******* *********************************************************** * For list instructions, including unsubscribe, see: * http://www.a1.nl/phomepag/markerink/eos_list.htm ***********************************************************
