How active a market for Sinar 4x5 lately?

[alan_schietzsch]

Our studio has a Sinar P 4x5 monorail that we're not using all that much, and

we're trying to decide if we should sell it.

It's a truly superb camera, but we have to consider that we're a business

rather than doing it only for the pleasure and art. More of our clients are

asking for digital than 4x5 chromes. Yet I love the camera...solid, smooth, it

feels like you're doing something tangible when creating a photo with it.

How active is the market for this sort of equipment these days, would *you*

keep or sell it?<div></div>

[dave_schneider]

I'd sell it, in fact I'll even offer you a hundred bucks!

 

You can certainly look at ebay and see that, yes, Sinar Ps sell regularly. You can even get a pretty good idea of the prices they might sell for.

[fred_de_van]

NnnnnAaaaHhhhhh: There is no market at all, so sell it to me for $110! (With Lenses)?

[ed_candland1]

$120 and not a penny more.

[john_bailey1]

Dear Alan

 

Over the last couple years, I have bought two P2 Sinars-a barely used 8x10 and a brand new 4x5 and I have sold a P 4x5. There continues to be a viable market. Depending on condition and accessories included, the P you have might get between $1,500 to $2,000 on Ebay. There is probably not much argument that the market size for 4x5 is smaller than in the past, but as you can tell from this forum there continues to be a cadre of interested users. An advantage you have in the P, of course, is that as a system all the parts and accessories from all their cameras interchange and remain available. So, a user wanting to 'step up' from one of their other cameras continues to be a viable buyer. There is a bit of seasonality and the fall would be a good time to test the market.

 

Consider a couple things in your decision process. Are you in a market where it is easy to rent LF when the need arises? Since you have owned this for some time and it is paid for, what is the 'cost' to you keeping it for the jobs requiring 4x5? If you had $1,500 from the sale, what would you buy with these funds and what would the return be on your money? How many jobs over the next year will this camera provide and can you make $1,500 by having it in your studio?

 

One last thing to think about is that digital of all formats is becoming more available and the cost is coming down. Sinar themselves just announced a new back with a larger chip size that will be shown at Photokina. Maybe in a year or two or five, the cost of a digital LF back might be in a range where this camera would again find more use.

 

Regards,

 

John Bailey

 

PS: I would be happy to put my bid in at $250, but you pay the shipping!!!

[wayne_crider4]

Alan, John makes a good point on the sales issue and what the

money will buy you as compared to keeping the camera. If he is

correct in his remark as to what the prices are for used ones, I

don't see selling it to be very prudent unless you really need

other equipment that requires you to sell what you have. I'm not

getting that impression tho in your thread.

 

The flip side is that digital is here and now and equipment

requirements are changing. Depending on your business you

may just need that 15K digital back if you want to pickup work

and stay alive in this economy. If that's the case, the Sinar is just

a tool that can be replaced in the future, and most likely for what

you sold yours for or cheaper. I think what it comes down to is

your cliental saying this is what we need and we want you to

supply it. If they want you to supply a 4x5 chrome then you need a

4x5 camera. But maybe in the end what you need is a drum

scanner?

[johan_erasmus]

One of the few remaining perks in the photography business is being able to keep some of the nicer the equipment after it has been amortised. This is also the perfect camera for the inevitable digital backs that must become available at more reasonable prices in time. I wouldn't sell it in a million years. You clearly feel the same or you wouldn't be asking the question. You don't need to justify every single investment in business terms within reason. Just know when you are spending (not saving) money because you want to, not because it is justified.

[neil_poulsen1]

At one time, it was possible to conduct a search of completed auctions on ebay. Lately, there've been a few auctions on EBay for this camera.

[dick roadnight cotswolds]

Keep it... or literally give it away for one fifth of what it would cost to replace new.

 

What else do you use, for what?

 

You could buy a MF back for the Sinar and use it for architecture, or get a 617 back and use it for landscape.

[alan_schietzsch]

Wow - John, Wayne, Johan, and the rest - you've made some really good

points, and given me a lot to think about. Which is exactly what I'd hoped for

in this discussion - what a great bunch you are!

 

I'm in a location where it's not easy to rent 4x5 if I should need it; then again,

I've only had one request for 4x5 work in nearly a year, which is what made

us start to think about selling it. So the demand doesn't seem likely.

 

Of course the minute I don't own it, it'll be in great demand, right? (-;

 

Interestingly, we *DID* own a drum scanner until recently; scanning business

has dropped off dramatically, just as digital demand has risen, and mid-small

"semi-pro" scanners have become more common.

 

We figured we should sell the drum while it was still worth something. It's

easy to get scans done at a number of places nearby.

 

I'm beginning to think that the smart thing to do would be to sell the Sinar,

even though you can tell I really like the machine. The proceeds would likely

go to an ultrawide lens for digital use (maybe a 14mm) which would be very

handy for interiors; the last architectural job I just did, the architect asked

specifically for digital! I have to admit that perspective correction and

removing signposts and wires is easier than ever.

 

I figure I will earn more from having a 14mm digital than from the remote

possibility that more 4x5 work comes in...and if the larger digital backs

become cheaper, it sound like I can always get a used Sinar again on eBay.

 

That's how it looks to me - what do you think? Have I missed anything?

[cxc]

Sounds like selling it and buying a 14mm may be a good idea.

 

I have coveted a Sinar P/2 for a while; even though I can't afford it, I have been monitoring eBay for a few months. There are almost always 2-5 up for bid at any one time. However, I have noticed that within about the last month that maybe half the auctions end with no bids. Don't count on getting more than $1000 for it on eBay.

 

Good luck,

 

CXC

[martin_pistor]

Hi Alan,

simply a lot of pros are in the same situation as you are. And a lot of them seems to need the money really urgently. The european market (don`t know the american) for sinars is totally down.

If you need the money sell something else. If you need the money that bad, o.k. you got a problem. If it`s just in the way, sell it. I bought two cameras lately: a P 5x7 (both bellows, 5x7 and 4x5 back) and a Nikon F100. Guess what did cost more...

[harry_pluta3]

Alan,

 

A short while ago I sold my Sinar F2 on eBay. I had a very extensive set-up including 4 bellows, multiple standards, etc. I could not get a nibble at $2,500.00, seems with the tight economy no one had the big bucksx to lay out. I then broke the system up and sold each standard, bellows, rail, etc seperatly. I ended up getting over $3,200.00 for all the parts! Everyone wanted that one piece to complete thier system.

 

Food for thought,

-harry