Opportunity for collectors??

[tim_sewell]

If this post is seen to be totally out of place and against forum

rules, then I apologise in advance. I will also understand if it is

deleted quick smart by our moderator. I am merely posting it for the

possible benefit of serious collectors of classic vintage equipment.

I have benefitted from so much expert and specialist advice on this

forum over past months, and just want to repay some of that in a

small way.

 

Right now there is some astonishing stuff being auctioned on

****.com.au, which would not be shown to lurkers (like myself) who

limit their searches to equipment located in their own country of

residence. I suspect that some of this stuff only comes up for sale

once in a blue moon.

 

Two examples that caught my attention : a Zoomar 500mm f/2.8 mirror

lens(yes, 2.8 - not a typo on my part; that has already gone well

past my psychological price for frivolous purchases, and is probably

beyond the capacity of my biceps anyway) and a Vivitar 600mm solid

cat mirror lens.

 

Perhaps I should add that my only relationship with the shop that is

selling these items is as an irregular customer. I have bought one

lens, one ever ready case, two lens caps and one CF card from them,

and have no 'interest' (other than that of a lurking spectator) in

the outcome of their auctions.

[alex_lofquist]

Those are both interesting lenses. I know the "Solid Cat" only by reputation. It was designed and originally built by Perkin-Elmer (perhaps by the Boller and Schivens(sp) division?) Extremely compact and durable.

[dominic_.]

Be careful about scams.....

[tim_sewell]

<i>Dominic Popowich , mar 24, 2004; 09:46 p.m.

Be careful about scams.....</i>

<br><br>

Dominic,

Exactly what I thought when I saw 500 f/2.8. But...would a scam artist invite locals to his shop to inspect the goods before bidding?

<br><br>

Taking up that invitation, this morning I walked into the shop that is selling this equipment, and asked to look at the Zoomar. I might add that the shop is a well known and renowned photographic dealer in Lonsdale Street, Melbourne.

<br><br>

What I saw was simply mind-blowing. The Zoomar looks more like a small searchlight than a camera lens. It would be about 12 inches or so in diameter, and Jeff (the man photographed in the auction notice) told me that it weighs 12 kg (say 26 pounds, give or take a few ounces).

<br><br>

This is most certainly NOT a scam. (Though the more people who can be persuaded that it might be a scam, the better the chance of my being able to afford the Zoomar, even if I could not lift it!).

[tim_sewell]

Just a warning to anyone who might have been persuaded to bid for the Vivitar Solidcat 600mm, with the intention of fitting it to a D100. Strictly speaking, it does not fit onto a D100 properly.

 

An hour or so ago I asked someone at the vendor's shop to show me how well it would fit, and he was surprised to find that it is not a straight forward exercise.

 

http://www.nikonians.org/dcforum/DCForumID84/1760.html has a post that tells how one can make it fit, involving the use of a cardboard spacer (or shim?) to nudge the T-mount slightly back on its thread, so that the lens will not rub on the flash housing of the D100.

 

Somehow, the idea of depending on a piece of cardboard, (and possible weakening of the lens/camera connection by reducing the thread engagement in the T-mount?) does not appeal to me. I have now taken the Vivitar 600mm Solidcat off my lust list.