[Leica] Re: [CVUG] Death of film impact on classic camera sales

[mak at teleport.com (mak@teleport.com)]

I noticed Japanese collectors searching for the Sony TPSL2, the first 
Walkman, among other things of late...cameras are not the priority they once 
were...

We all know that ebay leveled prices around the world a few years ago for 
most collectible cameras...

Obviously there will always be a place in people's hearts for fine 
mechanical items like Leica nad Nikon RFs but what will happen to the tens 
of millions of run of the mill classics? 

Are Canon FTbs Minolta SRTs and Pentax Spotmatics destined to be thrift 
store fodder in bins and totes next to 8mm cameras, Kodak folders and Argus 
C3 Bricks?

Has the flow of cameras back to Japan slowed as older collectors retire?

I realize there are vast numbers of Barnack Camera toting 25-55 year olds 
but even here I have heard that digital has made inroads as well...





-----Original Message-----
From: Stephen Gandy <leicanikon@earthlink.net>
Sent: Apr 19, 2005 9:22 PM
To: lug@leica-users.org, luc@cameraquest.org, cvug@cameraquest.org, 
        rflist@cameraquest.org
Subject: [CVUG] End of an Era, Tak of Mac Camera Retires 

Since his arrival in Los Angeles in 1979, Tak of Mac camera was one of
the leading Japanese buyers of classic cameras in the US.  He traveled
to the largest camera shows, seemingly with a never ending bundle of
cash, usually paying more than his competitors to get the finest classic
cameras.  Few people know classic cameras or the classic camera
marketplace better. Strangely enough, Tak is not a camera  collector.
His detachment helped him make the right business decisions, time after
time.  Over the last 10 years or so, Tak was the leading US Japanese
camera buyer in the US.

I am sorry to report that Tak has retired and moved back to Japan.  The
US classic camera market simply won't be the same without him.   Unless
Tak changes his mind, the Carson Camera show last week was his last US
show.

Stephen Gandy


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