$600 SX-70 Land Cameras

erco

All my treasures are finally worth something! First Koala Pads appreciated, now these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/EX-Polaroid-SX-70-Land-camera-SONAR-Oenstep-/280668075161?pt=Film_Cameras&hash=item41591ef499 Several in the $400-600 category, and here's a 24K gold edition for $850! http://www.ebay.com/itm/POLAROID-SX-70-SONAR-AUTOFOCUS-24kt-GOLD-ANNIVERSARY-LAND-CAMERA-BOX-NEAR-MINT-/290702531735?pt=Film_Cameras&hash=item43af389c97

I think of all the times I considered gutting this camera in the closet for a sonar sensor, but didn't. Better Ebay sonar sensors are all of $2 now.

I think my Predicta TVs will continue appreciating for a while, and when Commodore 64's hit the $1000 mark, watch out! My relay collection alone must be worth a king's ransom...

Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)

Can you even get film for them anymore? The SX70 was a truly innovative piece of hardware, but it took really crappy photos. Although they didn't fade as quickly, the metallic dyes used in its film packs just didn't render color as well as the organic dyes used in other photographic film.

-Phil

RobotWorkshop

I guess the price increase may be partly my fault. A while back those cameras were selling for well under $20 (shipped) and I've scrapped out many of them for the sonar sensors and boards. I guess that makes them more rare now.....

erco

Yep, the pics were always second rate; I have no interest in getting film and using it. I like it mainly for its cool linkages & that tactile rubber bellows. Great technology for its time. Just got this nifty old Kodak camera off Ebay for $7, might have to clear a shelf and put these vintage cameras on display.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261006279229?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

RobotWorkshop

With your affinity toward wood I would have thought you'd be looking at one of these:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Vintage-Eastman-Kodak-No-2-5x7-Wood-Camera-Empire-State-No-2-/200750095794

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-1800s-Rare-Wood-Folding-Field-Camera-W-Bellows-Albert-Glock-Lens-/110862462364

GordonMcComb

Yes, you can still get film packs for these if you fudge or get specialty film from a small lab in Europe. Some artists use the film to do weird special effects while it's developing. Dipping parts of the film into cold or hot water, for example, or pressing your fingers against the film when it's just come out, can yield unusual results.

I've taken apart a number of SX-70s, but most weren't in working shape to begin with, with broken optics or worse. I doubt they could fetch $60 let alone $600.

-- Gordon

GordonMcComb

So I bopped around on eBay and these listings are from dreamers. Most have 0 bids, and likely to stay that way. At most the used cameras are worth about $50 to $150, because they sell new/mind/refurbished starting at $100 for non-folding type, and about $400 for like-new reburbed SX-70 Sonars.

The rollers in these cameras can cake up and corrode, making them unusable. Repair is at least $100, so it makes no sense to buy a used and possibly uncared for SX-70 for upwards of $800. Lest you think the 24K model is worth it for the gold, it's a very thin coating over a platable *plastic*. (Though the body looks like metal, it's plastic.) I imagine it's virtually impossible to reclaim the gold, and if you did it would be maybe $10 or $20 worth.

Sorry, Erco. Looks like you'll need to keep going to work for a little while longer. There's always your Corvair if you need a couple of extra bucks for a burger at In 'n Out.

-- Gordon

erco

SELL the Corvair? I'll switch to plastic and Propellers before that!