The 4x5's are uncommon but not rare; one in good working order including matched lenses can be had for less than $1000, sometimes a lot less. It's the 8x10 that's unobtainium. But it's anybody's guess as to whether they can actually find a buyer at anywhere near that price if they put it up on eBay.Originally Posted by BarryS
I think I'm going to be ill. I passed up one selling for $400.
Honestly, it didn't look particularly usable as a working camera to me and I had no idea of the value.
Yikes - so it was really an 8x10 that you passed up?
Agreed. The fairly similar Cambo mugshot TLRs (which don't look quite as sexy but which were more heavy duty and fit components from a fully grown camera system) have often had a hard time selling on ebay if the price was considerably above the value of the lenses...
Ebay can be a great place for reaching buyers who are willing to pay a premium.
I've shared the information with some collector friends who love this kind of stuff. Whether it will sell at this price or not is to be seen but those who I spoke with weren't tripping over themselves at the current price.
Once they get it up on ebay, the thing might fetch even more then they're asking, who knows!
Seriously, though, it's so unwieldy that it is pretty useless as a general-purpose camera. Either you really want one because you happen to need its peculiar set of features, or there's no point.
Since Peter is no longer with us to ask. However, my long time friend Ed Meyers invented the 8x10 Smashelblad SLR, perhaps he could tell us about that one.
Lynn
What is this Smashelblad you speak of??
Its lenses are magicbulletars and bullshitars.
So did anyone buy this thing?
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