Cirkut Camera

[tylercooney]

Does anyone know the approximate value of a 8inch Cirkut camera? or where I could find one? I have been offered one for $3000. The camera is in great working condition and has been used by the same person for about 51 years. It would include the tripod, lens, gears, and the back. Thanks.

[Jim Galli]

Will Whitaker has a No. 8 complete that I made the photo you see here with.

http://tonopahpictures.0catch.com/TonopahCirkut_s.jpg (http://tonopahpictures.0catch.com/TonopahCirkut_1.jpg)

That was a first try. I think Will is looking for $1800-ish and it's VERY complete and a proven good runner. WFW on this forum. So $3000 may be too much.

Click on the little one for a large version.

[David A. Goldfarb]

If the $3000 camera doesn't have the banding issues that the $1800 camera has, judging by Jim's photo, it may be worth the premium.

[Gene McCluney]

If the $3000 camera doesn't have the banding issues that the $1800 camera has, judging by Jim's photo, it may be worth the premium.

That banding could be due to the actual film used. I read somewhere that Efke had "issues" with banding on their ULF films, due to their antiquated coating line. It could also be due to processing issues in hand dip-n-dunk processing of the large negative.

[David A. Goldfarb]

Could be, but banding problems are unsurprising in old Cirkut cameras, which isn't to say that they might not be repairable.

[Jim Galli]

If the $3000 camera doesn't have the banding issues that the $1800 camera has, judging by Jim's photo, it may be worth the premium.

Gimme a break, it was my first try and the 8" film cut down from 9 1/2" was rough.

[Scott --]

Jim, that is too stinkin' cool...

[Leonard Robertson]

Not so many years ago, Cirkut values were based on professional photographers using them to shoot groups, and making considerable money with them. The 2 1/4" pan cameras, and more recently digital have for the most part taken over that function, I suspect. That, plus the problems getting film, have knocked Cirkut prices down quite a bit. Ten or more years ago, $5000 for a #10 Camera and $3000 for a #8 Outfit wouldn't have been unheard of. Today, I'd guess $2500-3000 for a #10 and $1200-1500 for an #8 are more typical. I'm mostly basing this on eBay sales I've seen over the last few years, not dealer asking prices. However, a Cirkut you can actually watch run, or at least one from a seller you trust to assure you it is great running condition, would be worth a bit more, maybe up to the $1800 Jim mentions. For that price, I would want one in nice cosmetic condition, too. Cirkuts tend to be like Speed Graphics - most were used enough you seldom see one in mint condition. Nice cosmetics doesn't assure a good running camera, but a really rough one might have been used enough to have wear in the shaft bearings.

In the last few months, there have been a few posts on Cirkuts, either on this forum, photo.net, or APUG. If you are considering a Cirkut, you should search the archives for all the information you can find, especially on film sources.