I'm tempted!!! - How good is this deal?

[draebyllek]

I've already got a Cambo SC with a couple of lenses, but I want a field camera and not a monorail. What say you all?

For Sale $3,600 In Like New Condition

Ebony SV45U2 With Assymtrical Tilts with:
Schneider 210 APO Symmar 1:5.6/210 Ser.# 14343182
Schneider Super Angulon 1:5.6/90 Ser # 14409638
Fujinon T 1:8/300 Ser # 703627
Caltar II-N 1:5.6?150 Ser. # 10541598

Fuji Quickload Holder
Polaroid Holder 545i
10 4X5 film Holders
Ebony Focusing Cloth
Ebony Lens Shade Clip
Toyo Lupe
Changing Bag

[cyrus]

The only thing you're really paying for here is the Ebony brand though the lenses are nice. So how badly do you specifically want an Ebony?

[Steve Hamley]

It's a decent deal if as described; the camera is over $4K new and usually sells for $2,500-$2,600 in good used shape, so you have a grand in everything else.

I doubt you'd do much better than break even if you bought it and parted it out, but buying the kit together is nice if you're wanting an outfit.

The camera has plenty of bellows for a regular 300mm, so the telephoto doesn't quite make sense to me.

Cheers, Steve

[sepstein17]

It's all about wants and not needs. I want a Deardorff 5x7-- willing to pay the price when less expensive 5x7s are available but that's what I want. Like Cyrus penned -- is it a field camera or an Ebony you want? It's all in satisfying your heirarchies of wants vs. needs...

[Greg Lockrey]

Where were you 2 months ago?

[Jim Galli]

Looks like a great deal to me. The worst you could possibly do is piece it out and re-sell and probably make a handsome profit. And, typically in a free economy, there's a reason why a "big name" is a big name, and why elegant things demand more money. Arguably you can make the same picture with a Burke & James gray battleship and a 203 f7.7 Optar. You can drive down the road in a YUGO too.

[Steve Hamley]

I might add that I have an Ebony SV45U, and it is my main 4x5 camera. I've carried it all over the southern Appalachians for years.

It's true you can make the same image with cheaper cameras, but the Ebony "disappears" to me when using it. I'm not thinking about the camera. All the controls are easily distinguishable by feel under the dark cloth.

Asymmetric movements are nice if you use rear movements, which I do especially doing landscape, but you can set the back at the same angle by iteration (slower) of a symmetric back.

But, if you want a field camera, Ebonys are the king of them.

Cheers, Steve

[r.e.]

If you already own a 4x5 camera and two lenses, and presumably various accessories, there are only two questions:

1. How badly do you want an Ebony, which Steve Hamly says is worth $2,500-$2,600 used.

2. Is the additional gear worth $1,000 to you and what are you going to do with the duplicate gear acquired as a result of this purchase?

[cyrus]

But really, is an Ebony THAT much better than a Toyo?

[ki6mf]

or a Shen Hao at $700?