Talk about bidding frenzy . Check this out.

[Louis Pacilla]

I can hardly believe this auction http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Koda...item232612f330. What do you think? will this end in an unpaid item dispute and then it will be re-listed where it will sell for $600-$700 like it should? Don't get me wrong I hope the seller knocks it out of the park. Good for all but the buyer.

Oh Yea! I have no connection to the seller.

[Lachlan 717]

Compared to a beaten up, holed-bellows Deardorff sans any lens that sells for significantly more, I think this is (currently) a realistic price.

It is in outstanding condition, and it's from a reputable Seller. Oh, and it's "just add film and shoot". That, too, could be a factor to the Bidder(s).

I doubt, thought, that it's worth much more than it's currently at ($1,075).

[Brian Ellis]

Maybe I missed something, I just skimmed the listing. But the only thing a little unusual I noticed is that there seem to be 3 or 4 people bidding who don't know how to bid on ebay. The price right now would be a good deal for the buyer if the camera is in as good shape as it appears to be and if the lens is o.k. as the seller indicates it is. $1,100 for a mint 2D even without the lens wouldn't be a bad price, I think I sold mine for about that without a lens though mine had been modified to add front tilt. $600-$700 for a 2D in this condition and with a decent lens would be a steal for somebody.

[Jim Graves]

It also comes with the sliding tripod block ... which in this condition adds about $125 to the deal.

[Tracy Storer]

Yep. Seems fair to me as well with the triple convertible Turner Reich, which are actually often rather good.

[IanG]

It's perhaps slightly more than some go for but still not unreasonable if you can live with no front tilt, and it's in greta condition.

Another point to remember is few cameras like this get sold outside the US/'Canada and when they do prices tend to be considerably higher so often those of us wanting 10x8 cameras may be prepared to pay slightly more than US buyers.

Ian

[goamules]

Well I've bought several 2Ds, Senecas, and Empires for about 1/5th that price. But maybe I try harder than most. I guarantee you, there will be 3-4 similar cameras sold in the next month for less than half. Here's one not quite in as good a shape, no block, but with a giant B&L IC Tessar and the beautiful golden mahogany that was on the early Centuries before Kodak bought them and started painting them "Barn Door Brown." It just sold for $250. 200864409118

[IanG]

There's a danger of not really comparing like for like or the condition and then the integrity of the seller. Some of the cameras mentioned are not as robust as others,

I can and do quite regularly buy LF cameras for very low prices (less than $100) and then with mostly a little work and quite low costs fully restore them, but that's quite different to getting cameras like this in very good condition.

As has been pointed out earlier some of these cameras are far better built than others, probably the best of all of these US style cameras were the Agfa Ansco's but the Kodak 2D isn't very far behind at all, compared to a Deardorff they are leagues ahead in terms of stability. There was nothing similar made in Europe, these are like souped up British & German (& European) tailboard cameras.

Ian

[Roger Thoms]

Way to rich for my blood, I would consider that top dollar, and would say the seller did quite well. It does look like a very clean camera. My recent 810 2D purchase was also very clean with ext. rail, 2 tripod blocks, 2film holders, and lens was little under half of what this camera sold for. I spent several monthes looking for mine, here on LFPF, on Ebay, and on Craigslist, and finely found one one craigslist. So the deals are out there if you are patient, also a little luck helps.

Roger

[goamules]

Ian, I agree the early 20th century cameras were robust, they have to be to still be used! We should remember that Kodak bought a lot of competitors out, and merged with several of the better camera makers, as stated on some of their labels "...Version of the Empire State and Century Improved..." The Century No. 2 was a beautiful camera with French Polished (appearing) Lacquer, AAA quality Mahogany, and heavy brass brightwork. They were so good Kodak bought them to avoid competition. The movements and tightening mechanisms on all of these are largely the same. The difference between the earlier ones and the Kodak 2Ds is better fit and finish on the former. They work the same. I've looked at the later ANSCOs and Gundlach Koronas which also work very well, and sometimes have more movements. But their wood is not as nice.