Items for Sale

Here's just a taste, because so many people are e-mailing me. Please don't contact me about these items yet; wait till I list prices.

[UPDATE: I guess I need to take that back and throw this open for dibs, because too many people are contacting me and asking for things. I'm working on prices now and will post an updated list soon. —M.]

Here's an incomplete list of some of the items I will be listing for sale: pristine Chamonix whole-plate view camera with three dedicated holders, in fitted bags (will trade for Deardorff 5x7 in good condition—"good" meaning, wear and age okay, crud and damage not. It will be for static display). Olympus E-M1 with very low use. This could be spoken for; I need to check with my friend John D. to see if he still wants it. Micro 4/3 Leica DG Macro-Elmarit 45mm ƒ/2.8 lens with hood; Sony NEX-6 body; Sony 24mm ƒ/1.8 lens; Minolta 35mm ƒ/2 AF RS lens for Sony Alpha SLRs or Minolta film cameras; Pentax 6x7 with metered finder; Pentax 135mm ƒ/4 Super-Multi-Coated Takumar lens, in extremely good condition; a jewel of a Zeiss Contessa; Canon Canonet QL17 rangefinder; Sony A900 24-MP full-frame digital camera with very low usage and in essentially new condition; Sony 85mm ƒ/2.8 AF lens; Pentax 645NII; Rolleiflex 6008AF body with handle, back, charger and two batteries; two clean, working Maxxum 7's; Rolleiflex 6008AF body with handle, back, charger, two batteries, 45° finder, and 80mm ƒ/2.8 AF-Xenotar lens; Panasonic GX7 silver body; rare Konica Hexanon 50mm ƒ/2.4 collapsible L-mount type lens for Leica mount (screwmount with M adapter); Konica M-Hexanon 35mm ƒ/2 Leica M-mount lens in perfect condition with both caps plus hood; Panasonic 20mm ƒ/1.7 Lumix G AF lens, first type, with fitted aftermarket hood; Canon EOS-1v film camera; Pentax FA 31mm ƒ1.8 lens; Nikon Nikkor 58mm ƒ1.4G lens; Nikon Nikkor 28mm ƒ/1.8G; Nikon HP high-eyepoint finder for F3; and a Mamiya 7 with 80mm ƒ/4 lens, black.

There's more but that's all I can remember at the moment and I think that covers the high points, mostly. I need to move this stuff out the door so prices will be designed to tempt. I'll also have a lot of nice darkroom equipment to list, including: the best densitometer; a Peak/Micromega Type 1 designed by Professor F. Koana and made by the Tohkai Sangyo Company of Japan; a Vintage Kodak Process Thermometer; an antique printing frame; a now-rare SaltHill print washer (probably for pickup only, just so you're warned); my "sleeper" Omega Omicron-El 4x5 enlarging lens which is a relabeled El-Nikkor and one of Nikon's best (it'll be very cheap though); lots of the best film reels ever made, which are to garden variety spirals as a Ferrari is to a Fiat; and what I consider to be the best enlarging timer...and believe me, I gave the matter considerable thought and research, back in the day. (Darkroom was not fun for everyone, but for those of us to whom it was fun, it was lots of fun.)

I think my one remaining modest Saunders/LPL enlarger will be free to a good home, to whomever is willing to come pick it up. The big AF Durst, the truly awesome Leitz Focomat IIc, and the big Saunders/LPL 4500II with its workhorse Apo-Rodagon 80mm ƒ/4 that paid for itself many many times over are all gone now. Sic transit Gloria Mundi.

Mike

Original contents copyright 2015 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site.

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(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:

Luis Aribe: "Just out of curiosity, which are 'the best film reels ever made'? I had always thought that, to paraphrase Gertrude Stein, reel is a reel is a reel, but it seems to have been just one of many gaps in my photographic culture."

Mike replies: They are made by Hewes in the U.K. and were sometimes marketed under the name "King Concept" in the U.S. Years ago they were about 4X as expensive as regular reels; current B&H price for a 35mm reel is $30.

They are heavy duty, beautifully fabricated, and have a welded plate with prongs in the center instead of the usual spring clip—much easier to load and much more foolproof—virtually impossible to "start" the film wrong.

Comments

[Sal Santamaura]

"...a Vintage Kodak Process Thermometer..."

Be forewarned: shipping that item in compliance with all regulations (it has mercury in it) will be difficult and expensive. Research in advance and price accordingly!

[Joseph Brunjes]

Interested in the Rolleiflex 6008af with the 80mm, Pentax 645NII, and 6x7.

[Joseph Brunjes]

Oh... And the canon 1V as well.

[Dave Jenkins]

Selling a Fuji X-T1 by any chance?

[Will]

Mike,

There's a lot of blog history in that list! The A900 and Minolta 35mm f/2.0; the whole-plate camera; most of your early forays into mirrorless, and tons more we never heard about, like a collection of Pentax medium format gear.

Sad to see you admitting in public that you're buying a view camera as a display item. Haven't you complained about such practices before?

Happy to see that your Fuji exploits aren't on the chopping block. I'd love to read more about your experiences with the system.

You're unloading so much, it might be easier (and fun) to write a post about what all gear you're keeping in this purge, and why.

Purges are great. A few years ago I unloaded a bunch of stuff I had. It's amazing how many lenses a person can end up holding onto for systems they no longer own...

[Hi Will, I was never a view camera shooter. Don't have the gene. I used a Wista 4x5 for a whole summer with color neg film and P/N Type 55 and that was basically enough for me. I love the cameras and I love the work some people can do with them, but there's no loss to the world in me not mucking about with one. --Mike]

[Shaun]

Mike,
I'm interested in a few film reels (and tank if it comes with them).

[Chris Beloin]

Some of the Micro 4/3's items interest me - I will be passing through Waukesha this Weds - Can I stop by in the afternoon sometime?

Chris

[Trecento]

Huzzah!
I'll give this a lot of thought, Mike. It's really neat to see a collection of working tools, chosen for quality of their abilities instead of by fad or fashion.

[Mike Pasini]

Here's all the gear (I think) reformatted in an easy-to-read list to encourage any virtual window shopping...

[Bob McAnally]

For you, no need to post.

For your next sale post, for Sony lenses please separate and designate E-mount, FE-mount and A-mount for clarity. Thanks

[Yonatan Katznelson]

Just curious - have you tried shooting the Pentax FA 31 on the XT-1?
If so, what do you think?

[john wintheiser]

I wish I could afford the Mamiya 7. That camera always made me tingle all over.

[Tomas]

Am
I
the
only
one
who
does
not
like
reading
list
inline
?
:)

[Brad B]

I've always wanted a Mamiya 6 or 7. Then again, my house seems to want a new roof. Oh well, priorities.

[Bryce Lee]

None of the items are of interest, to me. Hopefully you'll receive a fair price for the advertised goods, and there shall be more space in your house and your life, afterwards.

[cfw]

I guess you forgot to list the six (6) mint condition Leicas?

[Michael Roche]

Good luck with sale Mike,I'm not in the market for any items and I'm sure they will be snapped up,however seeing what you have accumulated has make me feel much better about myself,maybe I'm not so addicted to GAS after-all.

[Cecil Williams]

I'm interested in your maxxum 7's.
Let me know if they're still available
And how much?

[Ruby]

If only I'd know you had an FA 31. I just got one three weeks ago.

[ShadZee]

Pentax FA 31mm ƒ1.8 lens... If I remember correctly, you called it "the best AF lens ever made"

[Rick Wilcox]

O boy. The Leitz Focamat llc enlarger. I used one in the Navy back in the 60's. Best enlarger around, bar none. Slim pickin's on eBay. Put me on the lust list for that one.

Unless, of course, you don't ship to Oregon.

[Robert Harshman]

Good luck with the sale Mike. It seems to me to simply speak to the volume of great gear we now all have the potential to use. While a very nice list, there is not one item that I would have any use for. But again, that's simply because the list of great gear is now endless. Today we now find ourselves where if you can't make a great picture with your phone, you can't make a great picture with any camera.

[Ned Bunnell]

Just sayin it ain't fair...you tease us with a list of gear...then tell me not to contact you about my interest in the Pentax 67 :)

[Peter Komar]

Oh my gosh, King Concept reels now that takes me back. I probably in my career as a Industrial Photographer must have loaded thousands of rolls of 35 mm and 120 film on those reels. They are the best ever made and well worth the price, buy them!! King Concept made a e-6 film processor back in the film days as well.

[MarkB]

Lots of nice stuff there, Mike, but after many careful reads, I'm still not seeing an Exakta 66 in there! ;)

Also, who(m?)ever snags that Mamiya 7 will also be the deserving recipient of my envy.

[Mani Sitaraman]

"...truly awesome Leitz Focomat IIc..."

I see you saved your best superlatives for the Focomat. And yet...and yet...

Maybe my aging memory fails me, but wasn't Mike Johnston the man who once wrote a column decrying the cult of the Focomat enlarger?

But those Hewes reels...I'm seriously tempted, even if, in all likelihood, I'll never use them again.

[The Focomat's quality of light didn't suit my printing style. But in terms of build quality, no enlarger was ever better made. It's as if it embodies the soul of Germany in terms of design and workmanship. --Mike]

[Harrison Cronbi]

Mike,

If this was a list of Panini Football Stickers (I guess baseball cards would be the closest US equivalent), and we were playing swapsies, I would have uttered 'need it' six times, and 'got it' five times. Some real beauties there.

Harrison

[Robert Roaldi]

Holy crow, you're going to end up with a lot of shelf space.

[psu]

Among the pile of darkroom things that I never use but probably will not get rid of, I have a half dozen or so Hewes reels in 35mm and 120. The 120 ones in particular are just great.

[Harvey Bernstein]

Mamiya 7 good, Mamiya 6 better...much better!

[kirk tuck]

Dibs on the Canonet. Must have.

[Ian Land]

I have a Chamonix 5x4 and a Chamonix 10x8. They are fantastic cameras, lightweight, well made, versatile. I have no need for a whole plate camera but that is likely to be one hell of a camera for the right person.

[Chad Thompson]

I think this happened last time you were trying to sell the Single Use Device... I didn't have the money. Being self employed, I don't get a tax return this time of year so I'll have to see what I can come up with. So what would one expect to pay for such a thing?

[Gato]

Interesting to read about the Hewes / King Concept reels. I always knew some reels were much better than others, but not sure I ever encountered what you describe. Since most, maybe all, my reels were bought used I don't even know what brands I had, but I was very picky about them.

[Andrea B.]

I'm interested in that Nikkor 28/1.8G.

[steven Ralser]

Might be interested in the em1 if it's still available, and other micro 4/3 stuff. I was actually going to wait till you posted the list.

[hugh crawford]

I'm kind of interested in the Konica M-Hexanon 35mm ƒ/2 Leica M-mount if I can afford it.

That list of stuff you dragged to the Goodwill a while back was more my speed.

On the off chance there is an Apo-Rodagon-R or other repro lens lurking in your darkroom ...

[David Dyer-Bennet]

Hewes reels? Huh, somehow missed even having heard of them. I remember the actual Honeywell reels had a slot in the center rather than a spring clip, and were much easier to load. After about my first week I never had trouble starting film in a stainless steel reel. Nearly always had trouble with the later plastic reels (the ones the people considered "good", not the complete amateur ones) though.

[Bruce K]

I'm interested in the: Konica M-Hexanon 35mm ƒ/2 Leica M-mount lens in perfect condition with both caps plus hood

[Dwo]

I'm interested in all the Pentax and Nikon gear.

[david]

Mike,
Dibs on the Lumix 20mm.
The Peak grain focuser is also very tempting (depending on your price).
cheers,
David

[Chip McDaniel]

Dibs on the Zeiss Contessa.

[John Krumm]

This reminds me of a big yard sale I had with a sign that said it starts at 9am... and "no early birds". People ignored the sign as early as 7:30 am, walking over and around the orange string I had in front, asking me about prices as I scrambled to finish setting up.

Good luck. Sounds like it will be a quick sale. Hopefully you can wring a few plane tickets out of it, if that's your goal.

[Juan Flores]

I may well have to take the Sony/Zeiss 24mm ƒ/1.8 lens off your hands, assuming you'll ship to Europe (I seem to remember that you didn't in your previous sales, though).

[Mike Cytrynowicz]

Hewes: and the main reason for using them is that they won't easily bend out of shape if you drop them (and you will). Ever so slightly bending of other reel brands made it quite hard to load them...

[Larry Watson]

How much for the Nikon 58mm f1.4G. This is the newer portrait version lens, correct? The one that came out about 2 years ago? That has the beautiful bokeh? Thanks, Larry

[Kevin Purcell]

Mike:

Take a look at the way Thom Hogan does this:

http://www.bythom.com/welcome-to-thombay.html

List the items on separate lines on a dedicated page (and make it sticky to show at the top of the blog?).

Cluster the items into sections: cameras, lenses, darkroom, etc (as Mike Pasini shows).

Give each one a serial number or name (e.g. ZC1 for the Zeiss Contax)

Ask people to email that number in the subject line to you. That makes who asked first easier to short out. And when they drop out who asked second. Multiple emails for multiple items.

Provide a price including shipping. You can drop it when it doesn't move.

Update the page each day when an item is PENDING sale (waiting for funds) or SOLD (finds received).

This will make it easier for folks to ask for an item that's still available and easier for you to track them items sold and unsold.

[Rufus Cone]

Would take 4 35mm Hewes reels if still available.

[Reg Quiring]

Ohhh... If someone else hasn't officially called dibs pn your Pentax FA 31 LTD lens, I never thought I'd complete a set of the FA LTDs. I've enjoyed the FA 43 and FA 77 for years and am now inspired to add the 31.
What color is this one?

[Frank Petronio]

Mike,
You're probably going to be overwhelmed. Why not give your gear to a trusted eBayer with a perfect reputation and organized manner to sell it for you and give them a 10-15% commission? You'll come out ahead at the end of the day plus help someone else generate some revenue, it's a win-win. (I'm not that person, just saying....)

Good Luck,

Frank

[Frank Petronio]

Mike,
You're probably going to be overwhelmed. Why not give your gear to a trusted eBayer with a perfect reputation and organized manner to sell it for you and give them a 10-15% commission? You'll come out ahead at the end of the day plus help someone else generate some revenue, it's a win-win. (I'm not that person, just saying....)

Good Luck,

Frank

[-et-]

In view of your update and change of method, I'll mention that - depending upon the details - I think that I am interested in the Sony 85mm f:2.8 lens.

- Tom -

[Iran Ramirez]

Pentax 31mm, How much??!! Do want!!

[Kristine Hinrichs]

Interested in the Panasonic 20mm. Mine was stolen at MKE lakefront so I'm close enough to pick it up (and pining for that great lens in my bag again)

[Gabe]

Please keep me informed price wise on the Konica Leica mount lenses. Somehow, you always have a clearance when my financial resources are more limited than usual. Or is it that my financial resources are always more limited than usual ? Next time I'd appreciate a six month, non-published, private warning, complete with slide show, music, laugh track, and Butters' certified testing results.

Thank You.

[Bob Rosinsky]

I'm interested in your 4 X 5 enlarger lens--assuming it's 135mm/M39 mount.

[Dan Gerth]

Mike:
I'm interested in the GX-7 when you get ready to push the button.

Dan

[Peter Van Dyken]

Mike,

If your Gx7 is gone and Dan Gerth wants mine it's as new with some beautiful lenses.

Peter