UZI trends?

We all see very good shots posted here on OTF taken with the UZI.

I have an UZI and I hope to keep it going for a long time. So I bought another non-working camera from ebay. It just won't turn on (SDS?) It otherwise looks almost new. This was to be my parts camera and maybe if I can fix it, my backup camera.

Previously I had restored a couple of other UZI's with the mode dial problem and they are now being used by other members of the family. These repairs were at the time just some thing to keep me busy, did not cost me a lot of money, but they are now still taking pictures and being enjoyed by others.

This post is to, I hope, generate some interest in a trend I see developing for the last six months in watching ebay auctions for the c-2100uz. I think the UZI is entering a new final stage of its life cycle.

Working used c-2100uz’s seem to be still available on ebay and there seems to be four/six cameras up for bid most of the time.

Non-working c-2100uz cameras seem to be few and far between, in listings on ebay. This is the area of camera condition that I am interested in. Currently I have one non-working as I mentioned earlier. I have hopes for acquiring a couple more. Recently there was one up for bid with the broken mode dial, which I bid on and was outbid, in the last few seconds. There is another one that still has a bit of time to the auction end. This second cam has the "card door" problem. My intent was to acquire both cams and make them into one good one and still have a bunch of other parts left over. This composite camera was to be my working backup spare and I still would have another, a parts camera.

The non-working cameras are in my opinion, selling for too much money. Working cameras sell for about $120 while non-working cams get about $50. These numbers are based on other gear attached to the auction and are just an average.

Since OLY put the c-2100uz on their "do not service" list, they also must have sold all their service repair parts. Is this the reason why non-working cameras are worth so much money? Are the people who have the repair parts buying up these “broken” cams?

But the reason for this post is to let all the UZI die-hards know that the UZI, I think is entering its last stages of its life cycle and if you have a desire to keep using an UZI, maybe now is the time to acquire a backup spare.

As most of my posts hurry off page one here at OTF, do you have any comments?

Paul

I never got into the UZI cult.

In the year 2000 I had the C-2500L, which has a hotshoe, and the FL-40 external flash. I was doing mostly glamour with Sandra at the time, so then I was not into long zoom.

The C-2100UZ needing a bracket and a cord for the FL-40 was the deterrent. I have Image Stabilisation now on the SP-550UZ, but I assigned the Focus Lock to that button. Much of the time I don't need the IS that I now have.

In the year 2003 I bought the C-750UZ, which actually works better with the FL-40 flash than the C-2500L did. This was my allround camera for four years, and I keep it as a backup.

SmartMedia cards, which the C-2100UZ uses, are still in use here, because Sandra does not want to give up my old C-990/490ZOOM. These cards only went up to 128k. My C-40ZOOM, bought March 2002, ate them when I forgot to switch it off while changing batteries. So there are another two reasons for me not to hanker after the C-2100UZ.

Sorry

Henry

--
Henry Falkner - C-750UZ, Stylus 800, SP-550UZ http://www.pbase.com/hfalkner

I have the UZI and EZI and just hope they keep on strumming. I wouldn't have a clue on what you do with repairing them but you sure do make a point.

Hope you are doing well

CC

--
Canadian Club with a chaser.

3D Frames and OOB Gallery
http://www.pbase.com/otfchallenge/george_mocks_3d_frame_gallery&page=all

Paul, you act as if this is the first "parts" camera you have bought. My friend who out bit you says that you have sniped at least 10 parts camers, all in the last few seconds. I assume you are just trying to knock down the prices for your business. My friend out bid you in good faith and intends to fix the camera for his own use. Ken

Paul, I am so sorry. I apologize, I got you mixed up with TZG12, who has been snipping lots of cameras. I see you just get one now and then. I agree that they are going too high. Good luck on the next one. Ken

I still take the UZI with me where ever I go. Haven't taken anything worth posting in a while but I have never had a problem with her. It's still a good camera. I see pics taken with my friends 10 MP cameras while they laugh at my "antique camera" but I'm the one laughing when they show me thier results!! I hope it serves me for a long time to come.

--
Pat L - Oly forum's first official 'Lurkbie'
UZI ,TCON17 http://www.pbase.com/uzi_pat Pbase'supporter

The UZI is a dying breed, not just because of aging but because of its no-nonsense approach to photography. No 'scene' modes, just A, S, M, P, and something called S-Prog on the mode dial, plus movie of course. I've never used P or S-Prog and don't feel the need for all that clutter on the newer digicams. Within it's limitation of 2.1 mp, image quality stacks up against the best of the newest ones.

Mine is over 5 years old and still clicking but I worry about its durability in the long run. I've got 35mm SLRs that are 25 and 38 years old respectively, and they work just as well as the day I bought them. I've got two in the drawer with broken mode dials. Electronic cameras are just not built to last 40 years.

I haven't forgiven Oly for putting the UZI on the 'do not repair' list.

Best regards,

****

--
http://www.pbase.com/richardr
D70&C-2100UZ&C-5050Z&C-7000Z&C-3000Z

i still use mine, but when it breaks, that's it. not that i won't miss it - i will... oh i will.

that said, i have a working spare in great shape that i am selling if anyone's interested - more of a 'running out of money' sale than anything. i hope to make it worth someone's while.

my health has taken a turn for the 'old' LOL and chasing dreams is getting tiring, that's all i know.
--
aloha,
jan
FCAS Member #128, Oly Division
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1007&message=14354990
http://aja2.deviantart.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmitchell_photography/
O L Y T O Y S : C 2 1 0 0 + T C O N 1 . 7; C 8 0 8 0; C 7 0 0 0

Just for the record, I am not in the camera repair business as far as selling. I like to take things apart and try and fix them, strictly for my own amusement.

So far I have bought (3) UZI's that were broken. Fixed two of them and "gave" them to my nephews.The third one is waiting for me to see if I can fix it as it won't turn on at all (SDS??)

I also have bought (2) Oly c-3020z broken cameras on ebay. I have one that was bought yeras ago and it was my first Oly digital. Taken lots of pictures with this cam and it still looks like new. One of the broken c-3020z had lens barrel problems and currently is in many pieces in a plastic bag in a box. It is now missing a few parts that were used to fix another c-3020z ebay broken camera. That fixed camera is now in use by my great nephew Derek and was my birthday gift for his 11th big day.

Sorry if I gave the impression that I was trying to corner the market on ebay cameras. My intent with this post is to point out that the UZI camera is getting in shorter supply.

I also have bought from ebay, an old Fuji "point and hope" camera which my sister uses from time to time with the understanding that I can use it for the reformat of stuborn SM cards.

Thank you for the second post where you point out that some one is outbidding with last second bids. I have always felt that in bidding that my maxium bid is just that. The last auction I participated in for a broken UZI which finished yesterday, my max bid was entered a few days previous. This bid held up for a few days and in the last 7 sec's a lot of activity. I don't like how some bids go with people having bidding software that allows I feel, an unfair advantage, but the unit sold for more than my max bid, so that is that.

My soap box is getting a bit wobbly, but thanks for your comments.

Paul

Thanks for the reply.

I think you may have missed a post of mine a week or so ago. Here again is the url for my pbase gallery that shows this old (1913) restored airplane. http://www.pbase.com/paulm2/curtissflyingboat

I am on the Curtiss Muesum mailing list so when they attempt to fly this craft, maybe I will get a picture in the air.

The other day there was a post about Winery's. Now Hammondsport, NY the home of the Glenn Curtise Museum is also famous for being the Wine Capitol of New York State with lots of very secenic old Winery's. Another reason to get over that way again.

Paul

Sorry to hear about the health problem. Also the running out of money sale. Guess we all know a bit about both situations.

This past Saturday, I attended my 60th H.S. Class Reunion. Out of the 180+ in the class of 1947, 92 of us are stil looking at the grass from the correct side. 72 attended this function which I find outstanding.

My H.S was a all boys school, so there was a bunch of us old timers in one place, most came with wives. Took a bunch of pictures and they are at my pbase site http://www.pbase.com/paulm2/edisontech

No outstanding pictures here, all taken with the c-7000z which has a very weak flash. Most of the pictures being underexposed and need a bit of PP. I was thinking of using the UZI but lugging that and a big flash, while it would have produced better pictures, that much gear in a crowd turned me off.

What interested me the most about this reunion was the fact that we were all the same age in years and that life has been very kind to some of us and very harsh to others.

Hang in there Jan and thanks for the reply.

Paul
l

PaulM2 wrote:
I don't like how some bids go with people

PaulM2 said:

having bidding software that allows I feel, an unfair advantage, but
the unit sold for more than my max bid, so that is that.

My soap box is getting a bit wobbly, but thanks for your comments.

Paul

Click to expand...

Paul I must reply to your opinion on sniping. Ebay is called an auction site but really can't be considered as such. You don't need to be the highest bidder to win, just need to have the highest bid when the auction ends at a FIXED moment in time. Since this time isn't a secret, all you want to do is bid at the last instant and have the highest bid. In fact, bidding before an auction ends ( and like I stated Ebay isn't really an auction) is ridiculous unless you need to hunt out a reserve price. Sniping software makes Ebay more fun ( no more sitting by the PC reloading pages at auction close) and sniping can be free. Justsnipe.com allows 5 free snipes per month and works like a charm.

Gotta run, I've got some sniping to do.

Mike
E-1
SHLD-2
Zuiko 14-45mm
Zuiko 40-150mm
Zuiko 14-54mm
Zuiko 50mm macro f/2.0
FL-40
FL-BK01
E-300
SHLD-3
http://www.proac.smugmug.com

A while back, I bought an old Fuji camera from ebay so that I could format "stubborn" SM cards.

Much to my surprise, when the camera arrived, the guy included (3) 128mb and a 64mb cards. All work.A real buy believe me.

He also included a "floppy type flash drive" This is really old tech. but it does work. More junk for the pile on the work bench?

I like the UZI for the IS and have both the B-28 and B-300 adapter lens. Both work very well. With the B-300 and full zoom I can get some very different pictures from what is normal.

Thanks for the reply and good luck with the SP550.

Paul

Interesting comments about electronic cameras. I guess this also applies to cars and trucks as well.

If your car acts up, it is off to the repair shop. No bailing wire for a fix anymore.

I still have a bunch of not used old camera gear as well, but in most cases the new digital cams allow you to get more keepers. In other words, if your current picture is not the one, take another. No more waiting a week or so. The new digitals are much more complex than their old film counterparts so I guess this is the price one pays for this instant convience.

I also remember buying some new lens, additional batteries, extra film, packing lots of gear and then taking a trip to the UK only to drop the camera down a flight of an old stone staircase. Now that old camera did not hold up at all.

Keep thoes extra "mode dial" broken UZI's. My forcast is that they will be worth some thing in the near future.

Thanks for the reply.

Paul

Thanks for the reply and the info about the bidding software.

I figured there must be software as no one can place an update bid that fast.

Guess it boils down to how bad you want the item.

I also wonder if some of the bidders have an inside track as to the condition of the item. I see itens up for bid that seem very similar as to the amount of extra gear included. Some fetch a good price while others do not. Is this because a lot of people are not active on certain days? Hmm.

Paul

Thanks for the reply.

Like you, I have been to events with the old UZI and marvel at the loads of gear some people drag around with them.

Recently I took a bunch of pictures at a event. Met a guy who looked as he was a walking camera store.

He wanted my email so he could add his pictures to mine. When they arrived, that old adage about "it is not the camera that makes the picture, but the person taking it". If I had as much money invested in gear as this guy did and my pictures were not as good as what an old UZI took, I would take some drastic action. He also had access to my pictures and sent me an email about how I had a step up on him as I knew the subject mater. But he did think the UZI pictures were great.

Paul

Paul: Ebay is a very complicated business. I've been an active seller and worked as a trading assistant for others so I've been around the block a few times. Just like any retail store, Ebay prices fluctuate greatly on some items during peak seasons. Listing times also can have a positive or negative influence on final pricing. Ending an auction at 3 am EST is not the best plan even with the proliferation of sniping sites. Some bidders still like to use the old fashioned method of bidding but they don't tend to do that in the middle of the night. Also lots of skulduggery happens on Ebay. You won't find this with the stores on Ebay or most of the big time vendors but the seller with 1 or 2 camera related items can enlist the "help" of others to puff up the bidding. ( this is yet one more reason to never bid until seconds before the end) I've sold lots of items from sports memorabilia to vintage audio gear to camera equipment and I usually know going in what the item will fetch. My best advice for Ebay buyers is to always feel out the seller with an inquisitive email. How long does he/she take to respond? Does their grammar and spelling indicate they graduated from Grade school? Did they answer any questions in a satisfactory fashion? The feelings you get from their initial response will go a long way in determining whether or not to bid. Also don't be afraid to check into any negative feedback. 1 or 2 negs for a big time seller is nothing. You can't please some people. However if he has 5 negs with 20 transactions then run in the other direction.

Mike

P.S. Not to toot my own horn but in 5 yrs I've managed to maintain a 100% positive feedback score.

--
E-1
SHLD-2
Zuiko 14-45mm
Zuiko 40-150mm
Zuiko 14-54mm
Zuiko 50mm macro f/2.0
FL-40
FL-BK01
E-300
SHLD-3
http://www.proac.smugmug.com

I have one for parts, unfortunately the mode dial is broken. I handle my working UZ1 very gently, and avoid turning it off and on constantly. I also have a C2500L, but the C2100UZ just runs rings around it. I can select a model, charge in with the UZ1, and catch the moment, in less time than it would take to fine tune the C2500L Working with bugs, birds and critters means that I don't always have time to play around.

My old C4000Z just sits on the shelf, it may be a bit better for macro than the UZ1, but not by much. I carry the Panasonic FZ20 a lot, and can live with it, but it isn't as sharp as the UZ1. The FZ20 is built like a brick and I don't have to baby it.

I'm always looking, just got outbid on one. You have to have one for a while to really appreciate what you have. They won't make big pictures,but often make exceptional pictures
--
tsiya [Bob]

http://www.pbase.com/tsiya/root
http://photobucket.com/albums/v244/tsiya/