Second-hand Fujifilm shortage on ebay & prices going up?

John Gellings wrote:

Threaded wrote:

John Gellings wrote:

Mr Bolton wrote:

John Gellings wrote:

Mr Bolton wrote:

John Gellings wrote:

enigmatico wrote:

In addition to the valid points made by other contributors to this thread about post-pandemic supply shortages, one other aspect of Fuji cameras is how collectible they are.

Many Fuji users keep their older cameras when they upgrade because they have a nostalgic attachment to them. Other users will “miss” their X-T1, X-Pro1. X-Pro2, X-E1, etc that they previously traded in and now go seeking to replace it by buying a used one, to add to their collection.

Collectable? no.

Says you. I know a number of Fuji users who collect their older gear and keep it even after getting newer models. One common use case seems to be keeping an X-T1 or E1 and using it with adapted and manual lenses, while using the newer one for AF work.

I kept my original X-100 til it died and Fuji couldn't get the new mainboard to fix it. They made me a heckuva deal on a refurb X-100T which I still have, but I was sad when they wouldn't send me back my O G X-100 to put in my display case.

With Fuji going more and more in on PASM, and the high likelihood that there will never be another X-H1 style camera with dial controls and LCD top plate (The X-T5 will probably have the EC dial instead of the screen) I don't see the H1 losing its value anytime soon. Or really, any of the others like the X-T2 and 3-still very capable photographic tools and the T3 is still very relevant for video.

Many people use older cameras and own more than one. While you can consider it a collection, Fuji digital cameras are not collectibles. Collectibles are rare and increase in value vs the original price. The X-H1 debuted at $1900. It’s now like $700. It lost a lot of value to become the good deal it is today.

A Canon FTb was, in today's dollars, $580 on its release. A good condition one with 50mm f1.4 lens is going for $200 on eBay right now.

I feel like that still counts as collectible. Just because something doesn't increase in value like, say, a Leica special edition originally marketed towards oil Sheikhs, does not mean that it isn't collectible. Lots of old cameras are are sought after as collector's items even if less than new, accounting for inflation.

There's a guy on DPR forums who collects old '90s digital cameras, which are typically worth about thirty cents today. But he's got hundreds of them, and there's a website at 640x480.com dedicated to pictures taken with these digital antiques.

Price alone doesn't determine collection addition potential.

Yeah, I will concede … there’s more than one definition for collectible. I’ve seen the guy you’re talking about and that certainly is a collection. However, by your definition all cameras are collectible really.

I’d go further and say at least some older Fuji cameras are increasing in value (and rarity) right now. The X-Pro1 is an obvious example. Back when it was still on the market it dropped to a very low price point - in fact in November 2015 I bought one as part of a bundle with two lenses which in effect meant the camera was free (that was while they were clearing stock in advance of the X-Pro2 of course).

Since then on the used market, X-Pro1’s stabilised at around £300 for a long time, and are now getting dearer - a really good condition example could easily sell for £4-500 and the mythos and “legendary” status of the model only seems to be growing, with more people seeking it out for themselves, even if they own and use more modern Fuji’s already. If that’s not collectible I don’t know what is.

I would say the X-Pro3 created that. The X-Pro3 was a polarizing camera and the X-Pro2 went up as well based on people not liking the X-Pro3. . Since the X-Pro2 went up, so did the X-Pro1. Are there a few die hard X-Pro1 fans out there? Sure. It is really being collected en masse. Not really. I know Instagram makes it seem like it.

Also, the used market in general has gone up during the pandemic. When manufacturers couldn’t deliver the latest models in sufficient quantities during the pandemic, the used market went up quickly. While some people like to collect cameras to put on a shelf, I like to think Fuji cameras are being bought for photography.

Sorry, can’t agree. Yes the XP3 was polarising etc and has helped keep the XP2 buoyant, but thats more to do with the fact that the 2 is still a very competent camera and holds up as a decent alternative. I like the XP2, I bought an XP2 (again) recently myself, but as a working camera not a collectible or curiosity.

The X-Pro1 is different. Technologically it’s far behind both the X-Pro2 or 3, and in fact there are many “better” Fujis you can pick up for less money which are fuller featured, newer, and almost certainly better value (literally any of the X-Trans II cameras for example). But still people seek it out and pay a premium for it for its own sake. It has a growing value and attraction that’s completely out of proportion to its actual capability as a camera. That qualifies it as a collectible in my book.