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on Apr 18, 2021 15:36:22 GMT
Posted: Apr 18, 2021 15:36:22 GMT
Yeah, I'm only kidding, but apparently, the Kenko KF-3 is a bigger hit than I imagined:
Has anyone actually seen or used one of these???
Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
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on Apr 18, 2021 20:49:20 GMT
Last Edit: Apr 18, 2021 22:12:51 GMT by lumiworx
The more telling info on them might be what was actually sold, and at what price. Using ebay's 'sold items' filter for the last 3 months, it shows that 2 bodies were sold at Buy Now prices, for $219, and $149 $139 (USD). Both were listed as rare, or 'mint' or 'near mint (i.e., an over embellished 'excellent'), and they both had Nikon F mounts. I'm not sure whether they'd be sought after for a rarity factor or for their performance, but asking prices isn't a measure I'd use to judge if I should own one. I'd consider the performance first, and attribute a value to it after that. I'm inclined to see them in much the same way I do for any late model Lubitel or a Seagull TLR models versus a Yashica 12/24/MAT/124G. They may all be in the same camera group, but I wouldn't call them equals in value or performance. I've also learned my lesson on Chinese made stuff that looks good, then falls apart or ceases to work after several weeks, so I'm not really crazy about much of what they do as 'product refreshes'. On the Kyocera forum addition... admittedly I'd forgotten about that. The poll is now closed, and according to the results, it looks like one will probably get added. It's just a question of where it belongs, I guess. |
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on Apr 18, 2021 21:29:20 GMT
Posted: Apr 18, 2021 21:29:20 GMT
I was unaware that it came in a Nikon mount version, so I've got to assume that it showed up in a K mount version, too. I'm assuming that it was made by Seagull, and they came out with lots of SLRs models that are LARGeLY the same except for the lens mount.
Most of the Seagull cameras that I have -- with the Seagull label and without, such as the Vanta G-5! -- have been reliable. My experience is pretty much the same with the older "Seagulls", and the newer ones (after they started making cameras for Minolta, Yashica, etc.) Just a couple of duds -- and the problems might be due to the previous owner!
I just shocked myself today by searching EBAY for EARLY Seagull lenses -- mostly labeled Haiou, like the 58mm f2.0. They are not bad lenses, but the "Lomography" groupies appear to have made an impact on the market.
FYI, Seagull even made a 500mm f5 CAT way back when.
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on Apr 19, 2021 9:51:26 GMT
Posted: Apr 19, 2021 9:51:26 GMT
On the Kyocera forum addition... admittedly I'd forgotten about that. The poll is now closed, and according to the results, it looks like one will probably get added. It's just a question of where it belongs, I guess. Also questions of what could be discussed in it (or not go in it)? Do we include/exclude cameras with both Yashica and Kyocera on the body? Do we make it cameras with Kyocera only on the body? Or anything after 1983, for example? Maybe we should discuss this in a different section? |
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on Apr 19, 2021 10:17:28 GMT
Posted: Apr 19, 2021 10:17:28 GMT
The more telling info on them might be what was actually sold, and at what price. Using ebay's 'sold items' filter for the last 3 months, it shows that 2 bodies were sold at Buy Now prices, for $219, and $149 $139 (USD). Both were listed as rare, or 'mint' or 'near mint (i.e., an over embellished 'excellent'), and they both had Nikon F mounts. I'm not sure whether they'd be sought after for a rarity factor or for their performance, but asking prices isn't a measure I'd use to judge if I should own one. I'd consider the performance first, and attribute a value to it after that. I'm inclined to see them in much the same way I do for any late model Lubitel or a Seagull TLR models versus a Yashica 12/24/MAT/124G. They may all be in the same camera group, but I wouldn't call them equals in value or performance. I've also learned my lesson on Chinese made stuff that looks good, then falls apart or ceases to work after several weeks, so I'm not really crazy about much of what they do as 'product refreshes'. On the Kyocera forum addition... admittedly I'd forgotten about that. The poll is now closed, and according to the results, it looks like one will probably get added. It's just a question of where it belongs, I guess. Some links that may be of interest. www.photoscala.de/2008/08/22/alte-bekannte/cosinon.hateblo.jp/entry/2019/04/06/kenkocontax139.blogspot.com/2020/11/yashica-fx3-super-4000-anyone.htmlcontax139.blogspot.com/2021/02/yashica-fx-3-super-4000-part-ii.htmlcontax139.blogspot.com/2017/04/well-this-blog-isnt-exactly-going.html |
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on Apr 19, 2021 12:29:14 GMT
Posted: Apr 19, 2021 12:29:14 GMT
Thanks for these links. They are very interesting. I'm not shocked, just surprised that it's PHENIX (not Phoenix) that is behind these cameras. My presumption that it was Seagull missed the mark, for sure.
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on Apr 19, 2021 15:29:22 GMT
Posted: Apr 19, 2021 15:29:22 GMT
I don't think Seagull was ever a manufacturer. 'Seagull' was a trade mark of the Shanghai Camera Factory.
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on Apr 19, 2021 16:09:37 GMT
Last Edit: Apr 19, 2021 16:10:07 GMT by xkaes
That's true, Seagull is just a Shanghai label, but Phenix is a separate company from Shanghai, and has their own plants and line of cameras: www.subclub.org/minchin/phenix.htmWhen I said SEAGULL, I was referring to Shanghai because that if what it is frequently called. |
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on Apr 19, 2021 16:52:35 GMT
Last Edit: Apr 19, 2021 16:54:00 GMT by lumiworx
On the Kyocera forum addition... admittedly I'd forgotten about that. The poll is now closed, and according to the results, it looks like one will probably get added. It's just a question of where it belongs, I guess. Also questions of what could be discussed in it (or not go in it)? Do we include/exclude cameras with both Yashica and Kyocera on the body? Do we make it cameras with Kyocera only on the body? Or anything after 1983, for example? Maybe we should discuss this in a different section? Although the poll is closed, the topic is still open. I've posted a new thread as of today on the questions you've asked, so it's available to continue the discussion... yashica.boards.net/thread/1026/kyocera-brands |
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on Apr 19, 2021 17:15:47 GMT
Posted: Apr 19, 2021 17:15:47 GMT
That's true, Seagull is just a Shanghai label, but Phenix is a separate company from Shanghai, and has their own plants and line of cameras: www.subclub.org/minchin/phenix.htmWhen I said SEAGULL, I was referring to Shanghai because that if what it is frequently called. I'm not sure but I think Phenix took over Shanghai. They certainly took over the Seagull brand as the Seagull 205, for instance, became the Phenix 205. |
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on Apr 19, 2021 18:23:36 GMT
Posted: Apr 19, 2021 18:23:36 GMT
I don't have any inside information but Shanghai/Seagull appears to me to be a much larger camera manufacturer than Phenix, but many of the Chinese "photographic" firms are involved in much more than cameras and lenses. There are so many Seagull SLR cameras that they have to be broken into groups! Phenix SLRs? They are very nice but hardly comparable in model or production numbers.
The Phenix/Seagull 205 seems to have a life of its own -- but I'm not fluent in Chinese viewfinder cameras.
Phenix and Seagull may have had, and may currently have, collaborations, but if anyone was to "take over" the other, I would guess that Shanghai would be the one doing the taking. But in either case, it would be dictated by the Government.
On a side-note, I'll be receiving an odd-ball, hard-to-find, Seagull DF-102b camera in a few days. It's a late SLR made during Seagull's PRE-Minolta days -- and has nothing whatsoever to do with the Minolta SRT-102. I'll let you know if it turns out to be a Phenix camera in "Seagull clothing".
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