Does this seem crazy?

**boriscleto** · 09-23-2012, 03:08 PM

I drove more than 200 miles round trip today to buy a FA 50/1.7 in basically like new condition for $100. Also included was a PZ-70 and a Tamron 28-200 LD (IF).

Roob-N-Boots · 09-23-2012, 03:35 PM

Originally posted by boriscleto

Does this seem crazy?

No not at all. I almost drove the same distance (Palm Springs to L.A.) to pick up a F50 1.7, F28 2.8 all in mint condition complete with boxes for only $200. I still kick myself in the ass from time to time since someone else beat me to it. Congrats on a great purchase.

jimr-pdx · 09-23-2012, 03:43 PM

Sounds like a good deal even factoring in $40 in gas, as a first approx. I hope you drove the thrifty vehicle though!

**boriscleto** · 09-23-2012, 03:47 PM

Originally posted by jimr-pdx

Sounds like a good deal even factoring in $40 in gas, as a first approx. I hope you drove the thrifty vehicle though!

Probably closer to $25. I put $20 in before I left and the needle doesn't look any lower than before I gassed up. Not having to use the AC helps.

Docrwm · 09-23-2012, 04:36 PM

No, not if you enjoyed the drive and the lenses were in good condition.

**boriscleto** · 09-23-2012, 04:48 PM

Originally posted by Docrwm

No, not if you enjoyed the drive and the lenses were in good condition.

It was a nice trip with one exception, driving through the most annoying town on the planet (Ithaca, NY). The fall foliage is probably two weeks from being anywhere near peak.

The 50/1.7 is great. Time to sell the two A50/1.7s I have...

ultraviolet · 09-23-2012, 04:56 PM

Originally posted by boriscleto

crazy?

Crazy or not, you are not alone. I did something similar for a M40 (~200Km) and Yashica ML 50/1.7 (~100Km).

Docrwm · 09-23-2012, 04:57 PM

Originally posted by boriscleto

It was a nice trip with one exception, driving through the most annoying town on the planet (Ithaca, NY). The fall foliage is probably two weeks from being anywhere near peak.

The 50/1.7 is great. Time to sell the two A50/1.7s I have...

And come out ahead on the deal - sweet.

**rbefly** · 09-23-2012, 05:02 PM

What would seem crazy to me is if you knew about the deal and didn't go!
You'd be kicking yourself from now on.
Those fall colors will be waiting for you to get used to the FA 50mm.
When you're ready to sell the "A" fiftys, I'll be interested. Can't drive from Denver, though, that's a bit extreme, even for LBA!
Ron

Professor Batty · 09-23-2012, 05:16 PM

The Tamron is actually pretty good as well- one of the few long zooms that are OK at the wide end.

vonBaloney · 09-23-2012, 05:24 PM

I do stuff like that all the time -- at least I used to when I had more free time and gas didn't cost so much. Now it has to be a really good deal, or I have to make sure I get some killer shots on the trip that hopefully I'll sell later. I can't help browsing the ads for Colorado Springs, but once I add in the gas cost it isn't so much fun. (I only need the lamest excuse to take off and go driving for a 100+ miles -- I work at home on the computer all the time and get a bit stir crazy.) Sorry to hear you didn't enjoy Ithaca -- I spent four years of college there. Nice in the summer, but rained every single day of the school year, seems like.

**boriscleto** · 09-23-2012, 05:41 PM

This is the third craigslist deal I've done and none of them have been in the Syracuse area. One was just south of Ithaca, one was up on the top of some hill in Deliverance country in the middle of winter (that one agreed to ship it to me), and then this one in the Elmira/Corning area. All were great deals. A ZX-7 w/ FA 28-80 & 80-320 + extras for $50, and a P30T w/ a F 35-135 + extras for $75 were the other deals.

I just wish something good would come up locally when I can afford it. I missed out on a black Honeywell Spotmatic w/ Super Takumar 50/4 macro for $100

An example of what is available at the moment - a ZX-7 w/ FA 28-90 & Promaster 70-300 for $300.

Docrwm · 09-23-2012, 05:45 PM

Originally posted by boriscleto

This is the third craigslist deal I've done and none of them have been in the Syracuse area. One was just south of Ithaca, one was up on the top of some hill in Deliverance country in the middle of winter (that one agreed to ship it to me), and then this one in the Elmira/Corning area. All were great deals. A ZX-7 w/ FA 28-80 & 80-320 + extras for $50, and a P30T w/ a F 35-135 + extras for $75 were the other deals.

I just wish something good would come up locally when I can afford it. I missed out on a black Honeywell Spotmatic w/ Super Takumar 50/4 macro for $100

An example of what is available at the moment - a ZX-7 w/ FA 28-90 & Promaster 70-300 for $300.

I've not done Craigslist. Glad they were all good deals for you.

**ramseybuckeye** · 09-23-2012, 07:12 PM

Originally posted by boriscleto

I drove more than 200 miles round trip today to buy a FA 50/1.7 in basically like new condition for $100. Also included was a PZ-70 and a Tamron 28-200 LD (IF).

Not at all crazy, but savvy! Test out the Tamron, and if it's decent you may get half your money back on ebay, shoot you may even like it.

Originally posted by Docrwm

I've not done Craigslist. Glad they were all good deals for you.

You can get lucky on Craigslist, I drove all of three miles to a pawn shop to buy a briefcase with a Spotmatic, AUTO Mamiya/Sekor SX 21mm f4.0, Vivitar 35mm 1:1.9 Auto Wide-Angle, Soligor Miranda 250mm f4.5, Super Takumar 135mm f3.5, two Super-Takumar 50mm f1.4s, Aetna Extension Tubes, two teleconverters, and a Honeywell Pentax Bellows, all for $25. It was listed in Craigslist as an old Pentax camera and lenses. When I walked in the shop, they showed me where it was and I went and looked at it I couldn't believe it. I'll never get a deal like that again, but I keep looking. The sad part was that the the Mamiya 21mm lens was gorgeous, but the SX cannot be used on a K-mount.

But you've got to watch it too, I would guess some of the stuff listed could be stolen, and there have been too many stories of crime, scams, and fraud on Craigslist. And usually when I respond to a listing they never reply back, probably sold it right away but didn't bother to take the ad down.

alamo5000 · 09-23-2012, 07:16 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by boriscleto

I drove more than 200 miles round trip today

You are clearly not from Texas.

I drive 200 miles round trip to go out and eat.

09-23-2012, 03:08 PM	#1
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Does this seem crazy? I drove more than 200 miles round trip today to buy a FA 50/1.7 in basically like new condition for $100. Also included was a PZ-70 and a Tamron 28-200 LD (IF).

09-23-2012, 05:02 PM	#9
rbefly Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Denver, Colorado Photos: Albums Posts: 2,030	Call Me Crazy? What would seem crazy to me is if you knew about the deal and didn't go! You'd be kicking yourself from now on. Those fall colors will be waiting for you to get used to the FA 50mm. When you're ready to sell the "A" fiftys, I'll be interested. Can't drive from Denver, though, that's a bit extreme, even for LBA! Ron

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09-23-2012, 03:35 PM	#2
Roob-N-Boots Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Palm Springs CA Posts: 393	Originally posted by boriscleto Does this seem crazy? No not at all. I almost drove the same distance (Palm Springs to L.A.) to pick up a F50 1.7, F28 2.8 all in mint condition complete with boxes for only $200. I still kick myself in the ass from time to time since someone else beat me to it. Congrats on a great purchase.

09-23-2012, 03:43 PM	#3
jimr-pdx Pentaxian Join Date: May 2010 Location: now 1 hour north of PDX Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,897	Sounds like a good deal even factoring in $40 in gas, as a first approx. I hope you drove the thrifty vehicle though!

09-23-2012, 03:47 PM	#4
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475 Original Poster	Originally posted by jimr-pdx Sounds like a good deal even factoring in $40 in gas, as a first approx. I hope you drove the thrifty vehicle though! Probably closer to $25. I put $20 in before I left and the needle doesn't look any lower than before I gassed up. Not having to use the AC helps.

09-23-2012, 04:36 PM	#5
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	No, not if you enjoyed the drive and the lenses were in good condition.

09-23-2012, 04:48 PM	#6
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475 Original Poster	Originally posted by Docrwm No, not if you enjoyed the drive and the lenses were in good condition. It was a nice trip with one exception, driving through the most annoying town on the planet (Ithaca, NY). The fall foliage is probably two weeks from being anywhere near peak. The 50/1.7 is great. Time to sell the two A50/1.7s I have...

09-23-2012, 04:56 PM	#7
ultraviolet Pentaxian Join Date: May 2010 Photos: Albums Posts: 687	Originally posted by boriscleto crazy? Crazy or not, you are not alone. I did something similar for a M40 (~200Km) and Yashica ML 50/1.7 (~100Km).

09-23-2012, 04:57 PM	#8
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Originally posted by boriscleto It was a nice trip with one exception, driving through the most annoying town on the planet (Ithaca, NY). The fall foliage is probably two weeks from being anywhere near peak. The 50/1.7 is great. Time to sell the two A50/1.7s I have... And come out ahead on the deal - sweet.

09-23-2012, 05:16 PM	#10
Professor Batty Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 118	The Tamron is actually pretty good as well- one of the few long zooms that are OK at the wide end.

09-23-2012, 05:24 PM	#11
vonBaloney Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 6,029	I do stuff like that all the time -- at least I used to when I had more free time and gas didn't cost so much. Now it has to be a really good deal, or I have to make sure I get some killer shots on the trip that hopefully I'll sell later. I can't help browsing the ads for Colorado Springs, but once I add in the gas cost it isn't so much fun. (I only need the lamest excuse to take off and go driving for a 100+ miles -- I work at home on the computer all the time and get a bit stir crazy.) Sorry to hear you didn't enjoy Ithaca -- I spent four years of college there. Nice in the summer, but rained every single day of the school year, seems like.

09-23-2012, 05:41 PM	#12
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475 Original Poster	This is the third craigslist deal I've done and none of them have been in the Syracuse area. One was just south of Ithaca, one was up on the top of some hill in Deliverance country in the middle of winter (that one agreed to ship it to me), and then this one in the Elmira/Corning area. All were great deals. A ZX-7 w/ FA 28-80 & 80-320 + extras for $50, and a P30T w/ a F 35-135 + extras for $75 were the other deals. I just wish something good would come up locally when I can afford it. I missed out on a black Honeywell Spotmatic w/ Super Takumar 50/4 macro for $100 An example of what is available at the moment - a ZX-7 w/ FA 28-90 & Promaster 70-300 for $300.

09-23-2012, 05:45 PM	#13
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Originally posted by boriscleto This is the third craigslist deal I've done and none of them have been in the Syracuse area. One was just south of Ithaca, one was up on the top of some hill in Deliverance country in the middle of winter (that one agreed to ship it to me), and then this one in the Elmira/Corning area. All were great deals. A ZX-7 w/ FA 28-80 & 80-320 + extras for $50, and a P30T w/ a F 35-135 + extras for $75 were the other deals. I just wish something good would come up locally when I can afford it. I missed out on a black Honeywell Spotmatic w/ Super Takumar 50/4 macro for $100 An example of what is available at the moment - a ZX-7 w/ FA 28-90 & Promaster 70-300 for $300. I've not done Craigslist. Glad they were all good deals for you.

09-23-2012, 07:12 PM	#14
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,294	Originally posted by boriscleto I drove more than 200 miles round trip today to buy a FA 50/1.7 in basically like new condition for $100. Also included was a PZ-70 and a Tamron 28-200 LD (IF). Not at all crazy, but savvy! Test out the Tamron, and if it's decent you may get half your money back on ebay, shoot you may even like it. Originally posted by Docrwm I've not done Craigslist. Glad they were all good deals for you. You can get lucky on Craigslist, I drove all of three miles to a pawn shop to buy a briefcase with a Spotmatic, AUTO Mamiya/Sekor SX 21mm f4.0, Vivitar 35mm 1:1.9 Auto Wide-Angle, Soligor Miranda 250mm f4.5, Super Takumar 135mm f3.5, two Super-Takumar 50mm f1.4s, Aetna Extension Tubes, two teleconverters, and a Honeywell Pentax Bellows, all for $25. It was listed in Craigslist as an old Pentax camera and lenses. When I walked in the shop, they showed me where it was and I went and looked at it I couldn't believe it. I'll never get a deal like that again, but I keep looking. The sad part was that the the Mamiya 21mm lens was gorgeous, but the SX cannot be used on a K-mount. But you've got to watch it too, I would guess some of the stuff listed could be stolen, and there have been too many stories of crime, scams, and fraud on Craigslist. And usually when I respond to a listing they never reply back, probably sold it right away but didn't bother to take the ad down.

09-23-2012, 07:16 PM - 1 Like	#15
alamo5000 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 2,962	Originally posted by boriscleto I drove more than 200 miles round trip today You are clearly not from Texas. I drive 200 miles round trip to go out and eat.