My Canon 1Ds Mark II, the flagship camera of the Canon professional line, has been losing value like a boat anchor dropped in the water. It’s a rugged, heavy camera. It would make a very nice boat anchor, and you could probably haul it back up and keep on shooting without a hitch. Even though I love the shutter feel on it (and I don’t on the 5D), I thought I’d better cash out and trade "down" to another Canon 5D body while I still could.
Glazer’s offered me $2700 for the camera (I bought it from them for $9000 nine months ago). Pros have been dumping the Mark II for the 5D in droves. It seems I was a little late to the party. One of their sales people whispered to me, "I’m embarassed by how little our equipment buyer offers for stuff. Take it elsewhere." Which I did: to Ebay.
At one point over a hundred people were watching this auction. I got several email inquiries daily. It went for $5000 to a nature photographer in Pennsylvania.
Today I bought another 5D from Glazers (I’m a fierce believer in supporting your local camera store.) And a 16-35mm f/2.8 lens. And, only because Glazer’s had none in stock, I ordered the new 6x carbon Gitzo Traveller tripod from B&H, and another ballhead (and a 5D body plate) from Really Right Stuff. All paid for by the Mark II.
Intresting post, but what caught my eye was the mention of Glazers. I'm just a hobby photographer and live in Olympia. When I had an oppertunity to visit Seattle and stop in at Glazers my visit there almost ended as soon as I walked in the door with an OM-1 around my neck. One of the sales staff's first words, looking down his nose was; we don't have any Olympus stuff. There wasen't a single other customer in the store at that time. Go figure.
Posted by: John Robison | April 07, 2006 at 02:03 PM
Wow -- I have a 5D, but If I can pick up a 1Ds for under $3000, I'm all over that!
Posted by: Eric Hancock | April 09, 2006 at 10:58 AM