Quinn 4

In the pass two weeks I have been to two small country auction. At one of them I got a Mamiya - 16 Automatic Camera. Got it home, everything check out with the camera, It works. The film for the camera is 16mm film. The camera was made in 1959. I pay $10.00 & sale tax. Film I can get and have the film made into 3X4 pictures. Last night I found a Tower 32B with Mamiya-Sekor 58mm lens. Clear up the camera , everything works fine. Pay a big $5.00 for it. The Tower's camera was made in 1964. The camera is a Mamiya Prismat NP made for Sears. Two weeks ago I have no idea what those two cameras were. That the fun of going to auction and driving round check out yard sales, people having 35mm cameras, think that the cameras are no good because 35mm film is no more. So one can pick them up at pennies on the dollar.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Lucky you. The only cameras I’ve seen at auction lately sell for more than a refurbished one from the factory.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I would call a find like that "Luck." I've been hearing stories like that all my life, but I've never seen one in person. It requires an informed buyer and an uninformed seller.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Interesting.
Wiki says the Mamiya has an Exakta bayonet mount.
http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Mamiya_Prismat_NP
Is that the case with yours?
They switched to a Pentax thread in later models like the 500 and 1000 TL.

Quinn 4

Thanks for getting back to me.
Jaymatt: yes I have seen at auctions in the past year camera go for $500 to $600. At one of the auction was the Leica model use by doctors. Sold $500. Another auction was a Nikon digal camera with lenses, I don't remember the model. It sold for $600. I don't known about the auction you go to, up here in Northern New York 50% of the people at an auction are dealer. Their are looking for some thing that can make money fast for them. Cameras are not big thing with them.
Jerryc41: The Tower 32B I knew what I was looking at, I knew what to look for to see if a camera works. That for only film cameras. AS for the Mamiya 16 Automatic,I saw the name "Mamiya" and could tell that it was a camera. Ok go for it.
GoofyNewfie:Yes the camera has the Exakta bayonet mount.

foxfirerodandgun Loc: Stony Creek, VA

I know exactly what you mean. In the spring I was at a local auction and saw a Nikon D5300 with one Nikkor lens (forget what focal range(s) it was) + Nikon bag sell for $550.00. Blew my hat in the creek. ;~)

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

However, the more auctions, flea markets and yard sales you go to, the more your luck increases. Concerning film cameras and older lenses, that is. Although online sites such as eBay are great if you are looking for a very specific item, you generally won't find the very best deals there. Online sellers typically are better informed about demand and value, and are less in a hurry to sell. Also, there are often more interested buyers looking at an online listed item than there will be at a physical auction or flea market.