John Austin wrote:
>
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Gary Schloss <schloss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>
> [snip]
> >up, I am not yet convinced that the "silent majority" of the OLY
> >list has spoken.
>
> Hi Gary,
>
> As part of the silent majority, your post has given me the courage to
> respond. I'm a newcomer to the list as well as a newcomer ( I should say
> returnee) to Olympus photography. PvT's messages can be annoying at times,
> but I for one also appreciate knowing where to find Olympus gear. Lest you
> think I live out in the middle of nowhere, I live in a major metropolitan
> area, the bay area of California (San Francisco suburb for those who are not
> familiar with California geography). I point this out because even in the
> "big city", Olympus gear is rare and hard to find at anything approaching
> decent prices. Sure, Olympus dealers are happy to order new Oly items at
> full list price, but this is a bit out of my budget. Not to mention that
> many Olympus items are discontinued. At this time I search out good used
> gear at decent prices and this is not easy. Most of my recent purchases have
> come from the Internet. So far I've been lucky, but I'm sure that sooner or
> later I'll get burned.
>
> I mentioned earlier that I'm a returnee to Olympus photography. From the mid
> 70's till 1985 I was an avid user and collector of Oly gear. For reasons I
> won't go into here, I got completely out of photography and sold (actually
> gave away. If you've ever been forced to sell things in a hurry you know
> what I mean.) all my Olympus equipment. I had most of the important stuff,
> OM-4, MD-2, ten prime Zuiko lenses, the full Oly flash system, filters, ext.
> tubes, etc., etc. Most of this purchased new or used in mint condition. At
> that time Oly dealers were more than willing to deal, discounts were common,
> and used gear was to be had at great prices. The big thing I've noticed this
> time around is that the dealers act like they're doing you a favor in
> ordering Olympus products. Used Oly gear is priced more like collectable
> Leica equipment than user photo products. Sometimes it seems like Leica
> stuff would be easier and cheaper to come by.
>
> I guess if I had not gotten out of the photo game in 85, I would probably
> have continued to collect Oly gear and I would now own two of every item. In
> that case I might also be a bit perturbed to hear about items for sale since
> I would not be in the market. But being a newcomer (returnee), I do need
> equipment. PvT and dealers like him have a place. I, for one, was thrilled
> to find out there was a dealer that specialized in Olympus equipment. From
> my searches both locally and on the Internet, dealers carrying a good
> selection of used Olympus gear at even close to reasonable prices are not
> that easy to come by (If you think PvT is high, try checking out the likes
> of KEH and any of a dozen others I could name). One of the users made the
> statement that the list was dying slowly. It will die if new Oly users
> aren't pulled into the fold, and Olympus will certainly have no incentive to
> create new products at reasonable prices without a user base.
>
> You might ask why I've chosen to go with Oly instead of Nikon or Cannon,
> especially considering I have no huge investment in Olympus gear at this
> time to lock me in. I've chosen to use Oly gear because I believe it's a
> superior product. I can truthfully say this because I have lots of
> experience with Olympus gear. I've noticed many posts to potential Oly
> newcomers on rec.photo.equipment.35mm to the effect that they should pursue
> other brands if they are not already locked into Olympus because of a huge
> investment in equipment. And these posts are coming from present Oly users,
> not the competition. Considering the uphill battle that we as Olympus users
> face, perhaps we should ALL pull together for the good of the Olympus
> marquee and the products we love to use. This includes not only users but
> also those dealers who are willing to talk about that $3.00 battery cover
> and don't feel they're doing us a big favor by even bothering to carry
> Olympus. The alternative will be no new 35mm gear from Olympus and the used
> gear out there assuming cult status (can you say Leica) with the attendant
> outrageous prices.
>
> Regards,
> John Austin
>
> ############################################################
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> | To receive the Digest version mailto:listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> | with "subscribe olympus-digest" in the message body.
> | To unsubscribe from the current list mailto:listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> | with "unsubscribe olympus" in the body.
> | For questions mailto:owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> | Web Page: http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright/olympuslist.html
> ############################################################
I am in total agreement with John. My personnal involvement in photography
mirrors
experience, with respect to a long period of activity using Oly equipment
exclusively,
until the mid-eighties when time pressures all but eliminated this pursuit.
Currently,
I am able to once again enjoy serious photography and find this list a great
resource,
especially the information from the more knowlegable members, which include the
aformentioned dealers. Please do NOT stifle thisJohn Austin wrote:
>
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Gary Schloss <schloss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>
> [snip]
> >up, I am not yet convinced that the "silent majority" of the OLY
> >list has spoken.
>
> Hi Gary,
>
> As part of the silent majority, your post has given me the courage to
> respond. I'm a newcomer to the list as well as a newcomer ( I should say
> returnee) to Olympus photography. PvT's messages can be annoying at times,
> but I for one also appreciate knowing where to find Olympus gear. Lest you
> think I live out in the middle of nowhere, I live in a major metropolitan
> area, the bay area of California (San Francisco suburb for those who are not
> familiar with California geography). I point this out because even in the
> "big city", Olympus gear is rare and hard to find at anything approaching
> decent prices. Sure, Olympus dealers are happy to order new Oly items at
> full list price, but this is a bit out of my budget. Not to mention that
> many Olympus items are discontinued. At this time I search out good used
> gear at decent prices and this is not easy. Most of my recent purchases have
> come from the Internet. So far I've been lucky, but I'm sure that sooner or
> later I'll get burned.
>
> I mentioned earlier that I'm a returnee to Olympus photography. From the mid
> 70's till 1985 I was an avid user and collector of Oly gear. For reasons I
> won't go into here, I got completely out of photography and sold (actually
> gave away. If you've ever been forced to sell things in a hurry you know
> what I mean.) all my Olympus equipment. I had most of the important stuff,
> OM-4, MD-2, ten prime Zuiko lenses, the full Oly flash system, filters, ext.
> tubes, etc., etc. Most of this purchased new or used in mint condition. At
> that time Oly dealers were more than willing to deal, discounts were common,
> and used gear was to be had at great prices. The big thing I've noticed this
> time around is that the dealers act like they're doing you a favor in
> ordering Olympus products. Used Oly gear is priced more like collectable
> Leica equipment than user photo products. Sometimes it seems like Leica
> stuff would be easier and cheaper to come by.
>
> I guess if I had not gotten out of the photo game in 85, I would probably
> have continued to collect Oly gear and I would now own two of every item. In
> that case I might also be a bit perturbed to hear about items for sale since
> I would not be in the market. But being a newcomer (returnee), I do need
> equipment. PvT and dealers like him have a place. I, for one, was thrilled
> to find out there was a dealer that specialized in Olympus equipment. From
> my searches both locally and on the Internet, dealers carrying a good
> selection of used Olympus gear at even close to reasonable prices are not
> that easy to come by (If you think PvT is high, try checking out the likes
> of KEH and any of a dozen others I could name). One of the users made the
> statement that the list was dying slowly. It will die if new Oly users
> aren't pulled into the fold, and Olympus will certainly have no incentive to
> create new products at reasonable prices without a user base.
>
> You might ask why I've chosen to go with Oly instead of Nikon or Cannon,
> especially considering I have no huge investment in Olympus gear at this
> time to lock me in. I've chosen to use Oly gear because I believe it's a
> superior product. I can truthfully say this because I have lots of
> experience with Olympus gear. I've noticed many posts to potential Oly
> newcomers on rec.photo.equipment.35mm to the effect that they should pursue
> other brands if they are not already locked into Olympus because of a huge
> investment in equipment. And these posts are coming from present Oly users,
> not the competition. Considering the uphill battle that we as Olympus users
> face, perhaps we should ALL pull together for the good of the Olympus
> marquee and the products we love to use. This includes not only users but
> also those dealers who are willing to talk about that $3.00 battery cover
> and don't feel they're doing us a big favor by even bothering to carry
> Olympus. The alternative will be no new 35mm gear from Olympus and the used
> gear out there assuming cult status (can you say Leica) with the attendant
> outrageous prices.
>
> Regards,
> John Austin
>
> ############################################################
> | This message was delivered via the Olympus Mailing List
> | To receive the Digest version mailto:listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> | with "subscribe olympus-digest" in the message body.
> | To unsubscribe from the current list mailto:listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> | with "unsubscribe olympus" in the body.
> | For questions mailto:owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> | Web Page: http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright/olympuslist.html
> ############################################################
My situation wJohn Austin wrote:
>
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Gary Schloss <schloss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>
> [snip]
> >up, I am not yet convinced that the "silent majority" of the OLY
> >list has spoken.
>
> Hi Gary,
>
> As part of the silent majority, your post has given me the courage to
> respond. I'm a newcomer to the list as well as a newcomer ( I should say
> returnee) to Olympus photography. PvT's messages can be annoying at times,
> but I for one also appreciate knowing where to find Olympus gear. Lest you
> think I live out in the middle of nowhere, I live in a major metropolitan
> area, the bay area of California (San Francisco suburb for those who are not
> familiar with California geography). I point this out because even in the
> "big city", Olympus gear is rare and hard to find at anything approaching
> decent prices. Sure, Olympus dealers are happy to order new Oly items at
> full list price, but this is a bit out of my budget. Not to mention that
> many Olympus items are discontinued. At this time I search out good used
> gear at decent prices and this is not easy. Most of my recent purchases have
> come from the Internet. So far I've been lucky, but I'm sure that sooner or
> later I'll get burned.
>
> I mentioned earlier that I'm a returnee to Olympus photography. From the mid
> 70's till 1985 I was an avid user and collector of Oly gear. For reasons I
> won't go into here, I got completely out of photography and sold (actually
> gave away. If you've ever been forced to sell things in a hurry you know
> what I mean.) all my Olympus equipment. I had most of the important stuff,
> OM-4, MD-2, ten prime Zuiko lenses, the full Oly flash system, filters, ext.
> tubes, etc., etc. Most of this purchased new or used in mint condition. At
> that time Oly dealers were more than willing to deal, discounts were common,
> and used gear was to be had at great prices. The big thing I've noticed this
> time around is that the dealers act like they're doing you a favor in
> ordering Olympus products. Used Oly gear is priced more like collectable
> Leica equipment than user photo products. Sometimes it seems like Leica
> stuff would be easier and cheaper to come by.
>
> I guess if I had not gotten out of the photo game in 85, I would probably
> have continued to collect Oly gear and I would now own two of every item. In
> that case I might also be a bit perturbed to hear about items for sale since
> I would not be in the market. But being a newcomer (returnee), I do need
> equipment. PvT and dealers like him have a place. I, for one, was thrilled
> to find out there was a dealer that specialized in Olympus equipment. From
> my searches both locally and on the Internet, dealers carrying a good
> selection of used Olympus gear at even close to reasonable prices are not
> that easy to come by (If you think PvT is high, try checking out the likes
> of KEH and any of a dozen others I could name). One of the users made the
> statement that the list was dying slowly. It will die if new Oly users
> aren't pulled into the fold, and Olympus will certainly have no incentive to
> create new products at reasonable prices without a user base.
>
> You might ask why I've chosen to go with Oly instead of Nikon or Cannon,
> especially considering I have no huge investment in Olympus gear at this
> time to lock me in. I've chosen to use Oly gear because I believe it's a
> superior product. I can truthfully say this because I have lots of
> experience with Olympus gear. I've noticed many posts to potential Oly
> newcomers on rec.photo.equipment.35mm to the effect that they should pursue
> other brands if they are not already locked into Olympus because of a huge
> investment in equipment. And these posts are coming from present Oly users,
> not the competition. Considering the uphill battle that we as Olympus users
> face, perhaps we should ALL pull together for the good of the Olympus
> marquee and the products we love to use. This includes not only users but
> also those dealers who are willing to talk about that $3.00 battery cover
> and don't feel they're doing us a big favor by even bothering to carry
> Olympus. The alternative will be no new 35mm gear from Olympus and the used
> gear out there assuming cult status (can you say Leica) with the attendant
> outrageous prices.
>
> Regards,
> John Austin
>
> ############################################################
> | This message was delivered via the Olympus Mailing List
> | To receive the Digest version mailto:listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> | with "subscribe olympus-digest" in the message body.
> | To unsubscribe from the current list mailto:listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> | with "unsubscribe olympus" in the body.
> | For questions mailto:owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> | Web Page: http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright/olympuslist.html
> ############################################################
My situation somewhat mirrors John Austin's. I find this list a valuable
resource after
almost ten years of minimal activity in photography due to time constaints.
Some of the
more knowlegable members of the list include the aforementioned dealers.
Their interest in Olympus equipment appears to be of enthusiasts. If their
main motives
were profit, why would they input info on $4.00 MD covers? Certainly time
spent
monitoring this list could put to more lucrative endevours.
############################################################
| This message was delivered via the Olympus Mailing List
| To receive the Digest version mailto:listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
| with "subscribe olympus-digest" in the message body.
| To unsubscribe from the current list mailto:listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
| with "unsubscribe olympus" in the body.
| For questions mailto:owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
| Web Page: http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright/olympuslist.html
############################################################
|