F3: Why is everyone selling off their Sony F3?

Awesome shooting. Really like your sense of rhythm, when to hold a shot, when to pan. The music works a treat to help keep interest in otherwise mundane environments.

Enjoyed it a lot. Looking forward to getting my FS-7 in the next couple of weeks and shooting some Slog myself.

Cheers,

jason
 
Think about the repair cost. This was originally an expensive camera. If it had to be repaired today, the repair could easily cost 4X what you paid used.
 
basspig said:
Think about the repair cost. This was originally an expensive camera. If it had to be repaired today, the repair could easily cost 4X what you paid used.
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I don't know where you are coming up with those numbers from. I 've had repairs done on an F3, EX-1 HVX200 and similar cameras occasionally for about 10 years. The most likely problem with any camera is a board needs to be replaced and the costs are probably the same for an F3 or a EX-1 . I my case its been more luck than age necessarily and costs have at the most been $2K usually much less than that. I guess if you drop the thing on cement it might cost more. Moreover none of these is actually very old.
 
basspig said:
Think about the repair cost. This was originally an expensive camera. If it had to be repaired today, the repair could easily cost 4X what you paid used.
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You should consider the repair cost capped at the price paid for the base unit - just like a car, if the cost to repair damage (parts and labor) exceeds replacement cost, it's totaled, and you just buy another used unit at market cost. If I were insuring my gear, I'd only insure it at the market value - not at original retail. Given that there are plenty of used F3 units, this is a practical approach. It's not like buying a Sony F35 which were made in limited numbers where extra units may stop being available and parts would be solely available at outrageous Sony prices.

Furthermore, depending on the damage to the camera, many repairs, including circuit board replacements can be done by an individual. Lacking an existing warranty and with a total value of $3k on the body, there's far less risk and more reward than trying to do the same on a more expensive camera to replace.

Also, as this model of camera does have more failures and breakages over time, there should be more people with spare parts to sell from their broken cameras for reduced prices.

Even if you go to Sony, you can usually opt to order parts and replace them yourself for far less than sending it in and paying labor. The techs work like car mechanics, and if you have a really cheap part deep in the camera that needs fixing, you pay high on labor for them to do it, or sometimes as little as $50 to do it yourself. I once replaced an EX1 video output board for about $50 by ordering the part myself.

Sorry basspig, but I don't buy your logic. I do think buying used deserves careful consideration and it's not for everyone, but if you spend $3k, your risk is $3k, not $12k.
 
I agree with Viddovation at all points but one: I have all my gear insured as part of my pro policy. My old F3 is insured fully for original purchased price. I don't mind paying few $ more (literally!) and be sure that in case of total camera damage or theft, I can go and get brand new replacement camera worth the same amount of $$ as I invested on day one when I got my brand new F3...
Of course, if you get an used F3 today it's another story: you insure it for what you payed...
 
Tata Steva said:
I agree with Viddovation at all points but one: I have all my gear insured as part of my pro policy. My old F3 is insured fully for original purchased price. I don't mind paying few $ more (literally!) and be sure that in case of total camera damage or theft, I can go and get brand new replacement camera worth the same amount of $$ as I invested on day one when I got my brand new F3...
Of course, if you get an used F3 today it's another story: you insure it for what you payed...
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I would just be careful on this that you read your insurance policy carefully. Some may honor the full retail price regardless of conditions, but I suspect that many would determine replacement value of a used camera to be the market price of a similar condition used camera, regardless of what you originally paid for it, and regardless of the value you listed coverage for. Just be careful. Review your policy, and review any law in your jurisdiction that may apply.
 
From what is being said here, the F3 is not much, if any, more expensive to repair than the EX3 for instance, and a distinction was made about the F35, which was more along the lines of what I was thinking. The concern here is, you got a great deal on a used Ferrari, and one day, it needs repair, but the repair costs more than a new VW Jetta. That would be a problem. But with F3's being $3K on ebay, I suppose when it breaks, you just go buy another on ebay. $2K is still a lot of money to repair a camera. The more expensive the camera, typically the more expensive the repair.
 
Tata Steva said:
Yes, I reviewed when I signed. It is as I stated before. Thanks for the warning.
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Sorry - I actually posted more for the edification of those reading. Just because you've read your policy carefully doesn't mean others reading this thread have the same underwriting. Apologies - the warning wasn't really for you.
 
jasonbrooks said:
Awesome shooting. Really like your sense of rhythm, when to hold a shot, when to pan. The music works a treat to help keep interest in otherwise mundane environments.

Enjoyed it a lot. Looking forward to getting my FS-7 in the next couple of weeks and shooting some Slog myself.

Cheers,

jason
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Thank you Jason!
 
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