Wow, take off to do some mountaineering for a day and look at this! Such a lively thread!
Let me address the comments in order:
PeterA: I can understand your position with respect to eBay. But I have found that putting the item up for auction on the global market consistently fetches excellent pricing. Furthermore, I haven't seen this kit (new back & used accessories) priced on eBay, so I have no way of figuring out the 'market' price. I'm sorry our buying & selling strategies aren't better lined up--but you do have other options:
* In the 60-odd items I've sold through eBay, I've also had one buyer ask to go through an escrow service before--he paid the escrow fees but was happy with the peace of mind (and very satisfied with the lens I sold him). No problem with doing this again, if it helps.
* subtract the price of a Seattle visit from your maximum bid, and see it in person once you've won. As outlined in my auction, you needn't take it if it isn't exactly as described.
* you also have my dealer information, and are welcome to talk with them about me or this item.
* Murray Elliot is my Phase One rep (out of Colorado), and he can also answer many questions you may have.
gogopix Even with the ~5.5% commission I'll lose to eBay/PayPal, on the whole, I've found that a good, clear no reserve auction does better than the average board pricing I've seen. Sometimes not, but on average it does pretty well.
Chuck PLEASE check your facts before making or even hinting accusations. True, only two postings here, but my arrival here had nothing to do with (and pre-dates) selling my back. This seems like a good forum--I can assure you that you'll hear more from me in the MF forum when I have something of value to contribute to a supportive and vibrant MF community. It's not hard to find me online--you can find photography-related postings going back more than 10 years (I use the same handle everywhere I post, and it's my real name), and never have I joined a community just to sell a piece of kit.
DavidK Yeah--me neither!
Yatlee I can't say the Hy6 is for everyone, as I don't know what kind of shooting you do. I'm a nature photographer, and love both the glass and the ergonomics of the Hy6. It's a pricey platform, but definitely worth looking into if you are thinking about it. The ergonomics can strike one as a bit odd at first glance, but I found myself quickly growing accustomed to them.
gogopix Yup, agreed. Although the Hy6 only weighs ~900g, the Contax glass is much lighter, I'll still argue that the P45+'s image quality is superior, on the whole, to my eye (and I have the eMotion75LV that I'll be using on the Hy6), and so on. There are a lot of factors and for everyone the 'best' solution will depend on them.
Take care,
Brad
