SP Studio Systems SP 3200 & 6400 Excalibur

I live in a small town, but we still have a guy with a camera shop and studio.

I've known him for years and actually hired him for a few things in the past (I'm a marketing guy by trade but I'm getting out of that rat race to pursue more photography). Recently I stopped in to say hi and see what was left of the shop. It's basically a film graveyard at this point. LOTS of old film, a retail case of lens filters, and old film cameras and monolights strewn everywhere.

He had probably 3 or 4 each of these lights:

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …0_Excalibur_320​0_320.html

Clyde's an old man now, and after talking to his wife it seems he's just holding on to this stuff as a way to motivate himself to get out of bed everyday.

I'm considering making an offer, or having him make me a deal. I don't want to take advantage of the situation, but I don't want to get stuck with gear that is obsolete either.

If I had to guess, I'd say that they are at least 10 years old. Some of the info I have found online says that they might only be adjustable 3 stops with no half or third stops. There is a thread here that suggests it's difficult to find replacement bulbs for these units.

They would likely be used with umbrellas or eventually in soft boxes for a small home studio, portraiture and product shots, as well as being used for an occasional outdoor portrait to provide strong fill for sitting subjects and groups

So, if they are in working order, what would be the value of these things?

should I avoid it all together?

I had convinced myself that I was going to buy another couple of strong speedlites and remote triggers, but i can't stop going back and forth between the two set-ups

FWIW, I have a Nikon SB-28 and an old Sunpak I have been using from time to time.

I need to spend as little as possible maybe 500 -750??

give it to me straight POTN'ers.

also, has anyone ever suggested renaming this forum to something along the lines of "Ask strangers to help you avoiding having buyers remorse"?

One important consideration. If the monolights are that old it may be that they will fail due to capacitor problems. Especially if they haven't been used much.

Its commendable to want to help out an old friend but I'd find another way to do it.

dmward wrote in post #15960144
Its commendable to want to help out an old friend but I'd find another way to do it.

i think that might be my problem.

i was checking out a photoshop retouching job he had just printed and put back in the old frame. The dang pixels were probably 1/8 inch square.

my eyes are going fast, but poor Clyde apparently can't see WITH glasses.

wanted to know about starting a website so he could avoid selling all that stuff on ebay.

i'm a sucker to try and help someone out.

hes gone wrote in post #15960187
=he's gone;15960187]i think that might be my problem.

i was checking out a photoshop retouching job he had just printed and put back in the old frame. The dang pixels were probably 1/8 inch square.

my eyes are going fast, but poor Clyde apparently can't see WITH glasses.

wanted to know about starting a website so he could avoid selling all that stuff on ebay.

i'm a sucker to try and help someone out.

Craigslist or eBay may be the best way to sell it.

Both find creditable buyers.

Also the for sale forums here and on Fred Miranda's site are good.