Auctions are we all secretly hoping digital will die?

[Paul Reading]

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It is a funny thing. I have a Digilux 2, Canon AE1, Minolta CLE + Lenses and flash, Contax T2 and Contax 645. Only one of these cameras gets used on a regular basis, so why don't I sell the film cameras while they still have quite a lot of value?

 

Well because if I could find someone who could process film as well as they did 5 years ago I would start using them again. The situation is not going to get any better as fewer and fewer films and labs are available. Checking eBay on a regular basis shows that many other photographers are doing the same thing; hoarding their beloved film cameras and cannot bring themselves to sell them. There very few cameras such as the Leica R6 for sale, these days. I have lusted after one of these for years and when film as dominant there were lots for sale, but since digital has taken over they have all but disappeared.

 

How do we explain this odd behaviour of us humans?

[tobey bilek]

I have not sold any M or R cameras. I should

[bocaburger]

when film as dominant there were lots for sale, but since digital has taken over they have all but disappeared.

 

How do we explain this odd behaviour of us humans?

 

Why do you think it's odd? It's pretty galling to see how little they are worth today, so unless the money is really needed, I'd rather just keep them for a shelf display rather than waste my time and energy selling them for the little they can bring in. As for M lenses, those have skyrocketed in value, and with the M9 they're still totally relevant, so hanging on to my film M bodies for sentimental reasons is a luxury I can afford.

[tgray]

I can't really speak for others, but I suspect it's because some of you make enough money that selling a film camera really wouldn't net enough cash to make it worth your while. As in, a Hasselblad 500 + 80mm is worth more to you as a sentimental object than the $1200 you'd get for it.

 

I do the same with my $300 Canon SLR lenses. Maybe I'll use them some day. Maybe not. It's nice to have them in the closet if I REALLY needed them. I could sell them both but I wouldn't be able to buy anything for my Leica M setup that I could really use. Since $600 isn't all that much in Leica land. However, if I had $2k of camera gear sitting around in a system I don't use, I'd sell it. Then again, I sell Leica lenses that I don't use, which apparently is a no-no around here

[earleygallery]

Why do you think it's odd? It's pretty galling to see how little they are worth today, so unless the money is really needed, I'd rather just keep them for a shelf display rather than waste my time and energy selling them for the little they can bring in. As for M lenses, those have skyrocketed in value, and with the M9 they're still totally relevant, so hanging on to my film M bodies for sentimental reasons is a luxury I can afford.

 

Have you checked the prices stuff sells for on ebay? I think you'd be surprised at how much film gear fetches, and the % of gear that sells. Plenty of people out there are buying it.

[Michael Tyler]

Well because if I could find someone who could process film as well as they did 5 years ago I would start using them again.

 

Start using them! Black and white film is as easily obtained and self-processed as ever. E6, yes that's the pits unfortunately, but C41 can be self-processed with a bit of extra home equipment if you can't find a lab. Scanning options are not great, but certainly available. Wet printing equipment is at fire-sale prices.

 

By putting your coin into filmstock instead of another eventual digital camera, you're having a dialog with the photographic industry.

 

Also - correct me if I'm wrong - but aren't you able to buy/sell items throughout the EU? Including Germany herself? I'm looking for a car right now (a German) and quite jealous over the breadth of what's available on your side of the Atlantic.

[Fgcm]

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It sounds strange to me when you say it's difficut to have your film processed.

 

In Milano (Italy) any kind of film is available and is processed within The next day.

The same almost everyware in northern Italy.

 

Fgcm

[jaques]

indeed- there are plenty of labs still running in my City, Adelaide, Australia.

 

As someone who has dealt a lot in second hand camera equipment I can confirm a fair amount of it is purchased by collectors who likely do not use all their gear to take photos... they go into cabinets... Many times the buyer is an elderly person who lusted after a particular camera when they were young. Now they are old and have the money they get one to satisfy their age old desire. Having done that they decide they want other related models, etc. Another collector is born.

[Messsucherkamera]

I don't use my Nikon gear much these days as I mainly shoot with my M gear. I'd rather keep my F3hp, FM2n and FM2/T and use them once in a great while than I would sell them for peanuts.

 

If you own film cameras, why not get them out and use them?

 

Buy some Tri-X. Get some film reels, a developing tank a darkroom thermometer and a darkroom graduate. Develop your own B&W film - it is not difficult at all. In fact, it's quite enjoyable and you can develop Tri-X at home for around $0.40US per roll.