collecting cameras future value

[Richard S. (rich815)]

By comparison cameras and lenses are tomorrow's landfill, no matter how rare or pretty.

Or desk lamp or chandelier:

 

[Dan Fromm]

Dan,

I think you are already aware that such an item was just a joke made by Zeiss engineers?

I guess it's still a collectible.

Of course. It went for, IIRC, 60,000 Euros plus the buyer's premium. It was a good joke.

 

[Dan Fromm]

Thinking of this nonsense, I'm in the process of selling a lens to Cameramate. They confirmed my belief that one of my treasures' value has fallen by roughly 50% -- from ~ $4,500 to $2,200 - 2,500 -- in the last two years or so. That one's market price may rise again but will probably keep on falling.

 

[AgX]

Sounds like not much use for an "Antiques and Collecting" portion of forum.

Why not?
As long as we do not consider it an investment forum.

 

[randy6]

I like to put my order in for declining valued equipment. I looking for nickel plated wide angle for my contax I and leica mount 5cm sonnar in the bargain $5 to $10 dollar range. I may use them awhile then re-purpose as a lamp.

 

[randy6]

Some of these things will always have a value regardless if there will be film or not. My wife collects Victorian oil lamps she doesn't use them yet they hold a value.

 

[AgX]

Things only remain their value if there remain people to value them. If you look at the collectibels market you will see that some things rise, even explode in price. While other things once praised to keep their values, even made for collectors have lost their value nearly completely.

Basically collecting is a matter of fashion. With a world faster changing (concerning ways to spend free time, to spend money) there likely will be faster changes at these fashions.

Concerning cameras: I do not see young people buying collectible cameras.
I hardly see young people buying film cameras at all...

 

[flavio81]

Of course. It went for, IIRC, 60,000 Euros plus the buyer's premium. It was a good joke.

LOL!! You're right!!

 

[Theo Sulphate]

Concerning cameras: I do not see young people buying collectible cameras.
I hardly see young people buying film cameras at all...

Newcomers to film cameras will now be from people who started with digital but somehow became interested in film - either because they saw old high-quality photographs that interested them, or perhaps saw an old camera that interested them, or read an article that involved film photography.

We see some of these people coming to APUG.

Or, perhaps they'll see one of us with a film camera at some event. In such instances I like to have a digital camera with me as well: if they see someone with just a film camera, they can think "old guy who is afraid of technology and is too stupid to learn new and better things". But if you're using your film camera while your digital one sits idle, then their curiosity is piqued.

 

[benjiboy]

Newcomers to film cameras will now be from people who started with digital but somehow became interested in film - either because they saw old high-quality photographs that interested them, or perhaps saw an old camera that interested them, or read an article that involved film photography.

We see some of these people coming to APUG.

Or, perhaps they'll see one of us with a film camera at some event. In such instances I like to have a digital camera with me as well: if they see someone with just a film camera, they can think "old guy who is afraid of technology and is too stupid to learn new and better things". But if you're using your film camera while your digital one sits idle, then their curiosity is piqued.

That describes me down to the ground "old guy who is afraid of technology and is too stupid to learn new and better things". after over sixty years I'm still trying to learn the wonders of film photography, and don't have the time, patience or inclination to get my head around learning photography all over again .

 

[randy6]

I'm 47 I like way things used to be made I like to spend my hard earned money on something that is made to last. I can't help but notice a lot of estate sales I have been to looking for old cameras just to find someones lifetime of pressed wood and plastic crap.
I have been a printer most life another dying art. I started with stripping film then went digital. I prefer film.
I save the digital for snap shots and the internet I print photos to keep

 

[benjiboy]

Newcomers to film cameras will now be from people who started with digital but somehow became interested in film - either because they saw old high-quality photographs that interested them, or perhaps saw an old camera that interested them, or read an article that involved film photography.

We see some of these people coming to APUG.

Or, perhaps they'll see one of us with a film camera at some event. In such instances I like to have a digital camera with me as well: if they see someone with just a film camera, they can think "old guy who is afraid of technology and is too stupid to learn new and better things". But if you're using your film camera while your digital one sits idle, then their curiosity is piqued.

That describes me down to the ground "old guy who is afraid of technology and is too stupid to learn new and better things". after over sixty years I'm still trying to learn the wonders of film photography, and don't have the time, patience or inclination to get my head around learning photography all over again .

 

[goamules]

Things only remain their value if there remain people to value them. If you look at the collectibels market you will see that some things rise, even explode in price. While other things once praised to keep their values, even made for collectors have lost their value nearly completely.

Basically collecting is a matter of fashion. With a world faster changing (concerning ways to spend free time, to spend money) there likely will be faster changes at these fashions.

Concerning cameras: I do not see young people buying collectible cameras.
I hardly see young people buying film cameras at all...

Thanks for this most relevant comment. That's the key, supply (very high) and demand (going lower all the time). Many collectibles are based on demographics, that is, the era that people in their peak earning years grew up in. Lionel trains? My prediction - will plummet. Cameras? Other than the brief, golden age of buying great stuff cheap and selling on the internet high (the past 10 years) - will return to their rock bottom prices. Some highest quality items will retain their value, or go up some, like large Dallmeyer Petzvals. Because they didn't make many, and they couldn't afford to make them today (another topic of my predictions, for another thread).

To the OP, very few things in life can you "buy now to try, and then resell for the same money later if you don't like it." No, not even gold, which is based on the same premise: supply and demand.

 

[Photo Engineer]

I would have to say that precious metals are the exception. They have always retained some value throughout recorded history. Gold, Sliver and Platinum are the primary examples. Gold was $20 / troy OZ when we left the Gold standard and it has never lost value. Silver was $1 / troy OZ and look at it now.

PE

 

[Sirius Glass]

If you are looking for a worthwhile return on your investment I would invest your'e money in something else.

What he said. I love my Hasselblads, but there is a very limited market for the Hasselblad equipment and in the long run it will diminish as film interest and availability decline. Why will someone want to add a digital back to a Hasselblad with less than complete integration. For the cost of a digital back a user might as well buy an new one right out of the box.

 

[Sirius Glass]

In a digital age I don't think anyone is going to get rich investing in film cameras.

Especially digital cameras. Not even the stores are getting rich selling them because the competition is so great there is very little mark up.

 

[Arklatexian]

Especially digital cameras. Not even the stores are getting rich selling them because the competition is so great there is very little mark up.

The same was true for film cameras shortly before the Digi take over. I asked a camera store owner why he didn't stock Leicas. He answered that for what a Leica cost he could stock several less expensive cameras and sell three times as many filters, sunshades, cable releases, tripods, as well as film, etc. for full price and that is where the profit was. He had to sell the cameras at just above his cost. He sold Leica and Hasselblad on special order. The customers who bought those did not need a salesperson's time. They knew what they wanted.....Regards

 

[benjiboy]

The same was true for film cameras shortly before the Digi take over. I asked a camera store owner why he didn't stock Leicas. He answered that for what a Leica cost he could stock several less expensive cameras and sell three times as many filters, sunshades, cable releases, tripods, as well as film, etc. for full price and that is where the profit was. He had to sell the cameras at just above his cost. He sold Leica and Hasselblad on special order. The customers who bought those did not need a salesperson's time. They knew what they wanted.....Regards

I can verify that I managed camera stores for more than 20 years and there's much more percentage profit margin on accessories than cameras and lenses, that's why if you try to screw the camera store on the price of a camera they offer to throw in a couple films instead it costs them a lot less.