I broke my F3HP so am sad. Instead of buying another I am thinking of selling all my film cameras. I have about 30 of them all 35mm. I wonder how best to sell them.
I broke my F3HP
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- Thread starter Chan Tran
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What happened?
OP
OP
I broke the shutter. I tried to adjust the shutter curtain time and I slipped and let it unwound. I tried to wind it back but bent and broke the shutter curtain. So instead of buying another one I think I get rid all my film cameras. I can't afford to buy film anyway.
I am sad for you. I also have a F3HP. Great camera but when it eventually stops working I’ll probably go digital too. Film is indeed expensive (I also shoot 4x5 and the prices are crazy).
You could try posting your cameras for sale here and maybe also on the Large Format Photography Forum. I haven’t had any luck selling anything here but it’s probably worth trying before selling to one of those reseller websites (easiest/fastest but obviously you take a big hit on price).
Or maybe things like Facebook or other social media marketplaces? I’m not a member of any of them so I have no personal experience.
It might be wise to wait a few weeks before selling everything to avoid doing something you might regret later. And also, consider keeping one or two favorites.
As for the "best" way to sell, you will need to decide if you want to go the route of maximum convenience or maximum selling price. For maximum convenience, you could try places like KEH or MPH. I would expect those offers to be low, but by selling wholesale, you may need to pack and address only a few boxes, and only one trip to the post office.
If you sell on sites like eBay or Fred Miranda you can no doubt get much better prices, but you will also have higher costs like eBay fees. And you will need to spend a lot more time photographing and describing each item. Not to mention more boxes and more trips to the post office. But on eBay you can ask the buyer to pay shipping costs, which I doubt KEH will do.
If you do decide to sell each item individually, then before you list them on eBay, I would urge you to consider first offering them here on Photrio. (This recommendation is motivated by own self-interest! If you happen to have a functional Konica T4, I am interested!) Once you have the the photos and descriptions for each item, it would be relatively easy to copy-paste them to multiple retail selling sites, including the Photrio classifieds.
Depending on your location, one other possibility might be Craigslist -- which would avoid some of the costs and potential pitfalls of eBay. You can meet the buyer face-to-face and get paid in cash! I don't know how big of a market area you can reach from Aurora, IL, but it might work. However, I would expect a listing on eBay will probably reach a much wider pool of potential interested buyers(?)
BTW, how did you buy those 30 cameras? Whatever method the previous owners of those cameras used to sell them obviously worked!
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I agree with the two colleagues.
I had phases when I wanted to get rid of everything in the closet. Now I'm glad I didn't.
Because the nice things are no longer there, and as long as I don't urgently need the money, I'll keep them.
Otherwise I would try local online platforms for second hand items.
I had phases when I wanted to get rid of everything in the closet. Now I'm glad I didn't.
Because the nice things are no longer there, and as long as I don't urgently need the money, I'll keep them.
Otherwise I would try local online platforms for second hand items.
That’s very sad indeed, but why alienate the other 29? I’m truly sorry for your loss. I’d be equally in grief if something happened to my F3.
Sorry to hear about your camera's demise. Consider doing both film and digital photography.
Ouch, that sounds super frustrating. And recognizable in a way; such things sometimes happen. Been there, done that.
I agree with the others. Take a step back and let it sink in. Don't give up; we all f*** up from time to time - take some time to reflect, do some things that make you feel good and then get back on the horse. You'll be OK, I'm sure.
Rob Skeoch
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I use KEH or ebay but when I decide to sell something I put it aside and sit on it a year or so, then if I still want to sell it, then I list it.
Totally agree!! In fact, I spilled some milk this AM and instead of wiping it up, I will no longer eat!
Also sorry to hear of your mishap. I carelessly ruined a camera recently and ouch! It was painful.
I have had great luck selling things here on Photrio. As long as my item is reasonably priced, it usually goes pretty quickly and a lot less hassle than eBay. I’ll look at sold prices on eBay and ask 10-20% less than the going rate there. Pleasant experiences always.
I have had great luck selling things here on Photrio. As long as my item is reasonably priced, it usually goes pretty quickly and a lot less hassle than eBay. I’ll look at sold prices on eBay and ask 10-20% less than the going rate there. Pleasant experiences always.
The ordinary back, that can be removed from the body is worth money. The prism is usable. Save the good pieces and get rid of the broken part. Don't worry about it for now. This is supposed to be FUN 
The ordinary back, that can be removed from the body is worth money. The prism is usable. Save the good pieces and get rid of the broken part. Don't worry about it for now. This is supposed to be FUN
No to forget the working LCD.
Definitely sell the 29 other cameras if you don't use them and buy another F3, especially as you are now a highly qualified expert in what you shouldn't do to it.
Absolutely....
OP
OP
I am afraid I would do exactly what I did to the one I damage. I had it tuned to almost perfect. All shutter speed are close to 1/10 stop. The meter is right on. The camera has very little scratch that you can see. I only found the second curtain about 1ms too slow and I tried to adjust it. I know if I have another one I will have to adjust it to get to that condition and I just might ruin it.
It's my favorite camera among the 35mm camera I own.
Also over the last few years I spent time making the camera perfect but I rarely actually taking any shots with it. Film is not only expensive but also hard to find. I don't have a darkroom any more. Perhaps I can get enough money to get a long telephoto.
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Chan, I used an F3 for years without opening it up....
IMO you're not making photos with it...it's just a pretty paperweight. As far as the price of film.....with 29 other cameras.....i'd sell them and buy film. Did you hear the story of the cat lady who complains about the price of cat food.....
OP
OP
I think I would sell the cameras to get a long telephoto which I don't have. I would stop use film altogether. I do keep the Nikon F5 although it's not my favorite. It's in like new condition,
Exact shutter speeds are overblown, the difference with any mechanical camera is how your exposures are translated into knowledge about the camera and how you then make the exposure. We all compensate to some extent given the latitude of film and developing and the latitude of equipment, but knowledge brings it all onto an accurate plane where everything is reproducible time after time.
Don't. You will miss them soon enough!
30 35mm cameras is a lot. And I get that film and developing isn't cheap. You can minimize costs by using B&W films like Kentmere, developing the negatives at home, and scanning them yourself...
Instead, why not sell off some of your cameras and use the proceeds to pay for film and developing? Selling 15 cameras at $50 each nets you $750 which will buy a lot of Kentmere 400 ($5/roll at B&H with free delivery for orders over $49) and commercial developing. Even more if you buy what you need to develop the negatives at home (tanks and chemistry would be about $100 and develop dozens of rolls).
I'd sell off all but 4 or 5 favorites and set the proceeds aside to fund the consumable part of the hobby. With some smart shopping and more judicious selection of shots, you should be able to stay in the game for a few years.
ETA:
I just checked B&H for prices. Kentmere 400 is a bit more than I remembered and is now $6.99/roll. However, 20 rolls of that, a Patternson dev tank and reels, a bottle of LegacyPro L110 (identical to HC-110), and Ilford Rapid Fixer, with tax and free shipping, is $217. You'll need bottles for mixed chemistry, but I've just reused drinking water bottles. That would give you enough for a year or more of shooting if you're choosy about your shots. A couple years ago I bought 30 rolls of soon-to-expire Fuji Acros II from Adorama at $5.99/roll. I'm still shooting from that stash (I also use other films, hence my slow consumption). I think I have 12 or so rolls left.
Chris
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