if he / she gave you their camera before they retired or died what would you do with it ?

[Theo Sulphate]

I'd certainly use it and the first project with the camera would be a portrait of the person who gave it to me.

Nice. I like that.

As a romantic I think cameras take on the personality of their owner. A Spotmatic that was responsible for recording a generation would be more desirable than a shiny new Leica that had been barely used.
...
Fewer film camera are used exclusively nowadays, so the sense of history and attachment is rarer.

Completely agree. This has been an insightful topic of discussion.

... badly affected bellows; tried to fix it, but I failed. Now it has a place in a bookshelf.

Consider this:

https://web.archive.org/web/20160515095024/http://pheugo.com:80/cameras/index.php?page=folders

 

[E. von Hoegh]

Gifts are not to be sold, except in dire circumstances.
This guy http://www.adirondackdailyenterpris...-story-in-cars-hawkeyes-barns-held-treasures/
gave me a nice old Waltham 16s silver hunter cased watch, about 15 years ago. The cuvette has an inscription from 1882. I carry the watch always, it's a tool after all and also a gift from great friend and a very unique man. I'd treat a camera the same way.

 

[macfred]

Consider this:

https://web.archive.org/web/20160515095024/http://pheugo.com:80/cameras/index.php?page=folders

Thank you ! Looks like a pleasent pastime for long winter nights ... Maybe I will give it a try.

 

[Helios 1984]

He/She need'nt to be a "Photographer", whoever decide to give me something out of generosity, I ought to use this something to show my gratitude. I would use this camera until it fail, then I'd pay for a CLA or tinker it myself if needed.

 

[Vilk]

got one. ran a few rolls through it, but the results were technically lousy. been sitting in the closet for a few years now. sentimental value orders of magnitude higher than utility, so not selling, closet it is

 

[Sirius Glass]

If it was useful to me I would use it otherwise I would keep it for a while to make sure that I would not change my mind and then sell it.

 

[Ian Grant]

I was given a 1950's E2 Rolleiflex like that, actually it was almost non functional as the owner had only put about 6 films through it from new, then continued to used his Minolta Autocord, all the lubrication had dried up. The lubricants had dried out.

Now after a CLA/Service I use it sparingly, it's in near mint condition and I'd like to keep it that way I now mostly use another Rolleiflex - an Automat bought later at a a real bargain price at a flea market as it's not so precious, that's here in the UK - in Turkey it's a Yashicamat 124.

It depends how equipment is given, I'd like to pass it on again after some use making excellent images, but not worn out

Ian

 

[Paul Manuell]

If it was a Pentax 67NII, cherish and use it. Anything else, probably sell. Having said that, though, if it was a Pentax 645NII I'd use it as a second body loaded with different film to whatever would be in my current one.

 

[TheRook]

Use it, but take extra good care of it.

 

[Ces1um]

I'd definitely use it. If I haven't got a purpose for it, then it goes from being a camera to being "clutter".