old camera

[removed account4]

when you get an old camera, do you work to restore it to its former glory
or do you fix it enough so you can enjoy it, and fix it more as things break down ?

 

[Rick A]

I got rid of all my "shelf queens" a very long time ago. I've thinned the herd down to just the ones I shoot, and I still have too many cameras.

 

[mdarnton]

It depends on how far gone it is. If it's within a good cleaning of being perfect, I do that. If it's a mess and never going to look right, then I just wipe off the loose dirt. My current favorite is an 8x10 Agfa-Ansco view that came out of a basement as an unglued bundle of sticks, with bad finish and ratty brass. I only glued it back together. It still looks crummy, but it works fine.

 

[R.Gould]

I have mostly older cameras, folders, rangefinders, Tlr's Etc, and for me the main criteria is that they work, they take great photos, a nice looking camera is a bonus, but working is the most important, they must work for a living. Museum pieces are not for me

 

[Jeff Bradford]

Shelf Queens don't last very long in my house. If it sits unused for too long, it gets sold or experimented on. My Shelf Queen shelf isn't really a display - its more of a waiting room.

 

[bobwysiwyg]

Shelf Queens don't last very long in my house. If it sits unused for too long, it gets sold or experimented on. My Shelf Queen shelf isn't really a display - its more of a waiting room.

Reminds me of folks who restore vintage motorcycles (or cars I guess). Spend gobs of $$ restoring them, then just haul them around to various show events. Only they call them Trailer Queens.

 

[NedL]

Just try to get it working and use it. I don't care what the camera looks like. My "shelf queens" are cameras that have problems of some kind waiting to be repaired. The shelf is in a closet where nobody can see it. ( yeah I noticed there's a joke in there..

 

[R.Gould]

Reminds me of folks who restore vintage motorcycles (or cars I guess). Spend gobs of $$ restoring them, then just haul them around to various show events. Only they call them Trailer Queens.

I restore old cars, my second greatest interest, I have a Ford pop from the 1950's that I am working on, and I recently finished restoring a Saab 900 Classic, and I use it every day, and take it to shows, when the old ford is done it will share everyday use and show duty, These shows are a great place to use my old cameras,

 

[bobwysiwyg]

I restore old cars, my second greatest interest, I have a Ford pop from the 1950's that I am working on, and I recently finished restoring a Saab 900 Classic, and I use it every day, and take it to shows, when the old ford is done it will share everyday use and show duty, These shows are a great place to use my old cameras,

Good for you, ditto. I've restored my 1969 Honda 750 and ride it. I also go to motorcycle shows with vintage bikes and my camera goes along.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

Well, there's at least one other choice: I buy old cameras in very good condition, that work, and have them repaired if they break. None of them sit unused.

I don't have the tools or skills yet to repair anything like a 35mm SLR, but I have started to repair a leaf shutter.

 

[BradleyK]

Well, there's at least one other choice: I buy old cameras in very good condition, that work, and have them repaired if they break. None of them sit unused.

I don't have the tools or skills yet to repair anything like a 35mm SLR, but I have started to repair a leaf shutter.

+1...sort of: I have in the past purchased "old cameras" in working order (is a '70s, 80s, 90s Nikon really "old"?). If all looks/sounds good, I load up with a roll of HP5+/Tri-X and take the camera for a spin; if everything checks, it's E100G time and into active duty.

However, I would never attempt to repair anything major, lacking both the tools and predisposition to do so (a recipe for disaster, for me). Anything requiring serious repairs either goes to Mr Sover Wong or to NPS.

Shelf Queen-wise, I have only ever retired a pair of F2s (1979 F2AS and a 1980 F2A); both ended active duty with the end of Kodachrome. The F2A, however, will be on its way to Sover Wong eventually, but the F2AS is too worn and butt-ugly to spend money on (bad foam, seriously dented, extensively brassed and a frame counter that doesn't).

 

[bsdunek]

Well, none of the options in the poll fit me. I do have an extensive camera and equipment collection. Old cameras are cleaned up and repaired to look good - not always perfect. I often shoot a roll or two with them just for fun, but the main purpose is for my collection. Of course, my user cameras could be called 'old' depending on your age and outlook. My Rollei is from 1949, Mamiya from about 1962, etc. My 'old' cameras are mostly from 1900 to 1940. Of course there are special interest and novelty cameras. I have several very early Polorids, a Nikon S with accessories, and then novelty cameras like a Coka-Cola, Velveta Cheese, and so on. I love 'em all!

 

[spoolman]

useable old cameras

I've got over 70 cameras in my collection.All of them work and produce results from acceptable to WOW. I' experienced multiple G.A.S. attacks over the years but I don't regret getting any of them. The oldest is a #4 Cartridge Kodak that takes both sheets and roll film dates from about 1904 and my most modern is a Pentax 645.
I'll be clearing out a number of folders of various sizes and film types once my Fuji GL690 arrives from Singapore.

Doug

 

[flatulent1]

I tend to accumulate cameras in EX+ to LN condition so don't spend much time trying to pretty something up. But if it's broke, it gets fixed. If I don't use it, it gets sold. So you might say I have a collection of working shelf queens.

 

[winterclock]

Usually if I can afford a camera it's in the "basket case" category, I fix it so I can use it. No shelf queens here though I do have a few waiting their turn for fixing.

 

[Ian Grant]

I restore older cameras, wood & brass, early SLR's etc, I tend to restore sympathetically so not necessarily to a museum quality (or rather to look like almost new) but to a nice condition where they are useable and also look good on display. I'll make new parts if needed (or get someone to make parts I can't).

It's better to fix something properly rather than a bodge and I'l wait until I find some parts is necessary ofter up to a year or more.

There's not an intermediary option and I do restore completely so I've voted that I restore to like a Museum piece, but I don't completely remove the patina acquired through aging, but I go much further than the 2nd option.

Ian

 

[Bob Carnie]

I use old cameras... but I have zero interest in restoring them.. If I was into restoration I would work on myself.

 

[removed account4]

thanks for the answers so far,

i don't use new cameras, and if i can do a quick fix i will fix it myself
if it involves sending to be repaired because the camera was broken beyond repair
i probably wouldn't bother buying the camera ...
i've done easy fixes like flip the inbox rails on a speed graphic, and time the focal plane shutter ( graflex slr's too )
or taking out and replacing parts in an old graflex slr ( i have a parts junker ) .. nothing major
i like to use what i have ... and if i can't use it i probably don't want to have it ...

 

[ArtO]

I only purchase cameras that I intend to use. If they're not repairable I hold them for parts.

 

[pgomena]

I repair old cameras to the point where they are useable. I've worked on two antique view cameras, nice metal and wood. I spiff them up a little because the wood is pretty, polish the brass a bit, put some paste wax on the wood, lube it, tighten the screws, repair or replace the bellows, etc., but with the intention of using a nice-looking old camera. No shelf queens for me.

 

[kb3lms]

I do try to get cameras that work. Not all of them are the prettiest, but they all get used and loved.

 

[mhcfires]

I have a collection of old cameras, but they all work. I don't want a pile of old stuff that needs dusting. I have enough problems with dust and cat hair, don't need something that is just going to sit there and draw more dust.


m

 

[Axle]

It really depends on the camera itself. If the camera would be useful to me in working condition, then yes I'd restore it to working condition and to make it look nice. Maybe even add in a personal touch. But it would have to be a worthwhile endeavor.

An example of a camera I would work on restoring would be a 1916 Kodak Pony Premo 4x5.

 

[Effectivepixels]

I try to only buy older equipment that is in working condition. Cosmetic issues that don't effect function are ok and can often get you a good shooter for a song which is what i'm normally after. I'm hesitant on things that truly need real "repair" though since i'm more interested in shooting vs refurbing. Minor repairs to keep things going are almost a must though if you are going to use vintage cameras, thought really some of these things are tough as nails old F2s and Nikkormats being good examples.

 

[removed account4]

thanks for the answers so far,

i don't use new cameras, and if i can do a quick fix i will fix it myself
if it involves sending to be repaired because the camera was broken beyond repair
i probably wouldn't bother buying the camera ...
i've done easy fixes like flip the inbox rails on a speed graphic, and time the focal plane shutter ( graflex slr's too )
or taking out and replacing parts in an old graflex slr ( i have a parts junker ) .. nothing major
i like to use what i have ... and if i can't use it i probably don't want to have it ...

i just realized i mis spoke !
i have bought cameras that i have no business repairing
( because i am clueless ) and the cameras needed some TLC
so i sent it to someone that could do what needed to be done ...
like an old 1930s rolliecord not working correctly ... or a lens that just unscrewed itself ( while shooting a wedding )
apart, or a clutch wheel dying on a penFT ... but that stuff was more
CLA and minor fixes rather than full on restoration to look as good as gold.
i figure if it looks too nice i probably shouldn't have it because i'd be afraid to use it.