Valuing my cameras?

milkplus-mesto

Member
Joined
Mar 5, 2008
Messages
94
Format
35mm
Hi, following the removal of celerystalkme's thread, i was tentative about posting here, however, i need a hand in valuing my cameras in order to place them in the classifieds.

I'm looking for the rough values of the following items, and where (apart from APUG's classifieds) it might be good to sell them.

The items are:

Canon EOS 1000F - Excellent condition, a few small marks around the tripod socket. No other damage to any part.

Pentax ME Super Body - Nicht ser gut, there is a mark in the viewfinder which can be distracting on white backgrounds, but shouldn't affect focusing or composition. Shutter may occasionally stick in places (leaving dark patches)
Externally excellent condition. With Leather case.

Lomo Lubitel II - Excellent condition, apart from focusing, which needs to be tightened/recalibrated. Easy to do. With original box, receipt and case. (and if you're lucky, 11 exposures of Velvia)

Rollei Magic - Reasonable condition. No marks anywhere that would affect image quality, comes with 645 masks. Missing metering cell and shutter release button. Needs some work. With Leather case.

SMC Pentax-M 28mm f/2.8 Lens - Near mint, one small bit of brassing on the finest detail. A very good specimen.

SMC Pentax-M 85mm f/2 Lens - Same as the 28, with a tiny bit less brassing, i've heard this lens is quite rare, and from my experience, gives great pictures. It has one mark on the rear optical element that does not affect picture quality (it is within the lens itself).

Pentax Takumar 135mm f/2.5 - Again, excellent condition, a small amount of brassing on the aperture ring, includes internal lens hood. Great image quality.

Vivitar 28-85mm f/3.5-4.5 - It's got some marks (read, scratches) on the front element that shouldn't affect image quality, and other than that, i don't know much about this lens at all.

Eumig Viennette Super 8mm - Beautiful, almost unused, comes in leather box with close up filter, lens tissues and manual. Includes batteries.

Canon EOS 650 - Same condition as the 1000F, comes with neck strap.


Please note, I am NOT listing these items as for sale, simply asking for help in finding their value. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Henry
 

JBrunner

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Dec 14, 2005
Messages
7,429
Location
PNdub
Format
Medium Format
bdial said:
Look at completed auctions in ebay, and KEH's prices for similar equipment.
Click to expand...

Ditto. Use completed auctions in the advanced search function to get an overview of completed auctions.
 

elekm

Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2004
Messages
2,055
Location
New Jersey (
Format
35mm RF
"Mint" is a word that is often misused, here and on eBay.

Mint means "as new" -- clean with no marks. No signs of a lens being mounted to a body. No signs of any use.

Any type of brassing immediately should mean the camera is not mint or not even near mint.

Regarding the Rollei Magic, these seem to go for about $150 to $200, but it's missing two key parts, which really makes the camera good only for repair or parts. Unfortunately, that means the value declines to about $50 to $75.

A lens that has any scratches, especially on the front element, loses anywhere from 25%-75% of its value. You really must shoot with the lens to say that it won't have a detrimental effect on photos. That might be true. Or it might result in increased flare, slight softness in the middle part of the image.

The ME Super sounds like it needs more work than you would want to invest. And hence it probably is a parts camera -- maybe $25-$45.

The three Pentax-brand lenses sound good and should bring you a decent amount of cash, but I agree with the others to check eBay to get you closer.

The Lubitel is a bit of a cult camera, and you might get more than it's worth, despite it needing some work. If it's easy to calibrate the lens on the Lubitel, you should do the work. It will increase its value.

I don't know enough about Canon cameras or movie cameras to offer any opinion.

As always with eBay, you might get less. You might get more. It's all about finding the right buyer at the right time.
 

Polybun

See, people make this much more complex than it really is. Camera value is REALLY simple. If you use it, and it works for you, its priceless. If it doesn't work and isn't working for you, or even if it does work and still isn't doing ti for you, it is just some metal, glass, plastic, rubber and maybe some wood that gets in your way, pisses you off, and wastes your money!
 

Chaplain Jeff

Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2008
Messages
172
Location
Norfolk, VA
Format
35mm RF
Hello,

All any piece of camera gear is worth is what the highest bidder / buyer is willing to pay.

I think you'll find that the value of an item is totally dependant upon the number of people who are interested in it - in the particular market you're trying to sell it. No more. No less.

Years ago when I got out of manual focus and film gear for digital I sold off a very large assortment of Nikon and Minolta film cameras, lenses and accessories (I'm back to film now and wish I had all those Rokkor lenses again!).

I sold my Nikon stuff through Lori Excel (cameralady.com) and got what I thought were very good prices off her posted sight - and what didn't sell after a month she sold on ebay for me, took all the pictures handled the transactions, etc., for something like 10 or 15% of the sale. For me that was the easiest way to go.

She couldn't however, get what I told her some of the older manual gear was worth to me and so sent it back. I proceeded to make it known to people on a forum that specialized in that kind of gear - who knew what it was and its value (and who also knew me, what gear I've bought and how I take care of it) - and easily got the figure I expected for the equipment.

If you can live with 15% less, Lori's the way to go. If you've got time to photograph everything, market it to the right people, or are willing to deal with the hassle of ebay and all the risks that go along with it then I'd suggest you sell it yourself. Start with what you think is a fair starting point - maybe 2/3 of what you paid for it - and let the bidders tell you what it's worth.

Good luck and let us know what you decided. And how it turned out.

Jeff M
 

nemo999

Member
Joined
Jul 20, 2008
Messages
277
Format
35mm

As a snap judgement, the two most saleable items are the Canons - due to oversupply, they may well go for $50 each. Brassing on lens mounts usually counts as signs of heavy use, if a lens is very clean but is brassed at one point only, it has probably been dropped. Internal marks in lenses are usually mold, repair totally uneconomic. The Pentax lenses may make $20 each, repair of Lubitel uneconomic, Viennette as I recall a simple 8 mm model, demand virtually zero. Rolleimagic, if it needs work as well as having parts missing, unsaleable except for parts. As the saying goes, expect nothing and you will not be disappointed!
 

Polybun

bdial said:
Look at completed auctions in ebay, and KEH's prices for similar equipment.
Click to expand...

eh, i dunno about that, i see stuff sell for allot more than it is really worth on there all the time.
 

Christopher Walrath

Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2005
Messages
7,175
Location
Milton, DE USA
Format
Analog
If you can wait, hold off until about mid February or early March to get the tax refund money bidding/buying your gear. Not only the amount of people interested, but timing is everything. And start your auctions (if eBay) on a Monday evening so that the surfers will have the weekend to find them and then the opportunity to nab them after work on monday. IMH (yet sometimes completely worthless) O.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…