What to do with?

RalphLambrecht · Aug 19, 2015

I frequently get offeredold cameras and equipment;mostly for free from people who just don't know what to do with them but think it would be a shame to thrw them into the trash.I can't use them, nor do I like to store them and turn my house into more of a photography museumthan it already is.What do you tell people without sounding too harsh or pompous?:confused:

Alan Gales · Aug 19, 2015

RalphLambrecht said:
I frequently get offeredold cameras and equipment;mostly for free from people who just don't know what to do with them but think it would be a shame to thrw them into the trash.I can't use them, nor do I like to store them and turn my house into more of a photography museumthan it already is.What do you tell people without sounding too harsh or pompous?:confused:

I just tell them if something is worthless. They seem to understand since everyone shoots digital nowadays. If it's something worth money tell them to sell it on Craigslist or Ebay. Usually it's not worth much like most 35mm slrs that they can donate to the local college or on Craigslist to a photography student. I gave away a 4x5 enlarger plus extras a couple years ago to a young guy. Hopefully, he acquires a film addiction like the rest of us!

Sirius Glass · Aug 19, 2015

Sell them or give them to a good home, if I will not use it.

Truzi · Aug 19, 2015

I tell people I already have what I need and can use, so am only interested in a few specific additional items. I explain I am not a collector, so don't want something simply because it is a camera.
When people offer, I tell them I am only interested in camera's that belonged to my family members (typically deceased, thus "dead people's cameras" - I have my late father's sense of humor... and cameras).

RobC · Aug 19, 2015

don't they have charity shops where you are, or colleges to donate them to, or auctions. You could collect a load and then put them as a job lot in a local auction and give the proceeds to a charity or suggest the owner does that.

bdial · Aug 19, 2015

Tell them you already have all the cameras you need, and would likely not use it.

There are non-profits or school photography departments that would be glad to have the equipment as a donation.

BrianShaw · Aug 19, 2015

"Thanks for thinking of me, but I'd never use it."

Or

"Thanks very much; how nice of you to think of me"... Then either keep it or drop it off at Goodwill, Salvation Army, or the like.

I've been offered 2: one I use and one I didn't accept.

tkamiya · Aug 19, 2015

Most of the time, people around me think those old equipment are worth some money even when they are visibly mouldy just because they paid so much for them at one point. When asked, I usually tell them what they are worth on a secondary market and give KEH as a reference. Then tell them I personally don't want them because I have so many already. If they want to give them to me, I usually accept them. Play with them a bit and give them away when I get tired of them.

I would think, if you don't want them, you could simply say, "thank you, but I would not be using them either" and leave it at that.

Sirius Glass · Aug 19, 2015

So far I have only been offered working and quality cameras.

nsurit · Aug 20, 2015

If they being offered for free, I tell them I would probably not use them however would be happy to pass them om to someone who might. Given that I have good contacts in the academic community that is where they usually go. I've moved several enlargers this way and a good number of cameras. Sometimes the item is without worth as it is not functional, then it may become a parts camera for someone or . . .

nsurit · Aug 20, 2015

If they are being offered for free, I tell them I would probably not use them however would be happy to pass them om to someone who might. Given that I have good contacts in the academic community that is where they usually go. I've moved several enlargers this way and a good number of cameras. Sometimes the item is without worth as it is not functional, then it may become a parts camera for someone or . . .

removed account4 · Aug 20, 2015

ebay list them for free, start the bids at 1$
and donate all the proceeds through ebay's
"giving works" they have like 1.000,000
charities from food banks to shelters to
boots on the ground in the developing world
( and if your favorite charity isnt' there, get them listed ! )
you can get a usps account, they will send you boxes for free
you can print out the postage on your ink jet printer
and your mail man/lady will take it away without you leaving your home, and the
ebay buyer pays you for your shipping costs ebay puts charity listings at the top of every page
and as far as i know, the $ ( less shipping ) goes directly to the charity ...
without ebay taking a cut ... or sell the stuff on your own and just mail the $$ yourself.
i have done this for IDK 5-10 years and donated between $$$ to local food banks
as well as disaster relief selling photographs like this, i am sure gear would sell well too.

locally i am lucky, if i have gear to donate ( read: tv quality ( 1990s ) video gear, whole silk screen studio &c ) ...
we have a local artist group that loves getting "stuff" called AS220. maybe you have a similar arts group
that does hella-public outreach, provides inner city kids and regular people with art, studio, lessons, a place to be creative/pwer-spot.

good luck !

jeffreyg · Aug 20, 2015

Donate the equipment to a program for disadvantaged children that involves photography. I recently donated an Epson 2200 printer and extra ink set to such a program. The printer was in excellent condition and had been serviced with new ink pads. It was well appreciated and put to good use rather than gathering dust and clogged ink jets from disuse since I replaced it with a larger printer.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/
http://www.sculptureandphotography.com/

blockend · Aug 20, 2015

Plastic point and shoot cameras are worth next to nothing. I recently bought a box of 25 for £5, all but one worked, most were in excellent condition. I've commandeered the three nicest cameras with prime lenses, but have no idea what to do with the rest. Shops usually send theirs to the crusher when they offer a token amount in part exchange.

BrianShaw · Aug 20, 2015

jnanian said:
ebay list them for free, start the bids at 1$
and donate all the proceeds through ebay's
"giving works" ...

I never heard of that. I need to investigate. Great idea; thanks!

Steve Smith · Aug 20, 2015

I usually accept them and say that I will try to pass them on to someone who could use them - and often I do manage to find someone.

Steve.

Ian Grant · Aug 20, 2015

Suggest they give them to charity, many charity shops will take them and at least any money raised goes to a good cause.

Ian

Mackinaw · Aug 20, 2015

I donate my used camera's to the Film Photography Project. They in turn, donate it to students, schools, etc. Of course the cameras you donate have to be in good-working order. See:

http://filmphotographyproject.com

Jim B.

removed account4 · Aug 20, 2015

BrianShaw said:
I never heard of that. I need to investigate. Great idea; thanks!

http://givingworks.ebay.com

good luck brian !

mgb74 · Aug 20, 2015

I have tried giving away cameras and darkroom gear via freecycle and craigslist and found it very frustrating. The % of no shows (people who say they want it but never show up to pick it up) is very high. I've had better luck giving away film cameras here (where buyer still has to pay postage) or selling for what I consider nominal amounts. But there is an element of risk as, most of the time, it doesn't make sense for me to film test a camera.

The ebay program jnanian mentioned sounds appealing. But still need to be careful about how the item is described.

Sirius Glass · Aug 20, 2015

I was given two 35mm cameras with a number of lenses by a coworker who said that if I was not going used them then I should sell them to my lenses for myself.

What to do with?

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