Things You'll Need:
- An old film camera that is no longer in use
- A desire to determine the camera's fate
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Step 1
Preserve Your Cameras: One of the biggest enemies to your film camera is lack of use. If you put the camera in storage and forget about it, then one year later you want to get it out and fire it up, there is a really good chance that you will have some kind of film transport, shutter activation or metering system issue. The older the camera, the more likely it will develop these problems in extended storage.
The solution to this is to get the camera out every 3-6 months and shoot a role or two, even if it is only 12 exposure rolls. If nothing else, your kids will get a kick out of it and ask, What kind of camera is that mommy, and what are you putting into it? When you take the camera out of storage, put it thru a physical of sorts, by running it thru its paces. Before you put film in it, open the back, use the film advance, fire the shutter, change the focus and f stop, turn the speed dial, turn the on-off switch numerous times. Give it a good workout to make sure it still feels right.
The only thing you have left to do is checkout the battery situation and shoot a roll of film. I have two old cameras, a Minolta SRT 101b that used a 1.35v mercury battery, until mercury batteries were outlawed. So for that camera, I have to find a 1.4v battery and have to use a ring that goes around the battery to make the smaller diameter battery snug in the battery compartment. My other old camera is a Minolta XG-M, which uses two standard 1.5v batteries that can be found everywhere.
If you stored your camera with the battery in the compartment, don't do it again. The best practice is to remove the batteries before storage, to be completely safe from battery leaks and corrosion. Just remember where you put the batteries for the next time, so you don't have to hunt high and low, or buy a new one. -
Step 2
Sell You Old Camera: This can be fun, but there are no guarantees if your particular make and model will be sought after by collectors. I think medium format cameras are easier to sell than 35mm as many amateur photographers that have never been able to get into medium format due to the added equipment cost, can now get in because some of the companies that used to make medium format cameras no longer do so, so you can find bargains. Before you sell the camera, you need to put it thru its paces according to Step 1 above. Then, and only then, can you honestly make claims about its condition when you advertise it. It doesn't matter if you find things wrong, just as long as you list them in the ads. You would be surprised how many people will by cameras that need repair or are good for parts.
The two obvious places to try and sell your camera is ebay and Craig's List. Any other local online classifieds will work too. Go to ebay and do a search on your make and model and read some of the ads and look at the prices. The way I price things I have owned on ebay is to get a rough idea what your make and model is selling for, then start your auction at 1/2 to 2/3rds that amount. Also throw in free shipping in the U.S only, and offer shipping at cost to international customers. You need to make sure you know how much it will cost to ship your camera in the U.S and at the very least, start the bidding at U.S shipping costs x 1.5 - 2.0. -
Step 3
www.lifedesignbooks.com.auPass it Down to a Family Member: While some children would make fun of a film camera, there are those kids that would get a great kick out of the mechanics of the old cameras. The fact that you have to crank the film to the next frame. Where you have to dial up the film speed. Where you have to line up a circle with a needle in the viewfinder to make sure you get the right exposure. All these things can be almost magical to kids. You may just ignite their interest in photography and old cameras to boot.
Pass it along to the local high school photography class.
Ask all your friends and neighbors if they are interested in the camera and just give it away to the first person to take you up on you offer. -
Step 4
Dispose of Your Camera: If the camera does not work, you can't get it fixed, can't sell it, and can't give it away, and it is just taking up space, that may be the right time to show it the garbage can. But rather than just throw it in the garbage, you should take it to your closest electronics recycling location, they send all types of electronics overseas for melting down and recover heavy and precious metals, and plastics.
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Step 5
Olympus IS-3Keep the Camera in Regular Use: I have kept my favorite 35mm camera out and in use, I purchased it in 1994. I deliberately did not store it in an inconvenient place, it is always accessible. My two older cameras have just come out of storage and have been checked out and I am going to keep them out and use them from time to time too. It is good to get back to cameras that feel substantial and sound mechanical.
That's all folks! -
Step 6
Thanks for reading my article, I hope you liked it. I would appreciate it if you would scroll to the start of the article and click a star that represents how helpful the article was. While you are there you can send the article to a friend. Thanks again and good luck.
