How to Collect Antique Cameras
The world of photography has gone digital, but there are still many people out there with an interest for antique cameras. Some antique cameras are wood. Others look like boxes. Still others fold. There are literally thousands of different models out there, some dating back to the mid-1800s. Most antique cameras are worth a few bucks while others can be worth five- and six-figures.
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Instructions
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Decide what style of antique camera you want to collect. Some collect antique cameras made by a specific manufacturer. Others collect cameras that use a specific format of film.
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Buy "McKeown's Price Guide to Antique & Classic Cameras," by James McKeown. The book is considered the "bible" for antique camera collectors and can help establish a camera's manufacturer, rarity and approximate value.
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Find antique cameras. Places to look are online auction sites, estate sales, yard sales, flea markets, thrift stores and online antique camera collector pages.
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Research the market value of a camera you want to purchase. A camera's market value is not necessarily the same as its book value. Completed auctions on online auction sites are a convenient place to look to determine for how much you could resell a particular camera.
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Examine the camera for condition of the shutter, light seals and metering system. Look for mold, mildew, torn bellows, water damage and lens fungus, which will look like a spider web on the lens.
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Make an offer on the camera. Many sellers will take less than their asking price.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not overpay for a camera during an auction. It is easy to get "bidding fever." Unless the camera you want is extremely rare, another one will come available eventually.
