selling old cameras/equipment

<p>I have a collection of cameras/camera equipment that my dad used, dating back to the 1950s. Here are a few pieces: Kodak Pony 828 camera/case; DeJUR Citation 8mm movie camera; DeJUR model 500 8mm movie projector; Tower 6571 photographic enlarger & base plate; Mansfield film splicer; assorted Canon lenses (28-55 mm; 300mm; 50 mm; 70-210 zoom lens; Pentax IQZoom 928m; and an assortment of other cameras and equipment that he acquired over the years. All of these items are for sale. I'm looking for advice on how best to proceed. </p>

<p>Diana, some of these items will be worth a little bit of money, some next to nothing. I would start by making a list of the items, with model numbers, etc, and look up on ebay each of the items and what they have sold for over the last year. This should give you a good idea of the value of each, and how much more time to spend on the project.</p>

<p>Once you have some starting values, you can either put them on ebay or craigslist. One thing you should have in mind, though, is to be disappointed in how much money you get from the lot. Some of these items may have more sentimental value than real, especially items you can identify as having been used in your childhood.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p>The stock answer on Photo.net is to search completed auctions at eBay to see what things are selling for. And then there are the kind words of encouragement that follow.</p>

<p>But, if you would rather have straight unvarnished answers here goes. The Kodak Pony 828, DeJur movie camera, Mansfield splicer, Pentax IQZoom, Tower enlarger, and DeJur projector are all under $25. "garage sale" level items. The Canon lenses sound like manual focus FD mount lenses. Do you have a Canon AE1, AE1-Program, or T70 around somewhere that goes with these lenses? The lenses you should be able to get some $ for. The 50mm should be worth about $30. since these are popular to use on digital now (with adapter). The others you should look up on an auction website. I know I would buy the 300mm.</p>

<p>As always, you can offer the items on Photo.net classified or sell at the auction website.</p>

Yeah... What Tom said.

<p>Thanks for all of your responses and guidance! I discovered that there will be a local F-Stop Swap in my area in April. I'll see what I might be able to sell/"giveaway" at that event and then, if need be, post items on Photo.net.<br>

You're right abot the sentimentality of the items. I recall watching my dad develop pictures in his darkroom, and that old movie camera shot hundreds and hundreds of hours of our family vacations and simple, everyday events. And then we watched the films with his projector on the screen in the living room. You should see the cord on the projector -- it has at least 20 taped sections! <br>

Thankfully, it appears most everything else is in good/great shape. You'll hear from me again if I have some items that I need to post on Photo.net. In the meantime, Tom, I'd be happy to speak with you about the 300mm.<br>

Diana</p>

<p>Old 8mm film cameras have more value and antique decorator items, even though they can still be used but compared to digital they are not efficient. Enlargers generally have very little value as the work involved is time consuming and costly compared to having a lab to most of the work. From what you listed my recommendation is to keep the old film camera and store it with the 8mm film reels. If you are not aware 8mm film can be scanned onto discs for easier viewing.</p>

<p>Those cameras of your dad's are worth FAR more than a few bucks for their sentimental value -- if not to you, then to your children. My mom actually left me a rather valuable Leica IIIf camera outfit. I could sell it to pay for most of that Canon EOS 5D Mark III that I have my eye on. However, I would never part with it for even twice what it's worth. I can't have my mom back, but I can hold her camera and think of her. The same goes for my dad's slide rule, which is probably worthless.</p>

<p>If I were you, I'd figure out creative ways to decorate some corner of the house with some of your dad's camera gear. A neighbor of ours has a couple of shelves full of old alarm clocks -- no sentimental value, but simply something she collects. They look great in her living room! I'm seeing the cameras and film splicer laid out on the enlarger easel. I'd put some old film in the splicer.</p>

<p>Hi, Sarah. I love your very thoughtful, touching response. I'll take my time with these items, and most likely I'll do something very similar to what you suggested. There are an incredible number of memories in all of these items. <br>

Have a wonderful day.</p>

My dad passed away this past July. He was a professional photographer and collected many different cameras. Mom and I found :

 

 

<ul>

<li>1- ALPHA 10d with what looks like the kern ALPA-macro-switar 50mm f/1.8 lens, along with the original instruction manual. The camera also has an emblem of some kind to the left of the words Alpha. The metal emblem is red and gold. Looks like a castle wall with 3 stars above it. This camera looks very clean</li>

<li> </li>

<li>1 - ALPHA mod 7 No 36206 body only</li>

</ul>

 

 

Could you tell me how much they may be worth, as we are trying to sell dads cameras/accessories to a local photo shop and I wanted to have an idea what they may be worth, even if they needed a few hundred dollars in repairs.

 

Any help would be appreciated,

<p>Hi Karen. I'm sure sorry to hear about your dad's passing.<br>

I am certainly not an expert nor am I even a regular poster on photo.net. But, from what I know, the local photo shop is one of the LAST places that you want to go to sell your dad's gear. My bet is that they will give you nowhere near what it is really worth. I know next to nothing about Alpa cameras and lenses - except for the fact that they were VERY expensive when new. I have a number of old Modern and Popular Photography magazines from the early-1970's. A used Alpa 10d body sold for $229.50 in 1971 - nearly the same as a Leica M4. WAY beyond my paperboy budget back in the day (I had a hand-me-down Leica iiic that I bought from my older brother). From what I do know of Alpas, they were well-made marvels of Swiss engineering. I'd love to have one in my collection.<br>

Of course, as with ANY vintage item (be it a camera or a motorcycle), condition is everything. But PLEASE do not let the local camera shop talk you into letting them go for peanuts. Camera shows are also not good places to sell equipment - for the same reason. The dealers that frequent these shows will typically never give you top dollar.<br>

Best of luck!</p>