What will happen to classic film cameras?
 

Do you anticipate they'll increase depreciate or increase in value in
years to come?

It's understandable that their prices have dropped significantly
lately as everyone's been riding on the digital wave, but regarding
the future...

Possibility A) they could increase in value

Rationale

- less will be made
- those that will be made will either be one of two... A) modern, and
those who like modern stuff will likely go digital. So, the more
likely is B) retro, and those will be too expensive as they're harder
to make at a low price (eg nikon's mechanical rangefinder)
- there's a current wave of everyone (mass public) converting to
digital; digital is still expensive and not good enough yet (actually,
most 5mp cameras are good enough for public right now; the resolution
of a 6mp i read about today was described as an "overkill" by the
reviewer), but sooner or lately digital will get there both in being
cheap and being good-enough, and the current stock of film cameras in
non-collector hands will slowly disappear, lost, trashed, etc, which
means that there'll be less of them, especially when...
- there'll be a point in not too long where most film cameras will be
traded by either niche (film) shooters or collectors. I have seen
quite a few classic cameras lately whose sellers on ebay said that
they only found out how highly regarded and sought after they are when
they did a search for info about them to fill in the ebay description,
so i'll hypothesize that there'll be many "babies" will be gone (like
for example the three olympus RCs I've seen lately which sellers told
me they had no idea they were classic - i can only assume some won't
make it to ebay)
- can they depreciate any more than they are right now? I would've
thought digital cameras are somewhat stabilizing, there's already far
more digital cameras on sale on ebay than film ones

OR They will depreciate

- i can't make up a rationale for this one as i find the above likely
more persuasive, can you?

What will happen to classic film cameras?
 

"Lourens Smak" wrote in message
...
In article ,
(Mike Henley) wrote:

- i can't make up a rationale for this one as i find the above likely
more persuasive, can you?

I think film will only remain interesting in real sizes, I mean, larger
than 35mm. The "snapshot" 35mm will be dead in a few years. (at least in
the western world) What will remain is 6x6 and 4x5".... BIG film. And if
you still want to use film, why not do it right? At least you'll see
some difference.

PS: now is the time to buy that Hasselblad, Rolleiflex, Linhof Technika,
or Fuji 690....

;-)
Lourens

Even medium format is on the ropes with the 11 megapixel canon out there. I
say, wait longer and medium format prices will drop yet further. Of course,
the RB67 is selling quite cheaply now.

As to Mike, this seems like another troll post, don't you think, Mike?
Classic film cameras are classic because they were well regarded at one
time, but are no longer produced today. Some have fallen completely by the
wayside for lack of parts. How is this going to change in any case?

--
Regards,
Matt Clara
www.mattclara.com

What will happen to classic film cameras?
 

Mike Henley wrote:
Do you anticipate they'll increase depreciate or increase in value in
years to come?

Why do you care? Will a bottle of red wine made in Bordeaux in 2004
cost $$ or $$$ or $$$$$ in year 2015? Would you buy it based on age
or buy wine based on actual taste you want?

Fine, so I'm not a collector - and i'm not interested in owning an
iexpensive camera as a way to compensate for lack of something else -
and I don't think the answer to your question is for teh most part
derived from any rational or technical concerns.

So it would basicly be:
* go up - peopel are again buying them as ego extenders
* stay as now/slowly go down - only collectors and retro
fotographers are interested

--
Sander

+++ Out of cheese error +++

What will happen to classic film cameras?
 

Sander Vesik on 03 Jul 2004 posted

Mike Henley wrote:
Do you anticipate they'll increase depreciate or increase in value in
years to come?

Why do you care? Will a bottle of red wine made in Bordeaux in 2004
cost $$ or $$$ or $$$$$ in year 2015? Would you buy it based on age
or buy wine based on actual taste you want?

as a completely off topic aside, there are infact wine auctions, where the
wine is bought an sold as an investment item, irrespective of taste. I
assume eventually someone drinks it tho.

What will happen to classic film cameras?
 

"R.Schenck" wrote in message
...
Sander Vesik on 03 Jul 2004 posted

Mike Henley wrote:
Do you anticipate they'll increase depreciate or increase in value in
years to come?

Why do you care? Will a bottle of red wine made in Bordeaux in 2004
cost $$ or $$$ or $$$$$ in year 2015? Would you buy it based on age
or buy wine based on actual taste you want?

as a completely off topic aside, there are infact wine auctions, where the
wine is bought an sold as an investment item, irrespective of taste. I
assume eventually someone drinks it tho.

Here's the facts on camera appreciation. You would do better to invest the
money in a bank than in a camera you hope to make cash on later. I don't
know a single case where that isn't true.
Cameras are for taking pictures with, not for investment.

--
Regards,
Matt Clara
www.mattclara.com

What will happen to classic film cameras?
 

Do you anticipate they'll increase depreciate or increase in value in
years to come?

Film is dead,. enjoy the revolution!

What will happen to classic film cameras?
 

I will buy them all on eBay ;)

Excelsior, you fatheads!
-Chris-

What will happen to classic film cameras?
 

R.Schenck wrote:
Sander Vesik on 03 Jul 2004 posted

Mike Henley wrote:
Do you anticipate they'll increase depreciate or increase in value in
years to come?

Why do you care? Will a bottle of red wine made in Bordeaux in 2004
cost $$ or $$$ or $$$$$ in year 2015? Would you buy it based on age
or buy wine based on actual taste you want?

as a completely off topic aside, there are infact wine auctions, where the
wine is bought an sold as an investment item, irrespective of taste. I
assume eventually someone drinks it tho.

I know - thats why the "or buy wine based on actual taste you want". In
many cases wine taste improves with age. image quality is by and large not
function of camera body so youdon't getthe same effect.

If wine taste did not have the chance of improving with age it would probably
not be an investment item.


--
Sander

+++ Out of cheese error +++

What will happen to classic film cameras?
 

A lot of them will find their way into my collection.
..
"Mike Henley" wrote in message
m...
Do you anticipate they'll increase depreciate or increase in value in
years to come?

It's understandable that their prices have dropped significantly
lately as everyone's been riding on the digital wave, but regarding
the future...

Possibility A) they could increase in value

Rationale

- less will be made
- those that will be made will either be one of two... A) modern, and
those who like modern stuff will likely go digital. So, the more
likely is B) retro, and those will be too expensive as they're harder
to make at a low price (eg nikon's mechanical rangefinder)
- there's a current wave of everyone (mass public) converting to
digital; digital is still expensive and not good enough yet (actually,
most 5mp cameras are good enough for public right now; the resolution
of a 6mp i read about today was described as an "overkill" by the
reviewer), but sooner or lately digital will get there both in being
cheap and being good-enough, and the current stock of film cameras in
non-collector hands will slowly disappear, lost, trashed, etc, which
means that there'll be less of them, especially when...
- there'll be a point in not too long where most film cameras will be
traded by either niche (film) shooters or collectors. I have seen
quite a few classic cameras lately whose sellers on ebay said that
they only found out how highly regarded and sought after they are when
they did a search for info about them to fill in the ebay description,
so i'll hypothesize that there'll be many "babies" will be gone (like
for example the three olympus RCs I've seen lately which sellers told
me they had no idea they were classic - i can only assume some won't
make it to ebay)
- can they depreciate any more than they are right now? I would've
thought digital cameras are somewhat stabilizing, there's already far
more digital cameras on sale on ebay than film ones

OR They will depreciate

- i can't make up a rationale for this one as i find the above likely
more persuasive, can you?

What will happen to classic film cameras?
 

"Sander Vesik" wrote in message
...
R.Schenck wrote:
Sander Vesik on 03 Jul 2004 posted

Mike Henley wrote:
Do you anticipate they'll increase depreciate or increase in value in
years to come?

Why do you care? Will a bottle of red wine made in Bordeaux in 2004
cost $$ or $$$ or $$$$$ in year 2015? Would you buy it based on age
or buy wine based on actual taste you want?

as a completely off topic aside, there are infact wine auctions, where
the
wine is bought an sold as an investment item, irrespective of taste. I
assume eventually someone drinks it tho.

I know - thats why the "or buy wine based on actual taste you want". In
many cases wine taste improves with age. image quality is by and large not
function of camera body so youdon't getthe same effect.

If wine taste did not have the chance of improving with age it would
probably
not be an investment item.



Whether wine improves with age is a subjective judgement call that varies
from bottle to bottle. The real reason any wine is aged is because of the
vintage. If it was a good vintage, people are apt to lay some bottles
aside.

http://www.invinoveritas.com/bestof/2001/agewine.shtml

--
Regards,
Matt Clara
www.mattclara.com