a typical ‘retro’ digital camera design – the ‘half-frame’ X Half Fujifilm digital camera
Toronto. Camera collectors look at the current values and think, “I wish I bought that model years ago”. When I started to collect back in the early 1970s, many old cameras turned up at relatively cheap asking prices.
A bag of 1930s Leica lenses, camera body, and a few accessories went for about $100. The old cameras were of little practical value since newer and far better models were available for serious work. Today a 1930s Leica body or a single lens would cost much more – especially the rarer variations.
As to old Leicas, shutters with ball bearings or using red curtain material suppled by Kodak, often turned up in the early days of our society. The now rare cased photos and albumen prints glued to card stock were often offered at our events for very modest amounts.
Around the turn of this century, a shift began towards digital technology. When the revolution got in full swing, no one wanted the older film cameras – or even older digital cameras.
Many film cameras had been turned over so often that they were priced out of reach or even the interest of beginning collectors. Once digital took hold and became the norm, many film cameras and lenses plunged in value. Only the higher end gear seemed to hold up. Today some die-hard niche players are active in using the old film gear to get the ambiance of analogue technology.
Illustrated here is an example of the trend to “retro” look cameras with digital functionality at reasonable prices. Perhaps we should consider buying now so history doesn’t repeat itself …
Of course if you desire older used gear (or accessories, or photos), you should visit our 2025 events like the famous mid-summer 2025 trunk sale on July 13th, 2025. Just saying.
