Making the right collection
Why do people collect cameras with no intention of using them? Okay, maybe that’s a little unfair. Some collectors do enjoy using their vintage cameras. But for most collectors, buying classic and antique cameras is more about the joy of owning and admiring something special and different, while researching and learning about its place in the history of photography.
There are a lot of old cameras around, many of which are of no intrinsic value or deserving of a special place either in photographic history, or on a camera collector’s shelves. So how do you tell what is collectable? Sometimes it’s a matter of age, other times it’s the manufacturer or perhaps the country of origin. It could be a camera’s rarity, an unusual specification or method of working, a one-off, a landmark in design… Finally sometimes it’s just a gut feeling, nothing more than the fact that you like the look of a particular camera and buy it in the way you might purchase any work of art.
If you have never thought about buying a camera as a collector’s item, or even if you are a collector already and are seeking confirmation of your sanity, read on.
Collectability factors
Age
The older the camera, the more its way of working is likely to be of interest. Although what has
