My mom passed a few years ago, and since I've sort of been the photography guru of the family, before she passed she gave me all of her old camera gear. It's all film-based (no digital), and generally in like-new condition (cosmetically, anyway - no more film to test it). Everything seems to work save the flashes and batteries, but I have no use for it. My kids and I have shot a few rolls of film for nostalgia sake, but I honestly can't see myself using this stuff anymore.

Knowing my mom, I'd be shocked if any of these had more than 10 rolls of film run through them. Some may have never been used. The lenses operate perfectly smoothly, but I don't know how the optics have held up. I have the original manuals for almost everything.

Anyone interested in anything? Or is there something rare here that I should send to Sotheby's?

If you are, let me know, as I'd rather it go to an enthusiast instead of the Salvation Army or (insert other donation center here). Make a donation to BCP and I'll ship it to you. Ebay says that together it's all worth $4-500, tops. If nobody's interested, I'll just take the writeoff. Not worth my time to list it all on Ebay.

If you wan't pics, let me know and I'll post them.

Here's what I have:
Nikon F60 w/Nikkor 35-80 mm zoom

Minolta X-700 35mm camera
Minolta MD 50mm 1.4 lens s/n 8126297
Cable release
Vivitar Auto 202 flash

Rollei 35 camera (German made w/ 40mm Carl Zeiss lens)

Minolta SRT 101 s/n 1353899 w/Rokkor – PF 55mm 1.7 manual lens s/n 2426001

Minolta SRT 101 s/n 2591718 w/Rokkor – PF 58mm 1.4 manual lens s/n 5891248

Minolta Rokkor – PF 135mm 2.8 s/n 1511357

W.Rokkor 35mm 2.8 lens s/n 4519454

Vivitar 85-205mm 3.8 s/n 22347565

Weston Master V light meter

Bauer E25A Express flash $7
Mallory PF-497 Battery – 510 volts
Associated cords

If I don't hear anything, it's going next week.

Chris

Chris, I might take that Minolta MD 50mm f/1.4 off your hands. Should I make an offer?

If you end up without any buyers, see if there's a photography school or program that caters to young kids...

http://digital-photography-school.com/what-to-do-with-an-old-film-camera-when-the-love-is-gone/

Alan

Zane,

PM me an address and it's yours.

I'll look into a school donation. That would be ideal. In the mean time, I read that link, and I like the idea of giving kids a roll of 12 with a shot in mind for each frame. I think I'll try it with my kids and the two Minolta 101s.

I would think that if that old-school gear is quality stuff, there is probably some demand for it.
Try offering it on ebay or craigslist.
When I see the kind of money they get for old "Lost in Space" lunchboxes and shit like that, I have to believe that quality camera gear would fetch a fair amount of money too.

hotrod180 wrote:I would think that if that old-school gear is quality stuff, there is probably some demand for it.
Try offering it on ebay or craigslist.
When I see the kind of money they get for old "Lost in Space" lunchboxes and shit like that, I have to believe that quality camera gear would fetch a fair amount of money too.

The only photography equipment that retained any value was extremely expensive to begin with, and/or extremely rare. Leica always had a cult following, in part because everything they made was 600% more expensive and 10% better than the competition, so you had to be a cult member to own it.

Some of the very exotic Japanese lenses held value, but nothing compared to what they cost new, and only if they were both exotic and excellent performers.

The equipment Cannon is offering is quality gear, but it's not worth much cash. The camera bodies are all but worthless in todays market. The lenses are fine, but not a lot of people want to put up with manual focusing these days.

There's been a very slight resurgence in old manual lenses because they convert so easily to the Sony A-series digital bodies, but with so many of them out there it's still only the pinnacle glass that brings any money.

I'd probably hang on to the Rollie 25 just for the novelty of it. It's so small you can stick it in the back of a drawer and one day your adult grandkids will pull it out and say "what the hell is this...some sort of old ipod?"

Some community colleges and even high schools around here use the old stuff for teaching. Of course, I did not find that out till after I gave away my Nikon F3-HP and two big bags of lenses. Did give all my old VHS tapes to local college at least.

I often see articles where analog is making a come back. Oh-well.

Chris, the lens is a gem. Thank you (and your dear late mother) again.

What. A. Cutie pie!!!