Old Cameras
They (old cameras) don’t sell. They have no inherent value except as a dust collector. Film is gone. I know I’m being extreme in saying this. You probably can find film and even get it developed. But, film cameras are really mostly a curiosity nowadays. Soon enough few, if any, will remember how to load film into a camera. The Argus C3 (the “brick”) was my first ever camera – that I shot a picture. It was dismal. There was nothing automatic and I shot with nary a lesson. I shot in Charleston, WV when I won the Golden Horseshoe award. Nada! Not a single frame could be printed. I’ve never used a folding view camera. No box camera. And just like that … iPhone. We’ve come far. I have a collection of old cameras. Someday someone will try to sell them for money. Right now they are overpriced paperweights loaded with nostalgia.
We’ve come a long way – I just hope we haven’t left anything of value behind!
If space and time were on my side I’d set up a darkroom and continue the traditional methods – I love the act of creating something from scratch and the uniqueness of each silver print made –
December 7, 2018 at 4:59 am
There’s no time in the digital world. It’s way to seductive to have a ready to go image without work. And Photoshop or Lightroom, it’s just that much easier. I have my darkroom equipment that has no inherent value. I still have storage space so my enlarger collecting dust as we speak.
December 8, 2018 at 10:58 am
Unfortunately your assessment of old film cameras is largely true.
Last year I gave away over 600 of them because of this.
Yet I still regret having done it.
November 19, 2019 at 10:52 am