Collecting Cameras This is the personal page of Tom Parkinson and the views and opinions expressed are his alone and not those of the Western Canada Photographic Historical Association WARNING — Collecting Cameras can be addictive, they can be exciting to look at, sensual to hold and feel, they click and whirl and can take over your home, your finances, your life — BE CAREFUL Introduction People collect all types of things and there are reams of analysis of why they do this, usually ranging around compulsion to less flattering comments that include disease. Camera collecting is not a major field with just over a dozen groups like the WCPHA in major North American cities. In a recent web discussion there were estimates of around 10,000 serious camera collectors worldwide — but some felt this too high. Camera Collectors divide into a few groups — with lots of overlap. There are the high rollers with museum-quality collections of rare cameras — and sometime their own museums. There are the traders or merchants, continually buying and selling cameras for a profit and griping about eBay and falling prices — some with no significant collection but most have the bug. Then we get the serious collector — I class myself here — with several hundred cameras. I buy often but very rarely sell. Other collectors have only a handful of cameras — but lovingly selected and looked after. Finally there are many who like old cameras but don’t have the interest, the means, the space or the tolerant partner to accumulate them. All of the above groups divide in two — sometimes divisively if you pardon the pun. Those who take pictures with their cameras and those who do not — they just clean, repair, index and display them — that’s me. These two groups have different collecting goals. The users want cameras that work well and take film that is easy to find. The others are more concerned with cosmetic appearance for display — although I also like my cameras to work even if the shutter speeds or exposure readings are not accurate. Most collectors try and specialise. I did, starting out interested in the 35mm German rangefinder cameras that I had coveted as an impoverished youth and could now acquire. My first was a Retina IIa bought at Olsen Camera in New York City in 1966; the second was a Contax from Lens and Shutter on West Broadway, Vancouver. Then it got out of hand — German SLRs, then Russian cameras. Japanese cameras seemed to fall out of the sky. I interpreted 35mm to include films with the same width — 828 and 126. And who could resist the beautiful precision of sub-miniatures. I bought a Minox, a Yashica Otoron then 110 instamatics — including the refined Pentax 110; a friend gave me his grandfather’s nineteenth century wood and brass beauty — and so on. Yes I even have a few early digital cameras despite originally deciding not to collect any camera that required a battery. But my real joy stays with 35mm German rangefinder cameras and these are the ones I research and write about — and will keep when I winnow my collection down. Starting Out Camera collecting can be as expensive or cheap as you wish. There are millions of old cameras that cost less than $20, many less than $5. You probably have one of more old cameras in a drawer or closet — or your relatives do. You can start with this, possible collecting cameras from the same maker. Argus cameras are popular with Americans. This was the largest volume manufacturer in the USA after Eastman Kodak and there are over 30 models plus many variations. Instamatic (126) cameras are very inexpensive and there are many interesting ones among the dross of plastic cheapies. Finding Cameras The joys and perils of eBay and garage sales To be continued Using Them Yes you can buy film for most old formats Valuing Cameras Rating their Condition Many systems, no agreement Professional Repairs Repairing Shutters The easy fix Repairing Light Meters From a 1993 WCPHA Newsletter Recovering From a 1992 WCPHA Newsletter Books Contact me