is there a "blue book value" book for used photo equipment? where would one go to figure out the value of used photography equipment ? besides" what ever someone will pay!!" and other...

redhogbill Loc: antelope, calif

where would one go to figure out the value of used photography equipment ?
besides" what ever someone will pay!!" and other than going on e-bay and see what there selling for.

nicksr1125 Loc: Mesa, AZ

There used to be such a book. I'm not sure if it has been updated or discontinued with the advent of all the digital cameras. I know a couple of camera shop owners and will ask.

Waltm Loc: Fredericksburg, VA

Once upon a time there was an actual "Blue Book" Illustrated Price Guide to Collectible & Useable Cameras. My copy is dated 1985, which places me in a certain age group. I dunno if it still exists as such.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

redhogbill wrote:

where would one go to figure out the value of used photography equipment ?
besides" what ever someone will pay!!" and other than going on e-bay and see what there selling for.

There are sources, but they are often simply based on Ebay completed sales info and not actual item values. Some are free:

http://www.usedprice.com/items/camera/all/digital-camera/index.html

And some are subscription based:

http://www.cameravalues.com/price-guide/

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Waltm wrote:

Once upon a time there was an actual "Blue Book" Illustrated Price Guide to Collectible & Useable Cameras. My copy is dated 1985, which places me in a certain age group. I dunno if it still exists as such.

You may be thinking of McBrooms Camera Bluebook. At one time is was pretty much required info in any used camera store. I think they stopped printing in about 2000 or 2001 but am not sure.

skiman Loc: Ventura, CA

redhogbill wrote:

where would one go to figure out the value of used photography equipment ?
besides" what ever someone will pay!!" and other than going on e-bay and see what there selling for.

What do you want to use it for? Most people use the blue book value to figure out what they should pay or be selling a car for. It is usually flawed becuase you can rarely actually buy or sell a car for that amount (You usually pay more or sell for less than that amount). After all true value is only what the market will bare.

redhogbill Loc: antelope, calif

Waltm wrote:

Once upon a time there was an actual "Blue Book" Illustrated Price Guide to Collectible & Useable Cameras. My copy is dated 1985, which places me in a certain age group. I dunno if it still exists as such.

yes looks like that was only printed to 2000,

I found this site but you have to pay ! am still looking

thank you
http://usedprice.com/index.html

Waltm Loc: Fredericksburg, VA

What I have is published by Photographic Memorabilia in Lexington, Mass., Myron Wolf Editor. It has a great amount of detail and illustrations of all cameras and lenses, with price examples. It is useful as a historical document, but of course not for pricing thirty years and a digital revolution on.

redhogbill Loc: antelope, calif

skiman wrote:

What do you want to use it for? Most people use the blue book value to figure out what they should pay or be selling a car for. It is usually flawed becuase you can rarely actually buy or sell a car for that amount (You usually pay more or sell for less than that amount). After all true value is only what the market will bare.

I do concur with your statements, as I have had the same experience!!
BUT, if I pay $3000.oo 2 years ago for a camera or lens{knowing a lens will hold more value} how would you know what the real value is? you can go to e-bay and price them, {which may really be the only way to get an accurate price} what the market bears!!!
at least KBB, gives you reasonable starting point!! not what everyone else on "craigslist thinks there's is worth"
and another thing I found out is .. old camera equipment {dare I say antique } is not as valuable as you might think!! compared to "some old radios "
a 1959 brownie at $8 compared to a 1959 small transistor radio at around $3000 depending on model.
it's just information I think I need!!!

skiman Loc: Ventura, CA

redhogbill wrote:

I do concur with your statements, as I have had th... (show quote)

As the real value is only what someone will pay going to KEH and looking at used prices will be a good start. More accurate would be to average the Ebay actual end of auction prices, as that is what they are selling for and there for the true value.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

"The price of a used camera is dependent entirely on the attitudes of the buyer and the seller at the time of the transaction." Anonymous

amehta Loc: Boston

skiman wrote:

As the real value is only what someone will pay going to KEH and looking at used prices will be a good start. More accurate would be to average the Ebay actual end of auction prices, as that is what they are selling for and there for the true value.

If I want the approximate price of some used equipment, I look at what KEH sells it for. If I want to figure out a more accurate number, I also look at what KEH would buy it for, and then I figure out where in the middle I want to be based on who I am selling to.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

redhogbill wrote:

where would one go to figure out the value of used photography equipment ?
besides" what ever someone will pay!!" and other than going on e-bay and see what there selling for.

Look at auctions ended in eBay. You will get a sense of what people paid for gear. This is real-time, actual transaction data, not a chart in a book or on a website.

johnst1001a Loc: West Chester, Ohio

Simply go to Amazon, look up your piece, and check the used prices list. This is the easiest way.

Les White

watch eBay camera sales