ornault

I'd like to hear some UHH input on some or all of the following considerations:
1) In the Photographic World, is Antique the same as Vintage referring to Film Cameras and Lenses,
2) Are all Film Cameras and Lenses now considered to be Vintage, and
3) How old does a Film Camera, and its associated Lenses, need to be to be thought of as Vintage?

Thanks in Advance; I still have my first Nikon F (670xxxx) with the 50mm f/1.4 now with coating separation and stuck at around 25 foot focus from high school over half a century ago. And no, I haven't used them in decades. Though I was dragged (kicking and screaming) into the digital age, I continue to be amazed at the continuing miracles of it all...

wingclui44 Loc: CT USA

I still have the Nikon F (712xxxx) from early 70 in great condition, plus the 35mm f2.8; 43-86mm 3.5 and 135mm QC f2.8, ya, they are vintage, but still useful, I use all those old lenses on my Nikon DSLRs.

Jbrustrom

I still have my Argus C3 and shoot a roll now and then. My parents bought it new for me in 1963. Yes, I realize it’s not a Nikon. But it doesn’t need batteries and talk about full manual! 56 years later and still going strong.

Cany143 Loc: SE Utah

Says Google: "Here is the general rule to remember: Something antique is also vintage, but something vintage isn't necessarily antique. Vintage refers to something that is from an earlier generation. Antique refers to something that is over 100 years old."

The earliest of my Nikon F's is s/n 6466671. It bears the 'Nippon Kogaru/Tokyo' stamp (rather than the 'Nikon' stamp used later) above the shutter release.

runnyblood

I recently acquired my father's Leica, leather case, 4 lenses (which don't turn for focusing very well), filters, and "Leica" cassettes (to load film from a 400-foot roll?). Serial number in the 100 thousands. The shutter still seems to work; it has two controls, longer and shorter than 1/20 second. Vintage but not antique, I guess. Any suggestions about oiling the sticky lenses? runnyblood

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

The only circumstance I would ever use the term, "vintage" when describing photographic equipment is if I also specified the year or period of origin, such as, "vintage 2011", or "vintage late 1940's". By itself, "vintage" has little meaning. For example, if I stated "I'm now opening a bottle of vintage wine", what does that tell you about the age of the wine? Nothing. I would need to specify the year. For all you know, it could be vintage anno 2018. Or a 75-year old wine.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Vintage mostly refers to wine, a particular harvest or crop.

So when used for other things, I would imagine it would <vaguely> a particular time period.
Could be the 50s or the 60's, or any other time period, just not current.

Antique, typically over 100 years, but it also indicates being of the past as in not modern.

A 1960s car is vintage, while a 1930s car is an antique. So the time frame could also be variable.
Can you get antique plates at 25 years? I know classic plates are for 25 years and older.

Bill 45

I have own and use cameras from the 1930s to 1970s. German, Japanese, American made cameras. All film cameras. I rate now putting together a Speed Graflex which date to some time around 1947. Question is do I go with 4X5 film or get a 120mm film holder. Now is this camera "vintage" "antique"? It not going to sit on a bookcase to be look at, it going to be a working camera.

Keen

Vintage is not about age as much as about place in history. A recent thing can be "vintage" if it has to do with something notable in any of a number of ways. To be "antique", a thing-camera, chair, etc, has to be at least 70 years old.

G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK

Vintage in wine has to do with the quality of the grapes (and total production of grapes) in a particular year....not really to do with age....

Classic is generally 25 years since the last produced model....Obviously models change irregularly so theoretically you could buy 'the same' new for some things.

Antique is often placed on things a generation or longer ago 75 - 100 years. No longer produced 'in that factory or company' might be a point for some 'modern things' like furniture. The factory outlet is more important than age.(man made v machine assisted)

No-one has mentioned 'Curio'. Something that is defined as ageless...made at any time in the past but in very small numbers or for 'export' only. This would include things made for a specific person rather than 'limited editions'.

For cameras I suggest they have value for as long as the 'film or plate' can be found - or made in small numbers in the age when Photography was in its infancy. The 'oddities' rather than factory produced. A massed produced Zenith will only ever be of interest to 'those that remember using them' or a faithful 'collector' of 'every camera made'.

Have fun

Pistnbroke Loc: UK

The term vintage strictly applies to pre Dec 1929 after that its classic etc

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

For jewelry: Vintage is over 20 years old, antique is over 100 years old.
I wonder if that is a standard.

turp77 Loc: Connecticut, Plainfield

david vt Loc: Vermont

@cany. Then I am vintage but not yet antique 😜

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

It seems the term is used on anything someone is trying to sell. And from what I am seeing mostly JUNK, an effort to make it desirable. Read rook2c4 post!!!!!