Used film cameras: I have a Canon Ftb with a canon 1.4 lens. Condition is excellent. Are they really worthless now? I looked at KEH and saw offers of 3-17 bucks for the camera itself.

farsidefan1

I have a Canon Ftb with a canon 1.4 lens. Condition is excellent. Are they really worthless now? I looked at KEH and saw offers of 3-17 bucks for the camera itself.

Is that really how far film cameras have fallen? I worked at a camera store in the 70's and got this outfit. I guess that digital image quality has caught up and perhaps surpassed the old stuff. I'm just surprised. Is this the new reality?

ggttc Loc: TN

Pretty much.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Yes. Many old cameras, even if in perfect working condition, have little resale value now, especially if you sell to a dealer.

Digital has been the new reality for about a decade!

In 2005, we converted Herff Jones Photography's retail school portrait division from film capture to digital capture. The long roll film cameras we had bought over the previous decade cost $8500 to $15,000 each! We had to PAY to have them recycled, because NO ONE wanted them.

We ripped out the film processors in 2007 and had them recycled, too.

Although there is some hobbyist and artist interest in film — enough that Ilford, Fuji, Kodak Alaris, and Ferrania still make a little of it — over 90% of images are now made with... (drumroll) SMARTPHONES. Most professional images are made with dSLRs.

There is a glut of used gear on the market. I have five decent film cameras and about 8 lenses I need to unload, too.

chevman Loc: Matthews, North Carolina

I saw an add on another photography info site. The add was for Kodak Eketachrome 35mm film. Said it would become avalable later this year. From the add I believe it will originate from the UK. There seems to be a real resurgence of "analogue" anything there. Well at least for music recordings and photographs!
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Jerry in NC

par4fore Loc: Bay Shore N.Y.

"Things are only worth what others will pay for it" and the market is saturated since so many sit around used. On the other hand there are a few Nikon film bodys I know of commanding nice bucks these days. Nikon- FM3A ($350-800) , FM2N ($200-400), F6 ($750-1500) just to name a few. Film is not dead and your Canon could be worth a lot more if you use it or give it to someone who will. As for the 1.4 lens it might have some value on eBay but you have to look it up. If it can be used on digital it should.

DickC Loc: NE Washington state

I have a cabinet filled with old film cameras, I call it a collection. Nikons, canons, etc. all bought for hundreds of dollars and now worth $30 or so. I still shoot film but only for fun.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

Film was great, and there are those on this forum who exclusively still use them. Inserting a 36 exposures roll of Kodak film in a SLR camera, is a lot different than getting a thousand+ images on a SD Card. There are some Brands, Hasselblad film cameras, for one, that may be an exception.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

farsidefan1 wrote:

I have a Canon Ftb with a canon 1.4 lens. Condition is excellent. Are they really worthless now? I looked at KEH and saw offers of 3-17 bucks for the camera itself.

Is that really how far film cameras have fallen? I worked at a camera store in the 70's and got this outfit. I guess that digital image quality has caught up and perhaps surpassed the old stuff. I'm just surprised. Is this the new reality?

Unless you have a collectable camera in pristine condition most cameras are like cars.. lost half their values once you start using them...

Rongnongno Loc: FL

DickC wrote:

.../... I still shoot film but only for fun.

Hey!!!

Change your

to

or

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

farsidefan1 wrote:

I have a Canon Ftb with a canon 1.4 lens. Condition is excellent. Are they really worthless now? I looked at KEH and saw offers of 3-17 bucks for the camera itself.

Is that really how far film cameras have fallen? I worked at a camera store in the 70's and got this outfit. I guess that digital image quality has caught up and perhaps surpassed the old stuff. I'm just surprised. Is this the new reality?

Mostly, unless you find a film enthusiast or a collector. The lens will be useful to someone interested in such things, but FD lenses are tricky to use on Canon EOS DSLRs, but on the new EOS M5 becomes very usable again as with other mirrorless cameras. I still have an AE-1 and T90, and have adpater some old FD lenses to the EOS mount. If you do want to sell, patience will be required to find the right buyer.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Sometimes that's good for those of us who still occasionally shoot film. This week I bought an as-new Canon EOS -1N that I can use my EF lenses on, for $100. Absolutely perfect - not a scuff or scratch. Fortunately here in Raleigh, we have several camera stores, one of which sells film, chemicals, used enlargers, etc.

chevman Loc: Matthews, North Carolina

Rongnongno wrote:

Unless you have a collectable camera in pristine condition most cameras are like cars.. lost half their values once you start using them...

That depends on the car. If it has a V8 and rear wheel drive and it isn't a wreck the price just might scare you!
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Jerry in NC

Rongnongno Loc: FL

chevman wrote:

That depends on the car. If it has a V8 and rear wheel drive and it isn't a wreck the price just might scare you!
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Jerry in NC

As I said 'collectable'.

I have two of those (collectable cars). Been offered about 50k for one and 30k for the other.

Why should I sell them? I use them all the time so... I save more money than I win by not selling them, beside when I die my 'heirs' can do whatever, I will not care.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

chevman wrote:

That depends on the car. If it has a V8 and rear wheel drive and it isn't a wreck the price just might scare you!
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Jerry in NC

Like a 1956-57 Chevy. They ain't cheap, if the body is not a wreck. And more to restore them with the original V8 engine.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

I'm less familiar with Canons, and specifically this model. From what I've seen, the AE-1 Program continues to have the most appeal. There are a number of schools that buy up the "all manual" models. These would include the Pentax K1000 and the Nikon FM and FM2. A refurbished FM2 is selling for $300-$350 in my local market. But we may be a bit different: film is sold and developed down the street from me. Bear in mind that a lot of old cameras have not been maintained and may need the seals replaced. Nikonos VS, which are the best dive film camera ever produced, will sell for $75.00 and up depending on condition. Nikon recommended replacing the water seals annually. So buying one of these means some work. I'll continue to check for FTBs as they come on the local market. There are none currently for sale. I can't guess what that means. Personally I would keep it. I have 5 Nikons, a 645 Fujica and an AE1 Program.