| It is not hard to fall for the precise mechanics or the quirky designs of the thousands of cameras manufactured since Louis-Jacques Daguerre and his partner Alphonse Giroux first patented a camera in 1839. Beyond their functionality, cameras are masterpieces of art and design.
Building a camera collection can be as straightforward or as complex as you want it to be. Getting started takes forethought, however. Once you're hooked, the array of equipment can be overwhelming, so it helps to focus your collection. For example, you might want to choose a time period, say cameras used during WWII; or try to track down a particular type of camera, such as Graphlex view cameras. Collecting by country, perhaps the U.S.S.R., where Lomos, Xenits and Kievs were once all the rage, is another route to take. Then there are the knockoffs: Japanese knockoffs of Russian cameras are circulating, as are American knockoffs of Japanese models. On the other hand, collecting by brand, say Leica, or the Italian brand Rectaflex, may be of more interest to you.
Alternatively, you may want to collect only mechanically sound cameras you can actually use for different types of shooting. For example, an Olympus Trip 35 rangefinder, powered by daylight and not batteries, is great for winter shooting, while a Rolleiflex, with its large viewing screen and fine lenses might be ideal for portraits. A view camera, such as the 4 x 5 Speed Graphic, complete with flash, could be just the thing for shooting the many social events in your life. At the very least, it would be a great conversation-starter. In fact, cameras make great conversation pieces at home too, and you might want to collect cameras for their decorative value. A wooden studio portrait camera from the 1800s is a nice touch with period decor, while pre-1900 cameras with brass lens barrels of the sort made before 1900 may catch your fancy.
Pleasure; Not Profit
The key to collecting cameras is to go after those you personally enjoy. Camera-collecting is a hobby, not an investment. While cameras can be gorgeous to look at and wonderful to use, their actual dollar value can be surprisingly low. Prices can sometimes be found on line, or in the current edition of McKeown's Price Guide, the industry standard.
Certain qualities can add value to a collectible camera, though. Rarity, as in a color or style of camera made for a limited time, is a definite bonus, as are the physical and mechanical condition of a camera. A camera that comes with the original box or a manual, and is being sold with a complete kit of accessories -- including a case -- is more valuable than one that is not.
If you're looking for collectible cameras that are still usable, keep in mind that while the camera may be mechanically sound, the proper film may no longer be available. Such films as 620, 127, 828, 110 formats -- if you can locate them at all -- have long since passed their expiry dates, and are probably in the hands of old-film collectors, anyway. Even if the right film for your collectible camera is available, it can be hard to find and may require some effort to use. For example, if you would like to try using your latest treasure -- perhaps a Six-20 folding Kodak -- you can rewind 120 film onto a 220 spool and then back onto a 620 core, and be ready to shoot ... assuming of course, you' ve tracked down enough spools to make the transfers required.
For more information on collecting cameras, visit your local public library, or tour the Internet: A search on the phrase "collecting cameras" opens a world of treasure-hunting possibilities.
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