What is my old camera worth?
Old film cameras still have a following, and the value of yours depends on the maker, the model and its state. Here are the well-known names to look for, and what a valuer weighs up.
Are old cameras worth money?
Nearly every picture is now taken on a phone or a digital camera, yet interest in older cameras has not faded. Part of it is nostalgia. Part of it is that each model shows a stage in the history of photography, from the clever engineering to the design of the body.
Film cameras link us with a time when taking a photograph took care and patience. They range from the Leica rangefinders, which are cameras where you focus by lining up two images, to the humble Kodak Brownies. It is natural to ask what they are worth, so this guide looks at the well-known makers and models you might have at home.
These cameras paved the way for modern photography. A great many are still wanted by collectors and by people who like to shoot on film.
Leica
Leica is known for precision and lasting build. Early in the twentieth century it brought out small cameras that used 35mm film. They were far lighter and easier to carry than the bulky cameras before them. That made photography more widely available and widened what photographers could do, which is why collectors look for them now.
Two models are worth knowing. A lens mount is the fitting where the lens attaches.
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| Model | Introduced | What it is known for |
|---|---|---|
| Leica M3 | 1954 | A bright viewfinder and rangefinder in one, good for accurate focusing with a 50mm lens. It introduced the Leica M lens mount. Solid, precise build. About 220,000 were made. Widely seen as one of the best rangefinders ever made. |
| Leica IIIf | 1950 | Separate windows for framing and focusing, and the Leica screw mount, which takes a wide range of screw-mount lenses. Shutter speeds to 1/1000 second and a slow-speed dial. Compact and durable. Over 180,000 were made. |
Nikon
Vintage Nikon cameras are prized by photographers. They run from the F series, through to the smaller FM and FE cameras. They were built to last, and their toughness and reliability made them favourites with professionals and amateurs alike. Their value goes beyond money, because of the mark Nikon left on photography.
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| Model | Introduced | What it is known for |
|---|---|---|
| Nikon F | 1959 | Nikon's first SLR, which means a camera where you see through the lens itself. It took interchangeable lenses on the Nikon F mount and had a removable pentaprism viewfinder. Rugged, and important in making the 35mm SLR the choice of professionals. |
| Nikon F3 | 1980 | One of the first Nikon SLRs with electronic controls, including an electronically timed shutter, with a mechanical backup. The DE-2 eye-level viewfinder was standard, and a high-eyepoint finder suited glasses wearers. It stayed in production for over twenty years. |
Canon
Canon's older cameras stand for innovation and quality, from the rangefinders of the mid-twentieth century to the SLRs that followed. One of them, the AE-1, became a landmark by putting advanced photography within reach of amateurs. It had automatic exposure, where the camera sets the light for you, and was easy to use.
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| Model | Introduced | What it is known for |
|---|---|---|
| Canon AE-1 | 1976 | One of the first SLRs with electronically controlled automatic exposure. It used the Canon FD lens mount. Affordable, and one of the best-selling SLRs of its time. |
| Canon F-1 | 1971 | Canon's professional SLR, built for hard use. It was modular, with interchangeable viewfinders, focusing screens and motor drives, and used the FD mount. It introduced through-the-lens metering, which measures the light coming in through the lens. |
Olympus and Polaroid
Olympus is known for compact, reliable cameras with excellent lenses. The Pen series brought half-frame photography to many people, and the OM series is known for small SLRs. Half-frame means each picture uses half a frame of film.
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| Model | Introduced | What it is known for |
|---|---|---|
| Olympus OM-1 | 1972 | A compact, light SLR on the Olympus OM mount, with fully mechanical controls. It needs no battery except for the light meter. All-metal body. |
| Olympus Pen F | 1963 | A half-frame camera, giving 72 pictures on a 36-exposure roll. It is a half-frame SLR with a rotary titanium shutter and a porro-prism viewfinder, which keeps it compact. Lenses and viewfinders can be swapped. |
Polaroid cameras gave people a photograph they could hold within minutes. The revival of Polaroid film means they still appeal to enthusiasts and artists. The Polaroid Land Camera 1500 is one to know. It is remembered for making instant photography accessible and for the Polaroid rainbow stripe.
What decides the value of a camera
Finding an old or broken camera at home can be the start of something unexpected. There has been renewed interest in film photography, and even cameras that no longer work can be worth something, as display pieces, for parts, or for repair and restoration.
If you have a collection, or have been left old film cameras by a relative, several items affect the value: rarity, condition, historical importance, demand, and whether the camera is complete with its original accessories.
We make one offer for the whole box, so send the cameras as they are, with cases, lenses, straps and any papers.
Turning old cameras into cash
If you would rather turn old cameras into money, ask for a free postage pack. Post it on the free label; it is protected on the way to us. We make one offer for the whole box within seven days of arrival. We hold your offer for 14 days. Your offer tells you the date. If you need longer, just ask. Say yes on a working day and we send your payment the same day, once we have your details.
No obligation. Just ask for a free pack.
Get your free packHow it works
Step 1: Pack your box
Everything in, nothing cleaned.
Step 2: Post it free
Stick the Parcelforce label from your pack on your box and send it to us.
Step 3: Wait for your offer
One offer for the lot, within seven days of arrival.
Questions
Can a broken camera be worth something?
Yes. A camera that no longer works can still interest collectors, or be wanted for parts or repair. Send it as it is and do not try to fix it first.
What affects the value of an old camera?
Rarity, condition, historical importance, demand, and whether it comes complete with its original accessories.
Ready when you are.
Get your free pack
Protected on its way to us
Our parcel cover, up to £300, on evidence of what was in the box.
One offer for the whole box
We value everything in it and make one offer for the lot.
Carefully valued
We carefully value each box and pay a fair price for it.
Free postage both ways
A free postage label to us, and free postage back if you decline.
If you are not sure what your camera is, send it as it is and we will look at it.
Prefer to talk? Call us free on 0800 048 8777