Londinium on film
I’ve spent many a year buying old film cameras from charity shops, eBay and car boots. I became an expert for a while buying and selling old cameras and making money from it, so here are the few things I look out for when buying.
If theres any sign of damp or mould in the lens or back cover.
The camera brand.
Resell value (a cheeky look on eBay - change settings to sold items and see how much they go for).
Corrosion in the battery slot.
If it’s pre-digital, check the aperture/ by unscrewing the lens holding down the little button tab and twisting the aperture, check for damage.
If it’s battery operated open the back and check the shutter for damage.
More often then not older generations think that film is dead so old cameras would have been chucked in the attic or garage for years. Most things are fixable/replaceable but it depends on price of the camera/haggling ability. There are certain brands I pick up, Canon Sureshots are great point and shoots, the photos below are all taken on a Canon sureshot 70mm zoom, that I picked up for £5 from a car boot, along with three rolls of film the stall holder gave me for free. That was a good day. Point and shoot cameras of the 80s/90s are great, I move more towards the 90s, as technology by then was solid, also the DSLRs can be amazing however there are a lot of canons/ minolta’s that have issues with their auto wind on motor, it tends to break easy. So do research.
Buying older cameras that aren’t automated or digital are great if you are a photographer and know your exposure triangle, even then the risks of there being light leaks/issues are greater, and with the cost of developing and film in general, I personally stay away unless a camera is really cheap and I know I can fix it or it’s already in good condition.
Camera brands that will always catch my eye.
Contax
Hassleblad
Canon
Mamiya
Pentax.
I actually saw some contax cameras at the boot fair once, but I walked past cause I didnt know if they were good, only to quickly google then go back and they had sold. :(
