When is the perfect time to sell film cameras?

[raid]

As film slowly gets pushed away from the front scene to the back room, an as companies such as Wlamart and Sma's Club stop offering in-house film developing, there could be a perfect time for selling off all your film based equipment. The question is, when?

As time progresses, film developing will get costlier.

Assume that we have some film camera worth today at RFF $1000.
How much will it be worth in the next years?
In 5 year, 10 years, 15 years, 20 years .... when is the best time to reduce losses and to sell what you have? I am talking about selliing a collection of cameras and lenses and not just a few ones.

I had a chat this morning with a RFF member, and we discussed this issue.
Specifically, if someone keeps on adding RF equipment to his/her collection, with the expectation to leave things for the children to inherit. In prinicple, and for some time, certain lenses and certain cameras can be sold for a profit or for a small loss. What happens after film is difficult to get at a low cost and when film developing [unless you doyour own B&W developing] is rare or very costly?

 

[Beemermark]

First off I don't plan to leave anything to my children, and they sure as heck don't want my cameras. They can give it all to the Salvation Army. I buy cameras because I enjoy using them. I will continue to buy whatever strikes my fancy. I seriously doubt film will become completely extinct in the next 100 years. And if it does there are alternate processes to make mine own.

I've certainly enjoyed my cameras a lot more than any stock, bonds or CD's I've ever owned.

And one last thing, what is the value of a digital camera 6 months after it is bought? People spend thousands on digital and don't ask what will it be worth in 10 years.

 

[back alley]

except in a few niche cases, like interchangeable lens rangefinders i think it's too late already. the prices have plummeted and i doubt they will rise again.

film is already hard to get (choice wise) around here and even online is drying up.

i think we are close to being mostly digital, thus my entrance into the world of the rd1. it offers the rf experience that i enjoy and no hassle looking for film.

let me add, though, that i intend on stocking up on some xp2 in order to still have a film experience.

 

[reala_fan]

Film developing is still widely available here in Colorado USA. My favorite mini-lab is in the front of the local groc store and they use the photo lab's products as a 'loss leader'. Like 2nd set of prints free, or a seriously reduced price on the 1st set of prints when you spend x amount per month on groceries.

I also see many realtors and other business people ordering prints at this lab by the hundreds.

The Lab has computers where you can use your digital cards to get prints from, or you can scan a print, or you can turn in your film.

They seem to be fairly busy 7 days a week.

I have asked the folks who work in the lab, if they thought film was on the way out...and they say there are many people who "don't care about digital or computers at all and just want to shoot film, turn it in and come back and pick up thier prints".

So, as far as I can see...'not anytime soon' is my best guess on when to sell off your film cameras...

 

[raid]

New branches for Sam's Club do not have in-house film developing anymore. What if Walgreens and Walmart follow suit? Millions of photographers may switch away from film photography in addition to those who already have done so.

 

[gb hill]

C-41 process films may become more expensive & harder to find processing for in a few years but B&W films like Tri-X are becomming more desired even among digital shooters. The b&w darkroom groups @ Flickr & APUG are popular & filled with new discussion. So I don't see b&w films & processing going anywhere.

 

[Al Kaplan]

Be glad that you didn't "invest" in Miami Beach condos.

 

[Al Patterson]

except in a few niche cases, like interchangeable lens rangefinders i think it's too late already. the prices have plummeted and i doubt they will rise again.

film is already hard to get (choice wise) around here and even online is drying up.

i think we are close to being mostly digital, thus my entrance into the world of the rd1. it offers the rf experience that i enjoy and no hassle looking for film.

let me add, though, that i intend on stocking up on some xp2 in order to still have a film experience.

Joe is reflecting here what I have found. About 10 years ago I payed about $250 for an A-1, and now they seem to sell for less than a CLA would run, so one might just consider them disposable items. And I doubt my film RF equipment will hold current value over time. So, I'll enjoy them while I can while waiting for the Samsung NX to arrive or the Panasonic G1 to drop in price.

 

[raid]

The Canon FD lenses seemed to have little value for many years, but now it is possible to use those lenses on digital cameras. Is there hope for an upswing forfilm equipment? Is there such a miracle possible?

 

[Quinn Porter]

Best time to sell a film camera is when you need the funds to buy a new film camera.

I'm not sure why everyone is focused on the death of film. Kodak just introduced the new Ektar, improved TMax 400, and improved the Portra line. You can have any film currently made at a reasonable price and delivered to your door when you shop online. Finally, although many local labs are going out of business, film can easily be sent to some of the best labs in the world for processing.

The amount of film being shot has fallen dramatically which is causing the related industries to restructure their businesses. But that doesn't mean film is going away.

 

[Al Kaplan]

"As time progresses, film developing will get costlier."

It's been doing that for as long as I can remember.

 

[back alley]

"As time progresses, film developing will get costlier."

It's been doing that for as long as I can remember.

gee, for THAT long?

😉

 

[reala_fan]

"As time progresses, film developing will get costlier."

It's been doing that for as long as I can remember.

Just the opposite is my expirence, I found some one hour photo envelopes with the receipts taped on them from the 80's...WOW $16.79 for a 36 exposure roll for one each 3.5 x 5's..??!!

I spend less then $5.00 for the same service today at the one hour in the Groc Store (with my 'loyal customer' discount)! And I get 4x6's not 3.5 x 5's...

Inflation calc says the 1984's $16.79 would cost $32.96 today.

It's FAR cheaper today....

 

[astroman]

Film will be around for some time yet no need to unload the film camera.
Come on Joe I know your caught up in the whole digital RF thing right now
for color its great but for b&w theres no substitute for film.
B&W film is still easy to come by.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

Raid, if you are asking if cameras have investment value, I would say they are terrible investments.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

I have Leica equipment I bought new 30 years ago and, adjusted for inflation, it's worse than a wash.

 

[Al Patterson]

The Canon FD lenses seemed to have little value for many years, but now it is possible to use those lenses on digital cameras. Is there hope for an upswing forfilm equipment? Is there such a miracle possible?

Possibly, but I doubt the increase in value for FD lenses will offset the decline in value of the film bodies. I hope I'm wrong as I have a bag full of FD glass, some of which I should have sold years ago.

 

[back alley]

Film will be around for some time yet no need to unload the film camera.
Come on Joe I know your caught up in the whole digital RF thing right now
for color its great but for b&w theres no substitute for film.
B&W film is still easy to come by.

i agree that film will be around for at least as long as i am.

i disagree about digital and b&w as i am very happy with my b&w results, good enough for me anyways.

been to mcbains lately or london drugs, far far less film on their shelves and not nearly the variety of 5 years ago.

 

[colker]

better to sell your M8 now before the M9 comes out and makes it a worthless paperweight. keep that beautifull M4 which gathers more and more value.

that's not opinion; that's fact.

 

[colker]

Film will be around for some time yet no need to unload the film camera.
Come on Joe I know your caught up in the whole digital RF thing right now
for color its great but for b&w theres no substitute for film.
B&W film is still easy to come by.

digital is better than film. otoh cameras have no long term value. it becomes obsolete every 3 yrs.
leica should have digi backs. you would keep those precision RFs forever and just throw out the back as new tech comes out.