Vintage Cameras in a Digital Age
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Vintage Cameras in a Digital Age Amanda Everard hat is to become of the Wclassic 35mm film camera? As with anything, it’s out with the old and in with the new. We are living in an age where everything is digitized: Our photos (many taken with the camera in our smartphones), our movies - even our music. Where does this sort of modernization leave the market for vintage analog cameras? And are they at all collectible? Yes and no. In the collectible camera market, there are two types of buyers: The user and the collector, although sometimes they are one and the same. The user tends to fall into one of two camps: young and artsy or an older, film diehard. The artsy user enjoys employing the aesthetic quality of a vintage camera and lens. In fact, many of Leica O Series camera. Only approximately 25 of these them have never grown up with cameras were produced to test the market in 1923, two years the medium of film, so to them, before the commercial introduction of the Leica A. It sold for film is new and exciting. Our older $2.77 million in May 2012. Courtesy of Westlicht Auctions. diehard, on the other hand, isn’t convinced digital technology can produce the same sort of depth and beauty that comes from a vintage rangefinder or SLR (single reflex lens) film camera. John Botte, a New York City police detective and lifelong photographer, grabbed his Leica M6 on Sept. 11, 2001 when he was asked by the Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik to follow him and take documentary shots of the devastation on that day and the days following. A digital camera would have been quicker, but Botte believed he wouldn’t have captured the same sense of emotion that he was able to translate into his photographs using a Leica M6 rangefinder film camera. The black and white photographs are some of the best known images from Sept. 11th and were later published in a book titled Aftermath. Extremely rare and early (late 1960s) Leica underwater housing While there are no absolutes, with Elcan 90 Degree f2.8 lens. Only a very small number of these the vintage camera collector is UW housings were manufactured, possibly fewer than 10, for the typically a professional person: A US Navy and the project was never extended into a production doctor, lawyer or engineer who run. It sold for $9,300 in 2006. Courtesy of Everard & Company. www.antiquesjournal.com December 2012 ◆ Antiques Journal ◆ Page 27 likes technical objects. They find it came across the auction block beauty in their design, precision with an estimate of $20,000-30,000 and history. Many are interested and brought $187,200 (including in the camera systems and buyer’s premium). Why? Well to collect both the camera and all start with, there were only 10 of its accessories, putting together these scientific cameras made a checklist of all the dates and in 1964 with the special gray models of a particular brand. hammertone finish, which meant Like collectors of everything from they were probably a special tea pots to trunks, it is the quest order. It is also believed that the that excites them. Leica collectors order was cancelled; according to in particular like to collect Leitz records, the majority of the accessories such as viewfinders, 10 cameras were sent to a Leica winders, hoods, filters and special dealer in the Chicago area. This attachments. The original box to a is a case where both rarity and camera or lens can add significant mint condition drove the price to value to the piece, particularly if record levels. it is a rare camera or lens. Some Prototype cameras and early boxes are rare themselves lenses are also exceedingly Rare and early Nikon I Chrome Camera with 5cm f3.5 collapsible and bring hundreds of dollars. sought after because they are Nikkor-Q.C. lens. The Nikon I was the first camera produced by Nippon unique. The prototype is a pre- Kogaku and this one was the 12th from the production series. It sold for The vintage camera production working model of $30,600 in 2007. Courtesy of Everard & Company. market the later production camera or The vintage camera market was lens and was sometimes given to in its glory days in the mid-1990s, technicians to “play with” while before the digital invasion. As they were working out the design. digital became more popular in the These prototypes were often kept early 2000s, the market for older by the technician, not coming cameras dropped significantly. onto the marketplace until after This was further exacerbated by his or her death. One example is a the downturn in the economy Leica Noctilux 50mm f1.2 chrome after Sept. 11, 2001. Slowly, as the prototype lens. The production economy began to turn around, the lens was produced in 1967 and vintage camera market rebounded, was the first lens for 35mm only to be slowed again by the cameras with aspheric elements available for civilian use. There economic slump of 2008. During Extremely Rare Leica Wartime were approximately 19 test lenses Leica Noctilux 50mm f1.2 chrome this time the buyers shifted from Production Elmar Chrome Stereo prototype lens sold for $42,200 that are known to exist made in predominantly US and European 3.5cm f3.5 lens shipped to Berlin in 2007. Courtesy of Everard & to Asian and Middle Eastern, where 1963-64, both black and silver 21.6.41. It would not be until the Company. the economies were booming. chrome. This particular lens was 1950s that Leitz would produce When purchasing a vintage estimated for $10,000-15,000 and a stereo lens available to the public. It sold for $12,066 in 2006. camera or lens, condition is sold for over $41,000 in 2007. Courtesy of Everard & Company. paramount. Condition is often rated Other rarities include cameras, by dealers and auction houses in a lenses and accessories with special similar way to that of a coin with engravings which were often for various grades being given. Any the military. Consider that a typical little blemish or hairline scratch on Leica viewfinder sells for around a chrome camera or lens affects its $50, while a World War II era value. One must also consider not Leica viewfinder with Reichsadler only its exterior appearance, but and Kriegsmarine (German Navy) its interior mechanics – and if it is engravings sold for $7,740 in Oct. functional. This is particularly true 2012. But buyer beware: For all the of the higher end brands such as correct engravings out there, there Leica and Nikon. Consideration is are many more fake engravings. It given to age and rarity, however. takes an expert to recognize false If only a handful of a particular engravings, so do your homework model was produced, it will still before purchasing. bring top dollar even with some On the subject of fakes, there condition issues – sometimes are thousands of vintage cameras, surprising the experts. and clearly the ones that are One such example is a Leica MD most often faked are those that Rare WWII Leica VIDOM Viewfinder with Reichsadler and Kriegsmarine Gray Hammertone with matching bring the most money. In the Engravings sold for $7,740 in October 2011. Courtesy of Everard & Visoflex Attachment. In Oct. 2011, case of Leica cameras, there is Company. both an exterior and internal Page 28 ◆ Antiques Journal ◆ December 2012 www.antiquesjournal.com serial number and these numbers set at auction for a 1923 Leica should match. In order to see the O-series camera that brought internal serial number, the top $2.77 million (including buyer’s plate must be removed by a Leica premium) in May 2012. Rarity and camera technician. This is well condition are the overriding factors worth the time and expense when of desirability in the marketplace. determining the authenticity of a The lower end Kodak Brownie and rare and/or expensive camera. traditional box cameras have not Another factor that has driven fared as well because there were the vintage lens market is the lens’ so many produced and many are ability to fit on digital cameras. still available today. As with most Many photographers will pay top collecting categories, the top end dollar for Leica M lenses because remains strong and the lower- and they will fit on the current Leica mid-range has softened. M digital cameras or on other digital cameras with an adapter Amanda Everard is president ring. Some other brand vintage of Everard & Company, an auction lenses can also be used on digital and appraisal company based in cameras with an adapter ring and Savannah, Ga. Prior to this she can easily be researched online. was a vice president at Sotheby’s So where does this leave the in New York. Everard & Company vintage camera market? The top has been holding vintage camera end is extremely strong with a auctions since 2004. www.everard. world record for a camera being com. Snowbird Alert: Renninger’s Antique Rare Leica MD Gray Hammertone with Visoflex III, fourth in the series of only 10 gray MD’s produced, sold for $187,200 in October 2011. Extravaganza Courtesy of Everard & Company. MOUNT DORA, FL - On Jan. admission $10. Saturday and 18-20, 2013 and Feb. 15-17, Sunday booths open at 8 a.m. 2013, the Renninger’s Antique with admission of $6 Saturday Extravaganza will return with and $4 Sunday. A three-day 50,000 sq. ft. of indoor and pass is available for $15.