The Vintage Film Camera Buying Guide

How to Find the Best Deal on a Vintage Film Camera

14 min read by Dmitri.
Published on . Updated on .

Vintage film cameras can be your best bet when it comes to features and build quality per dollar spent. But finding one in good working condition for a fair price can be hard.

This guide covers techniques I’ve learned over the twenty years as a shopper and a seller on eBay. I traded well over 100 film cameras there, on Etsy, with friends, and at the local markets.

I got to shoot some incredible historical pieces, thanks to eBay and others. But not all purchases worked out — I’ve been lied to and lost money in various ways. I’ll share the lessons learned on avoiding getting burned by shady sellers, unfair prices, broken cameras, and surprise fees. There are also ways to make money and contribute to the cyclical economy, which I’ll cover briefly below.

In this guide, you’ll find tips for buying film cameras on eBay, Etsy, individual shops and local marketplaces. Whether you’re shopping online or seeing the camera in person, it has you covered.

In this guide: Where to shop for film cameras. Decide what you want to buy first. Research the price. Consider the service. Examine the camera/listing. Questions to ask. Wait or buy now? eBay auctions. Shipping. Taxes. Returns & refunds. Fixing broken cameras. Selling vintage film cameras. Support this blog & get premium features with GOLD memberships!

Where to shop for film cameras.

eBay. This is by far the most popular vintage film camera source in the world. You may find almost any film camera you can think of in any condition at prices often lower than anywhere else.

Etsy. Etsy is similar to eBay. It features shops run by individuals and small businesses that sell vintage and handmade goods. Etsy offsets the carbon emissions from all shipping trips. This marketplace also encourages its sellers to offer free delivery and superior customer service. Analog.Cafe readers may recognize Film Base — a five-star Etsy shop where I sell vintage film cameras, books, and more.

Local shops (online and offline). Depending on where you live, you may save on shipping and see the item you’re about to buy in person. Some shoppers choose to support their local businesses even if it costs a little extra.

International shops and brands. Japan Camera Hunter made his name by selling rare and mint condition pieces that are hard to come by anywhere outside of Japan. You may know of Camera Rescue, a Finnish brand that professionally refurbishes and sells vintage photo equipment. There’s also KEH and many others. All of these shops specialize in selling used film cameras and are known internationally for their service.

Local marketplaces, thrift shops, and yard sales. Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, physical vintage markets, and charity shops are good to get a deal while avoiding paying extra fees. They may not have everything you want in the condition you prefer, and sometimes you’ll need to travel to reach one. But you may get lucky and find something for a fraction of the price sold elsewhere.

Friends and acquaintances on social media. If you know and trust a member of a photographic community, you may like to buy their gear before they list it on eBay or elsewhere.

Decide what you want to buy first.

Save money and time by deciding what you want before you start shopping. Here are some questions to ask yourself while looking for the right camera:

What’s the budget? Film cameras can cost anywhere from $5 to $50,000. Most cameras reviewed on this blog range between $50 to $1,000.

What format? 35mm film is the most popular format. It’s the easiest one to scan and find film in. But there’s also instant film, 110 film, medium format, large format, and other odd and custom formats.

What aspect ratio? The most common is 3:2, the same as on digital cameras. But there are also panoramic film cameras and a variety of choices for medium and instant film formats.

How compact do you want your camera? The smallest full-frame camera uses film (unsurpassed by digital cameras even today). Film cameras can be tiny or huge, depending on the format, lenses, and body design.

What type of framing/focusing system? Film cameras can be SLRs, TLRs, rangefinders, point-and-shoot (autofocus), or viewfinder (no focusing aid).

How much automation do you want with your camera? Film cameras began adapting selenium light meters to help measure light around the 1940s, but they aren’t particularly accurate; many of them no longer work. In the 1960s and 1970s, battery-powered meters were introduced that worked much better, with the first SLR to completely automate metering light being the Canon A-1. Light meters and autofocus continued to improve through the 1980s and 1990s, but there’s still value in a dependable mechanical camera (besides, you can measure light using just your sight).

How important is build quality to you? Film cameras can be cheap plastic boxes, or they could be incredible pieces of engineering made with premium materials. The build quality will affect the price — but not always. For example, Voightländer Vitessa A isn’t particularly expensive, yet it feels like a jeweller’s piece in hand.

Ergonomics. Modern cameras typically fit better in hand. Some cameras have a larger viewfinder that’s easier to use with glasses on. There’s also a range of foldable film cameras of all types and formats that can work great for travel.

There are tons of film camera reviews on this blog. Perhaps there’s one that will tick all your boxes. Check them out.

Research the price.

Once you know which camera to get, you should find out how much it should cost. If it’s a popular camera, you can search for it on eBay to see what it goes for. Only consider listings by reputable sellers and disregard listings that charge much more or much less than the average; try not to include listings that you think won’t sell (i.e., 0 bids close to the end of an auction).

Include working/condition status and appearance in your research. For example, if you’re wondering if a cared-for, mint-condition camera your friend is selling is worth the price, compare it against listings that show similar qualities.

Include fees when comparing prices. For example, it’s usually cheaper to ship something locally. You’ll find a full list of possible fees to check against below.

You may also see how much your item costs at other places (local shops, Etsy, etc.)

Consider the service.

Refunds, warranty, as well as sellers’ expertise, responsiveness, ability to describe cameras accurately, and overall track record with the customers are part of the price. Individuals and brands that invest time into their camera-selling businesses will often create to a better shopping experience.

Paying extra for service can save you time and money. Fast shipping, quick full refunds, and accurate descriptions can help you avoid repeat unsuccessful purchases.

Note that good service doesn’t always mean higher prices. Seller’s reviews and your interactions with them will reveal more about the experience you’re about to have.

Examine the camera/listing.

All vintage film cameras are used or stored for extensive periods of time, which means that they often have scuffs and issues. Some may look damaged but work perfectly; others may look brand-new but never fire a shot.

Read the description, always. Most sellers disclose any issues with their cameras in descriptions. They may also promise that the item is in full working condition or that it was film-tested. Marketplaces such as eBay bind sellers to be truthful and will often refund you if what you got does not match the description.

You should also be able to ask the seller any questions about the camera before buying. “Is it fully functional?” is a good one. Better yet, you can research common issues with your camera and ask them if they’ve checked the camera for those. I have a few more example questions you can ask below.

Some sellers may not be able to answer all your questions or provide all the photos. There are stores that ship out of off-site warehouses and sellers inexperienced in film photography on eBay, Etsy, and local marketplaces. It’s up to you to take the risk, but you’ll need to consider what will happen if you aren’t happy with your purchase. A reputable seller with a good refund policy may be all you need. But I don’t advise new camera shoppers to spend money on anything blindly.

Ideally, an online listing will have photos of a camera from six angles (top, bottom, left, right, front, back) with close-ups of the lens. Dents and cracks are usually not good signs, so are hazy lenses. Fungus may grow on some optical elements (it looks like spider webs); you’ll notice it if you shine a strong light into the lens. You don’t want fungus as it can decrease the contrast of your images. However, scuffs, small amounts of dust in the lens, and a few cosmetic issues are usually not a problem while shooting. Remember, many of the cameras on sale are older than you and I.