Thursday, January 31, 2013

The Value Of Old Film Camera


An old Leica, Rolleiflex cost a serious chunk of change. They take wonderful images in the proper hands. Today, I decided to send my old Minolta Autocord for fixing at the only place I know in Singapore that repairs old camera.

"This is in quite a bad shape."

What do you mean? It takes wonderful images... there's no fogging in the taking lens. The only problem is the shutter speed timing.

"Its exterior is in disrepair, frankly, it isn't worth much."

Well, I don't care about the peeling leatherette. Just fix the damn shutter and lub the focusing lever. If it looks beautiful and can't take an image, it is worthless to me.

I can't understand why people would value a camera based on the pedigree it comes from and not the images it renders. This Autocord with seikosha shutter might not be the best or the most valuable among its brethen, it gives me joy whenever I develop the film that was taken by it. I have no fear of knocking it around, adding dings and dents to its already rugged exterior. Had I bought a $1,500 rolleiflex, I would have let it sit at home. I have no doubts that many rolleiflex users shoots with their beloved cameras regularly---just don't diss my Autocord like that.

I bought the autocord because it has a beautiful taking lens and cheap. That's all I really care about. When its spirit decides to give, I'll put it up on display or throw it away.

Till then, I need the camera to be shooting like a soldier, not looking pretty.

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