Playing the Odds

Being into film photography also means trying to coax along old film cameras, most of which are now being used well past the window of what was probably their intended lifespan. Even the much older cameras that are purely mechanical need servicing now and then, and the newer electronic ones, well, they were designed to die. What’s surprising is that many of them are still functioning with very little repair or maintenance decades beyond their initial sale. For example, I have a 1937 Zeca folding camera that is still marginally functional. It needs new bellows, but a photo can yet be made with it.

Fortunately, we are living in an era where new film cameras are being made, but they are pricey, and they lean towards the niche. What do you do, for example, if you just want a basic, entry-level 35mm SLR with interchangeable lenses? There aren’t any options on the new market. So you go looking on the used market.

The auction market in the US is largely down to eBay and ShopGoodwill. You can also still pick up cameras locally from sites likes Craigslist (which is still around), Facebook Marketplace, or OfferUp. Or you can shop Etsy, Depop, or Mercari or other more “boutique” secondhand sites. I have some experience with all of these, but by far, most of my cameras have come from either eBay or ShopGoodwill.

I was an early eBay adopter in the late 90s so have been around that game a looong time, and I know the ins and outs of buying on that site. There are at least some buyer protections built in. Regardless of what an auction states, most items can, in fact, be returned for a refund. That said, you save yourself a lot of trouble by doing some basic homework before buying on eBay. Look at a seller’s feedback ratings, look carefully at the listing, ask the seller questions — and do all this before you bid. And if you end up with something other than described, don’t hesitate to send it back.

Because this is how I shop on eBay, most of the time, I’m happy with what I get from the site. If I’m not, it’s often because I didn’t do my due diligence or because I intentionally took a chance on something that looked to be sketchy but appeared to be a real bargain — but wasn’t in the end.

My most recent eBay purchase was a Sony a6000 mirrorless digital camera. I got a good deal from a reputable seller, UsedPhotoPro. They are an eBay refurbished dealer which means everything is warrantied. Translation: you are safe buying from them. The camera was in better shape than advertised and works like a charm. More on that camera and why I got it in another post.

ShopGoodwill, on the other hand, offers buyers no protections. “Caveat emptor” is the law of the land. You are, after all, bidding on items that have been donated by people and, for the most part, not tested or inspected in any way. Every once in a while, you’ll see an auction for something reported to “power on, “ but that’s about it. Make no mistake: bidding on an auction at this site is gambling. I have rolled the dice many times, sometimes losing and sometimes winning.

My finest example of a win was the Epson V600 flatbed scanner I got with all manuals and cables and film holders with shipping for about $100 last year— a good deal and everything worked perfectly and arrived in great shape. I lucked out. Most recently, however, I won a Yashica 44 LM 127 TLR camera and a Rollei a110 camera. Between the two cameras plus shipping, I spent nearly $200. And when they got here, I discovered I had nothing to show for my money save a roll of mystery film left in the Rollei. Make no mistake, I’ve gotten a lot of good stuff at a reasonable price from ShopGoodwill, but I have gotten a lot of overpriced trash, too. It really is a game of chance.

If you don’t want to gamble with your money, there are plenty of other used camera dealers online that rate the condition of their equipment and warranty what they sell — like UsedPhotoPro: KEH, Adorama, MPB, B&H. Just know you will generally pay a higher price at most of these sites than you will at auction sites like eBay. You can absolutely return what you buy from these companies and get your money back, so for many it will be worth the extra expense to pay for peace of mind.

The moral of the story is you have to decide what your risk tolerance is when it comes to spending your money on secondhand photography equipment. I have done shady-feeling Craigslist deals to get myself some ancient darkroom gear, but for me, the risk-taking makes for good stories and is part of this whole film adventure. Some folks are not interested in that sort of thing and just want a camera that works the first time around — and that is understandable. Either be smart about your purchases or have fun engaging in less-than-wise transactions — because you’re going to need to be able to laugh about some of this later, trust me.

Auction photo of what would turn out to be a broken Yashica 44LM at ShopGoodwill.com