Buy analog camera on eBay

Why should you listen to me?

Seven years ago, I founded Ausgeknipst. At that time, I was alone and instead of producing accessories and spare parts for analog cameras, I bought analog cameras, lenses, and accessories on eBay, checked them, repaired them in my shared apartment room, and (mostly) resold them for a profit.

By buying and selling analog cameras, I financed my second degree back then. The knowledge I have gathered over the last 7 years, I would like to pass on to you here. Even if you do not plan to open a photography business, but are simply looking for a bargain, this guide should help you.

P.S. In the meantime, we only sell self-made accessories for analog cameras at Ausgeknipst. This means I can share my "secret knowledge" with you here without any guilt ;)

Tip: If you are not familiar, buy from a reputable dealer with a 30-day return policy

All analog cameras available on the market are now over 30 years old, and in about half of the cases, they are more or less defective. This leads to many private individuals who own these cameras having little or no knowledge about what exactly they are selling – for example, when selling an inheritance from grandpa. However, commercial dealers also often reach their limits when it comes to reliably testing all functions.

There are several reasons for this: On one hand, there is a lack of the necessary testing equipment and specific know-how, on the other hand, a complete inspection, as provided for in the service booklet, is simply no longer profitable. Disassembling, servicing, and cleaning an analog SLR camera usually takes a whole day. The costs for a skilled analog camera precision mechanic (of which there are hardly any left) can and will hardly be borne by any customer. Therefore, this effort is only worthwhile for high-priced professional cameras from Hasselblad, Leica, Alpa & Co.

An exception to this rule are individual specialist workshops that focus on a specific camera model. For a long time, there was the so-called "OM-Doctor" Frank Timmann in Germany, a specialist in repairing Olympus OM system cameras. And I once had my Kiev 88 medium format camera overhauled by Arax Foto in Ukraine, and it was affordable. These specialist workshops can work faster and more efficiently because they are very familiar with the specific cameras. To my knowledge, the only other place that achieves this on a large scale today is the Finnish retailer Kamerastore.com. To my knowledge, this is the only professional retailer for analog cameras that employs its own mechanics for the repair and overhaul of analog cameras and continues to train them.

Conclusion: If you are not well-versed in analog cameras, it is advisable to buy from a reputable dealer with a return policy. This way, you can ensure that you are not stuck with the costs in case of a defect and, ideally, receive a functioning camera.

The right camera to choose

There are dozens of camera manufacturers and over 1000 different models with various types such as easy-to-use point-and-shoot cameras, medium format cameras for professionals, large format cameras for photographers with artistic aspirations, and much more. If you have no idea at all and just want to take a peek into the world of analog photography, I always recommend starting with a 35mm SLR camera. It is compact, versatile, affordable, and in demand. This means that if you realize in a few months that this hobby is not for you, you can also sell it well for the same price (especially if you followed this guide and snagged a good deal).

The most popular 35 mm SLR cameras sorted by manufacturers are:

Canon AE-1, A-1, F-1, FTb, T50, T70

Minolta SRT-101, X-700

Nikon EM, F2, F3, FE, FM, FM2

Olympus OM-1, OM-2

Pentax K1000, ME Super, MX, Spotmatic

With these camera models, you can't go wrong. They are all relatively robust models that have withstood the test of time and are also ones that you can easily resell at any time.

Determine the price of the camera

In most cases, you will first need the camera body (the housing) and a single lens to get started. I recommend an original lens from the manufacturer with a focal length of 35 mm or 50 mm (so-called standard focal length). These lenses are optimal in terms of price/performance, have a wide aperture (good for indoor shots in low light), are easy to resell, and, just like the 35 mm DSLR itself, are universally applicable.

In general, however, it also applies: you buy most cheaply in a bundle. Often you will find online bundles consisting of several bodies, different lenses, and accessories such as flash, motor drive, expired analog films, and more. If you feel confident selling part of your equipment, this is the cheapest way to get your dream equipment. At the beginning of my "career," I did exactly that. For example, if I wanted a Canon AE-1 with a 50 mm f/1.8 lens, I would buy a bundle with a camera and 5 different lenses (including the 50 mm that I actually wanted). I simply sold the remaining 4 lenses and financed the purchase of the camera that way.

The Advanced Search on eBay

To determine the price of the camera or the lot or set, it is best to use the "Advanced Search" on eBay and look for "Completed Listings" and "Sold Items":

It is best to only display offers from Germany (I advise against an international purchase, as it is always good if you can return the camera under certain circumstances).

You can also search by seller type "Commercial" or "Private", depending on whether you prefer to take risks or play it safe:

Return periods for commercial and private sellers on eBay

Commercial sellers must grant you at least a 14-day return policy. This gives you enough time to unpack the camera and test it "dry." To test it, you need a bit of technical skill and ideally some prior experience with analog cameras. If you lack either or both, it is better to buy from a dealer who offers a 30-day return period.

The return policy can be found on the right under the title of the auction.

With a return period of 1 month, you have enough time to test the camera with a film and develop the film. Any defects often only become apparent after development. If the camera has a defect, you can simply return it.

With a private seller, such a return is of course more difficult. With most sellers, you can negotiate. If you tested the camera after purchase and it does not work, or the condition and function deviate from the item description, then definitely contact the seller, whether private or commercial.

Most users on eBay are keen to maintain their good rating and are therefore cooperative. Even though private sellers are not legally required to accept returns for the items they sell (at least this is a legal gray area), in most cases, you can negotiate a price reduction. In any case, it helps to start a return through the eBay return portal if there are issues. If the seller is uncooperative, you can involve eBay support after a certain period, and they mostly decide in your favor (i.e., you get your money back), especially if the seller does not respond.

It should be noted: Broken is not the same as broken. Most cameras you find online will have some major or minor defect. This is simply because they are so old. Often, you can live with the flaws. For example, a mechanical camera with a broken light meter can be wonderfully used with an external light meter or a light meter app for your smartphone, and defective light seals can be repaired with our light sealing set It’s easy to replace it yourself. It gets more difficult when the camera's closure is defective. In that case, you usually can only return the camera or use it as a paperweight.

Determine the purchase price of the camera: search for completed listings

I will explain to you in the following using a very specific search example how I would proceed if I were buying a "Functional Canon AE-1 with original Canon 50 mm f/1.8 lens."

Example search price determination commercial: Canon AE-1 / Commercial seller from Germany, Buy It Now

Have you entered the search criteria (see above, e.g. Commercial seller from Germany, Buy Now), then you will see that, for example, a used and functional Canon AE-1 with original 50mm f/1.8 lens costs between 150 - 190 €:

Analysis Example Search Price Determination Commercial:

1. Canon AE-1 + 50 mm f/1.8 lens: exactly what we are looking for & also from a seller with top service & very many (13,000) reviews. You can't go wrong here, but the camera also achieved the highest selling price with this seller.
2. Canon AE-1 + 50 mm f/1.8 lens: this seller has significantly less experience and therefore cannot demand the same price. However, he has an excellent average rating of 98.8% and offers a return period as a commercial seller.
3. Canon AE-1 with noname zoom lens: I can already see in the small preview photo that the third camera in the list was sold together with a cheaper zoom lens (which we do not want)
4. Canon AE-1 without lens: the fourth camera was sold with the original packaging, but completely without a lens.

So now I know that I have to pay between 150 - 190 € for a (probably) functional Canon AE-1 with a 50 mm lens. Since retailers can usually assess the prices of their goods quite well, you can usually only dream of real bargains here. Tip: often commercial sellers have the "Best Offer" feature activated. Subtract about 10% from the actual purchase price and submit this as a "Best Offer". Most retailers will be happy to accept your offer.

Example search price determination private: Canon AE-1 / Private seller from Germany, Buy it now

Do you want to make a real bargain? Then you have to take a risk and buy from private sellers without a warranty, then you can achieve significantly better prices. I am now setting up in the "Advanced Search" for ended listings from private sellers and receive, for example, the following four results:

Analysis example search price determination private:

1. Canon AE-1 with 4 lenses + flash: one of the lenses is the 50 mm f/1.8 we are looking for, the other three and the flash are a nice addition that we might resell. The price for this set is the same as the second commercial offer above (for the same price we get more here, but without a return policy).
2. Canon AE-1 with original 35-105 mm f/3.5 lens: as an expert, I know that the black Canon AE-1 fetches slightly higher prices because it is rarer, and it was sold here with a slightly more expensive lens. Overall, however, it is still not what we want.
3. Canon AE-1 with 35-70 mm 1:3.5-4.5 lens: The price is fair, but the lens does not match our search.
4. Canon AE-1 with 50 mm f/1.8 lens: Exactly what we were looking for, from a private seller with 100% positive ratings. This was a great opportunity. We will remember the price of €100 for the desired set.

The right camera to buy immediately

Next, we are looking for current Buy It Now offers from private sellers. I am still only searching for “Canon AE-1” and not “Canon AE-1 50 mm” because many private sellers have no idea how to properly title the lens. If the sought keyword (e.g. just 50 mm f/1.8) is not in the title but is included in the offer (as can be inferred from the product images), you usually pay less than usual. The reason is quite simple: if the sellers describe the equipment well, then they know what they are talking about and are more likely to know what price they can ask for. This time, I sort by “Lowest Price” first and receive the following results:

Analysis Example Search Private:

1. Canon AE-1: body only, without lens: not for us
2. no camera, just a special back: not for us
3. Canon AE-1 with zoom lens: not for us
4. Canon AE-1 with lens: I click on the photos and see that in the fourth photo, the camera is sold in the set together with the lens we are looking for:

Check offer description, photos, and reviews

That means I could buy the set I'm looking for for €80 from a private seller who has relatively few (12) reviews. Additionally, the number 87.5% behind the seller's name indicates that the seller has negative reviews. This gives reason for caution. Not every negative review is justified, but in case of doubt, you should always read the negative reviews if you want to buy from a seller with negative reviews (especially if this is a private seller without a return policy). A click on the review points shows me the following picture:

Above all, the second review puts me off here because the seller apparently sold the same offer before and then didn't want to ship it. So we will keep looking.

I scroll further down and find the following offer for the price of €85:

On the right in the photo, I see the 50 mm f/1.8 lens I am looking for. There is also a zoom lens available. The price is right. The only downside is that the seller only has 3 reviews. If in doubt, I will check the reviews and the item description again.

The seller name "wilhol_0" suggests that the user did not choose the name themselves. eBay often assigns usernames based on first and last names. The seller could therefore be named Wilfried Hofmann or something similar. Most likely, it is an older gentleman who wants to sell his old photography equipment and is not very active on the internet. The item description only says "Also includes a flash unit from Cullmann (30T-DS) and a shoulder bag." In my experience, scammers do not write like this. The three positive reviews also sound good. Here, one could confidently make a purchase, and the price is fair.

If I want to push the price down further, I may need to be patient and look out for auction offers.

Win the right camera at auction (at the best price)

Here the motto is: Be patient, create a search order, and use Auction Sniper.

Not always, but most of the time you can get better deals by bidding at auctions with a little patience than if you use the "Buy It Now" feature.

Next, when I search for auction offers, I receive the following list:

Analyze example search auction from private:

1. Canon AE-1 with 50 mm lens from Makinon: not the desired original lens, but not bad for the price.
2. Canon AE-1 with 35-70 mm lens from Canon: not the desired 50 mm lens, but a good original zoom lens from Canon.
3. Canon AE-1 Program with two lenses: this is actually a more expensive Canon AE-1 Program, unfortunately in combination with relatively inexpensive Soligor lenses.
4. Canon AE-1 Program: there is also an AE-1 Program here with a relatively good, because bright Sigma zoom lens.

Among the affordable auction offers, there was not a single Canon AE-1 with a 50 mm f/1.8 lens today (19.12.24). This means: if you want to snag a bargain, you have to be flexible. You won't find a suitable auction at all times. If you want your camera as soon as possible, you have to make compromises on the specific combinations of camera + lens + accessories, or you can set up a search request and be patient.

Moreover, one never knows what the final price of an auction will be. Often, bidders get caught up in a bidding frenzy in the last minutes of an auction and end up buying items for more than they could have purchased them for at the Buy It Now price. Of course, we want to avoid that in the best case.

Additional software for ambitious collectors and resellers

If you have some time and want to make a good deal, I recommend using a so-called auction sniper tool, such as the one from myibidder.com. There you can log in with your eBay account and set a maximum bid for the auction you selected. This will be placed in the last 8 seconds of the auction. It is important that you enter your honest (meaning: be honest with yourself) maximum bid here. No more and no less. This way, on one hand, you avoid getting into a bidding war with another bidder, and on the other hand, you won't be upset later because someone else got the camera for a price you could have and would have paid.

The use of such tools is somewhat controversial, but is tolerated by eBay. If you want to be on the safe side, you have no choice but to set an alarm and bid just before the auction ends.

If you want to further professionalize your eBay game, I recommend using another tool: Auctionsieve.

With Auctionsieve, you can save searches (here called Sieves) just like on eBay, but with the great advantage that you:

1. You can save catch words: these are search terms that are pushed to the top in the search (in our case, this could be, for example, the designation for the desired lens: “50 mm f/1.8” or similar.)
2. You can save trash words: these are search terms that will be directly hidden from your results (e.g., you can directly hide cheap lenses from "Sigma", "Tamron", and others.
3. Already seen items are hidden: The most important feature of Auctionsieve is the option "Hide Items shown before". This allows you to hide everything you have already seen. While this may not sound like much at first, it is essential if you are searching for all kinds of cameras weekly or daily and only need to sift through 100 instead of 10,000 search results.

What should be considered from a technical perspective?

Analog cameras are technically highly complex, and even after 7 years of experience with hundreds or thousands of different cameras, I still often have trouble accurately determining the technical condition of a camera. This becomes even more difficult, if not impossible, when you only have shaky, blurry, and dark images of the camera (as you will often have when searching for cheap deals on eBay).

Of course, we want to maximize our chances of buying a good and intact camera, so we try to extract all the information from the item description:

1. The seriousness of the seller: I have already described above how I roughly assess the seriousness of a seller. Look at the number of ratings and especially the negative and neutral ratings, read the description (if there is nothing in it, it is often just out of laziness and not necessarily a bad omen). Ideally, someone has put in a lot of effort and checked as much as possible themselves. Pro tip: never buy anything that comes from the basement. Basements are often damp, and moisture destroys any camera.
2. Take a close look at the pictures:

1. Pay attention to cloudiness or fungus in the glass of the lenses and the viewfinder
2. Look at the photos of the open back wall and check if the light seals are intact (most of the time they are not, but you can relatively easily replace them yourself, we sell a light seal set for this purpose)
3. Pay attention to missing or broken covers and battery doors
4. Look to see if the camera looks clean and is free of major scratches and dents (this is usually an indication that it has been well cared for and stored).

3. If you can see the camera on-site, you can assess its condition much better. For example, you can insert a battery and check if the light meter still works, operate the film transport, look through the back and see if the shutter opens and closes. Operate the aperture ring and check if the aperture closes reliably or is oily, etc.

Most of the time, you won't have the opportunity to check the camera on-site. And even if you do, such a technical inspection is difficult for a layperson to carry out. So you are left with a good look at the seller, the description, the photos, a bit of luck, and as a last resort, of course, the return of the defective camera.

Conclusion: if you want to be on the safe side, buy from a trusted source

Ultimately, you have to decide for yourself whether you want to gamble and buy a camera cheaply from a private seller, which may end up being broken when it arrives. Or whether you want to play it safe and buy from a reputable seller with good reviews and a 30-day return policy.

I hope this buying guide has helped you and that you find your dream camera with its help. If so, you can support us by purchasing the corresponding accessories (such as a battery or any covers) in our shop. If you have any further questions, feel free to leave us a comment or write to us on Instagram @ausgeknipst.de

Best regards!

Your Vladi @ausgeknipst