Cameras/Value of a Mec 16 Camera
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Question
I was wondering what the value of a Mec 16 Camera would be. It is black and gold in color. It has been stored in its original case which is a red and black clamshell case. The original instructions are in the case as well as the chain. The camera is in mint condition with no wear on the letters.
Thanks in advance.
Chris
Hello Chris,
The Mec-16 is a common subminiature camera, made by Feinwerktechnik of Germany in the late 1950's, for 10 x 14 mm exposures on 16mm film in special little cassettes. It's a fine quality camera featuring a metal focal plane shutter with a full range of speeds, and a sharp Color-Ennit 20mm f2.8 lens. If you locate the serial number on the camera, the digits usually indicate the precise month and year of manufacture, followed by the production number. The Mec-16 was made in several fancy color combinations, but the "gold" version is the most common. Overall, this was a very successful product, and zillions were sold into the 1960's. Despite being so common, a truly excellent example, complete in its neat little presentation box, will still sell in the $125-$150 range in today's collectible camera market. If you're wondering if it's usable, no, I'm afraid you can't get film for it anymore, although I'm aware of some clever collectors who have found ways to fit there own from 16mm film stock. It's value is primarily as a collectible.
Best wishes,
David Silver
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David Silver
Expertise
I'm an expert on all types of antique, classic, and contemporary cameras, as well as the general history of photography. Everything from ancient box cameras to modern single-lens-reflex; from simple Kodaks to sophisticated Leica and Nikon; from glass plates and roll film to movie and 35mm. I can identify and appraise them, explain how they work, and offer insights on their restoration and care. I can also provide historical background on vintage cameras and equipment, and guidelines on their purchase and sale.
Experience
I've been a professional photographer and a student of the history of photography for nearly 30 years. During that time my collection of vintage cameras and photographic paraphernalia has grown beyond 2000 significant pieces. I've published nearly 70 articles in the field, including 16 in the popular "Buying Classic Cameras" series for PHOTO SHOPPER MAGAZINE from 1995 to 1997, I'm currently a contributing editor for CAMERA SHOPPER MAGAZINE and McKEOWN'S PRICE GUIDE TO ANTIQUE AND CLASSIC CAMERAS, and I've written numerous entries for WORLD BOOK ENCYCLOPEDIA. Portions of my collection have been displayed in museums and special exhibits in the past two decades, and many of the items were photographed as illustrations for books. In 1985 I founded the International Photographic Historical Organization (InPHO), which eventually evolved into its intended purpose as the best first resource for information on the history of photography. I'm also a founding member of several e-mail forums dedicated to specialized areas of photography, and I'm the moderator of the Internet Directory of Camera Collectors (IDCC), which remains the largest and most successful such group in the world. For more information about the International Photographic Historical Organization and its many services, please visit its web pages at:
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