Expert: David Silver - 12/11/2005

Question
I have two AE-1 cannon 35mm cameras (one of which is the program model and in the original box), one Olympus OM-1 50mm, one Petri 2.8 color corrected super 4.5 cm, one kodak duaflex camera (kodak 620 film), one Rolleicord duel lense reflex camera, one Kodak 35 50mm, one Perfex forty four, one Zopkuu 4 5cm, one Bushnell 135mm lense, one Crown Graphex full synchromatic 135mm, one poloriod automatic 100 land camera, some of these cameras have been in my family since the 1950's, my grandfather worked for the chicago police department for 22 years as an evidence technitian, most of the cameras are in mint condition, any information you could give me would be helpful, thank you  

Answer
Hi Cole,

The Canon AE-1 is among the most popular cameras in history and was available from 1976 through 1988!  Zillions were sold.  Therefore it's extremely common, BUT it's a superb 35mm single-lens-reflex camera and a lot of people still look for them.  A truly excellent example of the early model would sell today for around $100-$125, and the Program version in the box should bring about $150.

The Olympus OM-1 is another fine 35mm single-lens-reflex camera, made in 1973 and 1974.  A truly excellent example in the standard chrome finish sells for about $125, and the all black model can reach $180.

The Petri 2.8 is a common 35mm rangefinder camera, made by Kuribayashi of Japan in 1957 and 1958.  About $30.

The Duaflex is a cheap plastic 1950's snapshot camera made by Eastman Kodak for 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 inch exposures on old #620 roll film.  Maybe $5 if the wind is blowing the right way!

There are many versions of the Kodak 35, made from the late 1940's through most of the 1950's, all extremely common.  Basically they all sell in the $30 to $40 range when found in truly excellent shape, and they MUST work properly.  For collectors, the exceptions are the earliest versions, made very briefly, that have black knobs and highlights on top rather than chrome knobs, and these can go to about $60.

The Perfex Forty-Four is an unusual yet common 35mm rangefinder camera made by the Camera Corporation of America in 1939 and 1940.  Truly excellent working examples can sell for as much as $60.

The "Zopkuu 4" is actually a Zorki 4 (that's Cyrillic lettering you're looking at), an extremely common 35mm rangefinder camera (over 1.7 million were made between 1956 and 1973!) from Krasnagorsk of Russia.  These things are everywhere!  In perfect shape (anything less and they're worthless) they sell for about $75.

Bushnell 135mm lens?  Depends on what camera it fits, but generally worthless.  They made great binoculars, but mediocre camera lenses.  Probably about $10-$15.

The "Crown Graphex full synchromatic 135mm" is the shutter and lens on a camera, not the camera itself.  This is most likely some form of large press camera in the Speed Graphic line from Graflex.  Wide range of possibilities, anything from $125 to $500, and I could only positively identify it by seeing a picture showing its general overall appearance.  Most of these have collectible value, but the better models also retain usable value.  If you can send me a single small JPEG at silver@well.com I will tell what precise model it is and the value.

The Polaroid Automatic 100 Land camera is an absolute boat anchor.  Worthless.

Best wishes,

David Silver