ARS ITEM No. 4: The Camera

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[NOTE - This post is part 4 of a series chronicling a trip to the ARS.]

ITEM No. 4: The Camera


All things in this world are not created equal, and such is the case with cameras.  Being lovers of all things old and mechanical, Cara and Tommy have a Nikon SP  rangefinder camera.  It's a funky bit of kit, and much to their surprise, seems to have some value.  A cursory search on eBay shows Nikon SP camera bodies selling in the thousands of dollars.  (There are currently four on eBay with asking prices well over $10,000.)  Having seen this trend, and done due diligence, Tommy has confirmed that the camera they own is definitely not worth anywhere near that.  (It's not the limited edition black-painted model.)  However, given that it is a Nikon SP, with a few matching lenses and accessories, it would take an expert to tell whole the whole kit is worth.  Enter Antiques Roadshow:

The Appraisal: Act IV
 (The end of a long day.  The appraisers are EXHAUSTED.  It is the very last day of the 2011 Antiques Roadshow Tour, a grueling schedule:  They've been working one day out of every two weeks for the past three months. Amazing that the appraisers are still standing sitting.)

DISCONTENT APPRAISER (browsing eBay on an iPad): What is it?

TOMMY: Well I brought in an old camera kit.  It's a Nikon SP with a few lenses.

DA: Well you see, now that most people shoot digital, there isn't much interest in film cameras.

T:  Sure.  But I believe this is a bit of a special camera, it--

DA:  Well, it's a Nikon, which is a good brand, so you might be able to get $100 for it.

T:  Really?  Because the last few I've seen all sold in the low thousands of dollars.

DA:  And where's you "see" this?

T (gesturing to the iPad): On eBay.  I actually think this particular model is regarded as a fairly significant camera.

DA (looking over her glasses, while searching eBay): Well the camera and tool "expert" isn't here today.  I mean we can't be expected to make it in to every single day of filming.  You can e-mail him.  (scribbles an email address on a scrap of paper) Here.  (Dismissing him.) Next?

T: Thanks, have a good evening.  (Carefully picking up the camera parts and handing some off to Cara while clearing the space for the next contestant.)

the end.


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THE VERDICT:  Sometimes an amateur's due diligence is worth more than an expert at the end of a long day.  This particular appraiser clearly knew nothing of cameras, which is fine.  After all, they can't always get it right.  However, at the end of a long day, it wasn't an ideal end to an Antiques Roadshow experience.  An e-mail has been sent to the "camera and tool guy" in the hopes that better information will be forthcoming.

All in all, we really did have a blast.  The chat about the chair was a wonderfully genuine Antiques Roadshow experience, and we met lots of interesting people carrying around their dreams and detritus in their arms.  Net win to be sure - and you can sleep well knowing that we gave it our all in the feedback booth...