Black Market Antiques Blog

One of Black Market Antiques most popular categories is the Cameras & Accessories category.  Each year Black Market Antiques sells hundreds of cameras ranging from 19th century cameras to subminiatures to instant and disposables.  There are two common questions that are posed to our customer service reps on a regular basis.  1) Does this camera work? & 2) Is this camera guaranteed?  This page should help answer those questions, and possible some others as well.

Question One: Does this particular camera work?

Answer: Probably, if it isn’t listed in the Parts Cameras category.  Black Market Antiques cannot fully test the function of each camera from loading the film to processing the pictures, because the cost would be prohibitive, especially considering many cameras use obsolete film that would cost more than many of the cameras that use those types of film.  That said, Black Market Antiques checks some basic functions on all cameras added to the inventory.  Any camera listed in Black Market Antiques online inventory (aside from parts cameras) has a working shutter, winding mechanism and working latches.  Any issues with basic camera functions or physical appearance, if any, will be noted in the description for each camera.

There are things that Black Market Antiques does not test on each camera.  These things include picture quality and quite often flash function.  Cameras with add-on flash units and odd size batteries are often not tested and are listed and described based on the camera’s physical appearance and the other previously mentioned tested functions.

Question Two: Are cameras in Black Market Antiques inventory guaranteed to work.

Answer: Cameras in Black Market Antiques inventory are guaranteed to meet customer satisfaction and to be delivered to the customer as described.  However, parts cameras carry no guarantee whatsoever.   If you receive a damaged camera, a non-functional camera or one that is not as it was described, simply return it and Black Market Antiques will send you a replacement camera.  If the same model camera is not in stock within a week of the return, Black Market Antiques will issue a credit and you may choose another camera from our online inventory.

When shopping for a camera on BlackMarketAntiques.com, you may want to familiarize yourself with our Condition Guide.  This guide is a straightforward  and mostly common sense list of definitions of our grading terms, but with a plethora of websites selling antiques it will help you know exactly what is meant when you read that something is in “excellent” condition or if something has a “hairline,” for example.

Probably the most important thing to be taken from the Condition Guide is that the customer should review all the photographs of each camera.  Even with our definitions of grading terms, they are still subjective and may vary slightly between staff members – just as they vary amoung collectors.  A prop department that needs an antique camera as part of a background set in a film will likely have a different interpretation of “good condition” than a serious photographer/collector who only buys antique cameras that appear to have been unused.  A thorough review of the photos provided should clear up any questions, if not, feel free to contact customer service with any further question you might have about a particular camera.

Any camera described as being a “cheap plastic camera” is not guaranteed to work in any way or to take any sort of nice pictures.  Click here for info on cheap plastic cameras.

Concerning cameras in the Parts Cameras category:

Cameras listed in the Parts Cameras category have damage or are non-functional or have non-functioning vital components that significantly reduces their value and/or appeal to buyers.  Parts cameras are not guaranteed in any way.  When purchasing a parts camera, you get the entire camera as pictured.  ie. if you only need a winding lever for your camera and Black Market Antiques has the same model in stock in the Parts Camera category, you cannot just buy the lever.

All Parts Cameras’ descriptions will begin with a disclaimer that it is, in fact, a parts camera.  Some rarer or more collectible cameras with damage may not be listed in the Parts Cameras category due to their rarity or desirability.  If so, all damage will be noted in the description.

At certain times the inventory in the Parts Camera category may be quite large, and the prices are inexpensive.  If you wish to purchase a large quantity of cameras and shipping seems excessive, continue your purchase and Black Market Antiques will automatically refund your credit card for the excess shipping.  Due to differences in camera size, shape and weight, it is not always possible for our shipping calculator to accurately combine shipping, especially when a large quantity of cameras is purchased at once.  Please do NOT contact customer service to ask about combined shipping prior to purchase.  Our reps work out of an office that is not physically connected to the warehouse and have no way of knowing what a final packaged weight will be for a lot of cameras.

Some additional things to keep in mind about Black Market Antiques camera inventory:

• Black Market Antiques does not repair cameras.
• Black Market Antiques does not restore cameras.
• Black Market Antiques lists cameras mostly as-found.
• Black Market Antiques gives cameras a quick wipe-down cleaning.
• Black Market Antiques does not detail cameras, and does not open cameras and clean inside lenses and interiors of viewfinders etc.
• Black Market Antiques receives new supplies of vintage cameras on a weekly basis.
• More cameras are added to the online inventory each week.
• Some models of cameras sell very quickly.
• If you are on BlackMarketAntiques.com and see a camera, it is in-stock. All items purchased are instantaneously removed from stock.
• Black Market Antique’s customer service reps are just that, they are not camera / photography experts, please be patient with them and they will try to answer your questions to the best of their knowledge. If you have a question that a CS rep cannot answer, our representatives will attempt to get the answer from our antique listing staff and contact you with the appropriate answer.
• When shopping for cameras, please keep in mind that the majority of camera buyers are not like you. Whatever your reason for wanting to purchase an antique camera, there are several other reasons why someone would want the camera. These reasons include: for use to take photographs, to add to a camera collection, to use as a prop in a film, play, advertising campaign etc., to buy for sentimental or nostalgic reasons, etc.
• Black Market Antiques photographs the actual camera that you will receive.
• Black Market Antiques may have more than one of each model, so take a look around the camera category or do a search on the site. As mentioned, each camera listing shows the exact camera for sale.
• Black Market Antiques does not guarantee that vintage film can be used to take quality pictures or any pictures at all. Most buyers of old film do not buy it for use. If you buy a forty year old box of film, we wish you luck, but cannot accept returns on the opened film should it turn out to not be good.
• All cameras (in fact, all items) for sale on BlackMarketAntiques.com are owned by the owners of Black Market Antiques and are in stock for immediate shipment. Black Market Antiques is NOT a multiple-seller or e-mall type site. All inventory in the online catalog is housed on-site at the Black Market Antiques warehouse.

A good reference for camera information, much of which will not be found in Black Market Antiques listings, is Camerapedia.org. Camerapedia is a wiki site that has information on thousands of cameras and is constantly being updated.

We hope this guide has been helpful in your shopping experience at Black Market Antiques. This guide will be updated if and when further updates are needed or when customer questions warrant it.  Being that vintage cameras are a significant part of Black Market Antique’s sales, our staff is instructed to constantly add to their knowledge in the area of vintage photography.  We look forward to growing in this specialized area of collecting and hope that you will stop back to our site from time to time to check out the newest inventory.