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What Nikon DSLRs are suitable for collection?

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loithuxua said:
I would like to know your opinions of the Nikon DSLRs that will be considered to be valuable and hunted in the next 20 - 30 years? As I would like to buy them for collecting purpose.
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D2H
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The key is DSLR, meaing digital. I think anything except the very frst is going to be worthless.

You think any of the multitude of digital watches, computer, calculators or other digital devices are going to be collectible. They were manufactured by the millions and most are throw away.

This is very different then the older mechanical counterparts of anything which are more collectible and desirable.
 
Since no DSLR will work without a proprietary battery, you will have to get a lot of these now, to make sure you have enough to retain a workable camera in the future. I don't know if these will last 20 years though.
 
tyb said:
You think any of the multitude of digital watches, computer, calculators or other digital devices are going to be collectible. They were manufactured by the millions and most are throw away.
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that's the key, most are thrown away! And with time comes nostalgia. In 30 years, "remember the first DSLR's, the D1, I'd love to have one sitting on the shelf right now". My Grandkids might say, Grandpop had one of the D100's.

Now lots of digital watches are worthless and will probably remain so, but some brands retain value, early Seiko's, early Swatches all command good prices.

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Phil A
FCAS Member #100
http://www.pbase.com/philinnz http://www.open2view.com
 
Alan17 said:
Since no DSLR will work without a proprietary battery, you will have to get a lot of these now, to make sure you have enough to retain a workable camera in the future. I don't know if these will last 20 years though.
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Many Pentax DSLRs use AA batteries.
Other DSLRs, like my D80, can use AA batteries in the optional grip.

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Patco
A photograph is more than a bunch of pixels
 
Like this NASA F3? Asking price US$69,000. Not a DSLR but it should give you an idea. Mind you the asking price means nothing since it didn't sell.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230412108267

7 or 8 years ago, NASA sold off the F4s and when they were re-sold on eBay they fetched IIRC between $1800-$2500. The NASA F4s were modified to take a digital back and will no longer work with film. NASA is still holding the digi backs. I guess those who bought one are betting that eventually NASA will let the digi backs loose.

NASA recently purchased 7 D3Ss off the shelf which means the D2XSs may become surpluses soon.

Just remember that NASA does not provide the history of the surplus cameras. The cameras could have been used in space, for training on earth, or just sat as spares.
 
Nikon QV-1000C, Nikon's first filmless camera (1988):



Approx. 180 units made. Only sold to news organizations. One of the rarest Nikon cameras ever. Most of them never left Japan. Only sold as complete kits, incl. the two QV Nikkors 10-40mm f/1.4 and 11-120mm f/2 and a QV-1010T transmitter unit.



Visit http://www.nikonweb.com for more info (and the world's first dedicated Vintage DSLR forum)

Jarle
 
Waste of time and money in my opinion, like buying an old computer
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Nikon D300- Nikon D40- Panny ZS3- Fuji F72EXR
Previously owned DSLRS: Canon 40D, Nikon D40x

 
or some beachfront property in Arizona.

Outside of the very few rare instances considering any photography equipment an investment is something one should stop and rethink strongly about before proceeding. Even lenses which no doubt hold their value better than bodies might well be totally extinct with absolutely nothing to even use them on not far down the road. The way modern technology is advancing, what type of imaging equipment will be serving us down the road probably hasn't even been dreamed of yet.
 
philinnz said:
tyb said:
You think any of the multitude of digital watches, computer, calculators or other digital devices are going to be collectible. They were manufactured by the millions and most are throw away.
Click to expand...
that's the key, most are thrown away! And with time comes nostalgia. In 30 years, "remember the first DSLR's, the D1, I'd love to have one sitting on the shelf right now". My Grandkids might say, Grandpop had one of the D100's.

Now lots of digital watches are worthless and will probably remain so, but some brands retain value, early Seiko's, early Swatches all command good prices.

--
Phil A
FCAS Member #100
http://www.pbase.com/philinnz http://www.open2view.com
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Agree and disagree, I can see the very first from a company of a generation to have some value. D1 is of course such a thing, as is the first PC. That is also balanced with what the price.

But will it go the way of a orignal submariner rolex, a HP41 or such other "classic" gizmo, who knows. Many factors must align for things to become a collectible. A few years ago Pezs were collectibles, I think they are semtimentally valuable but as for "valuable" not at all.
 
I have had a D100, a D2h, and my current one a D300. To be collectible, it has to be rare. With Nikon coming up with new models every 2 years, I don't think any one of their dslr's is going to be collectible, unless they produced something like a 75th year anniversary model or something like that. Btw, a Nikkor 80-200/2.8 lens I bought when I still had my D100 is still with me today and will not be leaving me anytime soon.

Oh, I just bought a 2002 model F5 in pristine condition. I can't say I will be buying any 7 year old dslr in the future.
 
Your all ideas are very frank and it is now very clear that it's not practical and waste of time to collect digital stuffs. Thanks to all of you. By the way, I really want to have a touch on a F6 as to me F6 is the rarest one simply because I have never seem one in real life...
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D2H
 
Sort of like any hobby - if you go into it thinking you're going to make money later, well - you've picked the wrong reason. Some people collect to sell - others collect because they have a passion for what they are collecting.

I've collected bits and pieces of photographic gear for 40 years and never paid very much for any of and enjoy it. Have old Argus cameras, Kodak Instamatics, Canon rangefinders (the Leica knock off), Kodak Retina Reflexes, Mirandas, all my old Nikon systems, and the list goes on (much to the distress of my wife). The most I've ever spent is $200 on a complete Canon Rangefinder system with three lenses and a rapidwinder - it all still worked (after a little cleaning) and I used it for several years.

Collect something because you enjoy it. :)
 
Valuable DSLR's of the future?

A DSLR that:

-Has a great lens attached to it.

-Associated with an (in)famous event or picture (where's the Nikon used to photo documents at the Watergate break in?)
-That belonged to somebody (in)famous.

-A DSLR that someone with money thinks is valuable, no matter how silly the reason.

RB

http://www.pbase.com/rbfresno/profile
 
Have to agree 150% with what has been written. Digital is like computers. Expensive today, cheap and out dated tomorrow.

BUT, THE NIKON SP!, lord what a beautiful work of art. Along with the Leica screw mount RF's, and the Cannon RF that mimic the Leica. But then again, ..........
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'just my humble opinion'

Gor
 
Not Nikon nor Canon. go for Leica and keep your fingers crossed.. for 20 years. Leica is still considered to be state-of-art product. Other DSLRs are not built to last long. As other mass manufactured products, Nikon DSLRs are built to last for some 2-4 years hoping that the valued customer bought enough lenses (that are incompatible with other systems such as canon) that he would not consider other brands but Nikon... Marketing...

On the other hand, if you want to collect smth, go for pro lenses: 24-70, afs 80-200, 14-24. I would try to avoid VR lenses as the VR mechanism might break down 10 years later...

Good luck,

SK
 
loithuxua said:
I would like to know your opinions of the Nikon DSLRs that will be considered to be valuable and hunted in the next 20 - 30 years? As I would like to buy them for collecting purpose.
Click to expand...
It was the first ever digital dSLR that commercially made sense. It sure was not the first digital SLR. Kodak, Sony and even Nikon made some before the 2.7mp D1 was introduced in 1999. But the D1 clearly was the first dSLR that started the triumphal march of digital for the broader photographic community, for both professionals as well as amateurs.

I guess if you can get your hands on a unused (or used as little as possible = the less shutter actuation's the better) in prime condition with the original box and accessories/manuals in prime condition as well, you may be on to something in 20, 30 or 40 years ... Perhaps :-)
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Regards,
JH
http://www.jh-photography.net
 
What other digital products can you think of that are worth money now? Digital does not seem to be a good investment.

Computers
DVD players
CD players
TVs
Calculators
Watches ( maybe the first ones but still not worth too much today).
Cameras

The first model or two in mint condition with all the packaging and such might have some value to someone. Nothing wrong with collecting but as far as value goes it anyone's guess.
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Sincerely

Ron J
 
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