how to sell a 5x7?

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Hello,

I'm downsizing to 4x5 from a B&J 5x7. My aching, aging back wants to sell the B&J, with its 210mm Ilex Focutar lens and assorted stuff. The question: What's the best way to do this? Classified/private sale in Shutterbug? Or sell it to a dealer and take what it offers? I'm looking to use whatever money I get to buy a 90mm wide-angle for my 4x5, so a trade is also an acceptable possibility. I think I'm looking for speed rather than best price.

So, colleagues, what would you advise?

Cordially,

Denny Wilkins dwilkins@sbu.edu)

-- Denny Wilkins (dwilkins@sbu.edu), April 28, 1998

Answers

You might try an ad in the back of View Camera magazine. Just be aware you have one of the less popular of the large format camera sizes in 5x7. I shoot it and really like it but few others do. Fewer films available & it doesn't have the sexy reputation of 8x10. Try ads on the board of college campuses that have a photo program. A dealer won't give much as they have to consider resale prices and tha likelihood of someone actually buying an old Burke & James. Try the photo clubs in your area and then Shutterbug as it is known far & wide for used gear.

-- Dan Smith (shooter@brigham.net), April 30, 1998.

Another option (that I am required by my job to mention) can help with your desire to part with your B&J 5x7. It won't yield the same hard currency as a sale or swap, but can be greatly beneficial to you in the right circumstances. I am suggesting the option of donating your camera to a nonprofit organization. You can claim a tax deduction for the full fair market value of your camera, without the cutout for dealer commissions or profits.

I am the director of Picture Tomorrow, a nonprofit organization that promotes the use of photography to further social and environmental issues. We have a camera donation program that takes in used cameras. We have a camera repair technician and a violin maker (who does wood restoration on field cameras) that donate time to get cameras in prime shape, then one of three things will happen to a donated camera.

1. We use the camera for our projects. For example, we are preparing a Human Rights project that will involve over two dozen photographers from developing countries worldwide, and we will need to provide equipment some of them.

2. We will use cameras in a new education project, teaching photography to "at risk" teenagers. We are looking for a mix of large format and 35mm cameras for this project.

3. Any cameras that we cannot use directly, we resell to fund our work.

I know this is not a viable option for many people, but it never hurts to tell people what we are doing. If you are interested, or would like more information, please contact me.

Thanks Mark Wilson, Director Picture Tomorrow wilson@wildrockies.org www.wildrockies.org/picturetomorrow

-- Mark Alan Wilson (wilson@wildrockies.org), May 03, 1998.


I would look at the EBay online auction site, at: http://pages.ebay.com/aw/photo-index.html especially if you're looking to unload it fast.

Brad

-- Brad Daniels (bdaniels@wmrc.hazard.uiuc.edu), November 20, 1998.


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