Is my old digital camera worth anything?
December 18, 2007 8:42 PM Subscribe
What should I do with my old digital camera? The flash doesn't work, but otherwise it's fine for taking outdoor or brightly-lit indoor photos.
It costs more to fix the flash than it's really worth to me. It's a Canon Powershot SD200 Elph with 3.2 megapixels. I have 2 batteries, the charger, software, computer cord, big memory card.
I feel bad throwing it away. Can I donate it or sell it? I'm not familiar with Ebay, nor do I want to set up an account just to sell this one thing. Any advice?
It costs more to fix the flash than it's really worth to me. It's a Canon Powershot SD200 Elph with 3.2 megapixels. I have 2 batteries, the charger, software, computer cord, big memory card.
I feel bad throwing it away. Can I donate it or sell it? I'm not familiar with Ebay, nor do I want to set up an account just to sell this one thing. Any advice?
Is it possible to rig it so that it will take pictures without touching the camera (ie., like those compressed-air-bulb shutter pushers, or does the SD200 have the same feature as the SD750 SD1000 which can take photos at a pre-arranged interval)? I'm sure it has a macro mode.
If so, get a tripod and some plasticine clay and pick up stop-motion animation!
It's likely not worth the hassle to sell it on ebay (it won't fetch much). Donate to a thrift store (SPCA takes donations)? Give it so some kid who wants to try their hand at photography?
posted by porpoise at 8:55 PM on December 18, 2007
If so, get a tripod and some plasticine clay and pick up stop-motion animation!
It's likely not worth the hassle to sell it on ebay (it won't fetch much). Donate to a thrift store (SPCA takes donations)? Give it so some kid who wants to try their hand at photography?
posted by porpoise at 8:55 PM on December 18, 2007
Take it places you wouldn't take a more expensive camera. Or give it away, I suppose. I'm sure there are people who would be perfectly happy to have a camera, even without a flash. (I was when I was a kid, of course that was before digital cameras)
I actually have one of those, by virtue of someone dropping it in the Colorado River and deciding they didn't want a camera whose viewfinder was muddy and has to have the battery removed between shots, lest it drain inexplicably. (it works great otherwise!) It was the first one I had had, so I was quite happy to get it.
posted by wierdo at 9:25 PM on December 18, 2007
I actually have one of those, by virtue of someone dropping it in the Colorado River and deciding they didn't want a camera whose viewfinder was muddy and has to have the battery removed between shots, lest it drain inexplicably. (it works great otherwise!) It was the first one I had had, so I was quite happy to get it.
posted by wierdo at 9:25 PM on December 18, 2007
You could try Craiglist if you want to make a little money ... but I like the previous suggestions better.
posted by lukemeister at 9:39 PM on December 18, 2007
posted by lukemeister at 9:39 PM on December 18, 2007
For something like this I've always wanted to rig the camera to the handlebars of a bike and take it out shooting pics and video.
posted by mmascolino at 9:59 PM on December 18, 2007
posted by mmascolino at 9:59 PM on December 18, 2007
give it to a niece or nephew to arouse their interst
posted by edtut at 10:25 PM on December 18, 2007
posted by edtut at 10:25 PM on December 18, 2007
Craigslist or freecycle if you want to unload it. It's definitely useful to someone out there.
If it were me, I'd probably do the IR mod, which gives you an infrared digital camera. The coolest IR images will be taken outdoors, so the lack of flash wouldn't be an issue.
posted by O9scar at 10:37 PM on December 18, 2007
If it were me, I'd probably do the IR mod, which gives you an infrared digital camera. The coolest IR images will be taken outdoors, so the lack of flash wouldn't be an issue.
posted by O9scar at 10:37 PM on December 18, 2007
You could indeed sell it. I'd probably consider buying a camera like that because I try to avoid using the flash anyway, and I know I'm not the one that likes to stick to "natural" light sources.
posted by ignignokt at 11:12 PM on December 18, 2007
posted by ignignokt at 11:12 PM on December 18, 2007
I usually give things like this to young relatives.
posted by R. Mutt at 6:42 AM on December 19, 2007
posted by R. Mutt at 6:42 AM on December 19, 2007
You could get a few bucks from craigslist or ebay, or you could donate it to a local group that might be able to use it (eg underfunded dog rescue group, for posting photos on web) and take the tax deduction.
posted by skywhite at 7:32 AM on December 19, 2007
posted by skywhite at 7:32 AM on December 19, 2007
Send it to Second Rotation at secondrotation.com
They buy stuff like that I think. As long as you tell them the flash isn't working, which will reduce what they pay you, but they might still buy it.
posted by UMDirector at 9:52 AM on December 19, 2007
They buy stuff like that I think. As long as you tell them the flash isn't working, which will reduce what they pay you, but they might still buy it.
posted by UMDirector at 9:52 AM on December 19, 2007
You could also consider donating it to a women's shelter; I suspect photos are one of the things often left behind when a woman, especially one with kids, starts her life over.
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 2:12 PM on December 19, 2007
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 2:12 PM on December 19, 2007
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by heeeraldo at 8:54 PM on December 18, 2007