Customer Reviews

McBroom's Camera Bluebook, Sixth Edition

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

As one reviewer notes, this book is now in print 7 years, which makes it somewhat older than that given the time taken for preparation and publishing.

Some of the information is useful. But the cameras that were new way back then are not new now. Used film camera prices vary according to collectability, usability for those who choose to use film at least on occasion, and sometimes for no good reason. But there's no connection to anything that was true when this book was published.

Digital cameras are largely replacing film, like it or not. A book published about higher end digital cameras today would be largely out of date in 18 months and incomplete well before that.

The primary value of this book is that it's almost a historical short book on the value of cameras that one author considered worthwhile in 1999-2000. It gives you a picture of reasonable camera outfits. Otherwise, virtually useless.

Well laid out. Impressive library of informatin here. To the person who complained about not enough detail on Zeiss, you should have read the authors' forward in the very front of the book.

If you are the type to browse "Ebay" or other online auctions, or buy at flea-markets etc., you should not be without this book.

It is a guide for mainstream photographic equipment, that the average photographer is going to want to buy. It is not a guide to specialized, high end or collectible goods.

That being said; heres' my soapbox: I would like to see more detail in the area of lighting equipment. Currently, lighting has only prices listed, with none of the listings of features etc. of various models, such as the cameras and lenses do. Ditto for exposure meters. Also, how about going into the darkroom? I think alot more people would be interested in a buying guide to enlargers etc. than a 4x5 view camera.

Overall, I'm satisfied with the book.

I really can't see the purpose of this book for either buyers or sellers. McBroom gives very little information about the cameras themselves, certainly not enough for anyone to make a decision about whether to buy a particular camera -- in many cases he gives only a price. Moreover, he restricts himself to only relatively common and recent cameras for which more accurate pricing information is readily available from eBay.

I bought my first McBroom Price Guide to Modern Cameras in 1991, and have added subsequent updates as they have become available.
He gives information about readily available equipment and accessories, with prices.
It is a valuable guide to everyone who enjoys buying and using cameras.If you are interested in older cameras that are still available, they also are described here. Armed with this book, you can shop for cameras with confidence.
I recommend it highly!

I just received the latest edition and as with the previous edition I've owned for five years it looks like a winner. I buy and sell a lot of used cameras and these guides are an invaluable quick pricing reference tool for me. No guide can cover everything, but this guide does an impressive job.

I was under the impression this book would give values for all cameras, including antiques. Very disappointing to receive and find out differently. A waste of my money.

This book is an excellent guide for the individual who is interested in knowing the worth or value of their old equipment.

The book is well organized & easy to use but as it was printed in 2000, the values indicated for the nikon equip i wish to sell are, when researched via ebay & other sources useing AS SOLD values McBrooms values are 75-100% too high. In view of the new situation regarding the advent of the new DIGITAL acitivity McBroom is due for a new issue.

McBroom's Bluebook is a disappointmeny for me. Most of the info is available in currrent photo magazines. There simply is very little information on vintage cameras. For example; Zeiss, one of the very greatest lens and camera manufacturers, rates one page and one camera model. This book merely skims the surface and spends far too much space on contemporary cameras for which information is available from other readily available sources. Sorry, I'm not happy with it.

I have found this book to be very informative, helping me to appraise, buy and sell with confidence. I have noticed that some of the prices for rarer items are somewhat inflated in the book, as well as items in the book being priced to low compared to real-world (like eBay) prices, but, that is how the market is. Overall, if not for the prices, the specifics of each camera model covered are well worth the price!