My previous Nikon FE.
Something you likely know about me, is that I LOVE shopping for old film cameras. One thing I don't love however, is deciphering what sellers on eBay mean in their industry-standard condition descriptions. I suspect it would take three PhDs and a master’s in cryptozoology to even get close.
As of late, I’ve been scouring eBay for a Nikon FA to add to my expanding collection. Truthfully, I’ve been left scratching my head on more than one occasion.
My most common mistake it seems, is trying to apply logic to what is really the wild west of e-commerce. I would assume ‘Mint’ meant no scratches, no lens fungus, and no noticeable dust or haze. Some sellers seem to use it to mean significant fungus, visible brassing and several dents that suggest the camera has met the floor on more than one occasion.
Here are a few of the grades you too might encounter in the wild.
TOP MINT A+++++++
MINT
NEAR MINT ++++++
NEAR MINT AS IS
ALMOST MINT (Untested)
EXC + 5
After enough time on eBay, I’ve developed a grading system of my own.
Mint or Near Mint: This camera SHOULD be in perfect condition. The photos usually tell a very different story.
As Is or Untested: Assume the camera doesn’t work at all.
EXC + 5. Often closer to what I’d call Mint. I couldn’t tell you what the five is doing there.
RARE or VINTAGE. The camera is often neither, but the price is now several hundred dollars higher just because.
Camera WITH STRAP: The strap will be ugly, old and probably smells weird.
I'll say it, eBay is a weird place. The one benefit of it, is getting a hold of cameras you can't find on Facebook Marketplace. Anyway, my search for a silver Nikon FA continues.