愛上老相機香港古董相機會會長陳烘自言戀上了傳統菲林相

機，由昔日的學徒到今天的收藏家，這場戀愛一

談就是 50年。90年代初，數碼相機興起，傳統

相機在十多年間被急速淘汰，到近年始再度復

興，陳烘一直對菲林相機不離不棄：‘傳統相機

都是藝術品，照片有味道，可作消遣減壓、又可

收藏保值。’

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Taste of Life品 味 生 活

傳統相機須要菲林底片，攝影

成本較高，拍攝後不能即時

預覽，沖曬過程需時，在講

求效率的社會，尤其在商業攝影範疇，

被數碼相機取代實在無可厚非。被譽為

傳統相機界權威的陳烘認同數碼相機使

用方便，但論拍攝質素，他指數碼和傳

統相機的分別好比杯麵跟私房菜，根本

不可同日而語。他分析：“數碼相機拍

出來的照片非常銳利，但往往表達不到

暗位的層次，缺乏立體感；菲林技術則

經過百多年演進，已達最高境界。”

“數碼相機不是相機”

陳烘坦言：“數碼相機不是相機，只是

電子產品。”由於數碼相機已經普及，

市場早已飽和，各大品牌為催谷銷量，

唯有不斷推出新型號並大量生產；老

相機、舊鏡頭則是精密的機械工藝，

由於產量少，每一件都是精品，“傳統

相機可以 50年不變，數碼相機最多使用 5年”。造功精細耐用自然價值不菲，以 60年代末賽司（Zeiss）推出的

購買小貼士

• 由於相機製造技術要求高，難以冒充偽造，市面上沒有假貨。

• 特別注意黑色機身的古董相機，不良商家會重新髹油以掩飾機身損壞。

• 到有信譽的店舖購買，店舖通常會提供保養。

保養小貼士

• 多在陽光充沛的戶外拍攝，以防相機發霉。

• 鏡頭的鏡片之間發霉，勿自行拆件清理，須找專業師傅處理

Contarex Super Electronic為例，其機

身連標準鏡套裝索價五千元，相比當時

彌敦道一個五百呎單位只售五萬元，相

機的尊貴地位可見一斑。

“德國 Zeiss Contarex 這支鏡頭的技

術現今仍處於頂尖地位，只有法國

Agenieux、英國 Taylor Hobson Cooke

及瑞士 Alpa可媲美。而且，每個國家

的產品，拍攝出來的照片都包含該國文

化，擁有獨特味道。”陳烘將相機的故

事娓娓道來：“ 50至 60年代，日本相

機產品仍未能打入主流，日本人不斷參

考及改良歐洲產品，例如 Canon 7的鏍

絲鏡頭取材自 Leica，Nikon SP技術參

考 Zeiss。但日本相機始終拍不出歐洲

相機那種味道來。”

菲林相機的獨特味道，就是其最吸引之

處，陳烘的相機公司最近有位客人，

不久前花逾十萬元購買 Leica數碼相機

M9連鏡頭，器材算是最新、最頂尖，

拍出來的照片當然高質素，但始終欠缺

傳統相機的味道，僅僅五日後，他就轉

投 Leica 菲林相機 M6的懷抱。

傳統相機看似瀕臨被淘汰，但上述例

子其實並不罕見，尤其在 Olympus推

出復古的 Pen 系列成功掀起一股懷舊

風後，老相機吸納了一批在數碼時代長

大的年輕捧場客。陳烘注意到菲林相機

的復興潮，並估計每一百個數碼相機用

家，最少十個會選用傳統相機。

老相機價值不斷上升

陳烘指出，加入傳統相機用家行列愈早

愈好，因為舊相機價格將會不斷上升，

陳烘DavidChan

49CGCCVISION︱MAR 2011

“菲林相機都已停產，但買家仍不斷增

加，求過於供之下，價值定會上升。以

往只值千多元的 Leica相機，現時已升

值至逾萬元。”高階相機有價有市，

被不少人視為投資佳品，甚至炒賣對

象，德國名廠 Leica就是好例子。陳烘

透露，現時內地炒賣嚴重，有北京財

團豪擲六千萬元大舉購入 Leica產品作

投資，加上奢侈品牌 Hermes計劃入股

的傳聞，現時 Leica產品嚴重缺貨，價

錢水漲船高。“以 Leica 135 mm Apo-

Telyt遠攝鏡頭為例，官方定價 23,000

元，炒賣價升至 36,000元，升幅逾

56%。”

傳統相機具升值潛力固然吸引，但陳烘

表示，愛攝影的人買老相機，大多不為

投資。“現今社會競爭大、壓力大，城

市人容易積壓出頭痛、高血壓等都市

病，古董相機跟古玩瓷器或郵票一樣，

日常可放在家中欣賞，紓壓怡情；工餘

時間可以帶老相機遊山玩水，享受拍攝

樂。”傳統相機可消遣減壓，又可保

值，被不少人當作收藏品，甚至代代相

傳，老相機由是倍添一份感情。陳烘寄

語新一代：“舊相機是有延續性的，每

部相機都記載不少回憶，可能是父母的

訂情信物，或是數十年前爸爸用第一份

薪金購買的。父母傳下來的老相機，年

青一代不要輕言變賣。”

與相機結緣五十年的陳烘，喜歡收購老

相機，發掘滄海遺珠，至今收藏已不勝

枚舉。“你說得出來的相機，我大部份

都有，只是捨不得賣。難得收集到整個

系列，千金難求，若賣出其中一件，就

像拆散他們的家庭。”對老相機鍾愛有

嘉，但陳烘對收藏品毫不吝嗇，早前向

沙田文化博物館捐出四十套古董相機，

餘下堆積如山的珍藏亦準備作無私奉

獻：“若香港能設立一個博物館，我願

意捐出所有收藏品。”

入門相機推介________________________________________________________

數碼相機用家，若有興趣投入傳統菲林相機的世界，陳烘建議先購入70至80年代的日

本全機械單鏡反光機，價值僅千多元，均為超值之選。

• Nikon FTn f1.4/f1.8

• Canon FTb f1.4/f1.8

• Canon AE-1 f1.4/f1.8

• Canon QL-17 f1.7

• Fujica ST-801 f1.8

• Pentax SPII f1.4/f1.8

• Minolta SRT-101 f1.4

• Minolta SRT-Super f1.7

• Minolta Hi-Matic 7

投資之選________________________________________________________

陳烘強調，只有全機械的相機才具投資價值。另外，由於數碼相機大多可兼容舊鏡頭，

鏡頭的投資價值較機身高，其中50至80年代生產的鏡頭質素較佳。其他投資推介：

• Leica M6, M4II, M4D• Hasselblad 500 c/m 80mm• Leica M3, M2

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Taste of Life品 味 生 活

In love WithVintageCamerasDavidChan, ChairmanoftheAntiqueCameraClubofHongKong describes himself as a lover of traditional film cameras. From an apprentice in the past to a collector at present, he has been romancing with antique cameras for 50 years. Film cameras have been sifted out rapidly in just over a decade as digital cameras came into vogue in the early 1990s, and they revive in recent years. Despite the rise and fall, Chan remains loyal to film cameras. “Antique cameras are art pieces as the pictures that come out of them are full of style. They are not only a great stress buster, but a good store of value,” he said.

F i lm negat ives , as a necessary complement to a film camera, imply a higher cost of photo-taking. This,

coupled with the lack of instant replay after shooting and the time needed for printing, makes traditional cameras out of tune with a society where every minute counts, especially in the context of commercial photography. No wonder mechanical cameras were quickly replaced by their digital offspring. As an authoritative icon in traditional cameras, Chan appreciates the convenience of digital cameras. But when picture quality is concerned, he will argue that digital and traditional cameras differ as much as cup noodles and private kitchen cuisines - they are not to be named in the same breath. According to Chan, “It’s true that pictures

taken by digital cameras are extremely sharp. But the devices cannot depict the details in the darker corners, nor can they present a stereoscopic image. After all, the century-old film technology has already perfected itself and reached its zenith.”

“DigitalCamerasAreNotCameras”Chan put it frankly, “Digital cameras are not cameras. They are merely electronics.” As digital cameras have been prevailing for quite some time and the market has already been saturated, brands are now driving sales by rolling out and churning out new models. Vintage cameras and old lenses, contrarily, are mechanical equipment made with craftsmanship. They are never mass-produced, and each and every one of them

BuyingTips

• The stringent technological requirements in camera manufacturing make counterfeiting impossible, so there are no fake cameras on the market.

• Pay special attention to black-coated antique cameras as dishonest sellers may repaint the body to hide defects.

• Only buy at honorable shops who normally provide repair and maintenance services.

MaintenanceTips

• Take pictures in the open with bright sunlight to prevent your camera from becoming moldy.

• Don’t try to disassemble the camera to clear molds between lens glasses. Seek assistance from a specialist technician.

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Taste of Life品 味 生 活

is an art piece on its own. “A traditional camera can easily last for over 50 years; the digital ones, hardly more than five”. Exquisite craftsmanship and durability are what contribute to an expensive price tag of a traditional camera. The Contarex Super Electronic launched by Zeiss in the late 1960s, for example, cost $5,000 for the camera body plus a standard kit lens - a 500 sq. ft. apartment on Nathan Road was about $50,000 then. This tells how valuable cameras are.

“The technology used in the Zeiss Contarex lens is still state-of-the-art as of now. It is only comparable by the French Agenieux, the British Taylor Hobson Cooke and the Swiss Alpa. What’s more, products of different origin do present photos with unique country-specific touches.” Chan elaborated, “ Japanese cameras we re s t i l l non -mainstream in the 1950s to the 1960s. The Japanese were very good at learning from European products and were continuously improving their own. The screwed lens of Canon 7, for example, was inspired by Leica; Nikon’s SP technology, on the other hand, took reference from Zeiss. Yet, Japanese cameras were still unable to convey the stylishness and flavors that are unique of a European camera.”

The distinctive chic of f i lm cameras is what makes them attractive. Before long, a customer at Chan’s camera shop spent over $100,000 on a Leica M9 digital camera with lens. With the newest and finest kit, the picture quality was, of course, superb. Still, the flavor of a traditional camera was missing. After just five days, the customer could not help switching to a Leica M6 film camera.

Although traditional cameras seem to be endangered, cases like what just quoted are not at all rare. Nostalgia is all the rage too; now that Olympus has launched the retro PEN series. Vintage cameras have now attracted a following from the e-generation.

Noting the revival of film cameras, Chan estimated that out of 100 digital camera users, at least 10 would opt for a traditional one.

RisingValueofVintageCamerasChan believes it is the sooner the better to become a user of traditional cameras, because the value of old cameras is expected to rise continuously. “Production of film cameras have stopped but the user base is expanding. When demand

outgrows supply, the price will definitely go up. A Leica that once marked one thousand odd dollars is now priced over $10,000.” Advanced cameras, though pricey, are well sought after, and a lot of people see them as good deals for investment, or even for speculation. The famous German brand Leica is a very good example. Chan added that speculation is heated in the Mainland. There was a financial consortium in Beijing who poured $60 million on Leica products for investment. Fuelling the situation was rumors that luxury brand Hermes’s plan to become a Leica shareholder, leading to an acute shortage of Leica products followed by surging price. “The Leica 135mm Apo-Telyt telephoto lens, for example, is priced at $23,000 officially. It is now asking for $36,000 in the speculative market, with a 56% premium.”

Despite the impressive investment potential of traditional cameras, Chan believes that photography lovers scarcely buy vintage cameras for investment. “The competition in our society is so fierce that citizens are stressed out and urban diseases like headaches and hypertensions are very common. Vintage cameras can be very much similar to antique china or stamp collection. They are there at home for your appreciation and to relieve your tension. They are also your partner as you enjoy the fun of photo-taking wherever you go.” Traditional cameras not only help easing its owner’s mind and serve as a store of value, but are also seen by many as collectibles that can be passed down the generations. For this reason, people have stronger affection for vintage cameras. Chan tells the younger generation, “An old camera may carry an eternal meaning, as each of them is loaded with memories. It could be a love token of your parents, or the gift that your father bought himself with his first salary payment decades ago. Take good care of the vintage cameras handed down by your parents, and never sell them casually.”

As a camera buff for half a century, Chan likes to acquire vintage cameras to uncover

ForBeginners_________________________

ForInvestors_________________________

For users of digital cameras who wish to see for themselves the beauty of traditional film cameras, Chan recommended them to start from the Japanese fully mechanical SLRs from the 1970s and the 1980s. Priced at one thousand odd dollars, these are value-for-money items.

• Nikon FTn f1.4/f1.8• Canon FTb f1.4/f1.8• Canon AE-1 f1.4/f1.8• Canon QL-17 f1.7• Fujica ST-801 f1.8• Pentax SPII f1.4/f1.8• Minolta SRT-101 f1.4• Minolta SRT-Super f1.7• Minolta Hi-Matic 7

Chan stressed that only fully mechanical cameras possess investment value. Moreover, as old lenses are compatible with digital cameras, a lens is more investment-worthy than the camera body. This is especially true for lenses manufactured in the 1950s to the 1980s, which are of better quality. Here are some recommended investment items:

• Leica M6, M4II, M4D• Hasselblad 500 c/m 80mm• Leica M3, M2

gems in disguise. He has already lost count of the number in his collection. “Very likely, if you can name a camera, I could already have one, but I am not willing to sell them. An entire series is hard-earned and priceless. I would feel like setting family members apart if I sold one of them.” However, the true passion towards vintage cameras does not make Chan a miser for his collection. Earlier on, he donated 40 of his most precious and rare sets of photography equipment to the Hong Kong Heritage Museum in Sha Tin. He is also planning to donate the rest of his mountain-high collector’s items. “If a museum of photography is to be set up in Hong Kong, I am more than willing to give away my entire collection.”

53CGCCVISION︱MAR 2011