Cult Cameras – the vintage camera store with more

What’s your background – has it always been in photography?

Felix: I’ve always been in the arts. My first camera as a kid was a Nikon F2 – which I bought brand new. I shot family stuff and used the darkrooms at Wollongong Uni.

Though I started out as a professional soccer and cricket player, I moved into large-scale, sculpture design for government installations and music festivals. Eventually, that creative energy flowed into professional photography. I used to have a studio in Marrickville shooting portraits up until Covid.

Erica: My career started in the world of London’s Media and Advertising Agencies, while locally I've worked with Sydney Dance Company, Seymour Centre, Australian Poetry Slam and Word Travels. But I've always loved photography, so it's been a bit of a dream to see the hustling of markets convert into a real store.

How did you get into selling vintage cameras?

Post COVID I went to sell off my personal collection of 200 cameras at Glebe markets. I was surprised at how quickly they sold. We used that money to buy more stock, and have now been regulars at Glebe for the past 3-4 years.

To transport, we load up our gold 1967 split-screen Kombi van with up to 400 cameras, signage, tables and gear. We still do the Glebe markets, including the awesome Sydney Camera Markets.

When did the Newtown store open?

We opened the store in Newtown in November 2024. After searching for ages and being disheartened by the insanely unfair property rents, we eventually found this space cheaper than others in the area. It felt like fate. The fit-out wasn’t cheap, and we’re just finishing our new website, so we'll be selling more online too.

Is there a noticeable resurgence in film photography?

Demand has exploded. We might buy a high-end Nikon for $800 and sell it for $1,500 if it’s immaculate. People love the tactile simplicity of film gear. Many vintage cameras are beautiful design pieces in their own right.

Film cameras are very basic and don’t have insanely complex, confusing menus with 100’s of options like modern cameras – just shutter speed, aperture, ISO and focus – so beginners are drawn to that. There's also a rise in darkroom printing which adds to the demand in film cameras. 

What are some of the most sought-after gear right now?

Leica’s – especially Summicron lenses that will work with new digital bodies. Olympus OM-1s and OM-2s fly off the shelves, as do Nikon F2, F3, F5s. People prefer fast primes over zooms as the shallow depth of field is dreamy.

Hasselblad’s are huge right now – we can’t get enough of them. Lenses are also super popular (As we sit chatting a guy walks in asking if they have a lens for his rare camera).

What about digital cameras – are retro models popular too?

Yes! Especially models from 2000–2008. We find Gen-Z love compact point and shoot. Even the Canon 5DMKII, which you can pick up from anywhere between $200-$500 are back in demand.

How do you determine the prices of vintage gear?

We compare with other shops, eBay, and online listings – then take a middle-ground. We offer a one-month warranty and stand behind what we sell.

Can all vintage cameras be repaired?

Not all. Many parts are discontinued by the manufacturers, but we use non-working ‘donor’ cameras to salvage bits. Electronics like circuit boards are tricky, but we can make gaskets or fix corrosion.  Another common issue is solidified lubricants – oil that hardens up and gums the mechanics. Most cameras have their own quirks.

Do you repair lenses?

No – once a lens is opened, recalibration requires specialist tools. They're often cemented internally, so we leave that to expert technicians.

You seem to sell a lot of film – do you think it could be a passing trend?

Film is absolutely here to stay and we sell a lot of it (during the interview numerous customers buy instax, B&W and colour negative film). There's a slower, more deliberate process with film. It’s about intention. While digital retro cameras are popular, people are gravitating toward film for the creative control, or even looking for rare lenses and adapting them to give a particular unique look to their work.

Any rare cameras in the shop with great stories behind them?

We’ve got a Playboy Bunny Hasselblad, that was used at the Playboy mansion complete with photos and documentation. It even had a roll of 120 film still inside when we opened it – we’ll be processing it soon and who knows what we’ll find. Another standout is a Canon F1 from the LA Olympics in flat black – custom engraved by Canon for a Mr. M. Fujii. Then there’s the rare bright green Werra with a 50mm Zeiss lens.

What are some of the most valuable film cameras you sell?

Probably the Contax G2 and T3 – both go for around $4,600 each.

Got any favourite vintage models in the store?

So many. Fujica GW690, the Technika 70, and Nikon FEs are standout pieces. We also have a Nikon FE rigged with a Novoflexar F9 640mm telephoto ‘rifle lens’ – it’s wild.

What advice would you give to someone buying their first vintage camera?

Check the battery compartment and make sure the light meter works. Stick to popular models as parts are easier to find. Rarer cameras can be harder (and more expensive) to repair. And beware of online hype by influencers – sometimes the “must-have” models are more haphazard trend than reliable, working treasure.

How do you see the future of the vintage camera market?

For us personally, we’re growing, and that's without any advertising. People come from Melbourne, Canberra, Wollongong – even overseas.

As for the future, we see a load of teenage kids are getting into it, joining photo walks with expired film for those unique looks. We’ve even sold Super 8 cameras to wedding photographers for nostalgic 2-minute reels.

Also, all sorts of storied rare items turn up. We just received a custom underwater housing owned by Valerie Taylor that was custom-built in Sydney probably back in the 1960’s.

I don’t think the love of photography will ever die and it's loved by new and old generations. 

Cult Camera's location is at 459 King St Newtown NSW. You can find out more on their website here.