Resale value of old gear?

[masp]

How much does your gear generally go down (or up) in value when you resell it? I was just reading in this old thread (http://www.photography.ca/Forums/f14/experience-so-far-1609.html) about how sometimes you can resell your gear for more than retail on Ebay which was quite surprising. But mainly I'm wondering what the total cost of ownership is for camera equipment.

For instance, does Canon and Nikon gear hold it's value better, or sell off quicker than the other manufacturers because of a larger pro market for it? Also, do lenses made by the camera maker tend to hold their value more than third parties like Tamron or Sigma? Cheers.

[Wicked Dark]

It depends. Technology changes so rapidly that often equipment loses a lot of its value quickly. Price points on new gear are extremely competitive and often drop soon after release, thus making old gear values even lower. Generally "pro" or "semi-pro" cameras will hold more value because they are still a big step up for anyone using a consumer or "beginner" grade camera. And those models usually have more desirable features than their entry level counterparts.

Good and versatile lenses will often hold value more than their associated cameras. For example, legacy Olympus lenses can be mounted on their digital SLRs and are highly sought after by many E-system owners. Used prices on OM lenses have leveled out and many have risen as a result. Probably the same thing holds for Nikon or Pentax or any other DSLR mfg that hasn't made its old glass obsolete.

[AcadieLibre]

Like WD says depends on a lot of factors. Anything film is fairly cheap used there are a few exceptions though but usually rare or high end film cameras like Leica M3, Hasselblad, etc. Lenses can keep their value but again so many variables to take into consideration that it is hard to say what you would get, do they fit modern bodies, is the glass scratched, what shape it the lens body is in, etc.

Unless it is fairly new, a generation of two old you can get ok coin for it, anything older than two generations the price on them starts to free fall but not in all cases but most as far as Camera bodies go, lenses are much harder to price because good glass is always good glass but will those lenses have a market for them and if so what are people willing to pay and other factors to consider.

See what you have, look at the condition, go to ebay, craigslist and any other forum that sells used gear and get an idea what people are asking for what you are selling. Selling something on ebay over what the retail value is I will take with a grain of salt, just call me skeptical. I am sure it happens but probably so rare that I would liken it winning a lottery as far as it pertains to your chances of doing it.