Camera Rescue started in 2010, in Finland with a bunch of keen photographers that really cared about film cameras. We work to preserve cameras for the future generations. Our goal was to reach 100 000 rescued cameras by the end of 2020 – but with a few hiccups on the way – we achieved the goal in May 2021! From one to thousands at a time, we rescue cameras from any time period old or new, working or broken. Trade in your old or unwanted camera equipment for cash, and help us with our goal.
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In the past few years more and more young people have discovered film photography, embracing the imperfections, the slow-down and the tactile feeling of using film cameras. To help all these new people into film photography, we actively look for the cameras hidden away in cupboards and attics to give them new life. We believe that getting into film photography is hard enough without having to battle with light leaks, inaccurate shutters and broken lenses. That is why we thoroughly test, refurbish or repair the cameras that come through us.
Our effort to save these cameras is our way of helping film photography stay alive so that our children and grandchildren can enjoy some of the same camera selection that we are enjoying. Producing new film cameras at a price available to most people will not be feasible for many years, if ever, so keeping the current stock of cameras alive is crucial.
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Checking and repairing cameras requires investment in expertise and equipment, so making smaller, national units is impossible in the current market. To sustain expertise and equipment it is important we have to work across borders, which is a challenge in culturally, geographically and legislatively diverse Europe. We also try to stretch outside of Europe when we can. Our main office is in Tampere, Finland, but we also have offices in Helsinki and Paris, as well as freelancing crew members in Spain, Germany and the USA, among other places.
The camera rescue staff when we reached 100 000 cameras rescued