How much would you pay for a Soviet made camera?

Question by Sam: How much would you pay for a Soviet camera?
I recently got access to a stock of Soviet-made 35mm film cameras. They range from small point-and-shoot models to fancy surveillance units with 500mm lenses. While they can’t compare in quality to a modern digital or 35mm camera, I feel like there’s some sort of collectors value in them. What would you pay for one?

Answers and Views:

Answer by BigAl
“While they can’t compare in quality to a modern digital ” is an interesting quote. If these are Soviet made then they are over 20 years old so if they are in working order they are proven to be better quality than 95% of the digitals around today. How many of those are still working properly after 2 years?
I wouldn’t pay anything unless I know what I was paying for. Once I knew what there was I could be reaching for my wallet becasue there are many very desirable soviet made lenses and cameras. I assume the 500mm lenses are mirror design and they are good quality with the rare Rubinar 500/5.6 vbeing very desirable.
All the Soviet exchangeable 35mm lenses with M42mm screw fittings can be adapted to digital SLRs so they are very popular. The M39 lenses made for early Zeniths are similarly adaptable. There are collectors of the earlier Leica Screw and Contax mount rangefinder cameras, Zorki, Fed and Kiev branded. The L39 35mm Jupiter-12 sells for around £60 in top condition.
The Zenith Photosniper kit can sell for about £150 in top condition and it’s main lense, a Tair 300mm is quality.
The Jupiter-9 85mm F2 will, in 39mm or $ 42mm fit sell for around £80.
Most of the lenses are made to be high quality but with poor quality control a few dogs slipped out.
you would do well to familiarise yourself with the Russian alphabet if these are original; soviet issues – the UK and American versions used our alphabet.

Read all the answers in the comments.

Know better? Leave your own answer!