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(The International Photographic Historical Organization is proud to support this page providing information on the Internet Directory of Camera Collectors. If you've reached this page in error, or wish to return to the InPHO home page, please click here.)       Would you be interested in joining a group like the IDCC? Please consider while you read a bit more! The Internet Directory of Camera Collectors is a moderated membership group with a singular broad area of interest: collecting, preserving, and using antique and classic cameras. Anybody can subscribe to the IDCC forum, where they will meet other "on-line" camera collectors, and participate in e-mail discussions pertaining to their shared interests. The forum's only stated purpose or goal is to provide an honest and open environment for the shared dissemination of information on these older cameras and photographic technology. There is no advertising within the IDCC! While the members do enjoy two specifically designated swap days each month, this is otherwise not a buy/sell/trade forum! No commercial activity or dealing is allowed! Members who are camera dealers as well as collectors, whether "professional" or not, are asked to follow the IDCC's guidelines very closely. Currently there are well over 400 active participants in the IDCC. This number represents a diverse membership, from raw beginners to established "old timers", and includes authors of important works on photographica, members of other major photographic historical societies, and a fair number of "famous" collectors. However, the forum provides a level playing field where everybody's questions and opinions are welcome and respected. On the first and third Wednesdays of each month the IDCC hosts a "swap day" for the members allowing them to list items they wish to buy, sell, or trade. Again, members who are established camera dealers are strongly advised to follow the IDCC's simple guidelines. Listing an entire store's inventory is not allowed! These swap days are intended as pleasant social events, not opportunities to promote business by inundating the forum with commercial advertising! While it is acceptable to call attention to camera related business, discretion must be exercised in the presentation of such information. The swap day guidelines may be viewed at: David Silver can be contacted directly at silver@well.com for further questions or clarification of the IDCC guidelines. So, would you like to become a participant? It's easy! To subscribe to the IDCC e-mail forum you simply go to: When the subscription process is completed, you will receive an automated e-mail message confirming your acceptance to the group. Soon after that, you will begin receiving messages from other members of the IDCC in open discussion on all sorts of topics (chains of messages on specific topics are called "threads") relating to cameras and photographic history. This is often a very active group, so you should expect to receive upwards of 50 messages on any given day, and potentially as many as 300 in a week! It is highly recommended that you spend your first couple of weeks getting to know the "personality" of the group and how it flows. Read the threads, learn how members interact, and understand the basic rules of e-mail etiquette before you actively participate. When you eventually send the group your first message, it should be in the form of an introduction so the group can properly welcome you. Don't be shy! Tell the group your name, your reasons for joining, and your camera collecting interests. To send a new message to the group, simply address your e-mail to idcc@kjsl.com (KJSL is an internet server that provides free automated e-mail systems for many non-profit ventures) and it will be distributed to all the other members of the forum. Make sure you enter an appropriately descriptive title in the subject line of your message. To respond to a specific member's message or an ongoing thread, you can use your e-mail program's "reply" command, but remember to first delete any or all of the unnecessary text trailing from previous compiled messages. If you want to start a new thread, or your reply to a current thread changes the topic, please take the time to modify the subject line in your message. The rest is up to you. Read, write, and enjoy! Well, are you still not sure about joining? Then here's one final factor that may persuade you! Another benefit of membership in the IDCC is the opportunity to have your name and collecting interests made available on a publicly accessible web page where thousands of internet "hits" are made each year by people seeking information on vintage cameras and the history of photography. While not a mandatory requirement of the IDCC, the majority of members gladly embrace this opportunity to promote their collecting pursuits and ask to be placed in the list. You can view the current impressive list of IDCC members with their various interests and expertise at: David Silver, the IDCC Moderator, can be contacted at silver@well.com for further information on the Internet Directory of Camera Collectors or the International Photographic Historical Organization. |