perplexing: from user to collector

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msheppler

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Hi all,
I usually post technical questions on this forum and have been happy with all the great advice I get. This is a post about an observation about my own camera collecting behavior. I wonder how many others have experienced this situation.

I've been reading this board for a while and I've noticed this tendency to want to collect cameras. I always buy them with the intention of using them but I frankly I've collected more than I ever will have the time to use. I have a Yashica Lynx 14, a Yashica GSN, a Canon Canonet GIII QL-17, Yashica T4, Yashica-24 TLR, Agfa Isolette III and last but not least my trusty Leica M3. All these cameras are in great shape having been bought in clean condition and rebuilt. It's a rather modest collection, not a whole lot of money wrapped up in it.

So here's the thing. What camera do I always reach for when I'm out shooting. The M3! So why all these other cameras? I'm not sure. Something about the aesthetics and the history of the engineering is appealing to me. Also, in todays world of instant obsolescence there's something comforting about having objects around that are durable and still useable.

Have other members experienced this?
 
Not quite yet... again, I should add.

There was a time when I accumulated a bunch of Japanese RF cameras like you. And, like you, my first choice ever was my Canonet. When I realized this, and that I had a very strong, personal reaction AGAINST other cameras, I simply sold them all and bought into Leica.

Now, I think in my case I went from collector to user. And I fear I may be going from user to collector again (though, this time, of a very small assemblage). 😱
 
The M3

The M3

SolaresLarrave said:
Not quite yet... again, I should add.

There was a time when I accumulated a bunch of Japanese RF cameras like you. And, like you, my first choice ever was my Canonet. When I realized this, and that I had a very strong, personal reaction AGAINST other cameras, I simply sold them all and bought into Leica.

Now, I think in my case I went from collector to user. And I fear I may be going from user to collector again (though, this time, of a very small assemblage). 😱
Click to expand...

As much as I like my collection I have been thinking of doing the same thing. Lusting after a M6.
 
i hate these threads...they make me want to sell stuff.

and to answer your question, yes, i also had dozens of fixed lens cameras at one time and most of them were rarely used. i sold them.

now i have 4 different kits, doubling on some focal lengths and wonder at times why?

joe
 
SolaresLarrave said:
Not quite yet... again, I should add.

There was a time when I accumulated a bunch of Japanese RF cameras like you. And, like you, my first choice ever was my Canonet. When I realized this, and that I had a very strong, personal reaction AGAINST other cameras, I simply sold them all and bought into Leica.

Now, I think in my case I went from collector to user. And I fear I may be going from user to collector again (though, this time, of a very small assemblage). 😱
Click to expand...

back alley said:
i hate these threads...they make me want to sell stuff.

and to answer your question, yes, i also had dozens of fixed lens cameras at one time and most of them were rarely used. i sold them.

now i have 4 different kits, doubling on some focal lengths and wonder at times why?

joe
Click to expand...

I've been trying to put off thinking about this issue because after all the effort that went into purchasing them and rebuilding them I hated the idea of letting them go.

Michael
 
I've got a shelf full of cameras, and the enjoyment I get from using them helps to keep my interest in shooting every day (if I can). Bizarrely, the Leica sits on the shelf quite a lot, and I reserve it for when I feel like a treat. Currently I seem to be addicted to an OM2n, and a Konica Auto S3 has been growing on me like a fungus too. When my Rolleiflex gets back from repair I will sink myself into that for a while.

I think I'm going to stop buying/selling for a bit though. I can see looking back that a few items have gone that I will miss, and a few bad decisions made. Time to slow down and enjoy these things more.
 
Perplexing: from user to collector

Perplexing: from user to collector

I am pleased to say that I am a confirmed user and not a collector. I have one M6 Classic Chrome and 3 lenses, possibly one too many, but that is OK. Collecting infers addiction and any thing addictive means one can easily react irrationally. For me that is an unpleasant place to be and often masks other issues. More does not mean better and there is a world of difference between want and need. I like to take pictures so I need a camera but I don't want any more cameras. I can only use one at a time
 
Thanks for the thoughtful posts

Thanks for the thoughtful posts

Economic realities in this country may force people to become minimalists of sorts. Easier for some than others.

What I really need is more time to practice my craft. Perhaps I'll be parting with some of my equipment in the classifieds.

cheers,
Michael
 
I tend to just buy what I will use on a regular basis. If I find I'm not using something so much, I usually just end up selling it. Occasionally I regret it, but usually not.

With my current kit, I find myself with two 28s and two 35s. There's probably a good chance I'll end up selling the duplicates.
 
Recently, we faced the fact that we have to get the tiles of the basement floor removed. Since they're made of asbestos, it's a major task to find someone to do it. In the end, we did, and they're coming tomorrow at 7 AM.

From the moment we made the arrangement until this very evening, we have been packing books and assorted stuff we had in the basement. I came to the conclusion that I owned too many blank VHS tapes (gone), too many books (also boxed to go), too many photography magazines (recyclable) and too much stuff. I climbed upstairs at some point, took a critical look at my photography shelf, and put all the stuff I want to sell in a box. It was a small one at first, but it's not enough now...

This thread just validated my feelings from the last few days.

Now... can anyone explain to me why is it that I've been in the weirdest shopping spree ever in years? In fact, a couple of days ago I sent payment for a Leica M4 2.

Wait... I got it. One thing is accumulation of stuff. The Leica... that's an investment! 😉
 
Almost everything I own gets cycled through - each month a different system or group of cameras. The only exception right now is the 120 roll film cameras and the P&S 35's . . . A Panasonic LUMIX DMC LX2 has put them ( the P&S 35s ) out of business. . .

Paul
 
I've been going through a lot of gear lately w/ the idea of getting the best SLR & RF kit that is in my budget. Doing a lot of lens and exposure testing. Unfortunately, I have quite a few cameras that I really like, and more lenses than I need. I have to sell the non keepers, but it is a difficult thing. Once you shoot a few rolls of film w/ a particular camera and lens you sort of bond to it. And now my criteria keeps changing. Now I am thinking of keeping the best Russian camera, the better of the Bessa R's, the Leica R4s as well as the Canon Eos w/ Leica R adapter, etc. This was not what I planned!
 
i tend to start to favour whatever i'm using at the moment.

the cle kit is superfluous to my shooting but when i start to carry it around and use it i start thinking that i could easily use just it and sell off all the rest.
when i use the r4a i think pretty much the same, just it and the 21/25 and i could be happy forever. and then the blue zi with the new 35 and i think i would be very happy with just one body and one lens.

it's a kind of madness.
 
I "cycled" through ~ 9 Leica M cameras and ~ 15 lenses in a time-span between January 2007 and now.... 😱 Out of this batch, I kept my "favorite" lenses (5 if I count correctly and also 2 M bodies) and use them on a daily basis. Never regretted selling anything, just buy it, try it, don't like it, sell it ... 🙂

When I moved to Japan, I had to reduce my personal belongings into what fits into one large suitcase (and one digital P&S camera) ... Now, after more than five years, things have started to accumulate again but for the next move ... one large suitcase is again the limit ... 🙄
 
It's a pendulum movement for me.
When I'm fustrated from not shooting enough or not shooting interesting stuff, I find myself buying gear or lurking, or babying my gear.
When I feel good with my photography, I suddenly put back all the metal to proportions:\
I love it but it's only a tool.
all my gear is replaceable. One good negative is not....
 
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