Best aquisition of the year?

I find the exposure compensation "dialing in" on the AFM35 to be terrible... it's my only complaint with the camera... otherwise, very wonderful picture maker.

mcgrattan said:
2 things.

ii) Rollei AFM35 -- I really like using compact cameras and have done for years -- sometimes I want something that is tiny and involves no 'infrastructure' [no meter, no tripod, no filters and hoods and accessory finder and all the other gubbins]. In some ways it's a very creative way to shoot for me -- I just point and the only real focus of thought is composition. But I've always been frustrated by the total lack of control on the compacts I've been using. Having one that lets me control the aperture, the point of focus and dial in exposure compensation but which is still small, and hassle free is a pleasure.
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after years of screwing around with FSU rangefinders I finally just bought a Leica IIIc... and wouldn't you know it, the damned thing just works! Wow! It was almost boring.

The best thing I did all year was finally getting my Retina IIa serviced... made a world of difference and the IIa has become one of my most favorite shooters.

Sold much more than I bought... which is also good... too many cameras doesn't make you more productive... especially when you are wasting half your time trouble shooting flacky (FSU) cameras.
 
Best aquivisition of the year ?

Best aquivisition of the year ?

... in my case:

1) One bottle of Rodinal
2) 20 rolls of KR-64
3) 20 rolls of XX 5222 film

Equipment - wise ... The M5, M2 and the 90mm Summicron-M. :)
 
This is hard; it's been a great year for photography for me... my first!
I think my best "acquisition" has been the photography classes I took at PCNW. That has led to my 1) working with film, 2) starting to process my own black and white film, both 35mm and 4x5, and 3) last but not least, to starting the setup of my darkroom over the holidays.

If I had to name a particular item... I'll go with the quirky one: I got a pristine Nuarc plateburner for the 'cost' of hauling it away from its former owners. These units are perfect for doing alternative process contact printing.
 
My best aquisition this year has been the 1Ds III with a Sandisk 8GB CF and a 8 GB SD card. After the last M8 up-date the SD works on my M8 as well. Otherwise, my wife and I are busy maintaining and redecorating our 200 year old house; a rediculously expensive exercise. Which means that I will be modest regarding future photo gear purchases in 2009. I keep an eye on the Norwegien 2.hand market not really knowing what I am looking for.

We have just booked our yearly holiday to Singapore (and Tioman Island, Malaysia - link here: http://www.berjayaresorts.com/beachresort_tiomanbeach.htm ), going in late April. I usually do my expensive photo gear purchases in Singapore, saving the 20% VAT - and often more, compared to buying it here in Norway. But now the Singapore Dollar has appreciated with 20% in just a few months - the Norwegian Kroner has fallen like the, - æhum, US$. There is little hope of doing smart deals in Singapore early next year. Although, both the new Canon EF 24 mm 1,4L II and the Leica equaliant are tempting. - But no, not next year.
 
Another highlight for this year has been rediscovering my M2 and 'sunny sixteen' ... why I didn't use it more during the year I'll never understand. Wowed by technology I guess!

Also discovered Tri-X! :)
 
Dave Wilkinson said:
As we approach the end of another year, It would be interesting to hear what is your most satisfying ( not neccessarily expensive ) photographic aquisition of 2008, - something that has improved, or made a real difference to your work.
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A greater understanding of why people make the photos they make.
 
Two things really - the 1Ds3 with fast CF card and Zorki 4K - because it led directly to the Ikon/Sonnar combo:)

Sadly, both purchases have also led to significant levels of ZAS (Zeiss Acquisition Syndrome), although I believe the canon 24 1.4L is supposed to be pretty good.

Mike
 
Leica M5, nice user
Leica 135mm Elmar EXC+
Leica 35mm Summicron v.4, good user
Leica M6 (like NIB, last week)
I was very happy with the M5, but now that I also got the M6 I'm not sure if it will be my default shooter...
Ooh, and I also got a beautiful Canon F1-N, of which I fixed the lazy mirror. I couldn't pass on this one. In the old days The F1-N was my ultimate wish-for camera.

You can see them all in my Flickr Camera Collection. Just click the photo-cat below ;)
 
I bought quite some camera gear in 2008.

But the best purchase was in March 2008 - Sigma DP1.
Eventually, after many trials and errors (DLux3, GX100, G9) a pocketable digital IQ machine with excellent lens, which made me sell the Contax T3.
 
M6TTL
CV 35 1.4 SC
2 weeks in Europe

Despite the crap economy, I've never been so well off as I have been this year. It was the first year in a long time that I've lived in a two full income household, and I'm grateful.
 
In order:

Leica MP
Leica Noctilux
Leica MP-3
Fuji TX-2 (XpanII)
Hasselblad 503CW
Oly Pen FT
Summilux 50

For next year (god willing):
Hasselblad 205fcc - really want this: AE and spot-meter... hello 6x6 slides!
Nikon Coolscan 9000
Hasselblad SWC
 
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My best acquisition(s) happened five times this year. Each was a package with 4 to 6 bricks of Neopan 400, some 35mm, some 120.

Without that film, all those cameras and lenses would just be expensive paperweights.

Next best acquisitions were bulk buys of printing paper.

Without that paper, those negatives would have remained in the dark.

I cannot count developer because I bought enough in 2007 to last for a few years more.
 
Interesting to read the various best acquisitions!

Mine was a "demo" Leica M8 that has turned out to be more useful than I expected. That was a January purchase, so I had time to get comfortable with its behavior before taking in on an overseas trip (Malta, Sicily, Canary Is.) in April. I've shot very little film this year...

In June we bought a house after living in an apartment for 30+ years (we own the building). The house is 50 years old, and so I feel some fellowship with Olsen in the expenses of remodeling and updating. We STILL haven't moved in...

So that has put a big damper on gear acquisitions, though I did get a 21mm C-Biogon ZM for the M8 later on, from PopFlash. It's been "stuck" on that camera since! Very useful, that 75° angle of view!
 
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With respect to....
Gear: M8 & 28mm f2.0 Ultron - I can finally say "finished".... for now....

Life: Although not necessarily this year - my daughter (DOB: Dec 20/08). I've been on leave for 8 months & having the time of my life watching her get longer, heavier, hyper-er... and watching her become more & more like her dad ;).
 
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