What is your 'camera for life'?

[steveyork]

Is the effect of the airport scanners really that bad?

It's been a while since I've flown anywhere, but I used to fly semi-regularly for work. I often requested hand-checking of film. Sometimes, especially when busy this request was refused.
I also carried the cameras through though, I always figured their metal shell protects the film sufficiently.

In the end, neither the film in the cameras nor the carry-on film ever had any significant defects. At least defects that would be outside of my control (Bad pictures, sloppy loading, sloppy development, etc. etc. ;-)

It requires planning, and maybe just a safe backup, even if only your cell phone. Most of the time, they'll hand check, at least that's what it sounds like for user experiences, but definitely want to fly the most direct route, limiting scan opportunities, preference for slower ISO's and look into film availability at your destination spot. That type of planning.

 

[Archiver]

At one time I had a small company that specialized in selling memory cards for early digitals, such as the IBM/Hitachi 1GB Microdrive. This was an actual rotational hard drive in miniature, it fit into a Compact Flash form factor. It was compatible with the D1 (although not officially according to Nikon) and offered far more storage than solid state Compact Flash. They sold for about $400 or so, when 64mb cards were about $200. 16x the storage!

Gosh, I remember the microdrive! Back in the day, before today's solid state recorders, I wanted to get a hi-res audio recorder that used CF cards but could also take a microdrive. I held off and eventually bought an Olympus LS10 which records in WAV and mp3, which still gets use for work today.

I also used to buy Imation Super Discs, still have the drive and a bunch of discs somewhere.

 

[hendriphile]

That’s easy… my M3 is a one-family camera, having been purchased by my uncle during a trip to Germany in 1960. When age became a factor, he passed it along to me. Shortly thereafter I took it to Marty Forscher’s place in downtown NYC for it to get a look-see, and I recall him calling his apprentices over to see what an untampered Leica seal looked like. He applied an O-ring to the rim of the eyepiece frame and said, “There! Now you won’t be scratching your eyeglasses anymore.” That O-ring is still there. When I had it last serviced, Sherry Krauter said it was up to factory specs and it was good for another 20 years. Thankfully, my life partner is a photographer, so I know it will be in good hands after I check out 🙂

 

[Godfrey]

I don't really have one camera, either film or digital, that i consider a "forever for life" thing. I have a lot of cameras and use most of them frequently.

If considering what i pick up to use casually most of the time, i'd say that is between one of my Polaroid SX-70s, one of the Leicas (mostly M10-M/-R), and the Hasselblad SWC/M. Never mind the six or seven other film or digitals that are always ready to go...

G

 

[rfaspen]

In a way I had to consider what camera(s) I wanted to retain for life when I purged my collection a couple/few years ago. Some here may already know that it was a large collection. I was able to pare down dramatically, but the remaining 20-40 cameras (from hundreds) is still more than we're talking about here. I find it very difficult to part with nearly all of my Leica, my Rolleis, and my 2 remaining 4x5s. They all work perfectly and should do so for years to come. I also kept some of my Nikons and lenses. Still have my black FE2 that I got years before meeting my wife, and that's been 35 years. It still works perfectly too. It was my workhorse when I moonlighted for a music talent agency and shot the punk rock scene in southern California during the mid 80s. What a time that was! So....I can't decide! Please don't make me choose among my "children".

 

[boojum]

In a way I had to consider what camera(s) I wanted to retain for life when I purged my collection a couple/few years ago. Some here may already know that it was a large collection. I was able to pare down dramatically, but the remaining 20-40 cameras (from hundreds) is still more than we're talking about here. I find it very difficult to part with nearly all of my Leica, my Rolleis, and my 2 remaining 4x5s. They all work perfectly and should do so for years to come. I also kept some of my Nikons and lenses. Still have my black FE2 that I got years before meeting my wife, and that's been 35 years. It still works perfectly too. It was my workhorse when I moonlighted for a music talent agency and shot the punk rock scene in southern California during the mid 80s. What a time that was! So....I can't decide! Please don't make me choose among my "children".

Forget the angst at letting go of prized photo gear, surviving the punk rock scene of the 80's is a major triumph. ;o) I bet youo had some real fun.

 

[rfaspen]

It was.......... interesting 😎