Bill Pierce
Well-known
Here is a real simple question. Why do many of us own so many cameras? I own more cameras than I need. I can say, “I need a variety of tools to work on a variety of jobs.” I don’t need that many. Why do we do this?
D
Deleted member 65559
Guest
Bill, You're a brave man asking so honest a question on this forum. Bravo.
Retro-Grouch
Veteran
Honest question! Honest answer? Because I start feeling insecure about my abilities as a photographer, and succumb to the good consumerist notion that buying something will make me better. Only speaking for myself, of course!
Yokosuka Mike
Abstract Clarity
We hunt, we gather, we hoard. It's what we do, it's who we are.
What do we want? We want more!
All the best,
Mike
What do we want? We want more!
All the best,
Mike
helen.HH
To Light & Love ...
A simple answer
Less keeps me better focused...I will 'do it' with what I have
Less keeps me better focused...I will 'do it' with what I have
ColSebastianMoran
( IRL Richard Karash )
A tangent: I tell my wife, "Aren't you glad I don't collect cars?"
More seriously, we know in human experience that collecting things is fun. That's enough for me. It's for fun, first few for utility, remainder for fun.
More seriously, we know in human experience that collecting things is fun. That's enough for me. It's for fun, first few for utility, remainder for fun.
helen.HH
To Light & Love ...
What makes anything have Value...
Using it !
make use of it and it is worthwhile
Using it !
make use of it and it is worthwhile
Retro-Grouch
Veteran
Wise words, Helen!
Rayt
Nonplayer Character
In the beginning having the right gear was part of the struggle to find my own style. And I wanted the experience out of curiosity for example shooting 6 different film formats. Lastly I had no interest in buying anything else. I don’t own a car and don’t care about wearing clean clothes.
D
Deleted member 65559
Guest
One of the Leica M4s 'used' by Magnum photographer Abbas......worth far more than all the 'new-in-box' versions
Pál_K
Cameras. I has it.
I have a good “starter collection” of about only 110 cameras, from Minox 8x11 to Sinar 4x5. Nikon F to F4, FM, FM3a and more, Canon of all flavors, Leica M and SLRs, Hasselblads, Mamiya 6x7s, Pentax (110 through 6x7), Minoltas, Olympus, Exakta, Fuji, Polaroids, many many others. A very few digital.
Easily over 200 lenses.
I enjoy them as instruments. I enjoy their differences - the different knobs, levers, viewfinders. I enjoy the way they all feel different and operate slightly differently - all to accomplish essentially the same thing.
I can make - and have made - very good photos with all of them. I have never never never bought any camera with the thought it would let me make better photos. I buy them simply because I enjoy them.
Film cameras are relatively cheap these days, but I’ve acquired these over 40 years.
Easily over 200 lenses.
I enjoy them as instruments. I enjoy their differences - the different knobs, levers, viewfinders. I enjoy the way they all feel different and operate slightly differently - all to accomplish essentially the same thing.
I can make - and have made - very good photos with all of them. I have never never never bought any camera with the thought it would let me make better photos. I buy them simply because I enjoy them.
Film cameras are relatively cheap these days, but I’ve acquired these over 40 years.
Bill Blackwell
Leica M Shooter
From the time I was in my 30's I owned four or five Leica M cameras to pick and choose from along with a dozen or more Leica M-mount lenses. But nowadays, I can only afford one digital M and one film M - and all but two of my M lenses are aftermarket.
Although Leica M cameras [both film and digital] have gotten astronomically expensive these days, my limitations are mainly due to my old-man sensibilities kicking in.
Although Leica M cameras [both film and digital] have gotten astronomically expensive these days, my limitations are mainly due to my old-man sensibilities kicking in.
I have a total of 7 cameras and I currently use 3. 3 film cameras will either go unused or have minimal use but I’m ok with that. The 3 digital cameras I use basically all do the same thing but I like variety and change. The other digital is cheap and gets used in bad neighborhoods or sketchy vacation areas.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
I can only answer for myself, not for "so many of us": I have a bunch of cameras because I like them, I'm fascinated with them, and they are all different.
That I make photographs with them is independent of that fascination.
G
bjorke
Designated Driver
Same reason I have five big boxes of carpentry and motorcycle tools. You never know when you might need a 7.5mm hex wrench.
Timmyjoe
Veteran
I like cameras. It's as simple as that. Now honestly, the cameras that I own that were "expensive" were purchased for specific work requirements, and they all are digital. But those are a small segment of the cameras I own. Most of my cameras are old used film cameras that I find fascinating. Cameras I wish I could have afforded back in the day when they were new. I've only bought one new film camera in the last 20 years.
Again, mechanical film cameras are fascinating to me, so whenever I find one I can afford, it usually gets purchased.
Best,
-Tim
Again, mechanical film cameras are fascinating to me, so whenever I find one I can afford, it usually gets purchased.
Best,
-Tim
agentlossing
Well-known
Here's a thought: would we have so many cameras if a hypothetical (and completely impossible) MODULAR camera system existed, to which we could affix whatever lens, focusing system, accessory, sensor, film format, etc. we wanted or needed? Probably not! The proliferation of brands and competing companies means that different tools have existed along the continuum of photography that offer different things, and no one thing suits every occasion.
For example, I recently bought an older M4/3 body, though I "moved on" (temporarily) from the system because I wanted to use the Panasonic 20/1.7 again. It's such a good lens, and a lot of fun to make images with. Well, I can't use that with rangefinder focusing, or a larger sensor size, or a mirror box. I can't put the amazing GR III lens on any other camera. I can't get Pentax with APS-C sensors and an EVF. My Bessa won't shoot digital.
I'd love to have the impossible modular camera that all of this existed as a kit for... But as it is I have to have one camera if I want an EVF, one if I want an SLR TTL optical viewfinder, one if I want to shoot film, to use a rangefinder...
When I go on a trip I often cull down what I pack to either the most appropriate one (or two) or the one I think will provide the most fun. I can limit myself when needbe (and do whenever I go out, I don't carry several cameras at once), but at least I've been able to select the most appropriate tool for the occasion.
There's a different thing to be said for compulsively collecting gear, and sure, I fall for that at times. Rather than look for some deep psychological reason for it, I think we ought to just admit that we're immature at times and want new playthings. Somewhere along the line as adults we get very self important and forget that we're still capricious, selfish and impractical in addition to whatever positive virtues we've ingrained in ourselves over time!
For example, I recently bought an older M4/3 body, though I "moved on" (temporarily) from the system because I wanted to use the Panasonic 20/1.7 again. It's such a good lens, and a lot of fun to make images with. Well, I can't use that with rangefinder focusing, or a larger sensor size, or a mirror box. I can't put the amazing GR III lens on any other camera. I can't get Pentax with APS-C sensors and an EVF. My Bessa won't shoot digital.
I'd love to have the impossible modular camera that all of this existed as a kit for... But as it is I have to have one camera if I want an EVF, one if I want an SLR TTL optical viewfinder, one if I want to shoot film, to use a rangefinder...
When I go on a trip I often cull down what I pack to either the most appropriate one (or two) or the one I think will provide the most fun. I can limit myself when needbe (and do whenever I go out, I don't carry several cameras at once), but at least I've been able to select the most appropriate tool for the occasion.
There's a different thing to be said for compulsively collecting gear, and sure, I fall for that at times. Rather than look for some deep psychological reason for it, I think we ought to just admit that we're immature at times and want new playthings. Somewhere along the line as adults we get very self important and forget that we're still capricious, selfish and impractical in addition to whatever positive virtues we've ingrained in ourselves over time!
back alley
IMAGES
I am a very moody person and I use the gear that fits my mood at the time.
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
I just don't sell them quick enough. Lost buy, sell momentum with film gear.
Just sitting on two+ years old stock of old cameras.
And modern cameras don't really break, going flaky like legendary film M and else film, mechanical.
We have EOS 300 from 1998, it just works. And EOS 500D from 2009. It is working just like on day one. And EOS 5D MKII from few years ago. It is tank with battery lasting forever.
They are all working. Some we paid 40 CAD (with Leica zoom
). Some we paid 1000 CAD. Years and years ago. But by now they are very low in price. Selling them just to have some space, maybe. Those digital old cameras are just working very well. No outdated feel in pictures. At all. I have EOS RP.
Just sitting on two+ years old stock of old cameras.
And modern cameras don't really break, going flaky like legendary film M and else film, mechanical.
We have EOS 300 from 1998, it just works. And EOS 500D from 2009. It is working just like on day one. And EOS 5D MKII from few years ago. It is tank with battery lasting forever.
They are all working. Some we paid 40 CAD (with Leica zoom
). Some we paid 1000 CAD. Years and years ago. But by now they are very low in price. Selling them just to have some space, maybe. Those digital old cameras are just working very well. No outdated feel in pictures. At all. I have EOS RP.
Pál_K
Cameras. I has it.
You’ve just described the Hasselblad 500, the Mamiya RB67, and Rollei 6008 systems, just to name several, not to mention large format. Yet I own plenty of those and over a hundred other cameras, so, clearly, the desire for other cameras remains. Maybe one day I want to use a Nikkormat EL, another day a Canon QL 17, etc.
But who’s to say it’s immature or selfish? Some people collect paintings, some collect Chinese vases, some collect mechanical watches, firearms, or sports cars. I know several people who actually own more than 10 guitars!!!! Imagine that!