Am I the only one who likes every kind of gear?

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giellaleafapmu

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After reading more systematically this forum for a while I was wondering: am I the only person here who likes all kind of gear? It seems like there are people who only shots film, other only cameras with VF, others cannot stand a large DSLR so I was wondering that maybe I am a weirdo because I really like everything. Of course there is horse for course but assuming it is just for me and not for a job when I get out with a fast DSLR after a while of swearing for the weight and when I get the camera out of the bag I completely forget it was heavy and enjoy the speed. If I only get a small P/S (or P/H for "point and hope" how it was named in a different thread) after I remember it is not fast I just go on enjoying it is small, if I am home and friends come I like to get out all my scaring lights and just play but if I have none ready I am just happy to go on without lights...am I the only one?

GLF
 
You're not alone. I for one want to try out every different camera and format I can. I even have two rolls of Extachrome Super 8 and rolls of 110 saved for the right occasion. I have been lucky at second hand stores and seem to have a sample of every system including large format. My latest treasure is a Pentax MZ-S with battery grip. Now I have a camera to shoot all the wonderful Takumar glass I have been collecting for years.

Angelo
 
No, not at all.

However, I do find my liking for different gear varies over time.

Naturally certain gear suits certain tasks better (e.g. dSLR for macro or long lens nature). I have the most confidence in my dSLR getting me the results I want, so if it is something I can't afford to mess up, I will reach for the dSLR.

I find though that I go through phases where I will predominantly shoot black and white film and other times where I will predominantly shoot digital. Same with different types of cameras. In the main though 35mm black and white rangefinder film shooting gives me the most enjoyment, most of the time!

My collection includes a medium format TLR, film and digital Leica M, dSLR, SLR, Xpan, Polaroid SX-70, Pentax 110 and 35mm P&S. All of them get used, some of the time!
 
giellaleafapmu said:
After reading more systematically this forum for a while I was wondering: am I the only person here who likes all kind of gear? It seems like there are people who only shots film, other only cameras with VF, others cannot stand a large DSLR so I was wondering that maybe I am a weirdo because I really like everything. Of course there is horse for course but assuming it is just for me and not for a job when I get out with a fast DSLR after a while of swearing for the weight and when I get the camera out of the bag I completely forget it was heavy and enjoy the speed. If I only get a small P/S (or P/H for "point and hope" how it was named in a different thread) after I remember it is not fast I just go on enjoying it is small, if I am home and friends come I like to get out all my scaring lights and just play but if I have none ready I am just happy to go on without lights...am I the only one?

GLF
Click to expand...

GLF,

I shoot a lot of different cameras: TLR, SLR, scale focus, and of course rangefinders. Shoot digital (Monochrom) and mucho B&W film in 135 and in MF (6x6, 6x7 and 6x9).

My friend John always says, "The right tool for the job."

Anyways shooting so many different cameras keeps me fresh and prevent getting stale. Lucky for me that I can afford the luxury and now I'm spoiled. Not sure if culling down and getting more pure with my gear is a good or correct move. Film is still readily available and still affordable. Not to have any remorse I will try to shoot as much film as I can while it lasts.

Cal
 
"All" is a rather broad definition. I am quite brand agnostic and have found that I can make use of every format and camera build paradigm for some purpose or other. But even though I am somewhat subject and style promiscuous, that does not stretch to liking every possible piece of equipment ever made - there have been very nice as well as absolutely horrible cameras and lenses of every type and brand.
 
doolittle said:
I find though that I go through phases where I will predominantly shoot black and white film and other times where I will predominantly shoot digital.
Click to expand...

I was not talking of different styles or phases in one's creative process we all might be experiencing at different times, just the taste for a single type of gear.

GLF
 
sevo said:
"All" is a rather broad definition. I am quite brand agnostic and have found that I can make use of every format and camera build paradigm for some purpose or other. But even though I am somewhat subject and style promiscuous, that does not stretch to liking every possible piece of equipment ever made - there have been very nice as well as absolutely horrible cameras and lenses of every type and brand.
Click to expand...

By "all kind of gear" I meant film, digital, (D)SLR, rangefinder, compact, viewcameras, natural light, small flashes, studio flashes etc...not every single product ever made in any category.

GLF
 
GLF,

I don't shoot a DSLR, but at this point I cant justify more cameras or a different venture into yet another style/type of photography. It is actually a lot of responsibility to use the gear I already own fully. I guess I'm at my saturation point that makes sense and that is practical. I own about a dozen cameras.

Cal
 
All is really broad...

I like many but not really THAT much...I don't like digital and artificial lighting to start which is probably the typical RFF mentality. If I liked everything, then I think I would go crazy.
 
angelog said:
My latest treasure is a Pentax MZ-S with battery grip. Now I have a camera to shoot all the wonderful Takumar glass I have been collecting for years.
Click to expand...

What a discipline! Collect lenses without body and being able to use them only years later! If I understood you correctly.....

As for me, I like different...things. That can be a lens, or body, or P&S or rangefinder. When I don't use them enough it makes me troublesome. Now I think less gear is better. But I had to go through all this to learn it.
 
btgc said:
As for me, I like different...things. That can be a lens, or body, or P&S or rangefinder. When I don't use them enough it makes me troublesome. Now I think less gear is better. But I had to go through all this to learn it.
Click to expand...

Plus one. I went through a lot of gear experimenting. I went through two cull downs, but I still have about a dozen cameras that somehow I've become bonded to.

Perhaps a further cull down is in store, but I am also trying to prevent any remorse. I'm pretty happy with the gear I currently have.

Cal
 
I like a lot of different cameras...they are beautiful objects. However, when it comes to doing photography on a daily basis, I use what is going to get me the results I need and the look I want.

So, for me, there are times when it is time to appreciate a camera you don't use... like in the forum or at a meet-up, but when it comes to photography... I like what I like and only use the bare essentials.
 
I use what I need. If I plan on printing large, I'll take a medium format. If I want to adjust for the keystone effect/align everything perfectly symmetrically, I'll go large format. Digital is just for convenience at this point for me.
 
For me, I want to learn one system and stick with it. I shot Olympus SLRs for 22 years and shifted to Nikons in 2000 when I needed autofocus for newspaper work. I still own a pair of D2H bodies that I have had since 2003. Now I am looking to shift from DSLRs to a compact system (probably Fuji) as I change the focus of my shooting and enter retirement. I will continue to shoot people but am looking to focus on shooting more with less. Probably will restrict myself to my X100S and an X-Pro w/35mm f1.4. I really want to simplify my shooting rather than having tons of equipment that gets only occasional use. Just my $0.02 worth.
 
giellaleafapmu said:
After reading more systematically this forum for a while I was wondering: am I the only person here who likes all kind of gear? It seems like there are people who only shots film, other only cameras with VF, others cannot stand a large DSLR so I was wondering that maybe I am a weirdo because I really like everything. Of course there is horse for course but assuming it is just for me and not for a job when I get out with a fast DSLR after a while of swearing for the weight and when I get the camera out of the bag I completely forget it was heavy and enjoy the speed. If I only get a small P/S (or P/H for "point and hope" how it was named in a different thread) after I remember it is not fast I just go on enjoying it is small, if I am home and friends come I like to get out all my scaring lights and just play but if I have none ready I am just happy to go on without lights...am I the only one?

GLF
Click to expand...

That's me in a nutshell. I like almost all camera related gear. It's odd to me that people can dislike brands to the point of Internet/forum bantering back and forth.
I honestly think most people just like to gripe and look for a good argument. Camera Drama so to speak.
 
Lets see...

I've owned and used...
D200 DSLR
Cheap point and shoot digital
Android phone (that I got a few of my favorite shots with)
120 TLR
120 SLR
120 folder
35mm manual SLR
35mm auto focus SLR
35mm fixed focus point and shoot
35mm AF point and shoot
35mm zone focus
35mm fixed lens range finder
35mm interchangeable lens rangefinder

I enjoy shooting with all of them, BUT... Most of those cameras have been sold. The ones that I've settled on using are the DSLR, the 120 SLR and the compact zone focus 35mm
I just never really found a place for the others in my photography.

edit
Doh!
Forgot about my speed graphic
I'm keeping that one around just for the fun factor. There's no better camera for running around a WWII reenactment or something like that.
 
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