"But this photographer did this with just this..."

[jlw]

There's nothing wrong with saying, "Photographer X had a huge amount of experience, so he knew what tools were right for him. I'm young and still learning, so I have to find out by experiment what tools are right for me."

Anybody who would discourage this is a boor, and you're entitled to ignore 'em.

 

[Honu-Hugger]

OK, Doug. What are you shining me up for? "Late 30s?" You're after something.

I'm looking at the list...hmmmm, the Contax II and Nikon F3 are enticing but so is everything else 🙂.

 

[bmattock]

I'm writing my congressmen and demanding a camera registration database! And only people in the military need a Rapidwinder! And how about that camera swap loophole??

Beware the Saturday Night Special Camera - cheap, easy access, unregistered. And the Assault Camera is a menace that must be stopped. Heavy-duty, designed for military use, they can take photos of huge crowds of people as fast as you can pull the trigger. Cameramen can 'spray' a room in seconds!

Some of the camera-nuts in this very forum have photographic arsenals at home - stockpiling film in their freezers in their paranoid delusions against the day that the government ("Mama") tries to take their Kodachrome away.

The government approves of safe digital cameras - the images can be reviewed and approved instantly while you take them - with wifi capabilities, any police officer will be able to review the images on your camera's memory card without even talking to you, just by being within a half-block or so. Film users are a menace! No one can see what they're up to - B&W users are the worst - they can develop and print without even the local one-hour photo getting involved! How can we monitor what every citizen is up to if people keep insisting on using film?

Well, it's a scandal, I tell you.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[Wayne R. Scott]

Steph,

Don't sell the Nikon.

If you know exactly what it is that you want in a camera, write it down on a 3x5 index card and read that card every day. Set aside a "Leica Fund" jar or can or what ever and start saving for it. Drop your soda money for the day into it and drink a glass of water. Pick up those beverage cans that are littering the roadsides and redeem them for the nickel deposit. Ask for $ for birthdays and christmas. Have a garage sale.

Use your Nikon and 50mm lens to photograph kids for a day in the local park. Set up a halloween back drop and photo kids in their halloween costumes for the parents. I'll bet that you can save, beg and earn enough money within one year to get what you want.

Wayne

P.S. I just read Bill's post. I have heard of some people shooting hundreds of kids in a single day. What you should do is start an organization "People Against Photographers". (PAP) (I'll be treasurer, and can loan you some money to purchase your M3, Canon 7, and Canon P) 😉

 

[kiev4a]

There's nothing wrong with saying, "Photographer X had a huge amount of experience, so he knew what tools were right for him. I'm young and still learning, so I have to find out by experiment what tools are right for me."

Anybody who would discourage this is a boor, and you're entitled to ignore 'em.

Ouch! Well, I think my wife sometimes considers me boring, too. My point is, experimenting is great . But experimentation should be controlled to some degree by financial responsibilities.

 

[Stephanie Brim]

Which is why I want to sell the Nikon. It is getting use, but not as much as the Flexaret is going to get, or the Canonet is getting, or the Voigtlander is getting...I prefer rangefinder focusing. It's time for me to take the plunge finally and just get a rangefinder and forsake SLRs...at least in 35mm format.

When talking financial responsibilities, that would be the best thing.

 

[kiev4a]

I'm looking at the list...hmmmm, the Contax II and Nikon F3 are enticing but so is everything else 🙂.

You can have my F3 HP when you can pull it out of my cold, dead hand. Hey, you were the one that got me back into Nikons!

 

[Stephanie Brim]

I agree with the above statement.

Or well, would have.

 

[jlw]

The Nikon is the biggest ticket camera that I own. The lens sells for 200 bucks on Keh.com and it's older than me. I think it's time to get rid of the 35mm SLR altogether and finally go straight to rangefinders.

Just out of curiosity, what 50mm f/2 Nikon lens goes for $200 used?

Don't worry, I have a reason for asking this...

 

[Stephanie Brim]

My lens isn't an f/2, it's the AI f1.4. Mine is in excellent condition with original Nikon rear and a generic front cap and the hard leather case.

I do HAVE the AI f/2, but I don't use it very often as it suffers from loose focus syndrome. Takes good photos, though...I'll probably pass that along with the Nikon and the other lens.

 

[Byuphoto]

Most of them do a lot better bragging about their $5,000 f2.8 300mm than they do shooting photos.

Here, Here

 

[egpj]

We all have our problems I guess. Stephanie is going through a GAS attack and complicated by a lack of support funds for said attack. I know the feeling. I have been lusting after a brand new M7 with motor drive. I know it is illogical but there it is. I also have a secret (not secret now) weakness for 50mm elmarit. And I can't really tell you why I want it so. Oh well, Steph, trust your gut. Go with what you think is best to pursue what you love to do.

 

[Stephanie Brim]

So egpj....if I ever get my M, which is looking more and more unlikely in favor of something else (gasp), can I borrow the Noctilux for a day or so? 😀

 

[egpj]

I like you, your funny.

I have two daughters, one 13 and the other 14. They only get to use the MP's when I am teaching them something on an outing. Even then I do not think they have shot using my Nocti. Funny though, only one of my daughters likes shooting with an M. The other digs my R9 with motor drive, she burns through a roll so dang fast!

 

[Stephanie Brim]

Hehe. If I ever win the lottery...it would make shooting in very low light so much easier and less worrisome where camera shake is concerned.

 

[egpj]

You know, there is always something to worry about. The Noctilux takes some getting used to as well. I have used it for over a year and it is requires some special handling. I would not use it any closer to your subject then 6 feet. Any closer then that and the focus starts getting kind of impressionistic looking. You would do much better to have a wide lens like the 28 Summicron as your first Leica lens. It is fast enough with say Fuji 1600 or Ilford 3200 for any circumstance. I also remember you saying that you wanted to go wide. Really low light work can be done with the 35 Summilux as well. Do not be afraid to buy used.

You can also contact some dealers to see if they have some used stuff for sale. There is one that I like called Vuelux. ( http://www.vuelux.com ) The owner is Kit McChesney and she is a great gal who got into photography allot like you.

Keep working towards your dream. Never stop, never give up!

 

[ErnestoJL]

Stephanie:
I can understand very well your troubles. I had the same feeling for a very long time as my family didn´t have much, so I was forced to save every penny to get what I wanted, and it took me a long time also. Some of my cameras are also in different working condition, some of them semi dismantled and under repair... Many people asked me the same questions you mentioned... Don´t you have too many cameras? Do you use them all together at the same time... OMG!!!
Then I can agree with all of the previous posts. This forum is the best place to get a good advice!
Pictures are allways in your mind, and unless you have the proper tools you won´t get them. Do not hesitate, you need no justification other than just you want or need it.

 

[Stephanie Brim]

With my rangefinders I can generally work with f/2...at least where I'm shooting, but being able to hand-hold a photo of the street as snow is falling on a winter night under just streetlights would be nice.

 

[tedwhite]

The camera that I got good with (not only the income but images that made me feel good, that made me believe in myself) was a beat up old Rolleicord with an f:3.5 lens. Because I didn't know any better, I shot riots, demonstrations, the Ken Kesey Trips Festival, cats on stairways, motorcycle races, and lots of street stuff. Then a bunch of pros at a motorcycle race in England, all bedecked with SLR's and Leicas, said, essentially, "What're you, nuts? Trying to take action pics with that thing? Get a life." Made me feel bad and inadequate, which was really stupid of me to feel that way, analagous to your chatroom experience, Stephanie.

However, my photographs got published in a magazine just like theirs did. I think that, today, if God tossed that old Rollei at me and said, "This is it, chum. You'll have to spend the rest of your days with it," I'd feel rather relieved. No more choices for sure. So an old Nikon with a 50mm lens, or a Leica M with a 50mm lens might easily be something to live with.

In the meantime, follow your bliss. Stay away from the narrow views of chatroom pontificators. Use whatever camera you've got and take pictures, take pictures, take pictures.

Ted

 

[bmattock]

Faster film!