Buying cameras to use for as long as possible

[nonot]

I bought my M6 from a collector who almost seemed to be of the mindset that he might as well be throwing the thing out. "It's a common camera, and not many people looking for a Leica are looking for this camera..." I have no intention of reselling it, but at the same time it's nice to know they hold their value somewhat if I needed to.

 

[RBruceCR]

I've consumed my cameras, the Yashica Electro 35 GSN is in overhaul in CT, the Mamiya Standard 23 is getting a new lease on life, my Maxxum 600si is being used until it disintegrates, I've got an Olympus XA2 for my 8 year old, his first film camera and he's been through my iPhone 3G and a digital toy camera that puts horns on portraits, Viking horn's that is!

So I believe in using stuff until no more, if I knew that I was going to embrace photography like this and that Leicas where such versatile and longevous I would have bought one early in my life.

Planned obsolescence is unforgiving. I've been fighting all my life against this ticking bomb inside industrialized products. But with the demise of Kodak, Kodachrome, Ektachrome, Agfa film, 3M film division, I thought that my Maxxum 600si reached that point called the end of the lifecycle of a product. However, I have found inexpensive developing service, abundant C41 film, T-Max in my fridge, albeit, no C-6 process so far. I plan to learn to develop and print my own black and white photographs too.

I am looking at a Maxxum 7D too to use the lenses I have accumulated on my 600si but this seems like the will of burning cash rather than a necessity out of lacking of film or processing!

Regards,

Robert

 

[dct]

I know of GAS, but it is always about things I will buy and use for years; or decades.

- On the SLR side: 1999 I jumped on the APS bandwagon. Nowadays 240 film is definitly discontinued. But 13 years later, my Minolta S-1 bodies, lenses and a lot of accessories still work properly. And I used it alot! This winter I bought a last bulk of 240 film rolls and put it in my freezer. This should last until 2014. Then the time for a new digital all round camera will be reached...

- On the RF side: It was early 2011 when I bought my first RF body. What a relevation after years of shooting with a SLR! It is a Hexar RF and I hope it will last at least as long as my SLR Minolta gear. Will get a second body too, but most of my investment goes now in lenses and film. All of this only to use, not to sell.
Of course, GAS is there for a digital equivalent RF; or RF stylish. But I can wait until the first generations with the typical quirks are gone.

 

[Fraser]

I buy and sell quite a lot, not sure if I ever make any money but only really keep cameras and lenses I really like or need for work. Working as a photographer these days its just not economic too keep cash tied up in gear that is no longer being used even if you sell for a loss, a dslr that is sat on a shelf that is not making you any money is worthless to keep.

 

[thegman]

I only buy to use, I don't collect at all. I keep an eye on prices but I'm happy to sell at a loss. Let's say I bought my Zeiss Ikon for £550. I sold for about £500. I think £50 for the use I got out of it is just fine. I'd like to think my days of buying and selling a lot are over, but I doubt it.

 

[Frontman]

I buy and resell cameras, and I make some profit. I love a new toy as much as anyone else, but, like anyone else, I usually get bored with it in time. I buy a lot of cameras, mostly to resell, or to try out, and then sell.

Over time I have put together a small collection of cameras which I like to use, and have no intention of selling. The first of these is an old black eye-level Nikon F, then a Rolleiflex 2.8E, a black paint M4, and a Nikon S3. All of these cameras are rather beat-up in appearance, but they work flawlessly. I keep them loaded with film, and I grab whichever one I feel like using whenever I go out.

 

[sanmich]

I never buy to make a profit, but to use the gear.
OTOH, I know that some gear will be adopted, some won't, so above a certain price level (Leica and compatibles are definitely there) I need to know that I buy at a price that won't make me loose too much money if I sell down the road.
Profit, no. but trying to limit the losses....

 

[Dogman]

I've never bought photo gear with the intention of ever selling it. In fact, looking at the condition of my old film cameras and lenses, I doubt anyone would be willing to buy them from me at any price. It's all pretty beat up.

In years past, I was forced to sell some nice equipment for financial reasons and I regretted it thereafter. In recent years, I've moved from film to digital. I've sold off the film gear that had retained it's value and that I was no longer using. I used that money to buy digital equipment that I don't expect to retain its value at all over time.

 

[Paul Jenkin]

As a callow youth, I lusted after a number of cameras I simply could never afford. As I've got older, earned a bit more and seen the cost of film cameras drop in the wake of the digital onslaught, I started to buy anc collect what I regarded as "classics". You've probably guessed that many sat, unused, in bags and boxes.

A year or so back, I decided this couldn't go on and have shrunk the collection to one example of particular cameras I like - e.g. 1 x 35mm manual SLR, 1 x 35mm AF SLR, 1 x TLR, etc. The only exceptions are that I have an M6TTL and an M4-P that get used regularly and I've also acquired a Wista 4x5 field camera as I've always wanted to have a go at LF shooting.

 

[Roger Hicks]

As a callow youth, I lusted after a number of cameras I simply could never afford. As I've got older, earned a bit more and seen the cost of film cameras drop in the wake of the digital onslaught, I started to buy and collect what I regarded as "classics". You've probably guessed that many sat, unused, in bags and boxes.

Gosh, no, I'd never have guessed that!

(Insert smiley of choice.)

Cheers,

R.

 

[kshapero]

Just got my M3 it's first CLA. Good for another 50 years. Hope there will still be film available and I hope my grand kids will have an interest.

 

[Steve M.]

After trying out what seems like every camera & lens ever made, I finally settled on my one camera & 2 lenses for it. I don't have much money in it, but could get my money back, sorta, if I were to sell it.

One thing about all this buying and selling....it can cost a fortune! I've honestly lost a ton of money doing this, what w/ paying for film and test shots, reselling fees, paypal fees, etc. But I don't know any other way to do it besides actually shooting the stuff. Like all gamblers, we tend to remember the gear that we got our money back on, or made a profit with, and conveniently forget the losses.

 

[Vics]

I too am a user. I'm selling my Rolleis because I don't like switching between MF and 35mm. I love the Rolleis as a concept, an idea, but they are a distraction from what I really want to do. I wantt to give my 35mm cameras my undivided attention. Like Roger, it's Nikon F and Leica for me.

 

[Atom]

I pretty much only buy cameras to use. I try a lot of them since moving to digital as things are constantly changing. I use everything I buy though, nothing is bought to sell later at a higher value. I often do buy high value gear but that's not because it's high value. I admit I'm a bit of a gear hound and stick with certain things longer than others. You can often get a great deal on a some gear that has someone else's name carved in it. Doesn't effect the way it can be used.

 

[Pherdinand]

i mostly buy without thinking of resale value... that's why i have like, 15 cameras 😀 and cannot convince myself to (try to) sell any 😀 though i am only using 2-3 of them.
Also, i bought several broken cameras with the intention to repair them and, eventually, resell, but after repair i feel a sort of connection with them so,... i will never sell them 😀

 

[bean_counter]

I have too many expensive hobbies on a moderate family income, so I always buy "bang for the buck" gear, all intended for use with no real thought to resale. If I buy it, I need it, and if it replaces another item, that item stays as a backup/beater or gets tossed as broken/worn out.

Not that I get to use it anymore, my daughter is taking a traditional photography course at the local community college and *poof* my cameras aren't there for me to use. I couldn't be happier 😀