Downgrading/downsizing/Less is More/KISKIL: Share your experience and stories

[noimmunity]

I just successfully sold off my summicron asphs, 28 and 75, and it feels pretty good.

My enjoyment of RF photography has never been higher.

In the spirit of the season, please share your experience and stories about getting more out of less*!

*and whether or not it is really "less" is entirely debatable...😀

 

[Vobluda]

I thought that I will never use a screw mount Leica and I cant be more happier with pocketable IIIc with Elmar or II with Hektor.

 

[Herjulfr]

I usually travel with a canon eos 1n, 135mm, 50mm and a 17-40mm. This kit is rather heavy... For my last travel, i only brought a Canonet. It was such a relief! I really felt free for a few days. I could walk 10 hours a day without feeling sore, no one looked at me or my kit... I will do this more often! Perhaps, next time, with a Zeiss Ikon.

 

[celluloidprop]

I rarely own more than one semi-wide/normal lens for a given interchangeable lens body. Not much of a system fan, I've never really needed superwides or telephotos.

 

[Livesteamer]

I'm another that likes the simplicity of a IIIc with a 50mm Elmar. It only took me 45 years of photographing to figure that out.

Merry Christmas and a Happy new year to all.

Joe

 

[johannielscom]

Sold recently:
CZJ Biogon 35/2.8 LTM,
CZJ Sonnar 50/1.5 LTM,
CZJ Sonnar 135/4.0 LTM,
Summaron-M3 35/2.8,
beater M3 with hacked Wollensak 50/2.8,
Wartime Leica IIIc,
Leitz NY Wollensak Velostigmat 50/3.5 + accessories,
lotsa small stuff, lotsa expired film.

Remaining:
Leica II + Canon Serenar 28/3.5 + Elmar 50/3.5 + Elmar 90/4.0,
Leica M2 RW + Super-Angulon 21/3.4 + L-Hexanon 35/2.0,
Leica M3 DS BP + Color-Skopar 50/2.5 + CZJ Jupiter-9 85/2.0,
2x Nikkormat FTn + D3100 + 28/3.5 + 58/1.4 + 105/2.5,
Yashica Mat 124G (sees little use),
Horseman 842 Convertible (sees little use).


I may let go of one Nikkormat, and exchange the Yashica + the Horseman for a Rolleiflex 3.5. Even so, I'm already feeling the benefits of 'less is more'.

 

[monochromejrnl]

M3 with a 50 summicron is my go to 35mm film camera. I also have a 35'cron that I use whenever I need a slightly wider FOV (indoors or if I want greater DOF)... I'm satisfied.

 

[jordanstarr]

Used to have 4 35mm systems and 3 Medium format and 1 LF system. Each had at least 3 lenses and as many as 6. I sold everything, and bought a Leica with 3 lenses and kept my Hasselblad with 3 lenses. Now, I don't spend 2 hours of a shooting day debating on what to bring and planning what I'm going to shoot. I also don't spend any time saying "damn, I should have brought....(insert lens, camera, etc here)". Now I just get my small shoulder bag with my Leica and go out all day without worry, regret, fatigue, etc. I also found that using one camera and one lens (I shoot 90% of my shots with an M6 and 28mm) has made me a better photographer in the fact that I really learn to work that one system.

 

[Maiku]

I am downing sizing at the moment. I only want one type of camera. All have a different type of experience. One day with a TLR, the next with a folder, the next with a point and shoot. I do not need three manual SLRs and four point and shoots etc. Though I am downing sizing I will still have to many cameras about for my liking, but it will be a lot less than I have NOW!

 

[Mcary]

Recently sold my M6 kit plus film scanner and got an X100 as I decided that digital was a better choice, for me, as far as small format photography and snaps shots.

 

[cjbecker]

sold one of my hasselblad kits, probably going to be selling the other and all the stuff i have for it and use a rolleicord instead.

 

[hxpham]

The only setup I really use (when I am not working) is a full frame digital with a 50mm lens. I leave it on Av, AutoISO, and use the back button for AF. Wonderfully simple, straightforward, reliable, and lets me focus on more important things 🙂

 

[krötenblender]

Using a RF is kind of downsizing for me compared to the backpack of DSLR-stuff I used to carry around at any time. But I also have too much RF-stuff, so my CLE will be sold in the next time, as well as two or three lenses, that I seldom use. Normally I go out with one RF and one lens (sometimes having a second one in the pocket, but I use the second one very rarely), so no backpack anymore, just one camera with strap over the shoulder, thats it. Work perfectly for me.

 

[jammcat]

Of all of my cameras, my favourite two are probably my M6 w/35mm f2 canon and my Rolleiflex. I can pretty much shoot anything I want with the two of them for non-work purposes. I haven't sold off my other cameras, but these two are my go-to's. Nice and simple.

 

[bgb]

I have bought and sold too many cameras of late and now i'm trying to reduce the number, I think I will end up with just the OM2 and the 124G which is away getting a CLA. It's possible i might just stick with the TLR if it and I get on ok. I have found that the more gear I own the less photography I do.
If that doesn't work for me I will look at NEX7 to use OM glass or maybe a X100.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Although I use less and less gear, I don't get rid of the stuff I use only intermittently. It's not worth the hassle of swelling it, and it's still less worth the hassle of trying to find another one if I decide that I'm missing it. Sometimes I have an LF 'kick'; sometimes MF... But most of the time I use my Leicas, and the only things I've sold out of that outfit recently is stuff that's duplicated (on of two M2s) and a couple of lenses where I always use another lens of that focal length (35mm, 50mm). Otherwise I have 15-18-21-28-35-50-75-90-135 and find use for all of them, though I rarely carry more than three on a particular journey.

Cheers,

R.

 

[astro8]

Sold or selling off all my stuff and concentrate on taking some pictures!

Keeping only the R-D1 & M2 with 21 SA, 35 lux, 50 cron, 90 elmarit.

I was going to sell the R-D1 but can't bring myself to do it, it's way too convenient and such an enjoyable camera to use.

This lot will keep me happy for a while...

 

[Sparrow]

Luckily I never up-sized in the first place, when the interweb came along I was already pretty set in my ways ... that and my yorkshire profligacy tends to keep things in check

 

[oftheherd]

I donated some 35mm gear to a local Purple Hearts store earlier this year. It included a Canonet and Minolta SRT 101. I think I may donate a few more odds and ends before the end of the month. Of course, it will all come off my taxes. I may try to sell some stuff on Ebay next year, but I don't know if it is worth the hassle personally. I have way to much that I don't use.

 

[Moriturii]

I only use a hexar rf with a collapsible cron, I got two lenses for sale (see signature), and shall sell a m-hexanon right after that, after that I have nothing left but my hexar and collapsbile cron (and hexar af) and bunch of film. NO EXCUSES =)