How do you deal with the amount of cameras you (might) have?

In medium format cameras, I see you have one of each main type: SLR, RF, and TLR. everyone needs a Rollei, a Hasselblad, and a good RF medium format camera.

The Film M6 shares lenses with the digital M8, so no sense selling either. So does the HRF, which is the electronic sister to the mechanical M6.

You have a very rational kit there, don't mess with it.
(Although you may want to add a 35mm SLR system!)
 
Well I am a collector and your amount of cameras is ridiculous :) . I would keep the M6 as backup as the Hexar RF could get unrepairable one day and the M8 is digital so no one know how long it will last.
Don't be so strict with yourself sell what you need to sello nothing more
 
FrankHarries said:
How many cameras do you use in everyday life and how many are more or less shelf-qeens? Have you sold hardly ever used equipment, regretting it later?

Thanxs for thoughts and experiences,

Frank
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I have several "kits" that I rotate in usage. These are the cream of the crop, using them is the highlight of my shooting experiences.

I also have shelf-queens that are displayed in an IKEA cabinet in my living room along with the kits that are not currently being used.

The third category of camera use in my house is for decoration. It's cool to see an old folder whose film is no longer available sitting on a corner table. Or two big Polaroid as bookends.

Oh, and I have one bag only :p
 
I have a an IKEA thing with 8 shelves, very old, that attaches to the wall. It will hold about 24 cameras, only a few of which I actually use. Most do work though. If they are cheap cameras, not worth much money I just keep them for display. This would include Kodak, Sears Tower, and Zeiss Tengor box cameras as well as several Kodak 6X9 folders and a Zeiss Nettar folder and a few 16mm subminis. None worth more that $25 tops.

I have only 5 or 6 users and I'll get infatuated with one for a while and then another one for the next 2 or 3 months.

Unlike Chris Crawford this is just a hobby so everything is outgo and my budget determines amount of use of any one camera.

Two years ago I did sell about 15 items, cameras and lenses to fund a retirement gift to myself, a Leica M4-2 and a couple of CV lenses. I thought I would have sellers regret but that never transpired and I've been very happy with the Leica.

Darkroom stuff is another story too long to get into here. Plus 5 dresser drawers full of old, mostly cheap lenses, bellows, brackets, flash, series adapters, lens adapters, film holders, a home built 4X5 box camera and other oddments from 40+ years of dinking around with photography.

I really don't think I'm unique and bet there are a lot more hoarders of photographic junk out there.
 
A couple of years ago I gave my Yashica SLRs to the local public HS and the head of the art department was thrilled. I also gave them some Yashica lenses. I traded in a Contax S2 and two lenses toward a Digital camera. I still have two digital cameras and 3 antique Kodak film cameras that I will likely give to a thrift shop in the area. That will leave me with a digital Point and Shoot and 5 film cameras which I use at least one or two each day and all five in about a week. I just can't concieve of parting with my Contax's or my Konica Hexar Af's or My Bessa R.
 
During the last Christmas Give-Away I was thinking of listing two Polaroid SX-70 cameras I had but don't use anymore...Well, I didn't...
Recently I sold both cameras on "The Bay" made some decent money to buy a bunch of Acros 100 in 120 rolls...
I know that selling those two cameras would never really bother me plus I have a third one with the Sonar focusing (it works but it's just to ugly to sell)...
I have other camera bodies that I really doubt I would use enough to wear them out but keep them for now because I can't see losing money on selling them just because they're sitting...
Others may get loaned out some day some I could give away in the future...
 
as long as you're not at this point:

7050658723_1c38ebfebb_o.jpg


i think you're ok
 
Well, hard work, not taking on more than I can manage and planning for the future are all important. I try not to think about all the cameras out there that could be mine, but until they turn up on my doorstep, what can you do?

It is important to have an appropriately sized car, with ample storage and to be honest with your partner. Fooling around without her knowledge only ever leads to a sticky end. They tend to notice any new additions, even if you don't tell them.
 
Hi,

Mostly I deal with mine by dusting them and giving them a work out. I'm selling them off slowly and trying to scrounge boxes for posting, so it takes time.

I don't know about the rest of you but I make a bee-line for those IKEA display cabinets they have in charity shops. I wish they hadn't been mentioned as I can feel an urge coming on to go out looking again. I expect a lot of people will have been having a sort out over the long wet weekend and the shops might just have some treasure trove in them.

Regards, David
 
David Hughes said:
Hi,

Mostly I deal with mine by dusting them and giving them a work out. I'm selling them off slowly and trying to scrounge boxes for posting, so it takes time.

I don't know about the rest of you but I make a bee-line for those IKEA display cabinets they have in charity shops. I wish they hadn't been mentioned as I can feel an urge coming on to go out looking again. I expect a lot of people will have been having a sort out over the long wet weekend and the shops might just have some treasure trove in them.

Regards, David
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David, this made me laugh (with you, not at you).
The first time I put the cabinet together, I wasn't totally sure about having a cabinet full of cameras, but after seeing how it displays, it becomes a nice place to contemplate which camera to use/bring without constantly digging out boxes.

And it always made a nice conversation for people who came by.
 
shadowfox said:
David, this made me laugh (with you, not at you).
The first time I put the cabinet together, I wasn't totally sure about having a cabinet full of cameras, but after seeing how it displays, it becomes a nice place to contemplate which camera to use/bring without constantly digging out boxes.

And it always made a nice conversation for people who came by.
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Hi,

Thanks. What I find interesting is people's reaction to them. Kids seem to love the old 30's 9x12cm plate camera and the Minox B and nothing else. I suppose they don't recognise them as cameras.

Regards, David

PS I've got to add that a few of them get used a lot and the others are on a rota. And often once used get sold off. A pity really but I can see them in a skip when my time comes...
 
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