How many cameras are enough??

[wierdcollector]

A question I ask myself more and more lately. I have enough to keep me busy on cold winter days, but it still kills me to see a camera I really enjoy go for a tiny sum, so if it's a REALLY good deal, I still pick them up. Each time I get burned with one or more duds from the auction site...I swear I'll erase my watching column, delete the E*** site and never buy another...till next time I'm bored and decide to search just one more time. I won't go into numbers any more because really after 2 or 3, numbers don't matter much. If you can afford to do something and it's not affecting your family or lifestyle, I say go ahead and do it. Otherwise, mastering the equipment you already own seems far more intelligent. Besides if you're like me, you always seem to screw up at least one or two shots from being unfamiliar with today's choice of camera instead of being comfortable with your cameras features. I'll say the best number would be one rangefinder (in my case the Konica Auto S), one SLR (Pentax K1000 + 2 zooms, a 28mm, 135mm and 200mm), a folder (one of many old 6x9), a TLR (Ciroflex or Ricohflex) and possibly an auto everything miracle toy like an Olympus Stylus or XA. I have no digital, but I'll have to include any one of your choosing at least for web postings and family emails. Anything above or beyond these is pretty much extra, unless like myself you collect just for the joy of owning or tinkering.

 

[Laika]

How many cameras can you actually make good use of?

I guess I could make do with only one camera but how many can I make good use of…..I think it would be something like the following

One RF like a M7 or R3a and 3 or 4 fast lenses
One SLR like a F100 and 3 or 4 fast lenses
One pocket size P&S like a MjuII (Stylus Epic) or GR1v
One Digital P&S (Still haven’t found one I really like but they are handy at times)

Does having too many cams sidetrack a person from doing photography??

Only if you try and use them all … I found when I was buying a lot of Soviet cameras and doing repair stuff my quality of photos took a dive, I was concentrating more on the camera than the subject matter. This year I’ve got a big overseas holiday planned and I’ll be taking two or maybe three cameras with me and they will be ones I can use without even thinking (and I don’t mean going for automation, I’ll be shooting in full manual mode 95% of the time) and I doubt a digital will get a look in. Last time it was two SLR’s and P&S but this time it will be more like a SLR, RF and the third yet to be decided.

 

[Russ]

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Does having too many cams sidetrack a person from doing photography??

Only if you try and use them all … I found when I was buying a lot of Soviet cameras and doing repair stuff my quality of photos took a dive, I was concentrating more on the camera than the subject matter. This year I’ve got a big overseas holiday planned and I’ll be taking two or maybe three cameras with me and they will be ones I can use without even thinking (and I don’t mean going for automation, I’ll be shooting in full manual mode 95% of the time) and I doubt a digital will get a look in. Last time it was two SLR’s and P&S but this time it will be more like a SLR, RF and the third yet to be decided. [/B]

Laika

That's the way it should be. The tool (camera) should be an extension of ones mind and body. Requiring no thought in technique. If it does, the image will suffer. When the connection is there, the feeling and passion behind the image will come through to you and the viewer's...

Russ

 

[Kin Lau]

I've got over 30 bodies, I like to collect and use. The RF's are listed below in my sig, and I've used almost every one. Each has it's own place, but favourites are the Leica IIIa, Canonet GIII & Kiev. In fact, I'd like to get another meterless Kiev w/ a J9.

Most of my shooting is with SLR's, a DReb usually with a 170-500mm for wildlife/birds, and a EOS 620 w/ 15-30mm loaded with b&w, and I do carry both with me together.

There's also the 6 manual Minolta SLR's, assorted M42 bodies, couple of Y/C mount Yashica's & a Canon AE-1. I use the Minolta's quite often too.

I'd still like to get a 6x6 SLR (already have a TLR) and a 4x5 Crown Graphics or similar. Of course, If Brian wants to send me an M3, who am I to say no