sreed2006
Well-known
Are you sure it isn't just an indentation?
noisycheese
Normal(ish) Human
Ah! A real photographer, not a camera stroker!I use a junk camera, a crappy lens and cheap filum.
The Leica crowd in NYC won't even give me eye contact... and rightfully so.
But then again... I just take pictures.
oftheherd
Veteran
Always the odd man out. I don't mind dents so much. At least small ones. I have found that wooden dowells work wonders if one works carefully and files the ends carefully and artfully. But that's just me. Don't get me wrong, I don't enjoy them those few times I have done that, but it doesn't bother me so much as others.
But I sympathise with you. It is never fun, partially fixable or not.
And I miss Al Kaplan.
farlymac
PF McFarland
Wear, scratches etc I can handle ... dents, not so much!
When I bought my current Ford Utility brand new I was very proud of it ... then a few months later I got caught in one of those hail storms that rain down lumps of ice the size of golf balls!
My brand new Ford F-150 4x4 actually did get hit by a golf ball, two weeks after I bought it! And I'm the one who hit it! Bad thing was, it was in an area on the left fender right in my line of sight, so I saw it all the time I was driving. It took a few days to get over that one. But I did learn how far I could hit a five iron.
And a few years ago I dropped my brand new Panasonic TZ3 on the asphalt from about five feet. It momentarily jammed the lens, and left some gouges on the end of the body, but it was still functional. I still have it, and it still works, though I've finally bought an upgraded replacement for it.
PF
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
I use a junk camera, a crappy lens and cheap filum.
The Leica crowd in NYC won't even give me eye contact... and rightfully so.
But then again... I just take pictures.
George,
At the NYC Meet-Up we are far from being gear snobs, and in fact we celebrate camera diversity through our annual Camera Beauty Contests every February.
Also know that I use to own a Canon/Serenare 28/3.5 like your's, and I found the Canon 28mm VF'er to be very good.
Cal
dave lackey
Veteran
Ansel
Well-known
I used to have a really nice Rollieflex 2.8f White Face, it was in brand new condition. Lovely to look at but I just didnt use it, I was so scared of damaging it! So I sold it on and purchased a user Hasselblad - have not stopped taking pics since.
dave lackey
Veteran
Geez, I don't understand why RFF comments are either the camera is to be a mint shelf queen or a well-used beater over time. Take care of gear and it will both be useable and a beautiful thing at the same time...not mint, though.
My father was a master machinist all of his life. Never made much money as a blue collar worker and we grew up respecting the value of tools and the cost of buying them in the first place. We also were taught to take care of everything we owned, be it toosl, the clothes we wore everyday, the family car, or the toys we received. Perhaps that is why I am a "protector" of sorts when it comes to loved ones and friends.
Today, decades later, we are instilling the same values in our grandchildren and for the most part it is working. Since the grandsons were two years old, I taught them to use my mint S3 2000 and every camera since then. Never a drop.
So, my gear is not mint, just used and looking very nice indeed even though I use my gear every single day. Don't think they will look much worse for the wear five years from now either...my gear looks in the same clean condition as in 2008. YMMV...but that is how I was raised.:angel:
Having said that, my wife bought a 1951 MGTD in 2006 for us to keep only a year as we wanted to take it touring on our 35th wedding anniversary. Done! And more! We sold the car for more than we paid for it and it was in better condition than when we bought it with only a few items needing attention to make it reliable and roadworthy. Vintage car ownership for free. After selling it, I felt relief as I did not want to be a caretaker and worry about losing an important piece of British sports car history. I can understand not wanting a pristine mint valuable camera unless I enjoyed the collecting aspect of the ownership.
My father was a master machinist all of his life. Never made much money as a blue collar worker and we grew up respecting the value of tools and the cost of buying them in the first place. We also were taught to take care of everything we owned, be it toosl, the clothes we wore everyday, the family car, or the toys we received. Perhaps that is why I am a "protector" of sorts when it comes to loved ones and friends.
Today, decades later, we are instilling the same values in our grandchildren and for the most part it is working. Since the grandsons were two years old, I taught them to use my mint S3 2000 and every camera since then. Never a drop.
So, my gear is not mint, just used and looking very nice indeed even though I use my gear every single day. Don't think they will look much worse for the wear five years from now either...my gear looks in the same clean condition as in 2008. YMMV...but that is how I was raised.:angel:
Having said that, my wife bought a 1951 MGTD in 2006 for us to keep only a year as we wanted to take it touring on our 35th wedding anniversary. Done! And more! We sold the car for more than we paid for it and it was in better condition than when we bought it with only a few items needing attention to make it reliable and roadworthy. Vintage car ownership for free. After selling it, I felt relief as I did not want to be a caretaker and worry about losing an important piece of British sports car history. I can understand not wanting a pristine mint valuable camera unless I enjoyed the collecting aspect of the ownership.
AlwaysOnAuto
Well-known
I remember dropping a camera once. Wasn't mine, belonged to a friend who wanted me to take a picture of a group with it. As I was stepping up onto a picnic table the strap caught on the bench, effectively tearing the camera out of my hands and it dropping on the gravel/asphalt below. I was humiliated/horrified/embarrassed all at the same time. I think it dented it, not really sure if it worked again or not. The owner could see it was an accident and said not to worry about it. Ever since then I've been leery of taking someones camera and allowing others to take mine. If I do I always insist they put the strap around their neck, and if they won't, they don't get to hold my camera.
Take care of your stuff and it'll take care of you. But don't be afraid to use it just because it looks pretty. That type of equipment is of no use to anyone.
Take care of your stuff and it'll take care of you. But don't be afraid to use it just because it looks pretty. That type of equipment is of no use to anyone.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Lovely images, Dave, especially the highlight, and I couldn't agree more.Geez, I don't understand why RFF comments are either the camera is to be a mint shelf queen or a well-used beater over time. Take care of gear and it will both be useable and a beautiful thing at the same time...not mint, though.
My father was a master machinist all of his life. Never made much money as a blue collar worker and we grew up respecting the value of tools and the cost of buying them in the first place. We also were taught to take care of everything we owned, be it tools, the clothes we wore everyday, the family car, or the toys we received. Perhaps that is why I am a "protector" of sorts when it comes to loved ones and friends.
Today, decades later, we are instilling the same values in our grandchildren and for the most part it is working. Since the grandsons were two years old, I taught them to use my mint S3 2000 and every camera since then. Never a drop.
So, my gear is not mint, just used and looking very nice indeed even though I use my gear every single day. Don't think they will look much worse for the wear five years from now either...my gear looks in the same clean condition as in 2008. YMMV...but that is how I was raised.:angel:
Having said that, my wife bought a 1951 MGTD in 2006 for us to keep only a year as we wanted to take it touring on our 35th wedding anniversary. Done! And more! We sold the car for more than we paid for it and it was in better condition than when we bought it with only a few items needing attention to make it reliable and roadworthy. Vintage car ownership for free. After selling it, I felt relief as I did not want to be a caretaker and worry about losing an important piece of British sports car history. I can understand not wanting a pristine mint valuable camera unless I enjoyed the collecting aspect of the ownership.
Love to Linda. When are we seeing you?
Cheers,
R.
wintoid
Back to film
Dent-ist not dentist
Photog9000
Well-known
Geez, I don't understand why RFF comments are either the camera is to be a mint shelf queen or a well-used beater over time. Take care of gear and it will both be useable and a beautiful thing at the same time...not mint, though.
My father was a master machinist all of his life. Never made much money as a blue collar worker and we grew up respecting the value of tools and the cost of buying them in the first place. We also were taught to take care of everything we owned, be it toosl, the clothes we wore everyday, the family car, or the toys we received. Perhaps that is why I am a "protector" of sorts when it comes to loved ones and friends.
Today, decades later, we are instilling the same values in our grandchildren and for the most part it is working. Since the grandsons were two years old, I taught them to use my mint S3 2000 and every camera since then. Never a drop.
So, my gear is not mint, just used and looking very nice indeed even though I use my gear every single day. Don't think they will look much worse for the wear five years from now either...my gear looks in the same clean condition as in 2008. YMMV...but that is how I was raised.:angel:
Having said that, my wife bought a 1951 MGTD in 2006 for us to keep only a year as we wanted to take it touring on our 35th wedding anniversary. Done! And more! We sold the car for more than we paid for it and it was in better condition than when we bought it with only a few items needing attention to make it reliable and roadworthy. Vintage car ownership for free. After selling it, I felt relief as I did not want to be a caretaker and worry about losing an important piece of British sports car history. I can understand not wanting a pristine mint valuable camera unless I enjoyed the collecting aspect of the ownership.
I remember the old MGTD roadsters. Lovely lines but Lucas electrics. I last saw an MG (I believe it was the TC) that driven in to a car show in Rosemary Beach, FL, two years back. The original owner had bought it brand new and, along with his son, had recently restored it. It was fun to talk to this guy and son about the car.
Oh, and after taking a quick look at your blog, I hope this finds your bride doing well since the surgery. As a veteran of two surgeries for ICD implants, I can relate....
I use a junk camera, a crappy lens and cheap filum.
The Leica crowd in NYC won't even give me eye contact... and rightfully so.
But then again... I just take pictures.
I'm not so sure of that... someone would undoubtably comment on the "buttery smooth" film advance, or the canon lens being mucho sharp at f/8.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
I'm not so sure of that... someone would undoubtably comment on the "buttery smooth" film advance, or the canon lens being mucho sharp at f/8.
John,
I'll bite. All my leicas have been overhauled, not CLA'ed, by Sherry, and this means the camera comes back factory fresh with new parts. Initially the cameras upon return from Sherry are both rather stiff and loud. It takes a lot of use/beating to lossen up the camera and to get the camera to settle in, but after this breaking in period the camera gets mucho quiet and muy smooth, especially if you abuse your camera with heavy use with a TA Rapidwinder.
About the worst thing to do with a Leica or Rollieflex is to have it not being used. IMHO cameras are like watches: they need to be used every day. BTW IMHO constant use ensures continued "buttery smoothness."
Anyways I liked my 28/3.5 Canon Serenar with Canon VF'er. I shot with that lens a lot for mucho street. I traded away that lens for some prints from an art dealer/collector, but I miss it because of its compact size, old retro single coat look, and for its rather savage 50's build quality. I think I paid $425.00 for the lens and VF'er at Adorama. The best thing about that old Canon lens was that the distance scale was marked in feet only.
Cal
Cal, it's not like I never used a leica or something... I'm not talking about using them, I'm talking about fetishizing them.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Cal, it's not like I never used a leica or something... I'm not talking about using them, I'm talking about fetishizing them.
John,
Not all cameras go through attachment and bonding. Through extensive use over the years, certain cameras become more and more a part of myself. The once very clean cameras I acquired now show some honest wear through extensive use. Over time these cameras have become rather special and now they have "Mojo" (a life of their own).
I know some people who do not own old cameras, and use them heavily like I do might not feel the same way. Even my new Monochrom is showing some serious wear because of use and now it has character. BTW when new it was kinda loud, but now it is a lot quieter.
Cal
Cal, you will never convert me to your camera religion with your "buttery smooth" propaganda!
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Cal, you will never convert me to your camera religion with your "buttery smooth" propaganda!
John,
I tend to buy gear I intend to keep for the long-long term, unlike you who trades, sells and experiments with gear endlessly. It is unlikely you have owned a camera long enough for you to experience what I experience.
In the film "This Is Spinal Tap" they make fun of the lead guitarist's gear fetish in an over the top way. With vintage guitars some guitars have "Mojo" where the decades of playing has been imparted upon the instrument to the extent that the guitar is alive or as if the guitar has a soul. For me, through use, my cameras have changed. My Wetzlar M6 is no longer just any old M6 is a good example.
Perhaps go to the CameraQuest page and go look at Garry Winnogran's M4 to see if part of Garry's spirit remains imbedded it that well worn Leica. Wear a Rolex every day for a couple of years and you will be surprised how much it has become part of you. It may be all mystic, but its all very real to me.
Cal
Yes, this. They are nice objects, but I'm just not a Objectum-sexual. Holding a camera is not a spiritual event for me. I get excited by what they offer my photography, not what they offer my senses.
Cal, I've never used any camera for more than a few years... even in the film days (M6 most likely being the longest in use). They are tools and photography is what matters to me. When I wasn't photographing for many years, I did not have cameras. They are all so similar (shutter, aperture, focus) that I've never felt it was hard to get used to a camera. Also, you know I photograph a lot (for a non-professional) and that means I get used to cameras quickly.
Yeah, I just can't get into the mystical powers of prolonged camera ownership.
SolaresLarrave
My M5s need red dots!
The first M5 I bought needed extensive work in its guts. I bought it thinking about replacing it some day. Then, I fell for a silver M5 and I swear this was the BEST used camera I have ever purchased: came in its box, with inserts and everything but manual. I was almost afraid of using it, and I didn't take it on any trip out of fear of damaging it.
Until the summer of 2012. We did a road trip to CA. Somewhere in Utah, I opened the car door and down it came, silver Summilux 35mm and all.
I checked the RF immediately, the meter (recently revived by DAG) and everything worked... but now it has a very small dent on the side edge, right above one of the strap lugs on the side where they usually have two.
Oddly enough, when I saw it, my first thought was like Akiva's: now, this camera is really mine.
Actually, I have here with me, at this small apartment in Prague, where I'm spending some vacation time. It's been busy, let me say, and so is the silver Summilux 35!
Until the summer of 2012. We did a road trip to CA. Somewhere in Utah, I opened the car door and down it came, silver Summilux 35mm and all.
I checked the RF immediately, the meter (recently revived by DAG) and everything worked... but now it has a very small dent on the side edge, right above one of the strap lugs on the side where they usually have two.
Oddly enough, when I saw it, my first thought was like Akiva's: now, this camera is really mine.
Actually, I have here with me, at this small apartment in Prague, where I'm spending some vacation time. It's been busy, let me say, and so is the silver Summilux 35!