level of contentment

[back alley]

this may prove to be a fool's errand, but i thought i'd check.

i'm wondering, after a few low key comments made around here lately, and after watching people (myself included) buying & selling equipment at a fevered pace, if we ever reach a place of contentment where we say, "i'm ok with what equipment i have and there is need for little more"?

so i want to ask the question directly, are you satisfied with what you have, equipment wise, or are you feeling the need to keep acquiring more?

hat say you?

 

[bmattock]

To steal a phrase from U2 - "I still haven't found what I'm looking for."

But I keep getting closer!

Tomorrow, my wife and I are going to Raleigh to pick up a WWI-era wristwatch I had dropped off to be restored. I'm taking my (arrived today) Kodak Brownie Hawkeye. It takes 620, but I forced some 120 in there, it fits.

Havin' fun!

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[rover]

I was content for a little while.

Now, I wanna Contax.

(then an M3 to make Brian happy)

 

[rover]

I was thinking about getting a Brownie Hawkeye Bill. I may be making a trip to Rochester this year, and well, what else would you bring? Did you have to do any fiddling to get the 120 to fit? I think there are instructions somewhere on this wonderful WWW that we are surfing on how to use it. I must seek them out.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I just sent several old rolls of 620 film to a college student, along with some 120 to roll onto the thinner 620 cores. She wanted to use it for some class projects. What's Diana got that an old Kodak doesn't... except readily available film...

Anyway, I'm a collector so I can be content with what I have and yet acquire cameras when they scream "buy me". Many of you are collectors as well, you just do not want to admit it in public...

 

[wlewisiii]

Mostly content these days. I've a couple of things I'd like to get and a few to get rid of. But even so, I can do most of what I want to right now between the Kiev and the Iskra.

I think I'll be quite content when I get the III back from Henry's Day Spa, perhaps an R2C body for the modern amenities, and about 4 more Zeiss lenses (post war 35/2.8, 50/1.5, 50/3.5, 85/2) for all three bodies.

William

 

[bmattock]

I was thinking about getting a Brownie Hawkeye Bill. I may be making a trip to Rochester this year, and well, what else would you bring? Did you have to do any fiddling to get the 120 to fit? I think there are instructions somewhere on this wonderful WWW that we are surfing on how to use it. I must seek them out.

No, it was dead easy! The Brownie had an empty 620 spool in it, and that fits in the take-up space, obviously. I noticed that an empty 120 spool will not fit in the take-up position, not even brute forcing it. However, in the feed position, a 120 spool is snug, but fits and turns just fine. I noted that the numbers for frame spacing 6x6 line up just fine in the red window. I also note that I'll have to put some gaffer tape over that window, since it has no slider (never designed with one) and I'm guessing it will fog the film if I use it outdoors much.

Here's the model Brownie I have (there are so many types, it is good to specify):

Definitive Hawkeye Brownie

You nailed it, by the way - I want to some Holga/Diana type thing, but I thought why not go with the original?

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[Krasnaya_Zvezda]

Re: level of contentment

... if we ever reach a place of contentment where we say, "i'm ok with what equipment i have and there is need for little more"?

Yes, there is need for little more; but there is WANT for alot more. I am pretty satisfied with what I have, which is alot of FSU shooters and some others that I really like; if I had more expendable cash, I'd start collecting Leicas. I should say I'm quite satisfied with my stuff as far as shooting goes, but I haven't (and very probably can't) put the collecting part to rest.

 

[GeneW]

Re: level of contentment

Rolling Stones
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes you might find
You get what you need

Couldn't resist ... 😉

Gene

 

[Marc Jutras]

I see I'm the first one to click the "i am completely satisfied" button. I took a minute thinking about it. Am I really 100% with what I've got? Don't I sometimes wish I had this or that?

Honestly, sometimes I'll think it would be fun to get a Rolleiflex or something like that but then, I quickly realize that my bag contains everything I really need.

My little kit is this: a Bessa R2 with 15/4.5, 35/1.7 and 75/2.5. Hoya K2 filters for the 35 and 75 lenses. A Vivitar 283 (in the bag) and a 285HV at home for projects requiring 2 flashes. A radio slave kit for those projects. Tripods, monopods, reflector holder, etc.

I feel it's more than enough for pretty much any creative idea I might get. I'm not into macro or wildlife so I don't need a SLR with heavy guns. The once in a while portraits can be done with a RF. Too much gear will stay home and collect dust (been there, done that). Conclusion: I'm happy with what I've got.

 

[FrankS]

Speaking for myself, personally, I am always completely satisfied - until I see something new that I want. The problem is, I keep seeing something new that I want. I wish it would stop, at least I think I wish it would stop, but it is kind of fun!

Right now all I want is an M2 (or M3 or M4 or M6.) Heck, I'll settle for an M5 or M7.

 

[wierdcollector]

Totally, completely satisfied with what I've got. Ok, Ok, I had my fingers crossed behind my back. I lied. But I am continually getting a little closer to being satisfied.

 

[nikon_sam]

I should be in the "Completely Satisfied" section....but I've been looking around here and there...and I should be done with what I have already...but you know...someday I would just like to "hold" a Leica and see what that's like....but you all know what that would lead to. See that's what I tell my wife...I would just like to see what it's like to hold and maybe to shoot with one...you know...just to see what all the hype is about...
Other than that I might be completely satisfied...might be...

 

[back alley]

i answered 'mostly satisfied'.

i needed to be honest. my nature is to always want more...

the gear i have now, i know will be more than enough to execute any photo ideas i'm likely to have.

at 35 for the widest i have what i need. i don't see very wide so going even to a 28 is usually a waste of money for me.

the longest lens i ever had was a 300 and i did take a favourite photo with it, but it cost a small fortune, weighed a ton and i eventually sold it and it was only one photo.
135 will be more than i need for a long lens. i do like it's perspective and will be doing some projects with it.

i have 3 canon bodies. one more than i really need. i wanted a 7 for the framelines and a minty p just cause i love that camera.
i need to think about keeping a spare or using the user body and 'protecting' the minty one. or selling. i don't know yet.

and i have the bessa r with 35/75 combo. perfect for those days when i'm too weak, tired or lazy to carry anything heavy. or if i need a basic black outfit. 🙂

ah, life is good. hey wait...maybe i AM content?!!

joe

 

[Doug]

I'm almost completely satisfied. I really have more than enough gear to do anything I want. Even enough to fondle! The only item on the want horizon is the coming Zeiss Ikon and its lenses. But that's anticipation speaking, and when the reality materializes, I may choose to pass.

 

[Roman]

I'm somewhat satisfied with my Bessa R with 25, 35 and 90mm CV lenses, with my Russian RFs, my Mamiya 645 Super with 35, 70 and 150 lenses, and with my various Pentax SLRs - what I'm still looking for: an affordable 24mm Pentax lens (that's a rare focal lenght in PK-mount), and a 50mm that will focus correctly on my Bessa, and goes down to f/2 - but LTM Summicrons are out of my price range, and Canon or Nikkor LTM 50ies are just so rare in Europe...

Roman (realizing that unless I win the lottery, M-Leicas or the likes will always be out of reach - there's just so much other stuff I'd rather spend my money on...)

 

[RML]

Completely satisfied.
I have my Bessa R, my CL and my M2; the CV 25/4, J-8, j-9 and Rokkor 40/2; and now also an Eos 300D. I can't carry all of that at the same time (well, the RF gear I can) and it's really all I need.

There are 3 lenses in the mail from Russia, which might be of some use, but I guess they'll mostly stay at home.

There's more gear lying about (2 Lubitel's, a Holga, an Eos 3000, some FEds and Zorki's, an Oly Mju, and a dozen or so lenses) I never use. There's really no need or want for me to buy more camera stuff.

 

[taffer]

Collector ? ME !?!!?!?!?!

Nah...

Now if I could only find and try a GOI-Leningrad for a while... 🙄

That said, I'm completely satisfied, but I simply can't resist getting and testing some new gear from time to time. It's simply too fun ! 😀

 

[GeneW]

Collector ? ME !?!!?!?!?!

I think of you more as an 'investor' 😀

Gene

 

[taffer]

I think of you more as an 'investor' 😀

Gene

😀 Let's see if I can add some funds for my retirement 😀

<now gotta keep writing the c compiler program... sigh>