VinceC
Veteran
This is perhaps a philosophical thread.
I was juggling some projects Saturday morning and put my Nikon SP on the stairs, where the family ordinarily places things like books, hats or packages when we're getting ready to head out. My 9-year-old, not always known for her grace, went down the stairs, got her feet tangled in the camera strap, and sent the SP flying. She was honest enough to tell me what had happened on the spot, so I really haven't been mad at her. Everything's fine except the slow-speeds don't engage. I'm at a point in life where I no longer derive joy from opening up old cameras, so I'll probably send it off to Gandy once he's back from vacation.
Then I was unloading the clothes dryer this morning and found out what that clatter was that I heard last night. I had left my wonderfully tiny Sekonic light meter in a pocket, and it has now tumble-dried into several pieces (but has no static cling).
So this weekend will cost me about $300 in maintenance.
This has led me to ponder what I consider to be the financial friction of owning things like cars and photography. My Domke bag is so worn with holes that it needs replaced, something I've been putting off but will be part of the expenses for this summer's trips. I broke a neutral density filter a few months ago and need to buy another. My Canon S820 printer, which ordinarily does wonderful images, developed a chronic streaking problem over the holidays, and some online research uncovered the fact that after three or so years, the firmware inside the printheads develops problems, requiring replacement. This is the second Canon 800-series printer that has conked out on me, so I'll replace it with an Epson. I've been meaning to do that anyway because Epson makes longer lasting inks. Actually, replacing printers isn't all that expensive, since they tend to be about as expensive as a full set of inks.
That said, I spent yesterday taking pictures of my girls sledding, using my S2 and Jupiter-12. The evening before I took some party pictures with an S3. I have two S3s, so the temporary loss of the SP won't prevent me from taking photos. And the light meter was something of a luxury ... I spent half a decade without one because I've shot enough thousands of rolls of film to be able to judge light in most situations. I'll probably order a new Sekkonic and Domke bag at the same time to combine shipping costs.
But I am reminded that photography is one of those pursuits where we spend most of our time talking about cameras and lenses. Yet there is also a constant stream of maintentance costs, peripheral costs, film and processing, filters, bags, tune-ups and checkups. I've grown accustomed to this. I guess I've developed a Zen-like acceptance of it.
I was juggling some projects Saturday morning and put my Nikon SP on the stairs, where the family ordinarily places things like books, hats or packages when we're getting ready to head out. My 9-year-old, not always known for her grace, went down the stairs, got her feet tangled in the camera strap, and sent the SP flying. She was honest enough to tell me what had happened on the spot, so I really haven't been mad at her. Everything's fine except the slow-speeds don't engage. I'm at a point in life where I no longer derive joy from opening up old cameras, so I'll probably send it off to Gandy once he's back from vacation.
Then I was unloading the clothes dryer this morning and found out what that clatter was that I heard last night. I had left my wonderfully tiny Sekonic light meter in a pocket, and it has now tumble-dried into several pieces (but has no static cling).
So this weekend will cost me about $300 in maintenance.
This has led me to ponder what I consider to be the financial friction of owning things like cars and photography. My Domke bag is so worn with holes that it needs replaced, something I've been putting off but will be part of the expenses for this summer's trips. I broke a neutral density filter a few months ago and need to buy another. My Canon S820 printer, which ordinarily does wonderful images, developed a chronic streaking problem over the holidays, and some online research uncovered the fact that after three or so years, the firmware inside the printheads develops problems, requiring replacement. This is the second Canon 800-series printer that has conked out on me, so I'll replace it with an Epson. I've been meaning to do that anyway because Epson makes longer lasting inks. Actually, replacing printers isn't all that expensive, since they tend to be about as expensive as a full set of inks.
That said, I spent yesterday taking pictures of my girls sledding, using my S2 and Jupiter-12. The evening before I took some party pictures with an S3. I have two S3s, so the temporary loss of the SP won't prevent me from taking photos. And the light meter was something of a luxury ... I spent half a decade without one because I've shot enough thousands of rolls of film to be able to judge light in most situations. I'll probably order a new Sekkonic and Domke bag at the same time to combine shipping costs.
But I am reminded that photography is one of those pursuits where we spend most of our time talking about cameras and lenses. Yet there is also a constant stream of maintentance costs, peripheral costs, film and processing, filters, bags, tune-ups and checkups. I've grown accustomed to this. I guess I've developed a Zen-like acceptance of it.
Xmas
Veteran
Vince
The little girl was ok, after your dried off her eyes, the camera is easy to repair.
The escapments wont run with any distorsion in the end plates a pair of pliers with parrellogram closing or a vice may be accurate enough to fix. But you are going to have a lot of small parts.
Take the girl (& S) to the ice cream/soda shop, and make sure she does not OD too much, or grap both hands and swing her round like a rag doll.
Noel
P.S. try the J12 without a filter & I'm still looking at my test shots, and agonising, I'm going to have to shoot a new series.
The little girl was ok, after your dried off her eyes, the camera is easy to repair.
The escapments wont run with any distorsion in the end plates a pair of pliers with parrellogram closing or a vice may be accurate enough to fix. But you are going to have a lot of small parts.
Take the girl (& S) to the ice cream/soda shop, and make sure she does not OD too much, or grap both hands and swing her round like a rag doll.
Noel
P.S. try the J12 without a filter & I'm still looking at my test shots, and agonising, I'm going to have to shoot a new series.
R
rpsawin
Guest
I consider photography an expensive hobby and a very cost-effective form of therapy.
Best Regards,
Bob
Best Regards,
Bob
VinceC
Veteran
I agree with the cost-effective therapy concept.
Thanks for the info on the slow-speed mechanism. One of the reasons I like these cameras is that they're really pretty simple inside, with much of the critical stuff interchangeable with Nikon Fs.
My life is too chaotic these days to have myself surrounded by tiny SP pieces on a work bench. Seventeen years ago, when I bought the camera (in very beat-up condition) I stripped it pretty far down to remove and repair the rangefinder mechanism, replacing a tiny spring with a bit of piano wire to fix the parallax-adjustment, which didn't work. But I was single then, with a lot of time on my hands. It's easier these days to ship it off to someone who knows what they're doing.
And, yes, Noel, that was a good suggestion. We just had a bowl of ice cream before her bedtime.
Thanks for the info on the slow-speed mechanism. One of the reasons I like these cameras is that they're really pretty simple inside, with much of the critical stuff interchangeable with Nikon Fs.
My life is too chaotic these days to have myself surrounded by tiny SP pieces on a work bench. Seventeen years ago, when I bought the camera (in very beat-up condition) I stripped it pretty far down to remove and repair the rangefinder mechanism, replacing a tiny spring with a bit of piano wire to fix the parallax-adjustment, which didn't work. But I was single then, with a lot of time on my hands. It's easier these days to ship it off to someone who knows what they're doing.
And, yes, Noel, that was a good suggestion. We just had a bowl of ice cream before her bedtime.
The cost of maintaining these classic cameras that are into their 50th year of service is very small compared with the depreciation of modern digital cameras. I bought a 3-year old Nikon D1 for <15% of its $5,000 original cost. It looked new, and had all the boxes and packing material.
I suspect you'll use the SP a lot more than that D1 was used in three years.
I suspect you'll use the SP a lot more than that D1 was used in three years.
NIKON KIU
Did you say Nippon Kogaku
That makes it two Nikon RF cameras knocked out of commision this month...Tom's S4 and Vince's SP..Not to forget about Mike L's little mishap.
Kiu
Kiu
VinceC
Veteran
Careful, Kiu. People will start to think our Nikon RFs can handle half a century of being knocked around like footballs.
Tom A
RFF Sponsor
NIKON KIU said:
The S4 is still sitting on the desk as the magician here in town who fixes things like that has obviously taken off for sunnier climates. It is quite rare that Nikons conk out. They are very reliable, even when compared with Leica's. At the moment i gave a M2 with locked up shutter, a M4P that insist that I really do not need speeds above 1/125. This month my trusty Sekonic 308 died and that one seems terminal! Oh well - it has lasted a long time.
Any mechanical device that is heavily used will eventually need fixing, but at least they can be fixed. Most of the DSLR's will cost more for a quote on repair than a decent Rf costs! A friend of mine uses Nikon DSLR's commercially and his service/repair costs exceeds my costs for keeping a 14 year old Grand Cherokee on the road!
sigma4ever
MF
Oooo! Ouch! I'm sorry. I am always afraid of something like that happening, so, I never leave my cameras out. Do you ever get a fear of highths? When I have my camera with me, even if it is as secure around my neck as can be, the hight seems to have a multiplication factor of 20.
erikhaugsby
killer of threads
Tom A said:
Wow, glad I shoot Canon!
VinceC
Veteran
>>Wow, glad I shoot Canon! <<
Way back when I was in the Army, I shot Canon F-1s and my own Nikons and Nikomats. The Canon F-1s were all gradually falling apart from hard regular use. I'm still using the Nikons and Nikomats.
Sigma4Ever, I just use the camera with a neck strap and hope for the best. I've shot out of open-door helicopters in past, so I use a camera bag with a strong strap, a camera with a strong strap, and just hold on and hope you don't have to change film much.
The somewhat disabled SP is a bit of surprise, but its time was due. I've used it in the '91 Gulf War, in the Rwanda genocide, during the Balkans wars in Croatia and Macedonia, along with countless daily newspaper assignments. And let's not forget, this camera still works fine at 1/60 and faster.
Here's a picture of it and its companion cameras I took a couple of years ago for a presentation:
Way back when I was in the Army, I shot Canon F-1s and my own Nikons and Nikomats. The Canon F-1s were all gradually falling apart from hard regular use. I'm still using the Nikons and Nikomats.
Sigma4Ever, I just use the camera with a neck strap and hope for the best. I've shot out of open-door helicopters in past, so I use a camera bag with a strong strap, a camera with a strong strap, and just hold on and hope you don't have to change film much.
The somewhat disabled SP is a bit of surprise, but its time was due. I've used it in the '91 Gulf War, in the Rwanda genocide, during the Balkans wars in Croatia and Macedonia, along with countless daily newspaper assignments. And let's not forget, this camera still works fine at 1/60 and faster.
Here's a picture of it and its companion cameras I took a couple of years ago for a presentation:
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erikhaugsby
killer of threads
VinceC said:
It was meant to be sarcastic, but ohwell.
VinceC
Veteran
Your sacrasm icon was well-noted!
Now if only they had a "golly gee whiz!" icon.
Now if only they had a "golly gee whiz!" icon.
Dfin
Well-known
So you think cameras are high maintenance, wait till your 9yr. old turns into a teenager!!!
Vince, those credentials are incredible.
EmilGil
Well-known
I once met a Hasselblad technician who told me a story about a guy who was bragging about his fancy semiautomatic Nikon while being guided through the Hasselblad factory in Sweden in the early eighties. The technician took a 'blad body from the demo shelf, fired a couple of times to show that it was working before putting it on the floor. He then started kicking the camera around the group, dribbling it between the guests before picking it up and firing again.VinceC said:
The Nikon guy remained pretty quiet when asked to do the same with his fancy Nikon...
I worked in a camera shop when the EM came out. Our lead salesman, a Nikon fanatic, was more than annoyed about the plastic body. He took the "show" camera, held it over his head and dropped it to the floor where it hit on the prism. After it continued to function properly, he started selling them.
VinceC
Veteran
>>So you think cameras are high maintenance, wait till your 9yr. old turns into a teenager!!!<<
Quite true. And she'll be followed two years later by her younger sister.
Quite true. And she'll be followed two years later by her younger sister.
Xmas
Veteran
Vince
They sure wont be seen dead in an ice cream parlour with their Dad. Use the time wisely, it will be +10 years before you have another batch, long wait.
Noel
They sure wont be seen dead in an ice cream parlour with their Dad. Use the time wisely, it will be +10 years before you have another batch, long wait.
Noel
VinceC
Veteran
>>those credentials are incredible.<<
That reminds me of a story from the U.S. 8th Infantry Division at the end of World War II. An American commander and his scruffy looking troops forced their way into a German military compound, then stormed into the office of a well-dressed, high ranking German officer and demanded his surrender. The German officer, perhaps not fully realizing that the frontlines had now reached his desk, said he would only surrender to a high-ranking American and asked to see the American commander's credentials. The American gestured to his squad of unkempt but heavily armed soldiers and barked: "These are my credentials!"
That reminds me of a story from the U.S. 8th Infantry Division at the end of World War II. An American commander and his scruffy looking troops forced their way into a German military compound, then stormed into the office of a well-dressed, high ranking German officer and demanded his surrender. The German officer, perhaps not fully realizing that the frontlines had now reached his desk, said he would only surrender to a high-ranking American and asked to see the American commander's credentials. The American gestured to his squad of unkempt but heavily armed soldiers and barked: "These are my credentials!"