Harryo1962
Established
Wow, nice kit.
For me, older quality camera gear brings my mind back to earlier times. Which may or may not have been simpler. But it can open up my creativity a bit.
For me, older quality camera gear brings my mind back to earlier times. Which may or may not have been simpler. But it can open up my creativity a bit.
hepcat
Former PH, USN
Same thing there with fishing and gear... but I liken it to playing golf. Someone who enjoys the game and plays well does it and makes it seem effortless regardless of what brand of clubs they use. Other folks always think that buying the "next new thing" in clubs will improve their game which, of course, never happens. And then there are folks who collect interesting golf clubs, and still go out and play a round or two now and then, usually with mixed results; but they have fun and get exercise and fresh air, which is all that really counts.
sojournerphoto
Veteran
Marek, you need a Sonnar
Mike
Oh, I like pictures
Marek can actually use his kit though.
Mike
Oh, I like pictures
Marek can actually use his kit though.Robert Lai
Well-known
Motivated by my wife, I'm actually in a gear contraction and simplification phase. For many years, all I had was a Nikon F3 with 35, 50, and 105 lenses. A few days ago, I looked at an album of photographs taken in my salad days. They were great days - beautiful wife, fun, with youth and energy. All I really needed was that gear. I couldn't afford any more because we were so darn poor then. But the pictures turned out great anyway.
So, coming full circle I am again shrinking my gear collection down to just a few items. Ironically, the Nikon SLRs will be going, as I find them too large now. I'm into small and dainty 35mm cameras, such as the LTMs.
So, coming full circle I am again shrinking my gear collection down to just a few items. Ironically, the Nikon SLRs will be going, as I find them too large now. I'm into small and dainty 35mm cameras, such as the LTMs.
Paulbe
Well-known
Robert--keep at least one F3--they are great!
Paul
Paul
Moto-Uno
Moto-Uno
Having fallen hook ,line and sinker into GAS, I'm now forever struggling with choice ! It's almost as bad as fishing used to be. But, if that's my biggest problem, I should stop whining and put some gear in the classified. Peter
Roger Hicks
Veteran
I used to buy and sell cameras. Then I stopped. I'd had most of the old cameras that interested me, and the ones I hadn't, I could no longer afford: they'd gone up a lot. Also, 40 or even 20 years ago far fewer people were interested in old cameras and there were far more shops with interesting junk drawers, trade-ins, etc. A lot of the pleasure was the joy of the hunt. In the 1970s I might visit half a dozen camera stores on a Saturday. Now it's on-line; I can't see what I'm getting; and I've lost interest.
When it comes to new cameras, I find very little that is both interesting and affordable, and even less that would either make me a better photographer or in any way increase my enjoyment of photography. The same is true to a lesser extent of lenses, but even then I find that I'd rather spend more time shooting and less time changing lenses.
Over the years I must have owned or used for long periods literally dozens of different 50s, and they've all given me more or less different results but increasingly I find that speed and convenience of use (i.e. not faffing around deciding which lens to use and then changing it) allows me to create more consistent pictures -- a "body of work" if you like -- and to concentrate more on vision than on kit. Nowadays I use almost exclusively a 1,5/50 C-Sonnar. Likewise on 5x7 inch I mostly use a 7 inch Dagor (slight wide angle) instead of all the other LF lenses I still own.
Cheers,
R.
When it comes to new cameras, I find very little that is both interesting and affordable, and even less that would either make me a better photographer or in any way increase my enjoyment of photography. The same is true to a lesser extent of lenses, but even then I find that I'd rather spend more time shooting and less time changing lenses.
Over the years I must have owned or used for long periods literally dozens of different 50s, and they've all given me more or less different results but increasingly I find that speed and convenience of use (i.e. not faffing around deciding which lens to use and then changing it) allows me to create more consistent pictures -- a "body of work" if you like -- and to concentrate more on vision than on kit. Nowadays I use almost exclusively a 1,5/50 C-Sonnar. Likewise on 5x7 inch I mostly use a 7 inch Dagor (slight wide angle) instead of all the other LF lenses I still own.
Cheers,
R.
mcfingon
Western Australia
I too am a Sonnar-holic, with lapses into Planar-ism. I'm hoping I can stop soon. I keep thinking my next will be my last:
Dralowid
Michael
In order to treat gearholism it is necessary to admit to being a collector.
There is no shame in such a public admission indeed it in engenders in your nearest and dearest a sense of pride in your honesty and integrity. You are now free to buy anything.
And...as with excessive imbibing...it takes one to know one!
There is no shame in such a public admission indeed it in engenders in your nearest and dearest a sense of pride in your honesty and integrity. You are now free to buy anything.
And...as with excessive imbibing...it takes one to know one!
mfogiel
Veteran
@sojournephoto
Great photos!
I obviously have several Sonnars, and right today I finally got hold of the lens that was missing on my "missing" list: Takumar 58/2, the shortest SLR sonnar design - a sweet little lens, with preset aperture. I am going to give it a chance to show if it's any good, against the Biotar 58/2, Helios 44-2 58/2 and Primoplan 58/1.9
Great photos!
I obviously have several Sonnars, and right today I finally got hold of the lens that was missing on my "missing" list: Takumar 58/2, the shortest SLR sonnar design - a sweet little lens, with preset aperture. I am going to give it a chance to show if it's any good, against the Biotar 58/2, Helios 44-2 58/2 and Primoplan 58/1.9
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
I like this one, Mike.
DanielDuarte
Established
Wonderful insight... I can certainly relate and when it comes to GAS I try and hold myself to a simple rule.
1.) with the exception of certain breeds, do not approach photographic equipment as an investment. An investment must have the prospect of a return, and unless you purchase something at a complete basement level price you'll likely never see a return unless you're shopping out Leica/Zeiss (Zeiss to a slightly lesser degree).
2.) never repeat formats.... unless you have a distinct strategy (like 2 35mm bodies with different focal lengths for faster shooting). I love different formats but I only need one MF, one 4x5, one 8x10, etc etc etc.
3.) After your initial major purchases I try and play in the black. It's tough to incur up front costs but if you can recover most of your cost at a later date it's nice to either upgrade or add elements with that recovered money.
4.) Last but not least, I try and never sell off a piece of photographic equipment just to pay something off, like a bill or some debt. I like to constantly remind myself that photography is a true passion in my life, I would much rather make sacrifices in other areas of my life (such as avoidable expenses as luxury cars, expensive restaurants, clothing etc etc) if it allows me to keep on buying film, lenses, chemistry, plates etc etc etc.
1.) with the exception of certain breeds, do not approach photographic equipment as an investment. An investment must have the prospect of a return, and unless you purchase something at a complete basement level price you'll likely never see a return unless you're shopping out Leica/Zeiss (Zeiss to a slightly lesser degree).
2.) never repeat formats.... unless you have a distinct strategy (like 2 35mm bodies with different focal lengths for faster shooting). I love different formats but I only need one MF, one 4x5, one 8x10, etc etc etc.
3.) After your initial major purchases I try and play in the black. It's tough to incur up front costs but if you can recover most of your cost at a later date it's nice to either upgrade or add elements with that recovered money.
4.) Last but not least, I try and never sell off a piece of photographic equipment just to pay something off, like a bill or some debt. I like to constantly remind myself that photography is a true passion in my life, I would much rather make sacrifices in other areas of my life (such as avoidable expenses as luxury cars, expensive restaurants, clothing etc etc) if it allows me to keep on buying film, lenses, chemistry, plates etc etc etc.
DanielDuarte
Established
True, but there are especially varying degrees... some are looking for highly sought after objects that will find themselves in a display case while others are diving through garage sale boxes for the thrill of "finding" that camera you once had 30 years ago.