Requesting advice on reducing my collection

[Jeremy Z]

I'm one of those people who enjoys the variety of a collection, but on the other hand I find myself stressing out when it's time to choose a camera to take with me. Or budgeting to have them all working at the same time, having the right battery adapters, etc.

With that bit of background out of the way, here's what I have and why I have each one.

1. Olympus OM1N w/4 lenses: 28/3.5, 50/1.8, 135/3.5, 300/4.5, thinking of adding a 35/2.8 - My grandpa's old camera. It was his favorite; he shot a lot of slides during his European travels.
2. Rollei 35 - My favorite 35 mm at this time. Going to send this one for a CLA.
3. Rollei B 35 - I bought this because my grandpa had one. Going to sell it though, as it's too much overlap with the better original Rollei 35.
4. Yashica Electro 35 GS - Grandpa's, works great, except for a light leak; needs re-seal. I don't really like the 45 mm focal length, but I love that the camera reminds me of my grandpa. I remember one time I was out with him and my brother, and he disconnected the banjo strap, wrapped it around a tree, set the self time, and took a great selfie shot of us. I might treat this one to a CLA soon.
5. Yashica Electro 35 GSN - Thrift store find for $10; needs POD replacement and a CLA. I'll probably give this one away.
6. Yashica Electro 35 CC - Out to Mark Hama for a CLA; I love the form factor and 35 mm viewpoint.
7. Minolta Freedom II P&S - $5 thrift store find. Works great. Probably will move this one on.
8. Nikon L35AF3 - my grandpa had one; I just got this in a fit of sentimentality
9. Canon AF35M2 "Autoboy 2" - ebay find, works great. My daughter (7) likes this one.
10. Canon FTb w/3 lenses - Saving this for my daughter when she's ready for a heavier, manual camera
11. Olympus Trip 35 (on the way, from Trip Man) - This will be my "freeing myself from technical aspects" camera. I figure it will have enough control of focus and exposure, but not too much that it intrudes into the composition.
12. Olympus O-MD E-M10 III (µ4/3 mirrorless) with a few lenses. This is my most serious and versatile camera. I won't sell this one, as it's so practical and also my film scanner.
13. Pentax MX-1. (1/1.7" sensor, 28-112 mm eq. f/1.8-2.4) Love this guy, and my daughter does too; she adopted it.
14. Panasonic FZ-1000. (1" sensor, 24-400 mm eq. f/2.8-4) All-in-one camera. Everything is so easy with it...

Which ones would you keep and get rid of, and why? Aside from the ones I said I was going to move on, what else should I move on?

I realize I'm pretty "good" compared to a lot of you. So I guess I'm querying the guys who have felt the need, made some tough choices and who have reduced their collection to a few choice ones.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

3, 5, 6, 7,9,10,13. Let go. You don't need this many cameras and your daughter doesn't need slow and heavy tank of the camera (9). Give her what Jane Bown was using.

 

[Jeremy Z]

3, 5, 6, 7,9,10,13. Let go. You don't need this many cameras and your daughter doesn't need slow and heavy tank of the camera (9). Give her what Jane Bown was using.

(OM1N)

I thought of this, but I'm scared she'll wreck it, and I'd be devastated.

 

[xmas_one]

Just start selling off what you don’t use.

I just have to ask myself,

“Are you a photographer or a camera collector?”

Good luck

 

[Ko.Fe.]

(OM1N)

I thought of this, but I'm scared she'll wreck it, and I'd be devastated.

"when she's ready for a heavier, manual camera"

Our daughter used 5D and L lenses after she turned twenty. 🙂

If you want her to be still involved and willing to use this tank of the camera (Freaking Tank beast 🙂 ), get her Instax.

 

[Jeremy Z]

Just start selling off what you don’t use.

I just have to ask myself,

“Are you a photographer or a camera collector?”

Good luck

BOTH! That's my problem. Sometimes, I just love to get my collection out, a glass of wine and just play with them. ...er, I mean exercise the shutters and apertures. I feel guilty about it though. I'd love to be the guy who has one or two cameras, uses them to make great photos, and doesn't think much about them.

 

[filmtwit]

My rule fo thumb concerning my camera's is, have I used in the last year.
If I haven't used it, then it's time to sell it.

 

[B-9]

I keep mine in boxes like this,

https://pin.it/trhoy37kx44nqm

I keep two boxes. One for Digital P&S cameras and One for Film P&S Cameras.

If I add one camera to a box I take two out and they either are given away or sold.

At least in theory... haha!

I have a pretty large Zero Halliburton Rolling case that holds everything short of the projects on my bench.

I made that my compromise after a lenghthy gear purge. IT has to fit in that case to fit in the tiny house I am planning.

Good news is... I have room left...for MORE! Muahaha

 

[Pál_K]

... Which ones would you .

There seems to be a mistake in your post where it almost seems like you want to sell or give away cameras.

Anyway, yeah, a Canon F-1N would fit in well - you've already got Canon lenses. You seem to like rangefinders, so add a nice M3. Maybe also a Nikon F2 to complement the Canon. No Minoltas? Try an SRT-101 and also a Hi-Matic 7sII.

We're always here to help.

 

[Jeremy Z]

There seems to be a mistake in your post where it almost seems like you want to sell or give away cameras.

Anyway, yeah, a Canon F-1N would fit in well - you've already got Canon lenses.

I forgot to mention that I have an AE-1 Program that needs a shutter lube. I'm gonna try that myself with the help of some YouTube videos, and if I fail, I'll just throw it out.

You seem to like rangefinders, so add a nice M3.

Too rich for my blood.

Maybe also a Nikon F2 to complement the Canon. No Minoltas? Try an SRT-101

Don't want to get into more systems. If anything, I'd add an OM2N, after I trim down elsewhere. It'd be nice to have an aperture priority body for the OM optics.

...and also a Hi-Matic 7sII.

I looked at these. I'd pick one up at a thrift store for the right price, but not $100+ that they're fetching online now. Esp. not with a freshly CLA'd Electro CC on the way back to me.

 

[Jeremy Z]

My rule fo thumb concerning my camera's is, have I used in the last year.
If I haven't used it, then it's time to sell it.

Except for heirlooms?

I've done this before, and have regretted ditching some. I really liked the Nikon FM2N I had, as well as the OM4.

It IS a good rule, though. I may try it for the non-heirloom cameras.

 

[Jeremy Z]

3, 5, 6, 7,9,10,13. Let go. You don't need this many cameras and your daughter doesn't need slow and heavy tank of the camera (9). Give her what Jane Bown was using.

Several of those, I already promised to my daughter. She'd be quite disappointed and it would make me a liar, which is a terrible thing to be seen as by one's kids.

 

[TEZillman]

The last issue of McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras listed over 40,000 cameras. I'm not sure 14 cameras can even be considered a collection 🙂

 

[Keith]

I'd be keeping the OM1 and all the Zuiko lenses ... and also keeping the OMD and it's lenses. Possibly the GSN for it's emotional attachment.

 

[B-9]

Ive got a AE-1 you can use for parts. Needs a battery door but otherwise very fair.

PM me Smaug! (Freebie of course) Has a nice canon eyecup as well.

 

[peterm1]

Hey Smaug, if you sold all of your collection would this then be known as "The Desolation of Smaug"?

(A little Lord of the Rings joke there). 🙂

 

[michaelwj]

This is an easy solution to what appears to be a problem. You are a collector and a user, so separate the two.
1. Keep your grandpa's cameras and other heirlooms in a nice display case and take them out to "exercise" them every now and then. They're not for sale, but you aren't obliged to use them but can if you want. (1 and 4)
2. Follow others' advice, and keep the ones you use and sell the rest. These are your user cameras, ones you use all the time and enjoy to use. These are free from obligation and are just cameras. Occasionally over a long period of time, one of these might migrate to the cabinet to become an heirloom.
3(?). You identify cameras you want to keep to pass on to your daughter. These can either live in the cabinet, in your user kit, or in a drawer so they don't distract you.

I think once you split it into these two (or three) lists the choice will become more obvious as you'll only be dealing with list #2. You have quite a bit of overlap, do you need 11 with 6 and 2?

 

[Ambro51]

I think you’re buried

 

[BillBingham2]

Keep 1, 8, and 13.

13 sounds like it rocks, just keep using it!

1 is a classic and a nice system you can add a few here and there.

8 was fun and does well with light.

Sell the rest, buy two more OM-1 bodies (one for you, the other for your daughter) and perhaps get a lower end µ4/3 mirrorless body (again for your daughter or buy a superwide µ4/3 lens and leave it on).

B2 (;->

 

[RObert Budding]

I'm one of those people who enjoys the variety of a collection, but on the other hand I find myself stressing out when it's time to choose a camera to take with me. Or budgeting to have them all working at the same time, having the right battery adapters, etc.

With that bit of background out of the way, here's what I have and why I have each one.

1. Olympus OM1N w/4 lenses: 28/3.5, 50/1.8, 135/3.5, 300/4.5, thinking of adding a 35/2.8 - My grandpa's old camera. It was his favorite; he shot a lot of slides during his European travels.
2. Rollei 35 - My favorite 35 mm at this time. Going to send this one for a CLA.
3. Rollei B 35 - I bought this because my grandpa had one. Going to sell it though, as it's too much overlap with the better original Rollei 35.
4. Yashica Electro 35 GS - Grandpa's, works great, except for a light leak; needs re-seal. I don't really like the 45 mm focal length, but I love that the camera reminds me of my grandpa. I remember one time I was out with him and my brother, and he disconnected the banjo strap, wrapped it around a tree, set the self time, and took a great selfie shot of us. I might treat this one to a CLA soon.
5. Yashica Electro 35 GSN - Thrift store find for $10; needs POD replacement and a CLA. I'll probably give this one away.
6. Yashica Electro 35 CC - Out to Mark Hama for a CLA; I love the form factor and 35 mm viewpoint.
7. Minolta Freedom II P&S - $5 thrift store find. Works great. Probably will move this one on.
8. Nikon L35AF3 - my grandpa had one; I just got this in a fit of sentimentality
9. Canon AF35M2 "Autoboy 2" - ebay find, works great. My daughter (7) likes this one.
10. Canon FTb w/3 lenses - Saving this for my daughter when she's ready for a heavier, manual camera
11. Olympus Trip 35 (on the way, from Trip Man) - This will be my "freeing myself from technical aspects" camera. I figure it will have enough control of focus and exposure, but not too much that it intrudes into the composition.
12. Olympus O-MD E-M10 III (µ4/3 mirrorless) with a few lenses. This is my most serious and versatile camera. I won't sell this one, as it's so practical and also my film scanner.
13. Pentax MX-1. (1/1.7" sensor, 28-112 mm eq. f/1.8-2.4) Love this guy, and my daughter does too; she adopted it.
14. Panasonic FZ-1000. (1" sensor, 24-400 mm eq. f/2.8-4) All-in-one camera. Everything is so easy with it...

Which ones would you keep and get rid of, and why? Aside from the ones I said I was going to move on, what else should I move on?

I realize I'm pretty "good" compared to a lot of you. So I guess I'm querying the guys who have felt the need, made some tough choices and who have reduced their collection to a few choice ones.

You're just getting started! Time to add some nice medium format gear to your collection!!!