Ronald M
Veteran
You need a single system with perhaps the addition of Rollie 35.
To be effective you need muscle memory of operating system and you can`t do it with all those.
To be effective you need muscle memory of operating system and you can`t do it with all those.
Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
What is effective though? That's a completely subjective measurement of the use of a tool used to create a piece of work largely judged on personal aesthetics.
I think that right now I have about 17 working 35mm cameras, 2 working 4x5, 1 working 5x7, 1 working 35mm motion picture camera and 8 working 16mm cameras. I'm "effective" with every single one of them because they each fill a unique function.
Phil Forrest
I'd keep these...
Archiver
Veteran
In the immortal words of Homer Simpson, "I promise you lots of things. That's what makes me such a good father."
Keep the things that really work and have practical value, as well as the things which have sentimental value, like your grandpa's cameras. If you want, then let go of the other things.
Personally, I'm not quite sure why you want to let things go. Unless they are cluttering your dwelling or causing you considerable angst from choice, why get rid of them?
I enjoy having a lot of cameras, because if I get tired of one, or want a change, then all I need to do is look in the cabinet for something I haven't used in a while. Sometimes, picking up a loved but old camera is like getting a new one.
A few weeks ago, I posted about how people find a middle path between shooting flexibility and minimal gear. The general answer was that you don't. You have gear, and you use what is appropriate for any given situation.
james.liam
Well-known
1, 2, 12.
Sell the rest, if someone will buy it.
Sell the rest, if someone will buy it.
DownUnder
Nikon Nomad
Three questions for the OP.
1. How much is your entire collection worth? Yes, we are applying a dollar-value to your photo gear. Be detached. Do a full list, follow up with online research, and put a price on each and every item. This may trigger off some good lateral thinking.
2. How much do you have it insured for? Zero? Ah-hah! This is its true value to you, then.
3. If you were to somehow lose the entire collection today, which items would you replace? And how much would these replacements cost you? Another eye-opener here, I reckon.
Basically, what you do with and how you do it to your collection, is entirely your call. However, I would...
Ask my daughter which kit/s she wants to keep and use in her future photography. I know she is young, but it would still be her decision. At age 18 or 21, she won't then come back to you and say "back then, you promised me..." as she will have made up her own mind about what's what.
Keep the cameras that have family connections, and sell the rest. Forget "sentimental" value. Anything and everything can be sentimental. When you offload it, the sentiment usually goes with it, or shortly afterwards.
Set aside one or two camera kits you want to keep and use. Again, apply critical thinking. Why do you want to keep this gear? Will you use it? What for? Can these cameras be replaced easily and cheaply with more modern ones to do a better job?
If all this is too difficult, pack up the lot in a secure storage box and hide it away in the garage. Check it once every three months. Otherwise forget about it.
Overthinking is as bad as no thinking at all. The ideal lies somewhere in the middle.
And BTW, all the above is what I'm currently doing with my gear, so we are both in most excellent company!
1. How much is your entire collection worth? Yes, we are applying a dollar-value to your photo gear. Be detached. Do a full list, follow up with online research, and put a price on each and every item. This may trigger off some good lateral thinking.
2. How much do you have it insured for? Zero? Ah-hah! This is its true value to you, then.
3. If you were to somehow lose the entire collection today, which items would you replace? And how much would these replacements cost you? Another eye-opener here, I reckon.
Basically, what you do with and how you do it to your collection, is entirely your call. However, I would...
Ask my daughter which kit/s she wants to keep and use in her future photography. I know she is young, but it would still be her decision. At age 18 or 21, she won't then come back to you and say "back then, you promised me..." as she will have made up her own mind about what's what.
Keep the cameras that have family connections, and sell the rest. Forget "sentimental" value. Anything and everything can be sentimental. When you offload it, the sentiment usually goes with it, or shortly afterwards.
Set aside one or two camera kits you want to keep and use. Again, apply critical thinking. Why do you want to keep this gear? Will you use it? What for? Can these cameras be replaced easily and cheaply with more modern ones to do a better job?
If all this is too difficult, pack up the lot in a secure storage box and hide it away in the garage. Check it once every three months. Otherwise forget about it.
Overthinking is as bad as no thinking at all. The ideal lies somewhere in the middle.
And BTW, all the above is what I'm currently doing with my gear, so we are both in most excellent company!
D
Deleted member 65559
Guest
Smaug: (OM1N)
"I thought of this, but I'm scared she'll wreck it, and I'd be devastated."
It's an OM1 ......they're a dime a dozen out there. if you're worried, buy another & keep Grandpa's safe. They're meant to make photos.... just like instruments are meant to make music...
"I thought of this, but I'm scared she'll wreck it, and I'd be devastated."
It's an OM1 ......they're a dime a dozen out there. if you're worried, buy another & keep Grandpa's safe. They're meant to make photos.... just like instruments are meant to make music...
CMur12
Veteran
I'm surprised that you are saving a Canon FTb for your daughter, as it is large, heavy, and clunky.
That said, I really like the FTb, and I use equally clunky Minolta SR-Ts and TLRs (including large, heavy Mamiyas). It's hard for me to imagine that your daughter would ever really like such a camera, and if she did, she would likely wait until she was even older before she wanted to heft it into use.
For your daughter, I would recommend an Olympus OM, a Pentax MX, ME-Super, or Super Program, or a Minolta X-570, X-370, or X700. Or it could be any of a number of other compact SLRs from the manual focus era.
I like ozmoose's idea of asking your daughter what she would like. You might sell the Canon and get her something that would be more suitable for her, unless she specifically says that she wants that camera.
- Murray
That said, I really like the FTb, and I use equally clunky Minolta SR-Ts and TLRs (including large, heavy Mamiyas). It's hard for me to imagine that your daughter would ever really like such a camera, and if she did, she would likely wait until she was even older before she wanted to heft it into use.
For your daughter, I would recommend an Olympus OM, a Pentax MX, ME-Super, or Super Program, or a Minolta X-570, X-370, or X700. Or it could be any of a number of other compact SLRs from the manual focus era.
I like ozmoose's idea of asking your daughter what she would like. You might sell the Canon and get her something that would be more suitable for her, unless she specifically says that she wants that camera.
- Murray
Jeremy Z
Well-known
Guys, thanks for all the responses. I'm mulling it over.
The problem is I've just discovered Facebook Marketplace, where I can often get killer deals on killer cameras.
CMur12: The Canon FTb is a duplicate of another one my grandpa had. He gave it to my sister for photography class. When she went to college, it got stolen.
My daughter actually DID comment that it is heavy, but she won't always be 7. I don't mind saving it for 10 years for her. For now, she doesn't want to set exposure, but she does seem to like focusing. I'll have to mull it over a bit. The cameras she really wants are the MX-1, and the Canon Sure Shot AF35M2.
Keep it coming. I will think it over, maybe for weeks and come back to this thread. Thanks for putting some thought into it. The outside viewpoints are helpful.
The problem is I've just discovered Facebook Marketplace, where I can often get killer deals on killer cameras.
CMur12: The Canon FTb is a duplicate of another one my grandpa had. He gave it to my sister for photography class. When she went to college, it got stolen.
My daughter actually DID comment that it is heavy, but she won't always be 7. I don't mind saving it for 10 years for her. For now, she doesn't want to set exposure, but she does seem to like focusing. I'll have to mull it over a bit. The cameras she really wants are the MX-1, and the Canon Sure Shot AF35M2.
Keep it coming. I will think it over, maybe for weeks and come back to this thread. Thanks for putting some thought into it. The outside viewpoints are helpful.
Archiver
Veteran
Waaaait a minute, you mean you want to offload gear... to make room for more gear?
I couldn't sell or give away anything with sentimental familial value, like your grandpa's old cameras. I have my Dad's Pentax ME and Minolta SR-T Super, and they aren't going anywhere. The Minolta has mint condition lenses that were barely used, and always kept in the original plastic bag, and inside the leather lens case. The cameras themselves were always in their leather ever-ready cases, so they are pretty much in mint condition, too.
Jeremy Z
Well-known
I seem to be failing spectacularly
I seem to be failing spectacularly
...by following the advice of the rabble-rousers here.
I stopped by one of my thrift stores the other day on the way home. There were a couple Nikon lenses, a 50/1.8 pancake. (looks a bit like Series E, but has the nice coating and construction) and a Vivitar Series 1 75-200 f/3.8. They were $20 together, and I couldn't resist, even though I don't have a Nikon body.
Naturally, I went home and found a nice Nikon FG on ebay and bought it to go with the lenses.
Just now, I ordered a Tokina 28-80 for it too, so it'll have a full set of lenses.
Before I bought the FG, I said I was on the lookout for a semi-auto OM body. Someone here offered me one (OM G) offline; I accepted.
Trying to resist buying a 35/2.8 AIS Nikkor for the FG now; that would make a tidy little package. (resisting on account of having the Yashica CC with its nice 35/1.8)
Maybe what I need to do is post asking for help on how to make my collection as big and overlapping as possible, then I'll subconsciously do the opposite?
I seem to be failing spectacularly
...by following the advice of the rabble-rousers here.
I stopped by one of my thrift stores the other day on the way home. There were a couple Nikon lenses, a 50/1.8 pancake. (looks a bit like Series E, but has the nice coating and construction) and a Vivitar Series 1 75-200 f/3.8. They were $20 together, and I couldn't resist, even though I don't have a Nikon body.
Naturally, I went home and found a nice Nikon FG on ebay and bought it to go with the lenses.
Just now, I ordered a Tokina 28-80 for it too, so it'll have a full set of lenses.
Before I bought the FG, I said I was on the lookout for a semi-auto OM body. Someone here offered me one (OM G) offline; I accepted.
Trying to resist buying a 35/2.8 AIS Nikkor for the FG now; that would make a tidy little package. (resisting on account of having the Yashica CC with its nice 35/1.8)
Maybe what I need to do is post asking for help on how to make my collection as big and overlapping as possible, then I'll subconsciously do the opposite?
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DownUnder
Nikon Nomad
......???!?!?!?!!!
Man, you are HOPELESS - almost as bad as me (nobody could be "as bad as", hence "almost as").
I went out earlier this week to bargain with a shop in the hope of offloading half a dozen cameras and accessories - and came home with a Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta 6x6.
My reasoning was, I've wanted one of these for many years. On due reflection, I recalled having played with this very same camera in the selfsame shop - in 2006.
I will be taking it out for its first test run on Sunday - with two rolls of Ilford XP2, a most forgiving film for ancient cameras (and similarly so photographers).
We never learn, do we? But then, such are the (many) joys of... well, living.
Man, you are HOPELESS - almost as bad as me (nobody could be "as bad as", hence "almost as").
I went out earlier this week to bargain with a shop in the hope of offloading half a dozen cameras and accessories - and came home with a Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta 6x6.
My reasoning was, I've wanted one of these for many years. On due reflection, I recalled having played with this very same camera in the selfsame shop - in 2006.
I will be taking it out for its first test run on Sunday - with two rolls of Ilford XP2, a most forgiving film for ancient cameras (and similarly so photographers).
We never learn, do we? But then, such are the (many) joys of... well, living.
Jeremy Z
Well-known
I didn't know who Jane Bown was until this post; thanks Ko. I just looked her up; found a few book reviews on YouTube. She was AWESOME.
On maneuvering against fellow press photographers:
Jane Bown said:
ka7197
Established
Your grandpa was a smart man.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Better to keep than have remorse. Just be thoughtful and think of the good, the bad, and the ugly about each camera.
In my case I have three collections I maintain: film small format; medium format; and digital.
I have culled down already, and perhaps one day in the future I will cull down further, but until then I enjoy my abundance.
Pretty much I have enough gear to last decades into my retirement.
Abundance is better than remorse.
Cal
In my case I have three collections I maintain: film small format; medium format; and digital.
I have culled down already, and perhaps one day in the future I will cull down further, but until then I enjoy my abundance.
Pretty much I have enough gear to last decades into my retirement.
Abundance is better than remorse.
Cal
tbhv55
Well-known
She certainly was! She made some quite superb portraits with a minimum of equipment - usually, just her Olympus OM-1 and an 85mm lens, using natural light.
The story goes that the other press photographers would turn up at a shoot, equipped with 'all the gear', yet she would invariably be the one who got the great shots. I guess she just had the 'knack'.
waynec
Established
Your daughter will grow up with the latest and greatest camera phones and shooting a FTBn will be like using a big stone that takes special batteries with film that will cost more and more and developing that will cost who knows what. Sell what you don’t want and stick the money in the market and let her choose her poison when the time comes
Jeremy Z
Well-known
You don't think there's any truth to the sharp elbows comment?
I watched a couple YouTube videos on her, one of which had some interview footage after she'd retired. They said she was disarming, because she was a little lady, with a demeanor to go with it and folks felt comfortable with her right away.
Whatever the case, I put a book of hers in my Amazon Wish List, and I hope someone gets it for me for my birthday.