Dang it all! So many good ideas here. As a true-blue Saggitarian, I've decided to go with two 'thoughts' picked up from posts in this thread, in 2018.
I voted sell nothing, but then changed my mind and wanted to go with sell some and use the rest - but I couldn't.No option to change my vote. So as a good card-carrying Saggitarian, I voted again. Is this ethical? If not, why not?
As much as I love new toys to play with, in my old age I already have more than enough cameras at home to keep me happy and busy for the rest of my (I hope, long) life.
Moving on with all these thoughts, typically for me, I can never make up my mind as to which (one) camera I would want to use most in 2018. So for the sake of (partly) pleasing myself while at the same time (mostly) using up the hundreds of films I have in two freezers at home, I've decided as follows -
So the final decision is... drum roll!
A Contax G1 kit with five lenses (28 through 90) for the about 400 rolls of 35mm film (at last count, not including the few bulk rolls in the kitchen fridge) I have and want to use up before they (or I) expire; and
A Rolleiflex T with a 16 exposure kit and plenty of toys (filters, close ups grips, etc etc etc) for the 120 film.
To help me through all this, come May we will be heading off to North America for what, given my age (70) and general level of (fair to middling) health and mobility, may be my last 'big trip' to places I grew up in.
Over three or four months we plan to 'do' Hawaii, southern California, Arizona and New Mexico (I went to school there, our bases will be Silver City and just out of Santa Fe),then across the USA, stopping at various Confederate battle fields, to New Brunswick, Canada, for six weeks exploring the beauty spots of Atlantic Canada. I grew up near Moncton (NB) with summers spent at family cottages in Shediac Cape, so a lot of childhood nostalgia here, to be visited and explored for what will probably be my last time.
Then a long, long (and fortunately for us, leisurely) drive across Canada to Vancouver and back home via Hawaii.
My partner is sort of into photography but much more into researching bits of interesting history (battlefields, Indian settlements, and so on) and loves driving. So I am, as they say here in Tassie, "in like Flynn" for this journey.
Not to be overlooked, said partner will also be taking along a Nikon D700 kit for those 'essential' shots to be captured easily and quickly while I am fussing about on some battlefield or reservation with my antiques.
Paring down the photo gear into sensible lots, whether or not to take the two camera kits, and how to pack and carry so much film will be my next big challenge...
The idea of one camera, one lens appeals but with so much gear to pick and choose from, and so much film to be used, it really is not a sensible option for me at this time in my life. Others I'm sure will have similar reasons for their choices.
Life's fun, and choices are everything, so whatever we decide, go for it and enjoy it to the fullest, I say. While we can.
