Selling digital drum to fund analog fun.

2WK

2WK

Rangefinder User
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Well, I think I am finally going to sell my 5D mkii. I was planning on selling it to save for the new mk3 whenever that is going to come out. But now I'm thinking of saving for a Summilux 50 ASPH for my M6 ttl. This is a little scary, not having a workhorse digital on my shelf. I shoot for a living, and luckily my work has a Nikon D3 kit that I can use whenever. I prefer the D3 to the 5D for most everything anyway, but it is still a bit un-nerving to let the canon go. But when it comes down to it, I am a bit over this camera. I hate the autofocus especially, but more than that I hate the fact that everyone and their cat has one these days. I would rather invest in a extraordinary lens that will appreciate in value, than keep a depreciating digital body. Am I crazy?
 
It sounds stupid to me, unless you can answer yourself what you want to achieve.

It's not about work. You have a Nikon D3 sitting for you, and you wouldn't consider selling the 5D Mark II if you didn't have security with gear. It's not about the 5D Mark II, or the lenses. If everyone and their cat had one, it's for a reason. I personally love the focus, and as for the lenses? I've sold lenses more than I bought them, they've gone up that much over the years! I'm happy using Canon L glass.

All this sounds comparable to a hipster who takes pride in listening to a band that no one listens to, but the real question is so? So what? Why? What's the point you're trying to make?

Don't get me wrong, the 50 'lux asph is an awesome lens, and I'd love one myself to probably fund something else, but let's be honest here.
 
I don't know about buying the 50 ASPH, but you have a camera that you don't really use or need, and you have free access to a camera that you actually use for work (and like more than the 5DII) through your job. You call the 5DII a workhorse digital, but it sounds like it just sits on a shelf. Why keep it?

Whether or not you use those funds to buy a 50 ASPH is up to you. I have one and like it, but not everyone would make the same choice. I'm also film only, but I don't shoot for a living, so I wouldn't pretend to give you advice on that count.

It does seem wise to me though to sell the Canon system if said Canon system is not being used and put your money to a better use, be it a Leica lens, a vacation, or something else.
 
Tim Gray said:
It does seem wise to me though to sell the Canon system if said Canon system is not being used and put your money to a better use, be it a Leica lens, a vacation, or something else.
Click to expand...

2X


Sane. Very, in my opinion. It warms my heart. Maybe I'm the eternal optomist, but I personally feel that film will never entirely die. Too many of us to ignore these days, and plenty of newcomers, even half my age (which in and of itself is a little unnerving...)

Besides, there are adapters and tubes and all kinds of things available so you may use your high-quality glass on a Pen or NEX or whatnot plastic built-for-obsolescence 'box'o'pixels du jour.'
 
Thanks for the help.

thirtyfivefifty... I guess maybe I am a camera hipster then. But honestly I get no joy out of using the 5D. Well maybe I did the first little while using it, but not so much anymore. I use my M6 much more as it is my daily carry. AND I LOVE TO SHOOT WITH IT!

About the 50 ASPH... currently my only lens for the M6 is a VC 35 Nokton 1.4 SC. I have ran hundreds of rolls past it, and I do like it...but I am always wondering about leica glass. I once borrowed an early 50 summicron and I keep looking back to those photos with amazement. So basically I want to get the best I can get for a 50mm. Slowly build up my M-mount collection and then eventually get an M9 (or M10!) whenever that may be.

Speedfreak... Yes I do make money with film photography. I shoot lookbooks and create marketing content with film. I do use digital for catalogs and e-comerce though. But I would rather shoot film for everything. I prefer the look. I enjoy taking the time to shoot better. I enjoy looking through a few solid images instead of hundreds of digital ones that my clients want me to "make it look like film".
 
Funny this thread came up, I got rid of my d300 (my only digital) last week to fund a Hasselblad 500c. I do and don't regret it. And my live in girlfriend also has a d300. But the fact that I no longer have a digital is scary.


Once I get a scaner I'll be more content haha.


I say do it. You can always get another digital used or not.
 
go for it man, I recently sold my two Canon bodies (but kept the L glasses) to invest more into film photography.
 
Just sold my 50D for an M6. Seemed strange at first not having a decent digital camera. But when I looked back I realized I only used it once in the last year, after that it was a no brainier to throw it to the wind and buy something I will actually use.
 
If you're afraid of not having a digital camera, get a digital compact which you can bring to everywhere you go.

I sold my entire DSLR kit to fund for film gears and never regret it since then, my only digital camera is my old Sony compact camera without any manual mode, i'm good with it tho.
 
I'd consider myself semi-pro, I am in college and get paid for shoots and stuff. I recently traded my 5D for a Fuji X100 as my only digital camera (I mostly shoot medium and large format film). I work at my school's equipment rental room which has plenty of DSLR's. I can take one out whenever I want, and I've found that while they are nice for professional assignments, my personal work thrives much more from using the X100 and film cameras. So I'd say, if you have access to a DSLR, you probably don't need the 5DII.
 
Since I've got an M, my D300 have been staying home full time. I'm putting it on the Bay this weekend, along with the X1. After that, my entire digital collection will consist of a 4 yr-old, cheap P&S, and that is just fine with me.
 
I sold my M8 earlier this year and I really don't miss it a bit. I still have my X1 though but rarely use it. I'm pretty much 99% film and it doesn't bother me a bit.
 
My only DSLR is a lowly Nikon D3100. Has the same sensor as the D300 has, controls are laid out wide while camera is small.

It has only digital coupling to that new generation of lenses that have the AF-motor in the lens. As a result, the lens mount is without any protrusions and I use 1960s pre-AI Nikkor lenses on it. No metering, the rangefinder dot for correct focus and shots that show the combination of a digital sensor with low-contrast 60s glass. Looks as if I was using a Summilux V1 on an M8, I'd say :)

Body was under EUR 400 new.

You could always ditch the Canon and lenses, get yourself a cheap D3100 or D5100 and then use the companies lenses if you really have to.
 
While I hate to think that my using film is a determent, the jobs I do are with film.

I have a lowly old $300 dslr that does the crap as well as anything else. And if I need a spare I can walk into Best Buy and get another piece of plastic crap.

What was the problem? Oh yeah, don't spend too much money on the film cameras. I've learned that one of the better new VC lenses can actually be better than a 40-year old Leica lens that's been punted around the world. And spending $5000 on a new Leica lens is bull****.
 
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