selling gear for photo books?

[aizan]

Anybody done this? I'm thinking of selling off my Canon F-1n and remaining 200/4 to get a couple of those rare, out-of-print classics, like from Moriyama, HCB, Winogrand, etc.

 

[wlewisiii]

Heh. I've done the opposite. I sold my good photo books to buy gear...

William

 

[back alley]

spend $$ on photography...not gear?
what a concept!!

need to process...

 

[aizan]

really? damn...i saw a copy of it go for about $200 on ebay a little while ago. not in particularly good condition, but still.

 

[TPPhotog]

My advice is if you sell any gear, then buy more gear with the money.

Why be a spectator (read) when you can do it yourself (shoot) for real?

Only invest in books if you can afford to do both 🙂

 

[rover]

My advice is if you sell any gear, then buy more gear with the money.

Why be a spectator (read) when you can do it yourself (shoot) for real?

Only invest in books if you can afford to do both 🙂

Well, I don't know about this......

Doing is always better than reading about something, but there is no doubt a lot that can be learned from the masters. My main reservation would be that you can access the information in these great books with some work and research on the web, and get this, at the library (remeber those?). Reprints or these books and photographs can also be found I am sure. This will be a less expensive alternative and allow you your equipment for use or sale for other purposes.

 

[TPPhotog]

Well, I don't know about this......

Doing is always better than reading about something, but there is no doubt a lot that can be learned from the masters. My main reservation would be that you can access the information in these great books with some work and research on the web, and get this, at the library (remeber those?). Reprints or these books and photographs can also be found I am sure. This will be a less expensive alternative and allow you your equipment for use or sale for other purposes.

Rover I completely agree with you on the alternatives. I was thinking that all the information can be got other ways but didn't think to say it DOH!!

Also I think a great deal of knowledge can be gained by shooting, looking at works in galleries and visiting here 😉

 

[aizan]

i can check ILL (interlibrary loan), but most of the time, these books are in the special collection and aren't allowed to leave the library or rare book room. the only good libraries are an hour away, too! i hate driving...ergh....

there are no reprints, yet.

 

[rover]

Viewing other people's work is an important tool. This is a visual sport we are participating in. I had to/have to improve on my ability to "see" what I want on the film, and seeing how other people are doing that is invaluable to me.

 

[rover]

How about university libraries? Connecticut is a tiny state so I am spoiled in being able to access the libraries at UConn, Yale ..... to find something if I really wanted to very easily.

 

[TPPhotog]

But do you really need those specific books to get the information you want? Nearly every book today has developed and expanded on earlier writings which also contain some information no longer relevant.

I recently scored a book on Ebay which is beautiful on studio techniques. The good side is I have a nice book that sits on a shelf. The bad side is that it doesn't contain anything that newer books have or that I didn't try when I did a basic photography course at the local college.

 

[aizan]

i was talking about college, municipal, and private libraries. nothing closeby, unfortunately. i wish i lived in a big college town. it would be so convenient and accessible.

i've got all the technical books i need right now. these would be books of photos.

 

[TPPhotog]

Ah Now I understand 🙂

If it's for pictures why not collect books published by TASCHEN? They are good quality at a reasonable price and their books cover all the masters & some lesser known photographers.

 

[ray_g]

How about university libraries? Connecticut is a tiny state so I am spoiled in being able to access the libraries at UConn, Yale ..... to find something if I really wanted to very easily.

I currently have HCB's first ed Decisive Moment (pictured above) through the local public library's ILL. Now that you guys mentioned how much it costs, I am sure I will be turning those pages all the more carefully.

 

[rover]

You should call them Ray and ask how much they would charge should you happen to "loose" it.

 

[ray_g]

Yeah... then trade it with Aizan for equipment, hehe. Evil thought... 🙂

 

[doubs43]

There's an old saying among gun collectors that for every gun you purchase, buy two books! Obviously I wouldn't apply the same logic to photographic gear but books, IMO, are very important. They can be a source of ideas and inspiration. Books can illustrate why a particular photographer has a reputation for being good/excellent or even outstanding.

OK...... so you're not interested in the works of others and your main interests lie in the arena of collecting gear. Almost every marque ever made that's worth collecting will have books dedicated to the history and models produced. Some - the Leica, for instance - will have enough printed material available to fill a shelf or more. Others will have less but if you want to know what lenses were produced for which models and when, books will generally have the answers. Anyone who wants to know about FSU gear will almost certainly buy Princelle's book.

Finally, for the times when you can't be out shooting film for whatever reason and you just don't feel like printing, developing or scanning or even visiting RFF, what better way to spend your time than reading about cameras, photographers etc.?

Walker