Too many cameras, and what to do with 'em?

[jdos2]

Though it might not seem possible, I have too many cameras.

They are all working models, I use 'em, but with so many, their use is rather diluted.

It's time I got rid of some, and I want to consolidate.

First, though, I wanted some feedback as to whether or not it's a good idea.

I've a fairly complete Mamiya Universal kit that I like- including a fast lens, faster than anything I have on my Mamiya 7, which I also have. Actually I could argue that I have two fairly complete Mamiya Universal Kits...

I've the Mamiya 7 with 43, 80, and 150mm lenses. They are slow-ish, though, and what I found I needed on my last european jaunt was a faster lens, which the Universal would have provided, had I brought it.

I've also a Mamiya TLR with two lenses that I've not used since I've figured out how hard it is for me to focus on ground glass.

I've a Konica Hexar RF set up for Hexar Lenses- and it really means just that. I bought it for speed, as the f-2 lens is good wide open (not like my Jupiter-8's in that regard!)

I want to trade 'em all in for a Contax G2 with a 21/35/45/90 lens kit.


Good idea? Not?

I like shooting the Universal, but it's got no meter, so it's slower to shoot, and MUCH BULKIER to walk around. I do have the 50/65/75/100 f-2.8/127/150 mm lenses for it, and both 6x7 and 6x9 backs.

I like the Mamiya 7, it has a meter, and the lenses are wonderful, but it is hard to read the meter in daylight (I always lose sight of it when I'm in a hurry!).

I like the Konica but I'm limited to only Hexar lenses, and that's not a bad thing, but if it's already noisy (and it is) I'd be better off with auto focus anyway.

The Mamiya C330 is just gotta go. Like it but I'm not going to use it- I've got RB's to do its job, and many more lenses for they.

Thoughts, please?

 

[Doug]

JD, with your RB I can understand that the C330 could be surplus. I don't have a good feel for current sale value on the 330, but guess it might be rather modest. So its sale might have only minimal benefit to your G2 ambitions.

Would the same be true for the Universals? If so, that makes it fairly easy to justify keeping them!

I don't know about you, but I may read something or get into a discussion that causes me to dig out a neglected bit of gear and give it some exercise. Can be an interesting learning experience! A collector/user's rationalization?

I've heard a lot of enthusiasm online for the Mamiya 7 cameras, which leads me to think you might want to hang onto that one as likely useful in future. In the absense of other M-mount gear, the Hexar might turn up less needed, in light of the coming G2. And it would sell for a useful amount.

I occasionally feel urges in the Hexar direction, but I think that's mostly when I feel a pang of worry about repairing my Minolta CLE should anything serious go wrong with it. The Hexar strikes me as a worthy replacement.

Have you had experience with AF cameras? It's a new one for me, now with the Fuji GA645. It isn't any faster, the way I've been using it... I line up on the most important part of the subject and activate the AF by partly pressing the shutter, then delay the actual exposure until I get the composition and "moment" I want. (The AF does take a little time to do its thing.) This works fine, and I'm thinking it might be most useful for someone whose eyesight makes it hard to focus. For instance, I need a cataract removed...

Otherwise I'm leary of letting camera automation take over too much of the decision-making.

As to in-camera meters... I tend to prefer a hand-held incident reading, and fiddle with the camera only as the light situation changes. If pre-set like this, operation is faster (and probably better) than adjusting for each exposure. To my way of thinking, the in-camera meter is most useful if it also has AE. And even then I'm "supervising" what the camera does based on my experience using an incident meter. I have to say the fancy segmented AE meters as in my Bronica RF take some of the fun out of this! 🙂

Lens speed... That's where the 35's shine, but you can get away with faster film in MF. Some MF have faster lenses, like 80mm f/2 (Contax?). More likely to find speed in a MF SLR it seems; my 6x7 Pentax's normal lens is f/2.4, and there's f/2.8 in the new 75, 150, and 165mm.

I don't know if these random wanderings are at all helpful... Oh, one more: you mentioned trading this stuff in. I shudder to think of the low prices you'd be offered for en-mass gear at a retail shop. Split it all out and try an online ad here? eBay?

 

[jdos2]

Here's what I've decided-

I'm keeping the Universals. I got 'em first, they have the most potential, and are great cameras for exactly what I want to do with them. They stay, even with the 3 Polaroid and 4 220 capable backs. Good things, and a bright 100mm f/2.8 lens.

The C330 is going, and the price offered was low-ish, but I know that they are in a slump. Heck, I want to get rid of it because not only do I have a tough time focusing on the ground glass, TLR's take a shooting style I'm not used to.

The 7. That's the tough one. It's great, but the Universal does what it does and more with the exception of interlocks and meter- but the 7's meter irritates me whenever I'm shooting outside. It makes great negatives- perfect for what it's designed, but again, I've got it well covered already, and if I get an accessory meter, the Universal, tough to pack though it is, would completely replace it. I'm gettin' rid of it.

The Hexar RF is going too.

Those that I'm getting rid of are going because much of their use will collapse into the G2. Heck, with any luck, I'll be able to get all the lenses and a flash for the G2, and not have to worry for a while about my photographic needs- I'm set for amateur (135- G2+lenses, various hobby Kiev's), Medium (2 RB's, two Universals, a Moskva), and large (old Kodak rail camera).

We'll see. I just have too many cameras and can't exercise 'em all.

Now, where does the Nikon S-2 fit into all of this?

 

[Doug]

Nikon S2?? Put it on the shelf right next to the Keivs! 🙂

 

[jdos2]

Sigh. Too many. Too much *stuff.*

Thankfully the S-2 can accept the J-12!

 

[back alley]

selling the hexar?
oh if i only had some extra cash...
can you give a ballpark figure as to selling price?
joe

 

[jdos2]

I'm going to hope for around 800 for the kit.

 

[oftheherd]

Because I also have a Mamiya Press, I applaude you idea to keep the Universal. I still think the Universal/Press cameras are some of the best system cameras out there, especially in 6x7. As great as the Mamiya 7's may be, as far as I know, the only thing they have over the Universal/Press is a meter.

They don't interchange backs, have ground glass backs, sheet film nor polaroids. Nor do they yet have the lenses as the Universal/Press. Getting rid of the TLR makes sense. I have a TLR that I am having a hard time making myself use. I mean, why would anyone if they had a choice between a 6x6 and a 6x7 negative/slide? TLR's don't save much on weight either.

Can't comment on the others you will get rid of, but the Universal/Press rocks.

 

[jdos2]

It's simply more versatile. I've got to try travelling with it, though...

And I'm probably going to have to get my 100 f-2.8 rebuilt, as on the first shot of the day, the shutter drags (supposedly rebuilt by T. S., but...)

Now looking for the 250, and to get rid of LOTS of cameras!

 

[jdos2]

M7 (REAL M7- Mamiya 7) is gone. I've the Universal and just recently "won" an e-Bay auction for another film holder for it.

Traded the Mamiya 7, C330 and 6 lenses for a Mamiya 645 AF and three lenses... Having possible trouble with the autofocus, but that's not fully confirmed. This is my first SLR rig since the Navytime Disaster (Canon AE-1, SHUTTER SPEED PRIORITY AUTOMATION ONLY?! WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?) and I'm already much happier. Autofocus/wind for speed (and I can't focus worth a durn on ground glass without a good loupe!) and I simply trust it.

It's sort-of a rangefinder, isn't it? It does autofocus like the Contax- rangefinding? No. No amount of rationalization will get me out of this one.

Sigh. Down to serious rangefinders. And now rather less camera gear in the safe (YAY!)

 

[Doug]

SLRs can be useful... And if you're going to do it, why not let it be a medium format SLR? 🙂

I don't know about AF, though. I'm giving it a try with my Fuji GA645W, so we'll see if I like it. But if you have trouble with ground glass focussing, then it should be a decent solution for you. Enjoy!

Ummm, you did reduce your net inventory, but not by a whole lot! What three lenses did you get with it?

 

[jdos2]

I did look at the Fuji GA645zi but its lens was pretty dark (f-4.5-5.6!) and the zoom was... Well, slightly wide to slightly tight. What would have been cool about it was the built-in flash, and the autofocus.

With the 645 I got the 55mm, 80mm and the 150mm. I'd have really preferred something much wider, but I can and will buy the 35 at some point in the future. Perhaps I'll be able to trade more for it?

Indeed I didn't reduce the inventory by too much. I'm working on it.

🙂

 

[Doug]

Nice group of lenses, JD! And adding a 35mm later sounds great; that would be about 82-deg angle of view, approx? Rather like a 50mm on a 6x7...

My Fuji GA has the fixed 4/45mm, sample below (cropped slightly at top and right). I've been using the AF sort of manually, picking the point of focus and then locking it in before recomposing and pressing the shutter the rest of the way.

And my avatar at left was shot with 100mm on Bronica 645, cropped slightly at left and top. I've gotten fond of this camera and the 645 format; hope you enjoy it as much!

 

[jdos2]

Thanks for all the kind words, folks, and especially Doug- nice picture, by the way- almost candid. I like it.

I don't miss the 7, yet. I've been having fun pulling out the Universal gear, and am getting the 65mm to the shop for shutter work. The 100 is slowly smoothing out.

I've kept the Hexar, for the time being, but it's still up for sale. I had mislaid the flash unit for it, but it's found and the "Presentation Case" is again complete. Heck, I don't know what to do with it. Keep it and take pictures, I guess.

I'm buying another J-12 from Oleg for the Nikon- the last one I had just popped off the mount, while I was using it! That's not a great omen, methinks!

Otherwise, I've got some more stuff to get rid of, but at least I'm using my gear- the C330 isn't sitting around gathering dust, and the 7 has gone to someone that'll use it. In the mean time, I've got the same bases covered by other gear.

Done. For now.

Less'n someone wants to do some trading- after all, it's the best way to experience different gear, right?

I'll stop now.

🙂

 

[fcg]

yeah; jd i read this
and thought about some nikons and misc stuff lurking in the lab.
my thinking is usually- well the stuff is good for specific needs which may change over time. trade or sell- but realize that gear will be hard to find in that good condition.the stuff i see at shows is often presstrashed- how do these guys carry it - loose in the bed of a pickup with 4 + tons of crushed rock?????the presstrashed; its a look you have to work on.
i use a gaggle of leica-m's and a m7; mamiya; and occasionally the slr nikons
and all those wonderful lenses;will i use them up in my lifetime???????
<which is the reasonable thing > nope.never happen.
could i sell the nikons and get a contax g setup. sure.
but that stuff is from my entire shooting life- id MISS it.
and i May have to use them to earn again- so they will lurk in the lab;
untill im either blind or dead.
actually i think i could shoot the m's successfully EVEN if I were blind.......how about that.
fcg

 

[jdos2]

The only camera I miss is the Contax G2. The M7 is gone, and it's fine, I've my Universals to fall back on, with removable backs.

For 35mm I'm down to one Nikon S2 and a working Kiev, with an itching to send another [Kiev] off to be fixed like a Contax- in an expensive experiment. We'll see.

I'm glad the C330 is gone. I took pictures at a friends wedding. Her photographers didn't do well, though, preferring to take pictures of the very cute neice, not of the people that had to travel from Portugal to attend the wedding... I had family shots, friends, groups, ambients, in addition to the portraits. And though she was much (much!) happier with the results, to my critical eye, I couldn't like most of the shots from the C330- focus was off on many shots (I can't focus well on a ground glass!) and worse, those shot with the lens wide (or nearly wide) open showed the standard bokeh of cheaper Tessar designs, or in this case, the typical look of the C330 5 element 105 and 135mm optics... I was stunned, it is true, but not in a good way. I'm glad my friend wasn't as critical. Nothing wrong with the camera, I'm a rangefinder shooter, and I'm used to the stabler cameras with typically better optics (Mamiya Universal 100mm f/2.8 is hard to beat!)

It's all good.

I'll say "someday" to the G-2, and simply enjoy what I have. ;-)

(until the next itch!)

 

[taffer]

JD, what are you planning to do with the Kiev ? A Contax fixing ? Henry Scherer maybe ???

http://www.beststuff.com/forum/read.php?f=17&i=53&t=53

Please, let me know how it turns, according to that external thread above he brings the Kievs into Contax standards, and that MUST be something great ! 🙂 I've heard of his job on some Contaxes from a friend, and it seems he really knows what he's doing, just in case you're a bit worried about that rebuild.

Ah... if that camera had a built-in 35mm frameline I think I would have found my personal favorite 😀

Shhh, please, don't tell that to my other cameras !!! 😉

The next think I'm doing probably is a CLA and fresnel screen fitting to my Rollei Va. I like a lot that camera, but somehow I can't manage to use it as it deserves. The original ground glass screen is really dim, so let's see how the screen I got from eBay for it solves that...

Oscar

 

[jdos2]

Exaclty, Oscar- I've been in touch with Henry, his website is awesome, and he's been helpful and informational.
http://www.zeisscamera.com/

I've bought one camera from Oleg, and it is great- I'm just curious to see "how good it can get," as it were. I'll send Henry a lens or two (J-8's, of course!) as well, and see if he can choose the best of the best and match the body to it- again, going for the optimum.

I think it's interesting that Henry doesn't echo the typical "silk purse/sows ear" kind of argument (I don't know the Spanish idiom, but I believe the expression is the same) I've heard from other websites that the Kiev can't be made into a good camera. I've something like 4 other Kiev bodies that I could ship to him in an effort for ONE good one to come back. The one from Oleg, of course, is an exception, and works as expected.

Ya know, it might not be so hard to make a 35mm framline for the Kiev... Hmmm. Hmmm. Just thinking here,but a couple small wide-angle attachments *might* do the trick. THAT would be cool! "eyes" like on the old Leica would be a starting point.

I try to get one chunk of gear fixed/rebuilt/maintained every other month, right now it's the 65mm Mamiya Universal lens in for redo- the shutter is having trouble. I'm lucky to have a local shop that not only stock the Seikosha shutter spares, but doesn't at all mind working on these strange camera bits!

 

[GeneW]

On this topic, I keep telling myself to simplify -- to get down to 2, maybe 3 cameras I like to use and thin out the rest So far I've been unable to part with anything -- not even old beaters like a Pentax H1a pre-Spotmatic SLR.

It nags at me that some of my cameras are seriously underused just because I have too many. Too many is relative, I know, but I'm not really a collector. I've just acquired these over time and, except for my 'pea-shooters', each one was once my main cam.

It's a disease ...

Gene

 

[taffer]

Ya know, it might not be so hard to make a 35mm framline for the Kiev... Hmmm. Hmmm. Just thinking here,but a couple small wide-angle attachments *might* do the trick. THAT would be cool! "eyes" like on the old Leica would be a starting point.

JD, that could be GREAT !

Maybe Contax users need a guy like this one:
http://www.cameraquest.com/TAnotcoll.htm
http://www.cameraquest.com/TAts.htm
And thinks like this one:
http://www.cameraquest.com/LM1.25x.htm

Gene, don't worry, just now I think I'll be happy if I could manage NOT to get more cameras 😛