Too many cameras?

[former member]

A d-40. The man that made that cool sunshade for the Industar is using a D-40.

The world just darkened ever so slightly.

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

And seeing that socks came up earlier......I spotted this gent rolling a cigarette this afternoon, he was pretty cool - with a silver knob walking cane...but socks - I was'nt impressed! 😀
Dave

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

Yes Dave, at least you could get some soviet glass for your Nikon.
Kiev made a SLR with Nikon mount, I don't know if the lenses were Industar, Jupiter, KMZ or whatever.

Put some black tape on your camera and a RFF softie too! (a red one).😛

Well - redemption comes on Thursday, when I board that plane for Turkey!.....for the main camera will be a Leica with my homebrew shade fixed to the Elmar, and another on the....J8 -yes Brian - J8!....Better? 😀

 

[btgc]

I do not worry if I use some cameras more rarely. I worry if I'm not familiar with some cameras to operate them without looking at controls longer than a second, that is the real problem with having too much gear.

 

[former member]

Well - redemption comes on Thursday, when I board that plane for Turkey!.....for the main camera will be a Leica with my homebrew shade fixed to the Elmar, and another on the....J8 -yes Brian - J8!....Better? 😀

Elmar and J-8, better.

You need a J-3....

 

[nobbylon]

I am seriously thinking about drastically reducing my assortment of cameras!. I'm not a collector - as such, don't spend big money on them, but like most of us here just love old cameras, and like to use them. It did'nt seem to be an issue when I was younger, but now I am retired and have lots more time to pursue the hobby, I find myself agonising over what to use, what to take on outings etc., more and more!....you would think it would be the opposite!. I often find myself with three, four, or more cameras loaded and ready to go, and not knowing what the film, or subject matter is in some!.
I suppose this state of mind could be related to age! 😱, but often the indecision reaches the point of almost spoiling an outing for me, the fact is - I just cannot bear to have fine machinery (of any kind) not being used, anyone have similar thoughts .....or whatever?
Dave.

Dave,
completely agree, I really dislike that I have my Nikon's, F's and F2's and a great M2 sitting around doing nothing. Fact is, I always just grab my M6 or D700. I suspect that when I eventually get my dream M9 I will leave film totally and probably the D700 as well. I've tended to buy the stuff that I hankered after when I was a lad at school in the mid 70's. I love mechanical stuff, cameras, old cars, watches and old school motorcycles.
My other major headache is which lens to use! 35, 50, 1.4 or f2. Nikon or Leica. Jeez I should just feel very lucky I have choice. Restless minds are hard to deal with!!!!!

 

[back alley]

i have finally come to the place where i am content with one camera, the rd1. i have 2 of them as i prefer to always have a back up in case of possible needed repair.

i used to fret over lenses and making 'kits' for specific uses and this did drive me crazy.
i have traded one lens for another for ages it seems. but that all changed when the elmar m arrived. it is significantly different from most other lenses that it helped me to see that each lens could have a place in my bag. now i look forward to trying (a few) other lenses but not trading or selling any of the current line up.

 

[Gumby]

... in my bag.

Which bag? 😀

 

[back alley]

Which bag? 😀

i generally use the domke f6 for storage.
:angel:

 

[sojournerphoto]

Dave

It's worse when you're not retired and need to fit work in as well...

I've got a few (less than many it would see,) cameras, but only like to carry one at a time. once I'm out I don't worry or look back. That's the way the cookie crumbles.

PS 5D for sale on the big bad auction site.

Mike

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

I don't have too many cameras: I use the 10 I have constantly... MF less than 35mm, LF less than MF, and digital even less, just for strange things, like recording in color things I shot on B&W film, or favors, or showing things on the web, or reproducing city maps... Those things...

I think yet I'll buy more film cameras, a few for sure, because there are some oldies I like, and also because lately I want to have more than one identical body... I'd like a second R4M with a second CV 28 3.5 for sun and shadows on the same sunny day...

I think carrying two or three cameras with lenses on and different films is fine...

Cheers,

Juan

 

[nobbylon]

I wouldn't think it's a problem, unless you're not paying your mortgage or feeding your children to buy equipment. Otherwise, take care of them and then pass them on!

Indeed! It's the same with all extra toys, if the important stuff is taken care of then it doesn't really matter anyway. This is my thinking about an M9 purchase. If it's not affecting anything else that's important in life and the kids are ok then who cares. Life's too short and everyday without is a missed opportunity.

 

[Armoured]

Adolescents at heart

Adolescents at heart

The issue for me, was - for the most part - there is quite a bit of really nice
analog gear on the market, as a lot of pro's have gone digital. ...

I grew up reading Shutterbug in the 80's and 90's. Much of this gear was reviewed or discussed back then, but it was unaffordable, out of reach as teenager.🙂

I applaud your self-restraint in cutting back. Me, I'm having fun playing with the cameras I couldn't afford then. It's embarrassing, but I can live with that.

And I do take more pictures because of it, and every once in a while a whopper that friends and family love. And they put up with me the rest of the time (and my excessive gear).

This too will pass, but what else is a hobby for?

I appreciate the asceticism and purism of those using one body/lens, though; it's just not where I am now.

 

[Andy Kibber]

I wonder if Bill M. will break his silence and chime in.

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

I wouldn't think it's a problem, unless you're not paying your mortgage or feeding your children to buy equipment. Otherwise, take care of them and then pass them on!

Yeah! - I passed my kids on long ago! 😉

 

[Steve M.]

What's really worked well for me was a decision to shoot only 6x6. OK, I am going to crop my Bessa RF 6x9 negs to 6x6, but that's a camera I will never sell. A Hasselblad, the Bessa RF, and either a Minolta Autocord or a Rolleiflex T (haven't got the negs back to make the choice yet) will do it for me. Three cameras, and I probably could get by w/ two. I should have only $1000 or so in the three, which for me is a real reduction, and the image quality is gonna be great. It's taken years to get to this point.

 

[Calzone]

1. 120 camera, and think about what you be the most versatile, A Blad or an RZ is a studio camera, a TLR or a Mamiya 6/7, a more versatile camera. 🙂

I culled down and got rid of a lot of glass and two beloved Nikon F2AS's. I figured the F2's needed CLA's so selling them was a logical decison because I kept three pro Nikon bodies. I like having three SLR's because it means less lens changing; and, at times, I sometimes carry two SLR's.

Seems in the meantime, even though I got rid of two bodies, I ended up buying three cameras. Sell two: Buy three.

In addition to getting a Leica IIIG, I bought a Rolleiflex TLR and a Mamiya 6 for MF exploration.

Gear rotation is good, No regrets, but if you cull down you may fing that in the future that you may have a "critical mass." Moral of the story is culling down is not easy, and you may end up with even more cameras in the end.

Cal

 

[SCOTFORTHLAD]

I am seriously thinking about drastically reducing my assortment of cameras!. I'm not a collector - as such, don't spend big money on them, but like most of us here just love old cameras, and like to use them. It did'nt seem to be an issue when I was younger, but now I am retired and have lots more time to pursue the hobby, I find myself agonising over what to use, what to take on outings etc., more and more!....you would think it would be the opposite!. I often find myself with three, four, or more cameras loaded and ready to go, and not knowing what the film, or subject matter is in some!.
I suppose this state of mind could be related to age! 😱, but often the indecision reaches the point of almost spoiling an outing for me, the fact is - I just cannot bear to have fine machinery (of any kind) not being used, anyone have similar thoughts .....or whatever?
Dave.

Hi Dave,
You have hit the nail right on the head as far as I am concerned .I couldn't have put it better myself.It's good to know that I haven't been the only one in this sort of 'predicament'.😱

During the last few years I rushed to get my hands on those lovely,usually old, machines, which had read about in earlier days,when I had neither the cash nor the free time to experience them.Only to find that when my chance had finally come, I couldn't make enough use of them,became 'confused'as to which ones to use, and didn't really enjoy just fondling them.Began to feel a bit daft really.😉

Cheers,
Brian.

 

[back alley]

I wonder if Bill M. will break his silence and chime in.

i've been thinking the same thing...if this thread doesn't get him to lift his cone of silence i doubt that anything will.

 

[chrishayton]

I used to have too many cameras but at the moment Im pretty content

two RFs
one ricoh GR1 P/S which is on long term/permanent loan from my uncle
and a cheap Nikon film SLR that I used for lenses hired from uni (which I now no longer need as just finished)