Too many of the same thing?

Jerevan

Jerevan

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I am not sure anymore about the cameras on the shelves and in the cupboards ... all the stuff that gathers dust and gets too little use.

Does "overlapping" - as in my case four different 35 mm SLR systems and two 35 RF systems - bother you? I also have medium format and large format stuff that partly overlaps each other too (but less so).

It leads to analysis paralysis and wasted time, especially when heading outside. Not to mention the accesory hunt on various forums - "this I really... uuh ... need".

Does it sound familiar? :)
 
Best as I can tell, worrying about equipment, fine tuning accessories, rearranging camera bag compartments to fit a system better, etc., etc., are signs that I have no idea what I am doing when it comes to actually taking photos. Happens to most of us now and then, of course, but then over time I think it becomes like Pavlov's bell- I mistake symptom for cause and lose focus on actually photographing whenever I wonder about a lens, accessory, etc.

I used to keep cameras out on shelves, desk, etc. Now they are either in a file cabinet (the old metal file cabinets make great camera storage) or ready to go out the door.

Pick a camera, lens, film. Lock the rest away and shoot.
 
I have DSLR - lenses, flash - SLR and I have dRF - lenses, flash - RF.

With those two systems I deviate and try things. And my third system is P&S. Couple of film, couple of digital ones.

I sold LF, original Minox, half-frames, let go non Canon EOS SLRs. No regrets. But one of your daughter asked for TLR and I wish I still have serviced Rolleicord I sold.

My RF, SLR systems doesn't overlap. To have 16-35 lenses in RF, I need to spend a fortune on some slow lenses. My 16-35 2.8 SLR lens does it all. :)
 
Gracious, I have multiple systems that overlap. People just keep giving me stuff--and its free so why turn it down. I had just settled on Pentax DSLR and Olympus film as my go to systems. The Minoltas, Canons, Konicas, Voigtlanders, Retinas, and others will go on shelves as display items: nothing more than decorations. Then about three weeks ago a co-worker gave me six Leica III's with 50mm, 35mm, and 90mm lenses. So there is a whole new system to learn and use---and I intend to do so.

The overlapping doesn't bother me, but I admit I feel guilty not using the cameras I have...especially the Voigtlander Superb and the Minolta XKs. I see cameras like a friend sees his collection of guitars. Each guitar has a unique quality that inspires him differently. Yet, he only plays two guitars regularly. Then he has some that are just to play around with for amusement. I apply that to the cameras and lenses I own and use.
 
I think Dan hit the nail - I don't know what I am doing. :D

The obvious thing to do is to cull the herd a bit, starting nicely with putting stuff in a box and then send it off after a few months if I don't miss the equipment.
 
I own a lot of cameras, have owned many, many more. Every one I bought, I bought for a reason. When the reason either didn't pan out, or I decided I was not interested in pursuing it, the camera often just sits on the shelf.

Ultimately I get tired of the clutter and sell them off.

G
 
Yes, that sounds familiar. You are describing GAS addiction. I spent way too much time and money testing cameras and lenses instead of making images. Now I have two cameras, three lenses (all 135mm), and basically shoot one lens on one camera all the time while the other one sits. It works well. Of course, in order to get where I am seemed to require buying and testing nearly every camera and lens ever made, but all's well that ends well.
 
Steve M. said:
Of course, in order to get where I am seemed to require buying and testing nearly every camera and lens ever made, but all's well that ends well.
Click to expand...

I am getting to that end point too - having bought (and sometimes re-bought) hilarious amounts of cameras. But I guess that is not the primary function of someone who wants to make photographs.

“We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.” - T S Eliot
 
Use to have/shoot with a number of different camera formats but now I'm down to one. I look at it this way I have enough trouble finding interesting stuff to shoot with one camera, so why in the world do I need more than one. As far as what lenses to use/carry, sometime I make an educated decision based on the subject matter, example landscapes, other times its an educated guess other times its I think I want to use this or that lens today. Which ever it is I generally only carry 1-2 lenses.
 
Sounds familiar, I have the same problem. Most of my stuff is nickel & dime type cameras though, with a couple worth several hundred dollars. So even if I sold everything I doubt the total would be over $1100-$1200, not much nowadays.

In my 70th year, on a fixed income, about all I shoot is 4x5 but with photo paper negatives.
Might get real busy and expose 6 shots in a whole day. Cheap fun.
 
One can never have enough 52mm yellow filters.
Or 49mm.
Or 46mm.
Or 39mm.
Or step down rings.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I used to own 5 Ricoh GR1v bodies - out of which 3 were parts cameras, from which a working chimera was assembled.

I was so fond of the famously unreliable camera that I'd like to have some backups...but the first working one never failed during the past decade. So off the rest went.
 
Ah …. good .
I thought it was just me.
My stuff sat around on shelves but now gets hidden away in a cupboard ,that way don`t feel too bad.
 
"Does it sound familiar?"

Yes, it sounds familiar.

I use two different 35mm SLR systems (Nikon F mount and Pentax M42 screw-mount).
I use two different 35mm rangefinder systems (Leica M and Contax G).
I also use medium and large format film cameras.

"Does "overlapping" - as in my case four different 35 mm SLR systems and two 35 RF systems - bother you?"

Yes, here is some overlap but each offers unique features that are needed under certain conditions.
 
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