What does the future hold for you?

[rover]

I think I really may sell it all. Well, not everything, but it may be time to pass on the stuff I picked up along the way and focus on just a camera or two. Mostly I am talking about my RFs.🙁

I spent some time not long ago walking around with my Bessa R and (insert Canonet, Himatic, Konica) together, and just decided that the Bessa was a nicer user, so I went out and found an R2, which is even nicer. So I have started to slowly part with some of my stuff. I am thinking now of taking a big step and selling my Canonet and Konica and replacing them with an R3a. Am I going crazy?😕

So, I am wrapping up the sale of my Bessa R, have already parted with my Himatic 9 and Electro 35 GSN, and now I have to decide if I want to sell the Canonet and Konica. The R3a will give me metered manual and AE operation, with interchangable lenses. A clearer, bigger viewfinder, and will work well in a team with the R2. It is a little bigger than the Canonet, but not much larger. I really see that the two oldies are going to end up being redundent for me. I always said I didn't want to be a collector.

This will leave me with an R2 and R3a. Right now I have the CV 21, 35/1.7, CLE 40/2, 50/2 Summi, and CV 75. Financially, by selling the R, Canonet and Konica I will be able to buy the R3a almost as a wash.

Then what happens? Well, I already am thinking of the 40/1.4 as a birthday gift. By then I am sure there will be lots of (hopefully favorable) reviews of this lens. And after that, what about selling the 35 Ultron and the 40 CLE and replace the two lenses with one, a 35 Summicron?

Is this gear lust? I think I am happy with what I have, and see an opportunity to upgrade a little without a lot of additional financial investment. It is more fine tuning my gear, now that I am a little more knowledgeable.

I am rambling, but am I making any sense?

 

[FrankS]

I am rambling, but am I making any sense?

Unfortunately, yes.

 

[Biber]

I think it sounds like a good plan to get the R3 and focus on one or two compatible bodies instead of many odd ones.

 

[peter_n]

You're making sense to me. But then I'm not a collector, I have just one RF body and four lenses. I need another body, but that's related to a project I'm embarking on, not an aquisitive drive.

I've finally decided I'll be selling my Nikon F3 gear to get the new body because I'm just not using it any more. There I've said it... 🙂

 

[SolaresLarrave]

rover, I know where you are. I was in that kind of sweeping mood myself about a year ago... I sold my very small collection of RF cameras (but kept my Canonet and Contax), and got myself (in debt) the Leica system.

I don't regret it, as I think that was the highest possible level I could reach. Not even lenses tickle my fancy, and, except for a few moments of weakness (mostly for medium format stuff), I'm pretty happy with my gear.

However, my gift to self was a paramender. And that's where I see myself going: slowly acquiring additional, auxiliary items, but no longer going into different formats or bodies. I know that RFs suit my style for street, candids and most photography, whereas my SLR and TLR are for landscapes and macros. Hence, I'm working in ways to complement my gear and photographic habits.

And, quite frankly, I don't see myself hauling a Mamiya 645e around town. It'd be cool, of course, as the negatives and slides are quite impressive, but you can't beat the discrete presence of a rangefinder camera... 🙂

So, just persevere in your cuts and projects. Soon enough, your gear operations will let you go deeper into the kinds of photography you do best.

 

[Doug]

I see more medium format ahead. Fortunately, I'm adequately equipped, freeing me from GAS. Mostly. 🙂 I just can't see getting into a whole different camera system, and I don't really need anything further in the systems I do have.

Fuji GS645S (60mm f/4), GA645Wi (45/4), Bronica RF645 (45, 65, 100mm), two Pentax 6x7 bodies with 45, 55, 75, 105, 165, 200, and 300mm.

It looks like we'll be going to our time-share on west Maui in November, so I'm pondering what to take along. I'm thinking the Bronica with Portra 160 for landscapes and such, with the Fuji GA with its wide angle and closer focus for interiors with NPZ800. But, gee, no macros... Wife suggests I take the Canon G3 digital!

 

[rover]

I don't regret it, as I think that was the highest possible level I could reach. Not even lenses tickle my fancy, and, except for a few moments of weakness (mostly for medium format stuff), I'm pretty happy with my gear.

I think I am really close right now, and ultimately, with not much more financial investment, I can get to the end of the tunnel. And, in the end, I will have less stuff than I started with. The funny thing is, that if in fact I don't get there, I can be happy with what I have too. Well, this is a good thing.

 

[back alley]

i think it's a good plan ralph.

the cv has proved itself and i'm going with the thought that the new cameras will be even better than the older ones.
if you are happy with the limits of rf cams and comfortable living with them, then get what you need, what makes you happy and what will aid in satisfying your creative outlet.

i have thought the same at times as to what am i doing with all these cameras. i sold the minoltas, traded the konica for the canon lens. now i have a few other fixed lens cams that i am using less and less.
i'm doing a test and putting the oly stylus in my day bag and taking the konica c35 to leave at work. i'll see if they get used more.

if i were you i would pass on 35mm lenses altogether if you get the 40/1.4 - which i think is so close to 35.
i'd sell the 35 and 40 and just get the faster 40. i'd also be tempted to lose the 50. 40 is just so in between the 35 & 50 it just might work.
then you'd have 21/40/75. that's a nice outfit w/ 2 cams!
you could go wider or longer if you choose, buy a new scanner or lots of film, so many choices.

me? i have 35/50/75/100/135.
i'm already thinking of losing the 135 and either putting it toward another r or p or new bessa, the 1:1 finder version and /or a 28.

both the good thing and the bad thing is that we have the choice !

keep us informed...
joe

 

[Honu-Hugger]

I went through this last year with my Nikon gear and at first it was frightening to think of selling anything that I had acquired over the years. The turning point for me was preparing to leave for vacation and packing three Pelican cases and a fairly large Domke bag (I think it was a J bag) and it suddenly occurred to me how crazy this had become. I was taking all Nikon and Rollei SL66 stuff, along with Nikonos gear. I ditched all of the land gear and took two Contax IIa bodies and one extra lens (the entire kit was a 21mm, a 50/1.5, and an 85/2), a couple of filters and a light meter. It was the most liberating experience and it really brought me to change from having the Nikons be my primary gear to now using the Contax's.

I slowly at first started weeding out Nikon stuff, and as I sold more it got easier. Instead of regrets I was relieved to see all this stuff go. I decided to keep my F2 and four of my favorite lenses, but then my Dad gave me his Alpa gear so I sold the rest of the Nikon stuff. I often find myself becoming a collector and I really don't want to be.

I'm grateful for finding this list. It is a really healthy environment for stimulating creativity, at least I find it so. I am both in awe of and inspired by the many fine pictures that I see here everyday. I am so content with a couple of RF bodies and a few lenses, I would never go back to the overwhelming batch of stuff that I had before. Less is definitely more for me. Good luck with whatever you decide -- and the best of light always!

D2

 

[pvdhaar]

For me it's a constant battle. I always feel that I need this and that on top of what I already have. But as soon as I've amassed more stuff, it makes me feel uneasy. The more gear I have, the less I enjoy photography. It often makes me wonder whether I shouldn't ditch the whole kaboodle and keep only one lens, one camera. Trouble is, I know already that I'll regret selling whatever goes out the door.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I sold a camera! But: always keep an inexpensive user/beater on hand. When is the last time that you walked into a swimming pool with your Bessa? Or walked out with it in the snow to take pictures while being targeted? A Canonet or Vivitar or Minolta Hi-Matic fixed lens RF gets all of that action.
And way better than a disposable!

 

[sfaust]

I tend to agree with Honu-Hugger. While I still have a large contingent of 35mm film and digital SLR's for work related photography, the most liberating experience for me has been the discovery of RF cameras. When I first started using them, I only had one RF and a lens. Thats all I would bring when I wanted to play, cause thats all I had, and it was a very creative experience for me. Having to make a composition work within the confines of one focal length, rather than having a small arsenal of focal lengths at my disposal. I found it extended my creative abilities as I was forced to look at things differently, though one lens, rather than in my mind through several different lenses. While neither version would be better than the other, they RF version was nonetheless different than what I would have taken had I used the SLR and any focal length I desired.

While I now have a few RFs, I only take 1 body, two lenses, and perhaps a QL17 or such loaded with a different film from the RF body. Its light, small, compact, and easy to carry all day long. I carry it daily now in my briefcase or car, whereas I used to only carry the SLR equipment when I headed out just for photos. That alone has afforded me more photo opportunities and many more keepers in the last couple months vs before. I also keep a very small Sony P100 *AWESOME CAMERA BTW* digital in my front pocket whenever I leave the house.

I'd be tenpted to sell the SLR stuff, with the exception of the DSLR, if it wasn't required for my work. I don't think I'd miss it as much as I fear.


(I've used the Sony P100 for all the 'Camera and Coffee' shots if you want to see the quality of that camera with the Zeiss lens. I don't know what sensor they are using, but its not one of the smaller noisy ones from most P&S digitals. Nice quality from that combo whatever it is).

 

[Todd.Hanz]

Bryan,
I have made pinholes for my Speed Graphic, pretty neat and Wide angle. I would suggest buying one of the "laser" cut pinholes if you want to get serious though, they are clean cut w/o any frazzled edges left and you can specify the apeture. I "poked" my own with a needle and brass shim, ended up somewhere around f256 for the apeture. Good luck!

Todd

 

[Todd.Hanz]

What does the future hold for me? Summilux or something similar, I want that extra stop, or two, three........

Todd

 

[wblanchard]

I have a canon d20 on the way for my wedding photography, but when I'm not working I carry my Canon A35 F with 40mm lens on it. I just feel more relaxed and comfortable shooting with it.

Yes, I do have a really nice digital camera, but my Canon lens does everything I want it to do.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Ahhh... a Summilux! 😉

Actually... that's one I'd like to have. But just "would like," as in "it wouldn't be bad; actually, it would be kinda nice to have" for me. I'm not going to turn stones upside down or anything radical, but if I see one of the second to latest batch fly by me for the right price, I'll do my best to snatch it.