What will be your LAST camera that you purchase?

[Wayne R. Scott]

I was reading another thread this evening on GAS prevention and Frank S. pretty much echoed my sentiments in his answer. However in my case it is Contax and Canon P systems instead of Leica and Contax.

So this is not a question of your first or next or additional purchase, but just a question as to at what point will you be satisfied?

I have pretty much tried the basic rangefinders, the fixed focus Japanese models of the 70's, the Soviet cameras, folding cameras, compact cameras, and decent interchangeable cameras like the Canon P and Contax IIa type. I've used Russian, Japanese, German and American glass. The end result is I still have a tiny 35mm negative from which I am hard pressed to tell whether it was shot with a 50mm f1.5 Sonnar or a J-8 or a Canon 50mm f1.8 or a Yashica 45mm. But when I place the 35mm negative next to a 6x6 negative from a Minolta Autocord or 6x7 negative from a Koni-Omega or a 4x5 negative from a Crown Graphic there is no doubt as to which ones I like better.

I think that I am at one with my 35mm rangefinder kits and do not want more. I have glass that ranges from 21mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, 100mm, and 135mm which will cover 99.9% of any type of rangefinder shooting I might want to do. In fact I am going to start cleaning house and sending some neat little rangefinders into the hands people who will put them to use.

Now I am done buying!!! Just film, paper, chemicals and time for me from now on. And maybe an 11x14 and 7x17 camera for contact printing. Then of course I will need some lenses to cover these larger formats.

Wayne

 

[julianphotoart]

I predict the last camera I purchase will be something compact and well-engineered that creates 35 megapixel images with instant hard-copy; i.e., a film camera.

Seriously, it will probably be a pinhole 4x5. That will be after the purchase of the 4x5 field camera which will be after I've changed everything in the darkroom to accomodate a large-format enlarger. Which will be after some nice big bonus, and after the Moto Guzzi purchase has been taken care of. In the meantime, it's RF's baby.

Julian

 

[sf]

Last camera I will purchase : a Leica MP. No doubt. I am seriously considering selling everything and ordering an A la Carte MP from Leica Germany. I probably won't, because it would be foolish on a number of levels. . . . . . or would it?

Anyone want to buy the RF645 + three lenses + KM Multi Pro scanner for $3500?

I've always wanted a Leica, and some day I will have one. In the meantime, my beautiful Bronica will suffice quite nicely.

 

[Oldprof]

I'm pretty much in the same boat as you, Wayne. I have multiple rangefinder and SLR bodies and a wide range of lenses and accessories for each. And I have a digital camera with a zoom lens for family snapshots. I consider myself a shooter rather than a collector, but I still have more equipment than I need. Back in the '60s I only had one camera - a rangefinder with a fixed lens - and I made good pictures with that simple setup. When I got my first SLR in 1970 I was able to expand into telephoto and macro photography, which I appreciated. But I still made do with one SLR body until the 80s when I added a few more bodies and a 20 mm super wideangle and a 400mm telephoto. About five years ago I added some Fed, Zorki, and Kiev rangefinders and their lenses - couldn't resist the bargain prices on eBay. Now I have more cameras than I know what to do with. I don't think I will be buying more cameras for a long time - perhaps never.

 

[lightwriter]

An M8. Only because my wife will kill me shortly after opening the box 🙂

 

[trittium]

Plaubel Makina Proshift is a camera I have been lusting over for about a year. They usually sell for the price of a modern Leica. I would probably by a modern Leica first, then cap it off with the the Proshift, but I still don't think that would be the end. I would always be keeping an eye out for lenses.

 

[back alley]

at 55 and having recently had a heart attack...🙂 i might be thinking about this more than some...

i think i might be done buying cameras. i'm thinking more about lenses now though.

does it count if i buy another camera body that i already have? as i'm thinking about another cl used with a 28 & either a 40 or a 50.

joe

 

[wlewisiii]

Given what I have right now, I'd say it's probably going to be a Canon T-90 to provide me with SLR capability for serious macro & telephoto needs. After that, there are a number of lenses I'd like to get (a 10" or 12" Tele-Optar, a FD 500mm, a FD 50/3.5 Macro, a 90 Elmarit, a Serenar 28/3.5 & a Serenar 135/3.5) but quite seriously I could see that being the last camera for a very long time.

I've got enough of the light tight boxes, I need to get out and live up to them...

William

 

[hugivza]

The term "last camera" implies a sense of ultimate finality, a somewhat depressing concept to embrace. Hopefully, nothing currently in my possession as it would mean an early visit from the Reaper. My latest camera purchase, which was last month, was a Contax TVS to replace one stolen a couple of years ago. Given the speed of technological change over the past 20 years a 35 Mb 35mm equivalent sensor is probably on the drawing board somewhere now. Perhaps digital as we know it will have been replaced. Whatever it is it will have be paid for in cash, and stay in the garage for a couple of months prior to being "discovered" to avoid the unhappy ending contemplated by lightwriter, or at least something involving pain and a rusty knife.

 

[Stephanie Brim]

The last camera? Not the Leica, surprisingly...I really want a Crown Graphic. I backed out of buying the other one and I won't be looking for one for a while...but I think the last camera I really want is a Crown.

 

[Ergo]

Even tho i am still "changing lenses" i would never sell my M3 or buy any other body.
I think i want to end up with a 21mm leica 2.8 and a 75mm leica.If not the 21 cv and the 90 cron-c will do just fine.

 

[Rich Silfver]

I will sell off a lot of cameras in the near future and part of that money may well go into funding the last FILM camera I would consider getting which is a Leica MP.

3-4-5 years from now I will most likely also own a dSLR (or a digital Leica M) but I hope and belive that I will be able to continue to use a film camera for years and years to come as well.

 

[sf]

The last camera? Not the Leica, surprisingly...I really want a Crown Graphic. I backed out of buying the other one and I won't be looking for one for a while...but I think the last camera I really want is a Crown.

Haven't seen you in a while!

The Crown Graphic is a nice camera. I used to own one. Tetrisattack has it now.
They are sturdy, and very cost effective bodies to put lenses on. You can find beautiful portrait lenses for very little. I used mine with a Kodak 127 Ektar, Caltar 150, and Fujinon SWD.

 

[Dougg]

George, despite enthusiasm for your Bronica, it's clear you have Leicaitis and must at some point acquire one if only to have "been there, done that." My old M2 lends credibility to arguments and prevents anxiety... and takes good snaps too. 😀 But the Bronica has it beat. Don't sell that Bronica; you'll want it.

I have no idea what my last camera will be like. I'm pretty satisfied right now, with plenty of gear to do whatever I want. Heck, I might even pick up a serious digital camera eventually. Have to wait to see what the future brings. 😉

 

[sf]

George, despite enthusiasm for your Bronica, it's clear you have Leicaitis and must at some point acquire one if only to have "been there, done that." My old M2 lends credibility to arguments and prevents anxiety... and takes good snaps too. 😀 But the Bronica has it beat. Don't sell that Bronica; you'll want it.

I have no idea what my last camera will be like. I'm pretty satisfied right now, with plenty of gear to do whatever I want. Heck, I might even pick up a serious digital camera eventually. Have to wait to see what the future brings. 😉

yeah, I know. Deep down, I know I could never sell it. What I need is to find real employment so I can actually afford one.

I have attached the a la carte MP I designed on the Leica site. The way I see it, I'd buy this camera and never need another. Lenses would be the only gas trouble after. Modeled as a modern M3.

 

[pshinkaw]

An 8X10 Deardorff, because when I feel complelled to purchase one it will be because professional B&W sheet film will be all that is available or I will be coating my own emulsions on plates or paper.

-Paul

 

[Al Patterson]

Last Camera?

Last Camera?

Since I'm 50 and in good health (so far), it will probably be some digital thing I buy a year or so before I die. However, the last film camera I buy will likely be some form of M mount rangefinder. I'm trying to decide whether to go for an M6, MP or Zeiss Ikon.

 

[ch1]

I cannot imagine what will be the last camera I ever buy because I don't know when I am going to die!

I do want to "rationalize" my current collection of gear - eliminating some duplicate bodies, leness and accessories that rarely get used. But I will always be interested in new (or new to me) gear that presents me with an opportunity to advance my meager skills.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Seriously, it will probably be a pinhole 4x5.
Julian

Yep me too, and a ton of Polaroid film for it.

 

[bmattock]

www.deathclock.com

I'm well into the bonus round.