What you want, what you need, what you like, what you can afford

70 rolls of EFKE KB 400
15 rolls of EFKE KB 100
15 rolls of EFKE KB 50

developer
fixer
tons of B&W paper

clear mind, loving heart.

equipment (M5 body, the ugliest, most beautiful in same time) will came as a
result of hard work.
 
FrankS said:
...and for those of us who also live in non-ideal environments (winter cold and NA suburbia) for photography, a focus on the gear helps keep us "in the game"---

I can understand that. And envy you that you have these weather conditions that I never see. You don't know how lucky you are.

Every day here is a sunny day. But I want rain, I want snow. It doesn't happen.

My father enjoys cameras as precision instruments so I do understand you. If you ever meet him he'll show you his Reid (Leica copy) with Taylor Taylor Hobson 2" lens, and his Alpa something SLR with a weird film wind.
 
Lucky for the change in seasons, but winter time is COLD for photography. Jon, you're still missing the point about the time and energy commitments of family and employment. Your posts give the impression that you are largely retired and no (living with) wife and kids. Once I get to your situation (but with wife) I'll be able to focus more on doing photography.

The fact that I also enjoy gear MAKES ME NO LESS OF A PHOTOGRAPHER THAN YOU. Your posts consistently leave me with the impression that you feel superior to gear-heads who are not as meaningfully into photography as you.
 
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FrankS said:
The fact that I also enjoy gear MAKES ME NO LESS OF A PHOTOGRAPHER THAN YOU. Your posts consistently leave me with the impression that you feel superior to gear-heads who are not as meaningfully into photography as you.

Please, please do not think that.

I've bought and sold in the past and now am now in a position to make photographs, and not need to think about buying and selling. I am very happy with what I have.

I've sold some great cameras and regretted it later. The XA4, the Contax SLR, the Rolleiflex... Even the Pentax K1000.

I do not think I am better than anybody.

I just enjoy photography a lot more than I used to, and would enjoy buying and selling nowadays a lot less than I used to a few years back.

My biggest enjoyment this week will be when (if) my Mario Giacomelli book arrives.

Second biggest enjoyment will be spending some time with the family I have recently photographed when I take them the photos, probably Friday evening.
 
So Jon, if you have gone through a period of buying and selling in order to be happy with the gear you have now, perhaps that is what many of us here at RFF are presently going through. For myself, I believe that I have finished with this stage, and am now very happy with the gear I am fortunate to have now.

(Just to tease you a bit, I noticed that the ZeroImage website calls its pinhole cameras collectables. Does that make you a collector then? ;))

Even though I have many cameras (by some standards) if I were a collector, I certainly would not have recently sold my M2 and M3, choosing to keep instead my M5, M6, and Hexar RF due to the convenience of having built in meters useful for actually taking pictures.
 
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FrankS said:
(Just to tease you a bit, I noticed that the ZeroImage website calls its pinhole cameras collectables. Does that make you a collector then?

I just bought the one about two years ago and that's it!

It's the 35mm model and has an odd film transport system that ends up with the film back to front in the cassette.
 
staying in topic, at the moment I only have an M2 and two lenses: an hexanon 50/2 (to shoot in dark environments) and an elmar 50/3.5M (to have sharpness and that retro look, as well as compactness).
I'd like, in the future, to buy a 35mm f/2.5 skopar voigtlander, or maybe a 28/3.5 (the canon 35/2 would be the best choice, but it's expensive and hard to find here in EU). To be able to afford the lens, I'll probably have to sell the elmar.
And then I'll be done (as many here say! ;))
 
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I need a ligthmeter for inside photography (and difficult light such as in forest or early morning and evening), I think I will buy a sekonic 308 in january

Having my contax a few reparation (foam and refasten some screw in he lens)

May be a 35 mm on one of my slr (or my kiev, why not)

that all i really need




I would love to have a leica MP + noctilux + 35 mm nokton but unfortunately i am still a student :/
 
PlantedTao said:
What I want is a darkroom...
What I need is time and money to build the darkroom...
What I would like is a contractor to come in and install a fully functional professional darkroom...
I do know that I will get the chance to get the plumbing, framing, and electrical done for this project, my goal is to be up and running by the winter of 2008.

So here's to a great New Year!

Jason
Word for word this would be mine too. I would dearly love to have a wet darkroom. The plumbing framing and electrical I will pay for. I do have the room and I hope to make the money! :)
 
I'm retired, so it seems strange to say, but, more than anything I want more time to use my cameras and darkroom. There's just too much I'm seemingly responsible to care for.
 
What I want is a second Leica IIIc with a clean lens of any make, something 'fast' in 35mm to 50mm.

What I need, a Tri-x or HP5 bulk roll or two, graded fb paper for printing, small all-weather bag for pair of Leica LTMs w/ lens, decent tri-pod for small/medium camera, BAY 1 lens hood for Minolta Autocord, etc.

What I like, any of the 'L' series lenses for the Canon FD cameras, especially the F1N.

What I can afford, maybe a user grade IIIc without the lens; I don't mind waiting for gear as I have several interest to feed and rotate a limited budget among them.

Cheers
 
I ordered my sekonic 208, having my contax a few reparation, in a week, everything should be okay. I am looking for a 35 mm for my pentax too :)
 
Pitxu, some people claim that they can feel the quality of a Leica, like some craftsmen can feel the difference in a quality tool vs a cheap tool (which would still do the same job.)
 
Using a high quality tool is a real pleasure. It somehow makes the work easier and more enjoyable.
 
There is something about a Leica that transcends the mystique when many hold them in their hands. Perhaps it's knowing that you can find a good repair person to fix your M4-P right and it will stay fixed, unlike some FSUs. Perhaps it's the solid use of metal on the M3 SS unlike the Bessa R.

Lusting for a Leica is not a bad thing, unless it stops you from taking pictures. Unless it stops you from trying to stretch yourself to do things you having. Unless it takes food from children's table.

I own an M4-P, just sold my M6c. Still have my father's IIIa. They are beautiful cameras and perhaps more importantly, they take GREAT lenses from many different manufacturers.

On my watch list this year is a D300 to go with some great old Nikkor Primes I have. I have two wonderful RF system for me, one M4-P, the other S3-2000.

B2 (;->
 
Pitxu said:
Where are you going with this Frank. Are you trying to soften me up to buy a Leica?

No. Not me. Use what makes you happy. I was jsut talking about tools like knives, chisels, saws, and hammers.

;)
 
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