When is too much, too much?

[bonatto]

I'm sure some of you have already seen the photograph of William Eggleston's camera briefcase.

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887324715704578481214024861412

Other photographers like Koudelka, have taken a much more frugal approach, carrying only what they need.

Of course, as a gear forum, many members here will be biased towards the virtues of gear acquisition. Guilty as charged.

Personally, I have found it to be fruitful at times, when "just" the right lens arrives, or that strap that manages to get out of the way, or settling for the perfect bag.

Other times it can be overwhelming, more gear than you have time to manage, keep organized, and certainly more than you could (and need) to shoot with. Perhaps the cyclical turnover of gear is what ends up overwhelming, and directing focus away from more important things. But by the same token, how could you ever end up with the "perfect" kit?

What is, then, the golden ratio? How many cameras are you comfortable with having in the house, or does the though simply manage to hide itself away from your worries? Is an Eggleston-chest of cameras a thing for when you don't/can't want to photograph anymore? Bresson took up drawing again.

Is there ever too much? And if so, how much is too much?

 

[jsrockit]

I've settled on 4 cameras (one fixed lens) and 5-6 lenses (I only use 28mm through 55mm) being my cut off point... any more and I get anxiety because I'm not using them. Each has its purpose too... if I'm not photographing, I will not own the equipment.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Are you talking photography vs gear play sindrome?

If person is gearhead or collector here is no limit and nothing wrong with it. Buy and try all of them!

If it is more related to photography as picture taking process...

I have seen interviews and read about good photographers with single camera-lens use. Most often within street photography, reportage limits.

More practical approach seems to be in using of different media formats. I remember in Anne Leibovitz documentary how she likes to use old film cameras, but on the assignment she was using different kind of cameras.

Also, if you are practising different types of photography it might be cheaper to acquire few different cameras over time instead of buying one super camera at once (if such camera exists).

But if you have strong believe how camera doesn't matter for good picture taking it could be one and only as well to practice in this believe 🙂
Once I figure out how to take bigger than livesize bugs pictures with my Leica, I'll join in the practise of this religion. 🙂

 

[Corran]

Looking over at my camera shelf, I don't have any cameras that I don't use, at least some. I don't understand the point of having dozens of identical cameras. Every camera I personally use has different strengths and weaknesses. If I don't use something I sell it - except for some of the more or less worthless decorative pieces I've picked up over the years for nothing.

I personally don't like "collectors." They drive up the price for rare, useful lenses and then waste them in a cabinet, rather than letting them get used for the purpose they were built for. I have several cameras/lenses that many would think was crazy to actually use out in the field.

 

[stevencrichton]

The article says he "collects" them. Implying that this is a collection not in any way a range of working gear. Much like a stamp collection isn't a pile of stamps for large postal runs.

I can understand that. He's lived his life with photography, it's been the making of them and as he's grown old he's become more attached to key items in it that relate to him. Also he's not a stupid man either.. what price will a leica from the Egglestone collection make vs a leica. This is an investment for his family.

I recently ditched 3 lowepro backpacks worth of Nikon primes and bodies to goto an M9 with 4 lenses (much easier to fit on a motorbike). However, if I had the ability, space and capital I'd buy every camera I ever liked the look of. I used to swap day to day dependent on the look, the subject etc .. Travel with an M2, shoot landscapes on a view camera. Shoot hair work on digital.

I suppose it's all down to personal preference, plus on the accumulation side. There are many who simply buy things as they love the technology and history of it all.

 

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

What is, then, the golden ratio?

One less camera than you currently possess? :angel:

 

[bonatto]

I can understand that. He's lived his life with photography, it's been the making of them and as he's grown old he's become more attached to key items in it that relate to him. Also he's not a stupid man either.. what price will a leica from the Egglestone collection make vs a leica. This is an investment for his family.

Interesting point, but then, is an Eggleston' bookshelf leica in the same league as a Winogrand leica, or does it have some intrinsic value just because he had it in his collection?

Also, if you are practising different types of photography it might be cheaper to acquire few different cameras over time instead of buying one super camera at once (if such camera exists).

This is also an interesting point, which brings the question of return of investment. I guess this is a really subjective point, as if you're happy with your gear, or, like in stevencrichton's case, you have to deal with 3 backpacks less of gear, it might mean a better back later on in life, certainly worth the price of entry of a second hand digital rangefinder.

any more and I get anxiety because I'm not using them. Each has its purpose too... if I'm not photographing, I will not own the equipment.

A good consideration, empty the shelves until GAS strikes again? The problem is when the anxiety get's between you and the camera

 

[Bill Clark]

It depends.

When I run out of room?

No money? maybe I'd quit eating for awhile to save money? Ha!

Leica Historical Society publishes a quarterly magazine titled, "Viewfinder." Issue July 2013 has an article from collector Stuart Cohen. If you get a chance, consider reading it. Gosh did he collect the cameras and other stuff.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

I think it's good owning cameras and lenses, with no limit.
It teaches a lot about a really important thing: what's good for what, and what to carry when... Lots of bags too, new and hand made by myself...
I'm not a collector in any way, and I haven't counted them, but I may own close to 100 cameras and lenses I use all the time, in 35, MF, LF and digital... In no way I feel it's too much... Indeed I feel it's just a basic set...
Curiously, I've never sold any piece of gear, but I've made a couple of gifts...
And certainly I can think of 20 other things I'd like to buy right now in a second if I could...
Cheers,
Juan

 

[lxmike]

Well after years of buying selling and using far to many cameras I have settled on two, and those two will stay with me for quite a while, a Fuji X100 and a X Pro 1

 

[daveleo]

The collector me has lots of (inexpensive ! ) cameras that I don't use but whose designs (as machines) fascinate me. I have no problem admiring them, showing them to friends and never making pictures with them. They served the world well in their "working lives".

As a hobbyist picture maker, I have 2 or 3 workhorses. At the moment, a fixed lens Fuji and a Nikon DSLR with 7 ? lenses (that come and go).

I NEVER have more than one camera / one lens with me at any time when I am out and about town (but again, I don't earn my living at this 😀 ) In fact, 95% of the time these days, the Fuji is on my shoulder.

 

[Takkun]

I have no problem with collecting random detritus for sentimental or historic purposes. Collectors who are fanatical are another story. I've got a few pieces that probably won't see much film in the future.
When it comes to actually shooting, I like to be light. I do have both 35, digital, and MF systems, for different purposes. But I suspect Eggleston and the like don't gear chase for their own work. Too much of a headache to get in the way of creativity.

 

[Jamie Pillers]

I think there's too much when: 1) it gets in the way of making photographs (doesn't apply to collectors of course), 2) it uses up money that should be spent on other stuff, and/or 3) it uses up time that should be spent on other stuff. The word "addiction" comes to mind when I think of this question.

 

[goamules]

Collecting for the sake of collecting often involves outpaying others, or outworking them. In other words, it becomes a competitive sport. The collector is addicted, and trys to feel good by "winning" with each new purchase.

It happens in all hobbies. There are forums full of people with this sickness, showing their latest "score" or "haul." Many times they photograph their garages, or gun safes, or whatever full of dozens of IDENTICAL items. I just can't fathom it. Look around in other hobbies, you'll find them. Once they start buying, the only thing that stops them is the grave.

 

[peterm1]

Obviously .......................when its too much!

 

[sjones]

I had a collector’s mentality growing up, and so I empathize with folks who like to buy things for the sake of building a collection. This said, this somewhat obsessive character never really kicked in with photography.

I’ve bought a bit of gear, but this has been more a function of exploration, starting with a DSLR eight years back and now only shooting a film rangefinder.

When I switched to film, I at one point was dividing up time among a Canon SLR, Nikon SLR, and Bessa rangefinder. Just by natural selection, I found myself favoring the rangefinder.

Then I picked up a Leica Barnack. I had originally wanted an M3 or M2, but I couldn’t afford one at the time. In any event, only when the iiif was in for repairs or a CLA did I use the Bessa and Nikon SLR.

Last year, I finally bought the M2, and it’s really the only camera I want to use along with the iiif. I have a few 50mm lenses, but I’m hoping to match the M2 with a Summicron dual range for no other reason than, what’s the word Leica is liking these days, oh yes, symbiosis.

After that, there will be no camera or lens that I will be wanting (and certainly nothing that I will need).

One thing that I learned while using multiple cameras is that I’m effectively lazy; I didn’t really like thinking about what camera I would use for the day.

 

[Rick Waldroup]

I don't fancy myself much of a camera collector. And right now, I own only two that I use all the time.

Instead, I am having an issue arise that I thought would never happen to me. As I get older, for some inexplicable reason, I have suddenly become style conscience. I find myself thinking more and more about how my cameras look, what color of camera should I get, and so on. I mean, it really is weird. My wife thinks I am losing my mind. In the past few years, I have owned a brown Panasonic G3, a red Panasonic P&S, and I currently own a white body Panasonic GF-1, which I certainly did not need (I already owned a black GF-1), but I just had to have the white body.

I have also found myself becoming concerned about how stylish I am in my dress. I am dressing much nicer than I ever have before, I am obsessed with nice looking, high quality shoes, etc. In the past I was always a casual dresser, but not any more.

Pair this with my weird fixation on stylish cameras and I am starting to wonder if my wife is right.

Right now, I have my eye on a metallic green Ricoh GR, with an ebony grip.......😎😕

 

[charjohncarter]

I own too many cameras. I use them all and for different reason. Some for their lousy lenses, some for 120 format (which to me is slow to work with), or for tourism, some for bad weather, many for their good lenses, some for convenience. I do have a couple duplicate cameras, but nothing like W.E.

Sorry, have to go I just ordered a Pentax ZX-5 (it has come), I have one but another will be great. It is a cheaply made camera but has everything that I like in a 35mm. I wish they made one in 120.

 

[hepcat]

Collecting has never interested me. I have a working kit. For me, enough is enough when I have gear that will cover 95% of anything I need to shoot commercially, with enough redundancy that I can still bring home images if I have an equipment failure. What's important is working redundancy and the lenses... if you have redundancy so you can recover from equipment failure and still bring home the images, and you have the right glass for the job, what you choose for the rest of the kit just isn't that important as long as it's competent and works with everything else. The pieces in my working kit have changed over the years, but the concept has remained static.

As technology has changed, I've used different systems, usually for five to ten years each. I started with Leica M and Mamiya C330... and moved to Canon EOS and Hasselblad... and then Olympus digital... and now I'm back to Leica and Hasselblad. I've bought and sold a lot of individual pieces as I've been able to upgrade here and there; trading consumer-grade lenses for Canon L or Olympus SHQ zooms or f/2 primes for larger aperture lenses.

I now have large aperture primes from 21mm-135mm covered in roughly 15mm increments in M mount with three M bodies, one film, an M9P and an M8 to back it up and a Visoflex III. Rounding out that kit is a Panny GX-1 (and M adapter) for those very occasional times that I need a short zoom, live-view, or video.

In 6x6 medium format film, two bodies and lenses from 50mm to 250mm with redundancy in the 50mm and 80mm lenses cover it. For redundancy, I have two sets of flashes; two 285 HVs and two Sunpak 544s.

There is little I can't do with those two kits... I seldom take all of either kit as I can choose the lens range and bodies I'll most likely use for what I'm doing.

ON EDIT; I should probably also add that I never buy new equipment, and lest anyone think this stuff costs a fortune, I have spent about the same for ALL my Leica M gear as the cost of a new M240 and Summilux 50. I also have about as much in all my Hassy V gear as the cost of a new Hassy H body/lens/back. Not that it's cheap at that; it's not... but it's affordable if you buy carefully.

 

[btgc]

Reading this thread makes me thinking, hey, I'm just quite OK 🙂

Probably I have some extra piece of gear but I haven't bought too expensive, too unnecessary things. On other hand, expensive gear has better resale value.