Why I keep all my rangefinders.

[caspert79]

People often ask me: why do you keep all those cameras, I'm shure you don't use all of them. Well, that's an interesting question.....

I keep my:
- Neoca IV S because I found it for 5 euro's, is quite rare and looks great (didn''t use it yet though). The only thing the camera needed was a little lighter fluid.

- Olympus XA: because it's a true rangefinder with a nice lens and it fits any pocket. Furthermore it's a industrial design's masterpiece.

- Yashica Lynx 14e: because of it's huge and great 7-elements f/1.4 lens and full manual control.

- Yashica Electro 35 GX: because it looks great and is the most ergonomical Electro

- Yashica Electro 35 CC: because of it's verrrrrrry nice and quite unique f/1.8, 35mm lens

- Olympus 35 SP: because of everything

- Mamiya Press 23: because of the 6x9 format offcourse, and the great 75mm lens that came with it.

- Konica Auto S2: because of the legendary hexanon lens, and both a manual and automatic mode

- Ricoh 500g: because it's cheap, has both manual and automatic control and because it's as small as a Konica C35

- Konica C35: can you get more bang for your bucks?

- Petri Color 35: okay, this is not a true rangefinder because it is scale focused. Unfortunately the light meter is not working yet, but I fell in love instantly with this camera. It's fully manual, looks like a jewel and is so small that I could hardly believe it's a full frame camera. The C35 looks huge next to it.

Tell me folks, why do you keep your rangefinders?

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

I keep the ones that I keep because I use them. Sounds like a good motive to me too.

I sold a few recently, but that was to cushion an expensive acquisition; that void shall be filled in the future, I'm sure.

 

[nomade]

I'm not sure yet i only have 2, but i'm certain that there's no way for me to give up my fed 2(my inheritance from my dad)...

 

[Byuphoto]

I keep the GSN because it is only a few serial numbers off from the one I purchased at the Phillipines PX where this one was bought. The QL 17 GIII because DUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH and the Konica Auto S2 for color and the Bessa R because it is my first LTM. The Mamiya 7 II for it's MF portability.

 

[Frank Granovski]

People often ask me: why do you keep all those cameras....

Well, one reason is that they are difficult to find. Another reason is they are better than many "modern" cameras. 🙂

 

[pedro.m.reis]

I keep all my cameras just because!!!!! 😀
And i'm buying some more 😉

 

[Trius]

I keep mine because each one forces me to see and work in a slightly different way ... exact duplicates excepted, of course.

They are a handheld history lesson, revealing the minds of their designers and the craftsmen who built them.

The different lenses reveal the world in slightly (or entirely) different ways, recording history not only through my eyes, but through the work of those designers and craftsmen; they live on.

Thus they are living things. When one speaks to me that it needs to convey its life history, its essence to my son, or daughter, or a grandchild to come, its marvelous construction will have assured its passage to yet another generation. They will carry the vision of its designers, the legacy of those who used it before them, and will record more history through their eyes ... and the vision and care of those in the past who created it and cared for it.

Trius

 

[wierdcollector]

I keep mine because my walls would look nude without them, I wouldn't know what to do with all that extra cash, you fellows wouldn't talk to me if I didn't have them and because it drives my wife crazy. Oh ok, just because it bothers me to get rid of something that once recorded all the significant things and events in a person's life. Like throwing out someone else's slides or movies, sacreligious in a way as if they never really mattered.

 

[Fred]

Because I can.

The view and speed of an RF not only is quicker than an AF SLR in low light but they are invisible to the average person on the street. Much easier to go unoticed to get some images of normal views, an SLR is far more obtrusive.

In a nut shell, fast quiet and ignrored.

 

[ch1]

Because today I took a shot with my S2 of the backside of a couple standing under a glorious Autumntime canopy of leaves along a street in NYC's Greenwich Village who were posing for their friend who was shooting them with a "cigarette box-sized" digital.

My shot will "echo" her shot - and probably will be the better of the two!

 

[fraley]

I like this thread! I keep my...

Three Zorki's because they are different colors 🙂
Fed 5c because a local Russian camera repair person fixed it for me
Fed 2 because it's compact and has a nice smelling ever-ready case
Yashica GSN because it has a fast lens and good auto exposure
Bessa R2 because it's got a great viewfinder and sharp lenses

 

[Wayne R. Scott]

I am doing my part to save mankind from the hideous effects of GAS. The more I suffer; the better off mankind will be.


Wayne

 

[Kin Lau]

You mean there's an alternative?! 😀

I'm not done with them yet... probably never will be.

 

[Flinor]

Because they're there. Because I can. Because I like them. Do we really need a reason?