goamules
Well-known
He who dies with the most toys loses....his toys. Someone else gets them, which can be a great gift, or terrible burden of disposal.
Why so many cameras?
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He who dies with the most toys loses....his toys. Someone else gets them, which can be a great gift, or terrible burden of disposal.
Sparrow
Veteran
"I would rather follow the plow as thrall to another man, one with no land allotted him and not much to live on, than be king over all the perished dead" ... Achilles
Murchu
Well-known
I have 6 cameras, but am not sure why. When I am in a creative photographic vein, I could have 20 cameras, and I would see only the creative possibilities offered by each, and use them so accordingly. When I am not shooting much, or at all, having so many cameras and seeing them lay idle, is something that bothers me.
I have no answers by the way..
I have no answers by the way..
Sejanus.Aelianus
Veteran
Was that Fred Achiles, the celebrated batter pudding hurler of Bexhill on Sea?
Sparrow
Veteran
... no, probably not
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
I started with my parents RF camera. I was using one and only this camera for decade or so.
Then I married some cheap film auto P&S became available. We purchased one. It didn't lasts long. In 2001 we purchased EOS300 SLR and it was in use until 2007. I still have my parents RF, they are not into photography, we still keep and I use randomly 300EOS.
So, two cameras.
It 2007 we purchased advanced (even now) digital Fuji. It was too expensive on color film. My wife and kids still using it often. Three cameras.
In 2009 we purchased EOS 500D, because we din't wont to overpay for crapshots coming from school photography days. With three kids it was getting too expensive for no good reason.
Four cameras.
I was taking 500D with me anywhere every day. My wife started to complain, in 2010 I purchased EOS 5D to be able to take best possible family pictures for money I could afford. Five cameras.
In 2011-2012 I was scanning our film family pictures and realised how I like film over digital.
I took out family RF and SLR. Realized I like RFs, but don't like SLRs.
Purchased Bessa R in August 2012. Amazing RF for family pictures.
Six cameras.
Since 2012 tried, fixed, sold bunch of FSU and Japaneese RF, scale focusing cameras. Tried TLR, sold. Purchased Oly XA. In Sep. 2012. My street photography begins in real. Seven cameras.
Winter 2013, purchased Nettar 515, it is so beautiful, my wife was saying - do not sell this one. Keeping and using it. Eight cameras.
July 2013 our relatives came to visit us for first time in Canada.
They gave me Ihagee folder. I realigned it and keeping, using it.
Nine cameras which I'll keep at home for now.
I have another three or four, film ones, but I don't think I'll keep them.
It is four of us now at home who would like to take pictures. Two of us have interest in film photography. Maybe one day one of our kids will decide to try our family RF, which was originally weddings present for my parents...
redisburning
Well-known
does owning 2 OM-1s and 2 OM-2s count as 2 or 4 cameras?
I own 6 macro lenses in the 50-60mm range; two f2s, two f2.8s, and two f3.5s. Do I count these as 6, 3 or 1 lens?
I think a similar question is why do people have more than one kid? Don't parents know that statistics suggest strongly that each subsequent child will be less intelligent and healthy? Just like how us photographers should know that each additional camera is just a stop gap that we're using to hide our fears that our work isn't progressing or adequate in some strange Freudian transference?
Personally, I know what gear I like and I collect backups. I've got almost as many Parker 51s as I've got macros, and like my macros they are all slightly but probably not substantially different.
That being said, should the need arise I could easily do a 1 camera 1 lens year with any of my cameras and any of my lenses. Not that it would be easy to shoot low light portraits with my 28/3.5, but I would not feel compromised not having all of my toys around.
Now doing 1 film only... I think THAT would cause some trouble.
I own 6 macro lenses in the 50-60mm range; two f2s, two f2.8s, and two f3.5s. Do I count these as 6, 3 or 1 lens?
I think a similar question is why do people have more than one kid? Don't parents know that statistics suggest strongly that each subsequent child will be less intelligent and healthy? Just like how us photographers should know that each additional camera is just a stop gap that we're using to hide our fears that our work isn't progressing or adequate in some strange Freudian transference?
Personally, I know what gear I like and I collect backups. I've got almost as many Parker 51s as I've got macros, and like my macros they are all slightly but probably not substantially different.
That being said, should the need arise I could easily do a 1 camera 1 lens year with any of my cameras and any of my lenses. Not that it would be easy to shoot low light portraits with my 28/3.5, but I would not feel compromised not having all of my toys around.
Now doing 1 film only... I think THAT would cause some trouble.
Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
I own a lot of gear, though I've had to sell a lot of it in recent years to pay bills, but I shoot most of my photos now with just three of them:
Leica M6
Mamiya 6MF
Canon 5DmkII
Leica M6
Mamiya 6MF
Canon 5DmkII
furbs
Well-known
Chris, I have gravitated towards a similar setup. Leica M4, Rolleiflex 2.8 E2, and Galaxy S3 for digital. It feels good to settle down and get to know these cameras.
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
ZeissFan
Veteran
As to the original question, I think it depends on the person.
Some like variety. Some do better using just one camera or one film or one lens.
Some like variety. Some do better using just one camera or one film or one lens.
hausen
Well-known
I tend to agree with the OP. My main users are all different in a way that suits a particular situation. A recent sell down has got me to this organised position. My main decisions are Digital or film, , if digital small kit or large kit, if film 35mm or MF, square or 2to1.
Sony RX-1 + NN3
Sony A99 + 15/4.5 + Leica R PC28SA
Lecia M6 Ti
Hasselblad Xpan
Hasselblad Arcbody
Linhof 612
I primarily shoot long exposures and panoramas these days and with this kit I cover the bases. Have a number of Leica M lenses which I hope could be mounted on the new FF Nex which could change everything🙂
Sony RX-1 + NN3
Sony A99 + 15/4.5 + Leica R PC28SA
Lecia M6 Ti
Hasselblad Xpan
Hasselblad Arcbody
Linhof 612
I primarily shoot long exposures and panoramas these days and with this kit I cover the bases. Have a number of Leica M lenses which I hope could be mounted on the new FF Nex which could change everything🙂
Alpsman
Well-known
I dont want to miss just one of my mechanical marvels. 😀
Godfrey
somewhat colored
Like others, I have seemingly dozens of cameras.
I bought them for a reason.
Some I use a lot.
Some I don't.
Some I like a lot.
Some I find I don't.
When I'm concentrating on a project, I use one or two almost exclusively.
I usually sell what I'm not using. Eventually.
It doesn't matter much.
G
I bought them for a reason.
Some I use a lot.
Some I don't.
Some I like a lot.
Some I find I don't.
When I'm concentrating on a project, I use one or two almost exclusively.
I usually sell what I'm not using. Eventually.
It doesn't matter much.
G
farlymac
PF McFarland
If I didn't spend so much money on photography gear, I could probably afford a second vehicle. And why would someone such as I (single senior) need more than one vehicle? For the same reason I need more than one camera. Versatility!
The Explorer is kind of overkill at times being an SUV, but it's capable of doing a lot of things well, such as getting me to a location, or hauling people around in comfort. Sort of like my Nikon P7700. But who needs to take the jack-of-all-trades vehicle, when a short run to the grocers is all you are doing? That's why I have more than one camera. They each have something they do very well (um, except for the Taron), whether it be easy handling, or having very good optics. Versatility is the name of the game.
PF
The Explorer is kind of overkill at times being an SUV, but it's capable of doing a lot of things well, such as getting me to a location, or hauling people around in comfort. Sort of like my Nikon P7700. But who needs to take the jack-of-all-trades vehicle, when a short run to the grocers is all you are doing? That's why I have more than one camera. They each have something they do very well (um, except for the Taron), whether it be easy handling, or having very good optics. Versatility is the name of the game.
PF
mwoenv
Well-known
Each type of camera provides a somewhat different experience in using it and results: 35mm, medium format (645, 6x6), SLR, rangefinder, TLR, manual focus, auto focus, in-camera metering, hand-held or no metering, fixed-lens, interchangeable-lens, etc. Mine are all film cameras but one could also add digital to the list. I really enjoy the variety.
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