Will YOUR camera out live you?

[navilluspm]

I was wasting time looking at some digital vs. film threads, and again and again i read the arguement that if a person invests in a good quality mechanical film camera, it may outlive the purchaser.

This got me thinking. How many of us have kept and still use the same camera for our entire lives? Why not have a poll?

Tell us about the camera you have owed the longest and still use.

PS - I restarted this poll/thread because I made a mistake in the poll.

 

[oscroft]

My first serious camera is not going to outlive me - the Pentax SP500 that my parents bought for me in 1969 failed about 7 or 8 years ago with a jammed shutter.

The longest-serving camera in my current arsenal is my Bronica ETRSi, which I've had since 1991, and it's almost as good as new (but that's because I haven't used it much - it's just too big and heavy to take traveling with me).

Of the cameras that I use a lot, I think the one that is the most likely to outlive me is my Leica M6.

 

[cmedin]

The poll is a little odd; for instance, I expect that my '36 Leica III will outlive me but I've only had it for a month. 🙂

 

[bsdunek]

My Nikon F's are still going strong with only a couple of CLA's to keep them going. If my Son continues his interest in film, I'm sure he'll take them over and they will last for many years.
My Canon G1, on the other hand, will probably not last that long, although, it is a pretty rugged camera for a modern digicam. 😎

 

[rogue_designer]

Wisner traditional field camera - it was my highschool graduation gift (back in 1994) - it's still in the top 3 of camera I use the most. I still have my Yashicamat from 1988 - the camera I learned on, but it mostly sits on a shelf since I bought a Rolleiflex a few years ago.

 

[rover]

I have been dieting and exercising so I hope I am turning the tide against my cameras.

 

[navilluspm]

Thanks to all who respond. (I hope the 5 who responded in an earlier version will respond again). I guess the main point of this thread is to see how long we keep the gear we purchase and use. I am amazed about how may people still use a camera they have had for 30-40 years. And I am also interested in the stories. It is one thing to have an old camera, it is another thing to use the same camera into old age - sort of as a companion. Yes, I know camera's are tools, and yet we may still become attached to them.

 

[splitimageview]

My 17 y.o. daughter is now using my 1977 Nikon F2A that I got when I was 18...

I also use two M3s (1955, 1959) and an M4 (1967)

 

[landsknechte]

The only camera that I own that I've had for any real length of time is an old Kodak instamatic that belonged to my father. Even if I could easily get film for it, I'm not sure how much I'd use it, given that it is barely more functional than a disposable camera. About a year or so ago, I sold off my Minolta gear, which I had been using for about 12-13 years.

 

[tkluck]

I've had an OM-1 for 32 years now. Just had it CLA'd so it's good for another 30 years, even if I'm not.
Also have a Minox B and a Kodak retina I would have bought 40 years ago if I'd had the money. Somebody used them for 35-40 years, now I do.
As for my Bolex H-8, I've had it for over twenty five years. It still works, though now days the cost of double 8 film stock and processing is awe inspiring.

 

[Finder]

Being only 43 years old, it would be natural to say I have not owned a camera longer than that. I still use my Nikon FM I bought in 1980 and my Mamiya C220 I bought in 1985. I have just about every camera I have ever bought. I did lose my first camera I bought in 1976. But I have my grandparent's Box Brownie in the original box.

 

[mike goldberg]

I've had a 1965 Leica M2 for 35 years, and it as CLA'd once. Recently, I ran a test roll with a [modified] Jupiter 8, 50/2. Actually, the M2 came with a Summaron
35/2.8 which had a "degreasing" last year. All is well; I love this gear, and it could well outlast me ;-)

 

[Keith]

I have a Pentax SP500 that I bought in the early seventies second hand. It's survived being dropped a few times and amazingly survived a tinkering attack from my son when he was younger and curious to see how things worked. To it's credit it still works perectly which is more than I can say for the AE-1 Canon I still have that I bought a few years later when I wanted AE! It's had two CLA's in it's lifetime and currently is exhibiting the same intermittent shutter problem that has haunted it it's entire life! 🙄

 

[d30gaijin]

My 17 y.o. daughter is now using my 1977 Nikon F2A that I got when I was 18...

I also use two M3s (1955, 1959) and an M4 (1967)

Now that is a beautiful thing, re: your 17 year old daughter using your F2A. There may be hope for film yet. I hope so.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

I don't have anyone to play with my gear after I go, so I guess they'll go down with me...

Just kidding... but some recent family news got me in a weird mood about surviving and outliving, people, things and whatever else is there.

BTW, if left to their own devices, they may last a good 20 or 30 years after I'm gone. Even the Nikon AF bodies... 🙂

 

[feenej]

I have been using my slr for 22 years with one cla and repair. My bro has our grandpa's 40's or 50's(?) Voigtlander 35mm. I think he's gonna get it fixed.

 

[yaadetgar]

Hi!

Well...
I use my dad's Olympus 35SP...
How long that counts? I use it ragulary for 2 years, but I used if for a film here and there before that.


Yaad

 

[Al Patterson]

My AE-1 was used for over 20 years before I upgraded to an A-1, but that is an SLR. Most of my Rangefinders date from the 1970s, but I purchased all of them over the last 5 years or so. If there is anyone around to fix them when they need repairs, they may yet outlast me. Now were I to buy an MP...

 

[oftheherd]

I purchased my Fujica ST 901 in late 1974 or early 1975, I think the latter. No CLA's yet, but I haven't used it constantly in the last few years. I do still use it though. My Yashica TL Super I bought in 1972 in Vietnam. I doesn't work as well, needing new foam and whatever it takes to keep the mirror from sticking up (the foam maybe?). The Fujica ST 801 I bought about 7 years ago is still being used by my daughter. I have a Mamiya Super Press 23 I bought about 1976. It still works fine.

My Welti cameras were made in the 1930's for the most part and still work fine.

This isn't to win any contests, many in this forum use old cameras. Just to show many of those old cameras were built to a different standard. They may, due to cost, have been normally used by people who were more likely to take better care of them. That probably needs to be factored into the equation.

 

[Keith]

I purchased my Fujica ST 901 in late 1974 or early 1975, I think the latter. No CLA's yet, but I haven't used it constantly in the last few years. I do still use it though. My Yashica TL Super I bought in 1972 in Vietnam. I doesn't work as well, needing new foam and whatever it takes to keep the mirror from sticking up (the foam maybe?). The Fujica ST 801 I bought about 7 years ago is still being used by my daughter. I have a Mamiya Super Press 23 I bought about 1976. It still works fine.

My Welti cameras were made in the 1930's for the most part and still work fine.

This isn't to win any contests, many in this forum use old cameras. Just to show many of those old cameras were built to a different standard. They may, due to cost, have been normally used by people who were more likely to take better care of them. That probably needs to be factored into the equation.

My god ... fancy you having a Fujica that long! Who would have believed it? 😱 😛