You have $3000, what would you buy?

[raid]

Hi Rob,
This is not a problem since you can write about it here. None of the 4 options are suitable for you. I have not chosen any of the 4 "paths" myself so far. The poll options are just thoughts or suggestions. You have a clear idea about creating a darkroom.

I am thinking of the usefulness of a camera on which I could use many different lenses that I already own. Maybe a SONY or a M 240, but the Leica costs a lot of money. Then again, I don't actually need any equipment for photography. I could never bring myself to sell my Linhof 4x5 camera. I never got to use this heavy camera. I may get to it one day.

 

[willie_901]

$500 on the Fujinon 50/2 to complete my 23, 35 XF lens triad.

$2,500 set aside to fund out-sourced printing projects in 2018 (larger single prints, photo books and photozines).

 

[David Hughes]

Hmmm, buy a better/bigger fridge and fill it with film and put the change in the bank for when it (the fridge) gets empty...

Or spend the change on equipping a darkroom or getting all my film cameras checked etc.

I'm shocked, shocked, by the number of people wasting the money on digital.

Regards, David

 

[raid]

Hi David,
I used to be opposed to any thoughts of digital equipment in photography. The perceived quality of the digital images don't look to my eyes as being as beautiful as the film based images that turned out beautifully. It is mostly a factor of convenience that let me accept for myself the use of digital equipment. I made sure to also get a film camera that I always wanted to have and use; Hasselblad SWC. I refer to it as being my "anchor to film".

 

[f16sunshine]

Raid,
I just looked at FM classified where many Sony’s are listd.
A7rii is now getting down to $1500 second hand.... nearl half introduction price.
42mp would give you a chance to print very large.
I can imagine some of those scenes at the marina you make landscapes printed .
Could be a very satisfying adventure.

 

[ptpdprinter]

I'm shocked, shocked, by the number of people wasting the money on digital.

I am shocked, shocked by all the people wasting the money on equipment. Will the equipment mentioned really make your images any better?

 

[raid]

Raid,
I just looked at FM classified where many Sony’s are listd.
A7rii is now getting down to $1500 second hand.... nearl half introduction price.
42mp would give you a chance to print very large.
I can imagine some of those scenes at the marina you make landscapes printed .
Could be a very satisfying adventure.

Thank you, Andy.
What is FM Classified?

I got it! Fred Miranda .... FM.

 

[raid]

I am shocked, shocked by all the people wasting the money on equipment. Will the equipment mentioned really make your images any better?

I don't think that people buying more and more equipment are doing this to make their images "better". Will buying more and more shoes make you walk better? It is the joy of owning equipment that can be admired and used (and resold).

 

[ptpdprinter]

Will buying more and more shoes make you walk better?

Thanks. It's exactly the Imelda Marcos meme I was alluding to.

 

[Brian Legge]

I picked up a A7rii from usedphotopro in November. I figure I'll be shooting more digital photos over the next year; I don't see myself making time to develop film for a while. The price there was close to used ebay sales at the time and I'd rather have a store backing to deal with returns if something went wrong.

I've been using it with a Nikkor 50/1.4 ltm lens and have really appreciated the results. Its nice to have something compatible with my existing lenses as well as a camera that can go lower iso, has some stabilization for short movies, ability to shoot handheld at isos beyond what I can do with film, etc.

The a6500 would fantastic for anyone who wants the same and can deal with a cropped sensor.

 

[d_c]

If the OP has any LTM or M lenses then I would say get a used M240.

 

[Godfrey]

...
I'm shocked, shocked, by the number of people wasting the money on digital.

Hmm. For me the waste has been all the money I've spent on film cameras in the past several years. I've gotten virtually no value out of them, where my digital cameras work brilliantly and produce lots of fine photographs: they're worth everything I paid for them.

I'm likely going to sell off all the film cameras other than my Polaroids and the Hasselblad SWC in the coming year. There's little point to them taking up space on the shelf.

 

[raid]

Godfrey: I will check out how you sell off the SLR equipment. I should do same. Keep my Land camera and the SWC,

 

[rfaspen]

I too will watch for Godfrey's sell-off. Two reasons: 1. There's bound to be some nifty stuff. 2. Inspiration for myself.

I have a fair amount of photo kit. At least 300 cameras, nearly all of them film. I don't need them and I've really pared down to just a few film cameras that receive my attention, along with my digital.

If I can resolve to rid myself of some gear, I'd pare my film holdings down to the Leicas, Nikon SLR, a couple TLRs, an MF folder, an MF SLR, a 4x5 field camera, and my 4x5 studio. ....and that's it. Well OK, maybe a stereo camera too. And my amazing condition Agfa box camera. And at least one of the spy cameras. And the cute little Petri Color 35 -- I'll keep just one of those. The rest should really go (but will it?).

 

[raid]

Some stuff will not sell at any price, and other stuff will sell for a symbolic return. Hopefully, it is more than the cost for postage!

 

[f16sunshine]

Everything sells at the right price.

 

[raid]

The right price ==> whatever the current market values are. A lens that used to sell for $400 may now sell for $35.

 

[x-ray]

I am shocked, shocked by all the people wasting the money on equipment. Will the equipment mentioned really make your images any better?

I've seriously over estimated some of the folks here too. I thought most took photography more seriously but I can clearly see it's about what you own not what you produce with it. I'm just the opposite, it's about my images not my image of myself and how much camera gear I can collect in my life. I also find it interesting many of the forum members own more and better equipment than most pros I knew prior to 2000.

Meanwhile I'm buying more Visa and MasterCard stock to make money off these guys. I just funded my Roth and was thinking about some Paypal stock too. Keep buying and selling guys! 😛

 

[raid]

It is a well known fact that RFF is a website for rangefinder cameras and lenses and of course on photography. Many threads over the past years have focused on lenses and cameras. This does not mean that such an interest leads to low quality photography. Just relax and try to enjoy whatever you are doing.

 

[jsrockit]

I'm shocked, shocked, by the number of people wasting the money on digital.

How is using any camera to make photographs a waste? If you think digital is waste because it depreciates then I would argue that we don't have to buy film for the camera.