Gear Regret : I am sorry I sold that

david b · May 3, 2009

In responding to a fellow photographer about building the perfect Hasselblad kit, I discovered that I miss the Hasselblad 60mm CFI lens that I once owned. I sold it to purchase other gear and on numerous occasions, including today as I write this, feel that I really miss and regret selling that awesome lens. To me, the 60mm lens on a 6x6 format is simply terrific. Great for portraits as well as landscape work.

So, what piece of equipment do you regret selling?

ps...I am now looking for another 60mm CFI.

(a longer write up is on my blog)

gandolfi · May 3, 2009

many years ago, I sold a 10x12 beauty of a mahogany camera...
Now - looking at the only image I have of it, I notice, that there was fitted a Heliar UNIVERSAL lens on it.....

HOW IGNORANT does one have permission to be???

Certainly regret this!!

Andrew Moxom · May 3, 2009

I was sorry that I ever sold my first hasselblad kit to get into large format... Big mistake. Then it took a long time to figure out I missed the square, and got into a Mamiya 6 and ultimately another Hasselblad. On the 35mm front, selling my RTS-II was also another big mistake... It was a battleship camera built to last. I sold it to get a CONTAX RX AND ARIA of all things. These were the antithesis of common sense... Oh well.

I'm also still not sure that LF is truly for me... I know you've been there David... I like the sponteneity of MF...

removed-user-1 · May 3, 2009

Most of the 35mm gear I've owned and then sold over the years I don't miss that much, but I used to own a really nice Fuji GS645s medium format rangefinder, the fixed lens 60mm f/4 one. That was a great camera and I really do miss it.

Peter Spangenberg · May 3, 2009

Years ago I sold a Minolta XK Motor with lenses in favor of a Nikon F kit I was using. I have regretted it ever since.

david b · May 3, 2009

I sold a bunch of stuff and bought a Chamonix 4x5 and a couple of APO lenses. Bought a 150 for my enlarger, tanks, trays, film, film holders, loupes, etc etc etc.

Sold it all and bought more Hasselblad gear, like my 905 SWC.

I've had a Hasselblad 503cw kit for about 8 years and will never sell it.

But I've had some lenses that I am sorry that I sold.

As for the 60mm lens, I think it makes a one lens travel kit a no-brainer.

John Koehrer · May 3, 2009

50mm/2 Summitar* . The preproduction lens for the Summicron
Traded it with an M3 body for a Triumph Cub motorcycle.
Wish I had a couple of extra joints in my leg so I could kick myself in the butt.

matt miller · May 3, 2009

david b said:
So, what piece of equipment do you regret selling?

I got stupid a couple of times and sold a 210mm Angulon and a 12" Dagor.

alanrockwood · May 3, 2009

Crown Graphic with accessories, about 13 years ago.

Anscojohn · May 3, 2009

Ollie OM-1n. I sold it to a friend who later sold it to someone else. We both regretted it. She once told me "The two biggest mistakes I ever made were marrying my first husband and selling the Olympus."

panastasia · May 3, 2009

One of my fist cameras was a black Minolta SRT 102, I used it for many years until I noticed a light leak through the back. I was covering it with black tape. I gave it away after 35 years of use, along with 3 lenses, thinking the old gear had little value. Sometime later I noticed a lens for sale at KEH like one that I gave away. It was listed for almost $200 (used; EX cond.). It was the 85mm f/1.7 MC Rokkor X. The one I parted with even had the felt-lined metal shade, w/case, no dings, and the glass was pristine.

luvcameras · May 3, 2009

Canon 55/1.2 ASPH lens. Took one of my all time favorite shots with that lens. Crazy good lens

Dan

bdial · May 3, 2009

A baby Linhof Technica kit with 3 lenses, sheet and roll backs all in a dedicated case.
Sold it due to a need for a real view camera. It was the right decision at the time, but I miss that camera all the same.

removed account4 · May 3, 2009

i used to have a yashica mat124G. i bought it and used it though college.
used it and used it and used it. when i was in grad school i ran out of money
and bumped into an old friend who was also a photographer. i sold it to her
with a ton of film, and regretted it ever since.

i sold my adams retouching desk a few years ago, with 300$ worth of leads and lead holders
.... i miss that too ...

it stinks being broke

panastasia · May 3, 2009

jnanian said:
it stinks being broke

John, don't scare me!!

I just recently joined the ranks of the unemployed and I don't want to sell anything.

Paul

dbseney · May 3, 2009

I sold a Plaubel Makina 67 with a few dings, but worked perfectly. Got a Mamiya 7 with three lens and have never bonded with this outfit the way
I did with that Plaubel; a great camera

EdColorado · May 3, 2009

Other than some Mamiya gear I bought to resell, I've never sold any camera gear. I learned my lesson with motorcycles and cars, don't sell, keep it all. There are a few bikes and cars I miss, but not any cameras!

Kino · May 3, 2009

A pristine Bell and Howell 2709 35mm hand cranked camera with matched set of Taylor Hobson Cine lenses (4). Like many others, sold it because I needed the money. God, I still dream about cranking that dreamboat and the beautiful images it made...

wickedfilm · May 3, 2009

K1000. Sold it 20 years ago and still missing it.

Removed Account · May 3, 2009

Selling my goregous FM3a has got to be the worst gear decision I ever made. I didn't realise how good of a camera it was until I didn't have it any more. That someone was willing to pay damn near its original purchase price for a used camera (albeit with a pair of cheap Nikkor zooms) should have told me something. I empathize with John about it sucking to be broke; almost sold or traded an Ansco 5x7 that I haven't even used yet. My excellent housemate convinced me that I shouldn't get rid of it before I try it.

smieglitz · May 3, 2009

I purchased a 5x7 Elwood enlarger back in the early '70s because I got a good deal on it at the time. I didn't have a 5x7 camera back. I sold it during a move. Last year I traded for another one.

glockman99 · May 4, 2009

Over the years I have sold or traded many fine cameras. If I think about the ones I'd like to have back (including a mint F2AS with motordrive), I'll start crying, and I don't want to do that, here at work.

Paul Jenkin · May 6, 2009

Despite having vivid memoried of uusing my first ever camera - an Edixaflex - I can't really remember where it went. I suspect I probably traded it for my first Olympus gear in the late 70's.

The main reason for the regret is that my dad gave it to me and, getting older, I find I have very little in any physical sense to remember him by. I have thought of buying a replacement but it wouldnever be the same.

Renato Tonelli · May 6, 2009

Sold a Nagaoka 4x5 to a photo store for a pittance in order to purchase I don't remember what. I miss it because it was lighter than my Wisner and was great for long hikes.

2F/2F · May 6, 2009

John Koehrer said:
50mm/2 Summitar* . The preproduction lens for the Summicron
Traded it with an M3 body for a Triumph Cub motorcycle.
Wish I had a couple of extra joints in my leg so I could kick myself in the butt.

I love my Summitar. They are sweet lenses. I also love the Summar. Not so fond of the Summicron, personally. It is nice, but has a little less "character" at the large apertures IMO. Have never tried an Elmar.

Gear Regret : I am sorry I sold that

removed-user-1

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