Giving away stuff

keenmaster486 · Mar 19, 2017

This evening a friend of mine commented on my vintage camera which I had brought with me - and mentioned that she has a film camera of her own, a Lomography something or other.

I happened to have a roll of film in my pocket so I gave it to her, and offered to develop it. She seemed pretty excited.

So... how often does this sort of thing happen, really? I mean, this girl was my age (19-ish) so it's not very likely that she would even have a film camera or even care about that.

How often do y'all give away film/developing services/cameras/etc.?

mooseontheloose · Mar 19, 2017

I offered a camera, film, and free developing to a friend of mine who had taken up photography, but you know, the other kind. Still, she seemed interested in film and especially the images I produced with it, but I think the reality of shooting film was too overwhelming for her, so she never took me up on my offer.

Molli · Mar 19, 2017

I develop film for a couple of people on an irregular basis and give away film to the occasional newcomer. I also put together a full film developing kit for a girl i met briefly who seemed enthusiastic. Most of all, though, I'll do proof sheets and prints for people without a darkroom or are just wanting to "see what's on grandpa's old negatives." Often seeing prints or listening to me babble about how easy developing film is will have them taking their film photography a step further than they might have done. I can be VERY enthusiastic!

zanxion72 · Mar 19, 2017

This is how it started with me. Somebody gave me a Canon A-1 and the first roll with it got me to abolish digital (o.k., almost) and live by film.
I gave a camera to some dear of mine, but I regretted it by finding out it was used just for deco on a library shelf.

canvassy · Mar 19, 2017

I gave away a Konica Autoreflex T to a friend. Also tried to give away a Canon AE1 and a few stainless developing tanks and reels, but she turned it down because she already had a camera and her parents wouldn't let her develop film at home.

Nodda Duma · Mar 19, 2017

Giving is done more often than you think.

Rick A · Mar 19, 2017

I do it on a somewhat infrequent basis any more. Sadly, I am nearly out of gear to hand out. There are many young adults here where I live, who were students of mine through summer art programs (4H doesn't offer them any more), who received cameras from my collection. I still offer to process peoples film, free to neo's, I have set prices for regular clients.

ps: I usually never talk about what i give, that is between me and my God. If you believe in feeding the hungry, feed them. When you tell everyone about it, then you are only feeding your ego.

removed account4 · Mar 19, 2017

i've given away everything from a whole silkscreen studio, tv news style video camera, to 4x5 and 5x7 cameras .
as well as my time, expertise and $$$ .. its great to give

Nodda Duma · Mar 19, 2017

Rick I agree for the most part, but there's value in demonstrating that the act of giving is more widespread than people think. Thus your comment about stroking ego may be misplaced.

Rick A · Mar 19, 2017

Nodda Duma said:
Rick I agree for the most part, but there's value in demonstrating that the act of giving is more widespread than people think. Thus your comment about stroking ego may be misplaced.

I stand by my statement, and live by it.

Molli · Mar 19, 2017

Rick A said:
...

ps: I usually never talk about what i give, that is between me and my God. If you believe in feeding the hungry, feed them. When you tell everyone about it, then you are only feeding your ego.

Agreed; but I'm referring more to advocating film use, getting others interested and saying that there IS an interest. Like zanxion72, I've also been a very lucky recipient of others generosity, not just with material things, but with people giving very generously of their time and knowledge. All three things are massively appreciated So, I'm not out there saying, "look at me, I'm a giver", I'm saying, "Share the love, man!" and paying it forward.

Nodda Duma · Mar 19, 2017

Rick A said:
I stand by my statement, and live by it.

Then I'm surprised you posted at all! Or perhaps, like myself, you saw value in demonstrating that many people give.

Sorry to belabor the point, and perhaps I misinterpreted your intentions, but it just seemed rude to state such an opinion for apparently the sole purpose of making people feel guilty about discussing philanthropy.

Rick A · Mar 19, 2017

I don't mind discussing philanthropy, just feel disgust with threads where people "pat themselves" for doing something we ALL should do to promote what ever it is they want to promote. I see posts all the time about "I did this (or that) so a community lauds them publicly, to what end, other than to have their ego stroked. I have given, I still give, I will always give, I don't need public adulation for it. I felt the need, in this particular thread, to express my stance. YMMV.

cb1 · Mar 19, 2017

friend at work got in to older polaroid cameras and I bought a 2 packs of fp100c and donated them to the cause. he was pretty happy about it and got into cameras more.

bsdunek · Mar 19, 2017

Rick A said:
I do it on a somewhat infrequent basis any more. Sadly, I am nearly out of gear to hand out. There are many young adults here where I live, who were students of mine through summer art programs (4H doesn't offer them any more), who received cameras from my collection. I still offer to process peoples film, free to neo's, I have set prices for regular clients.

ps: I usually never talk about what i give, that is between me and my God. If you believe in feeding the hungry, feed them. When you tell everyone about it, then you are only feeding your ego.

Amen!

Oh, I do have a stack of 4X5 prints and a couple rolls of negatives I did for a neighbor. She had several rolls of 620 film from years past and wanted to see what was on them. There will be no charge, of course.

Molli · Mar 19, 2017

Rick A said:
I don't mind discussing philanthropy, just feel disgust with threads where people "pat themselves" for doing something we ALL should do to promote what ever it is they want to promote. I see posts all the time about "I did this (or that) so a community lauds them publicly, to what end, other than to have their ego stroked. I have given, I still give, I will always give, I don't need public adulation for it. I felt the need, in this particular thread, to express my stance. YMMV.

keenmaster486 said:
So... how often does this sort of thing happen, really? I mean, this girl was my age (19-ish) so it's not very likely that she would even have a film camera or even care about that.

Well, Rick, I thought keenmaster486's thread was about coming across other people with film cameras and/or interested in film photography. Being able to help them out/encourage them is merely a happy by-product of that.

Wayne · Mar 19, 2017

I gave away thye URL to apug yesterday when a high school girl came up to me excitedly inquiring about the Mamiya TLR I had dangling around my neck. She was very into film but had no way to develop it so I told her to come here and we would tell her how. I suppose I should have given her the camera but I can't really afford that.

Jim Jones · Mar 19, 2017

I'm 84 years old, and would much rather give books and gear to friends who will appreciate and probably use them than to leave it all to be auctioned off or trashed.

4season · Mar 19, 2017

I recently (anonymously) gave a mint-in-box Zenit 12 w/58mm Heiios 44M-7, a boxed Yashica P&S and a Nikon FG w/50/1.8E to the neighborhood thrift store, and a new-in-box Canon p&s to a film-centric shop. I do this sort of thing periodically when my space starts to feel cluttered with underutilized stuff; it doesn't matter if it's a late-model PC, a tube amplifier that I bought less than a year ago, or an article of clothing that I've scarcely worn, the iPhone 4 I had been using until I got 5S: If I'm not getting any real value out of it, and it doesn't seem worth my while to sell on eBay, out it goes.

My rewards are immediate: I get a tidier space! And a lesson to be more selective about the stuff I bring home.

Slixtiesix · Mar 19, 2017

I occasionally develop film for a friend of mine who recently got into B/W photography. Hey, it´s cheap!

MattKing · Mar 19, 2017

I think telling others about how much others appreciate these types of gifts, in the interest of encouraging others to also give, is a great idea.
Just as its fine to tell others about how much you enjoyed seeing others enjoy the stuff you give.
For financial and similar gifts, I don't disagree with Rick, although I think it is always a good idea to encourage philanthropy.

Old-N-Feeble · Mar 19, 2017

I want a nineteen-year-old girlfriend... and that's all I have to say about that other than I want her image overexposed. Twenty-five is my preferred vintage but nineteen will do!!

keenmaster486 · Mar 19, 2017

Rick:
Yeah, my original post was kind of more about helping out fellow film photographers, specifically those who are just starting out... since those are about the only people who would take film stuff anyway

Old-N-Feeble said:
I want a nineteen-year-old girlfriend... and that's all I have to say about that other than I want her image overexposed. Twenty-five is my preferred vintage but nineteen will do!!

Well I regret to inform you that the girl in question is taken by a good friend of mine

AgX · Mar 19, 2017

keenmaster486 said:
How often do y'all give away film/developing services/cameras/etc.?

I would not know whom to give... Live in Diaspora.

blockend · Mar 24, 2017

If I think someone will use a camera regularly there are (almost!) no limits to what I'd give them. The problem is people who are young and broke and like the idea of film, quickly pale with the idea in my experience. Case in point, I gave a young person a Nikkormat, no big deal, but it was in superb condition (the best I owned) and had a mint AIS lens I bought new. After a few weeks initial enthusiasm I doubt that camera will ever be used again, whereas I'd put at least 15 films a year through it. However giving is only giving if it hurts, or so they say, and it's not as though I have any shortage of cameras. I've also sold much higher value cameras at way below market value if the person is keen, but hate to think of them as collectors items.

Giving away stuff

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