Got old film cameras in your cupboards collecting dust? Maybe put them to work

Larryc001 · Oct 22, 2022

I have a lot of cameras. Nikon, Canon, Pentax, Minolta, Kodak, even a couple of Pigeons (no not the birds.) At this point in my 80 years I have gotten tired of hauling my Nikon F4’s and associated gear in and out of my car. So finally I decided to see if I could find something else to use. Strangely enough, in all these cameras my hands landed first on an Olympus OM-1! It looked pretty good and had a 50mm lens. Now I have never used one of these, so the first thing I had to do was look up a manual on Butkus and find out how to work the darn little thing. Seemed pretty simple. I was prepared to just use a handheld GE meter but then I discovered there was even a working battery! I searched through my stuff and lo and behold I found Olympus 28mm and 200mm lenses. I am all set to try this little bugger out. I am planning to shoot a few rolls of film through, and then maybe try a different camera from my collection. Maybe a Pentax. So, what say you? Anyone else wish to comment on this minimalistic approach to downsize photography? I would love to hear what you tried from your collection and how it worked out.

AnselMortensen · Oct 22, 2022

I have WAAAY too much photo equipment.
I just recently acquired, in order, (and without planning), 15 rolls of Kentmere 400, a black Nikkormat FTN with a dead meter, a non-AI 43-86mm Nikkor zoom, and 2 bottles of Rodinal.
So...Fate has decided for me that I will be using 1 camera, 1 lens, 1 film and 1 developer.
So, we'll see how that goes.

Cholentpot · Oct 22, 2022

I try to put a roll through each of my cameras every year. I'm generally pretty good about it. Some I discover why I don't gravitate towards them and some I wonder why I didn't use it sooner...until I'm 26 frames in and realize why it sits on a shelf. And then I develop the roll out of that camera and realize that it's a really good camera.

removedacct1 · Oct 22, 2022

I'm starting to donate cameras I don't tend to use to the local university photography department.

mtnbkr · Oct 22, 2022

I intentionally don't buy more cameras because I don't want to be in a situation where I don't use them. I have 3 film cameras and use them each at least a few times per year. I have another hobby that has its own version of GAS. I found myself in a situation of having more "tools" than I know what to do with and several I haven't used in years, so I'm thinning that herd.

Chris

summicron1 · Oct 22, 2022

I find myself increasingly using compact cameras like the Leica CL or even the Olympus XA. Heavier gear is just, well, heavy. Barnack Leicas, even a Contax IIa. Sweet and small.

That said, an autofocus nikon N90 is really sweet for fast moving grandchildren events.

I have donated a coupla dozen SLRs to the local university over the last half dozen or so years to help photo students. Must have worked: Kodak is putting on extra shifts!

Larryc001 · Oct 22, 2022

I like the Leica CL and even it’s Minolta cousin. They have both become quite expensive on eBay. Leica bodies seem to be available for a reasonable price, as long as you don’t want a lens lol.

summicron1 · Oct 22, 2022

Larryc001 said:
I like the Leica CL and even it’s Minolta cousin. They have both become quite expensive on eBay. Leica bodies seem to be available for a reasonable price, as long as you don’t want a lens lol.

Yeah, the Minolta CL and Leica CL are the same camera, but Minolta upgraded it later on. Don't have one of those but have two CLs which both have functioning meters, apparently somewhat rare, not sure why.

Great cameras, though -- the perfect travel camera. Minolta made its own 40mm lens for it but if you look at the 90 they sold with it, it is identical to the Leica 90-C except for the name ring.

I've also really grown to love the Olympus XA -- wore one out was fortunate to stock up when they were in thrift stores for $5 each. Now they're bringing $200 or more, easy.

Les Sarile · Oct 23, 2022

Larryc001 said:
I have a lot of cameras. Nikon, Canon, Pentax, Minolta, Kodak, even a couple of Pigeons (no not the birds.) At this point in my 80 years I have gotten tired of hauling my Nikon F4’s and associated gear in and out of my car. So finally I decided to see if I could find something else to use. Strangely enough, in all these cameras my hands landed first on an Olympus OM-1! It looked pretty good and had a 50mm lens. Now I have never used one of these, so the first thing I had to do was look up a manual on Butkus and find out how to work the darn little thing. Seemed pretty simple. I was prepared to just use a handheld GE meter but then I discovered there was even a working battery! I searched through my stuff and lo and behold I found Olympus 28mm and 200mm lenses. I am all set to try this little bugger out. I am planning to shoot a few rolls of film through, and then maybe try a different camera from my collection. Maybe a Pentax. So, what say you? Anyone else wish to comment on this minimalistic approach to downsize photography? I would love to hear what you tried from your collection and how it worked out.

Olympus OM-1 or Pentax MX . . . who's gonna quibble over a millimeter or gram difference here or there. The main thing is they both have the largest viewfinder magnification in the smallest SLR body!

MX-OM1 by Les DMess, on Flickr

If the OM-1's meter is within ±3 stops then you're good to go with b&w or color negative. During daylight hours - given the generous overexposure range of these films, I can do away with a meter altogether. Just be sure to err on the side of overexposure - generously, and you'll still have usable results.

4season · Oct 23, 2022

I'm a minimalist in spirit, if not always in practice.

But since the start of 2020, I've sold or given away a number of cameras, and reduced the number of new acquisitions.

Being selective about what I bring home has also helped: For example, motor drives don't interest me much, so I don't own any. Ditto dedicated flashes and original boxes, unless said boxes are exceptionally interesting in their own right, but very few are.

Nor do I feel a need to own a wide angle, normal and telephoto lens for each system simply for completeness's sake. Rather, I seek out lenses which seem somehow special to me (not necessarily the flagship offerings). And if they also make sense when adapted to my digital outfit, so much the better. At the moment, I own a single Olympus OM lens: 28/3.5, which is also one of the most compact yet inexpensive lenses for that system. Maybe I'll add additional OM lenses, and maybe I won't.

Paul Howell · Oct 23, 2022

I bought a more than cameras than I needed when analog prices dropped below basement level. Minolta AF is my current gear I take when it will matter, the others I try and shoot a roll at least once a year, but I do dry fire every few months. I sold most of my point and shoots, have offers for my Konica T3 and 4s, Spotmatic, which I will hold on, but might sell my Chinions in K and M42.

Larryc001 · Oct 23, 2022

Speaking of lenses, I was the guy who had to have every lens Nikon made, which I pretty much did. Now those are long since sold and I use what happened to come with the F4 bodies. Strangely I find them perfectly fine even though they are probably just kit lenses. I have a 35-135 zoom and two 28-80mm zooms. I purchased a sigma 17mm fisheye separately which is interesting. I also have something like a 24-120mm zoom and 50mm G lenses which I use with my D600.

Paul Howell · Oct 23, 2022

My Minolta A mount kit lens are pretty good, not as sharp as the G lens wide open, but stopped to F8 or 11 will resolve Tmax 100 with good contrast.

sunbeamland · Oct 23, 2022

I’m about to unload a bunch of cameras as well. I have a darkroom can handle up to 8x10 (I have an 8x10 enlarger). I always carry my Fuji XE-3 and my Fuji GS645 folder and some black and white film when I travel for work. I never shoot 35mm film because if I’m processing and enlarging myself, why use small film. I have a Rolleiflex 6003 which is for when I’m a little more serious. When I’m serious the 4x5 or 8x10 is the choice. I’m letting everything else go! I also have to shed a couple of enlargers...I bought a lot of this stuff when it was so cheap you felt you couldn’t pass it up (or it was going to end up in a landfill).

We all get caught up in gear and usually don’t take enough photos. Remember when you first started? You probably had a basic 35mm slr, a 50mm and you wore it out!

Larryc001 · Oct 23, 2022

“We all get caught up in gear and usually don’t take enough photos. Remember when you first started? You probably had a basic 35mm slr, a 50mm and you wore it out!”

Well said and so very true, speaking for myself. I remember my dad’s camera in about 1948, a Kodak medalist. I remember he dug a pit inside the rodeo grounds so he could photograph the bull and bronco riding up close. He had a Kodak flash bantam 828 which he eventually gave to me when I was in grade 8. My first slr was an Asahi Pentax with f2.2 lens. I didn’t take very good pictures until I got my first F2. I think the better equipment did help.

Paul Howell · Oct 23, 2022

I started with the 35mm, a Pentax Spotmatic, and Minolta TLR that my high school used to teach photogprhaly and take take photos for the yearbook. My first camera was Kodak Retina IIIC big, my aunts bought if for me as birthday, Christmas and graduation present. Next was a Speed Graphic, followed by my own Spotmatic and later a Konica T3 while in college. All good cameras with great lens, I still have the Retina and Spotmatic with a brace of M42 lens. Other than the Nikons I owned while working as a PJ I bought cameras to use for wedding and events and 4X5 for landscapes. When used 35mm prices fell though the floor I bought mostly cameras that I found interesting or odd. Most like the Kowa, Topcon UV, and Petri were very cheap, fun to fool around with and still are worth much money. The only gear that I have that is worth much is my Minolta AF and G lens.

MattKing · Oct 23, 2022

You were fortunate to have such great aunts.

Daniela · Oct 24, 2022

As the proud owner of 20 year old Nikon I bought with my first salary in the US; a Holga I bought off a guy at a metro station and a pinhole gifted to me by a former friend, I'd like to let you know I'm open to accepting donated cameras. I can offer them a dust-free home and plenty of walks in Paris

Sirius Glass · Oct 24, 2022

Daniela said:
As the proud owner of 20 year old Nikon I bought with my first salary in the US; a Holga I bought off a guy at a metro station and a pinhole gifted to me by a former friend, I'd like to let you know I'm open to accepting donated cameras. I can offer them a dust-free home and plenty of walks in Paris

Will you take live ins with cameras?

Daniela · Oct 24, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
Will you take live ins with cameras?

Sure! What could possibly go wrong?!

Donald Qualls · Oct 24, 2022

sunbeamland said:
We all get caught up in gear and usually don’t take enough photos. Remember when you first started? You probably had a basic 35mm slr, a 50mm and you wore it out!

Actually, I had a Pony 135 with a 43 mm f/3.5. Did pretty well with that.

Now I've got LOTS of cameras, from 16 mm to 4x5.

Got old film cameras in your cupboards collecting dust? Maybe put them to work

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