munz6869 said cameras weren't all about taking pictures. In the sense that every technology becomes redundant eventually, and the objects are museum pieces, he is correct. However we are not there yet, and film in the more popular formats is still available. If there's fun in clicking well made dials for their own sake, it's beyond my appreciation. I think the sole purpose of cameras is to create pictures.
That might have been the best photo of the lot! The few really good shots I've taken have been when my intentions were taken over by events happening in front of the lens. The mix of control and happenstance creates a potent visual brew, and one has to resist the temptation not to press the shutter because our aim has been undermined by events. If it doubt, take the picture. Take enough of them and there might be a few great shots in the portfolio.
We all come to that conclusion eventually but few admit it so clearly. good for you.
I disagree that "buying and trying" is normal, though we'd have to confirm what we mean by normal. When the cameras most of us buy were new the majority of people owned one camera, with only the keenest amateurs owning two or more of the same format. The numbers who swapped 35mm cameras on a regular basis was very small.
Age is a factor because it means you're running out of time to try new things, if you are serious about the image as your priority. The photographers you mention were known for two camera types in an entire lifetime, not one a month. You can learn the merits of 35mm, medium and large format in a few months, it doesn't require familiarity with every camera ever made to see what the different film sizes do well and less well.
That's simply incorrect. To the best of my knowledge Winogrand used Leica and a Nikon for longer lenses, Joel Meyerowiz used a Leica and later a large format camera. Cartier-Bresson used Leicas almost exclusively. He shot with a few almost identical cameras from the beginning of his career. Most of Maier's work is on a 6x6 Rollei.Actually, the photographers I have mentioned tried and used different cameras not for a month
Even if money to buy film gear is not a factor for many of us now, you can't understand how particular camera type and format works in short amount of time. Every format, style and sometimes single lens needs months to learn. Not just try couple of times outside and get nothing from it.
And if you are photography enthusiast it means you have limited amount of time for photography. So, we are talking about years to try different film photography gears and styles, not months.
The point is they were known for their work on particular cameras. What they used in their early years, as a hobby, is different from the tools they used in pursuit of their vision.Wrong?
Maier used Brownie, before TLRs and switched to SLRs, RF later on. She stopped using TLRs in seventies and was still taking pictures in eighties and nineties. She also used movie cameras for interviews.
HCB started not with Leica. And it wasn't just for few months before he started to use Leica.
Herzog tried Leica for Vancouver BC photography, but didn't liked it and he switched MF SLR and SLRs.
Winogrand used LEica RF for street, but for sports he might use Nikons SLRs.
Meyerowiz switched to LF for some time, because RF wasn't good enough for particular projects.
They switched as soon as certain camera type and format wasn't good enough. But Ansel Adams had many cameras to play with and it wasn't just in large league
It is not so quick and simple as you think. And "most" doesn't mean all.
I'm in favour of experimenting with film, developer and printing methods. Once you've found something that works for you it makes sense to stick with it. The thread has gone down the familiar GAS territory, and is primarily about cameras.
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