At just bidding on and winning a used Canon EOS 1N body, I thought this would make an interesting question for others. I certainly did not really need yet another camera, but I was looking regardless. I guess I can call myself a collector as I must be buying myself my 14th camera so far. I've had other cameras too which I didn't keep long and sold such as a Nikon F70 and Contax 139. Every buy seems to be a progression from the previous ones or how I've grown in knowledge over the years. I started out with a Kodak Instamatic 126 X-15F camera. I used that for a number of years till I grew into my teens and started to learn 35mm. I bought myself a Canon T70 and then got the T90. I eventually sold both of those, but I inheritted my moms old AE-1 which I still use on occassion. For fun I got a 120 format Holga since I had no medium format camera at the time. It saved me as my AE-1 on an important shoot stopped functioning, so the Holga came to the rescue. If it weren't for the distaste of the model thinking the Holga was a toy, we would have gotten more pictures that day. I also own two Super 8mm Sound Elmo cameras. From there I finally bought a used Pentax 6x7 which I've been wanting since I was 17. I was 33 at the time I got it. Since the AE-1 was Ka-put, I decided to go autofocus and bought an Elan 7. This is probably my main camera today. I found on occassion my focus was off and the autofocus really helped there. I even have my dad's old Polaroid 100 Land camera. It still works. I'm amazed you can still get film for it. I bought a used 120 folder camera- the Franka Rolfix 6x9- for fun. I don't use it much due to its quality and the fact my lab won't print 6x9 negs. Always liking 4x5 I bought a used Graflex Speed Graphic. Its fun to use those big negs. Going to digital I bought Kodak 5 megapixel which I leave in my car for those driving shots when I need a camera, plus a Rebel XT which I recently sold due to lack of use, but I still seem to prefer shooting film. I also bought a Canon FTb-N to go back to basics and the K1000 metering style. That camera should work well with my FL bellows. And back to medium format I got the original Pentax 645 manual focus, hoping to trim some camera bag weight and more 35mm like use with its motor winder and 15 frames per roll. I not long ago bought a cell phone with a 2 megapixel camera in it. Does that even count as a real camera? Now again Im back to 35mm with a more pro camera with the EOS 1N. I really wanted the 1V, but the 1N price was right ($240 US) and I can still get the 1V in the future (if Im still using film as much as I do today). I hope this all stops soon as I'm running out of places to put all these, and not to mention my cost of insurance will skyrocket for replacement value. Is this a camera sickness I've picked up? Its hard since film cameras are so cheap these days and good deals are everywhere. One day I'll go back to digital, but for now Im sticking with film cameras. I realize this is a 35mm forum, but this would apply to any format camera that you may own. I guess part of this sickness was due to that important shoot I had were my camera quit working (it was with a beautiful girl I liked at the time), and Im making up for it today to never be in that position again. I guess I've gone overboard to say the least. To make a story short I lost the girl, but gained a dozen cameras. So let the replies flow in.
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