How many IS too many?

BradS · Aug 18, 2007

A couple of weeks ago, I suffered a moment of weakness and I ordered yet another 35mm body from KEH. A chrome Nikon FA in EX condition....

While I was waiting for it to come, I realized it would make....geez, when you loose count surely, it is a sign.

I hauled out all the 35mm bodies I could remember. I left my wife's Canon EOS out of the count...one, two....eleven and one more on the way makes...TWELVE!

I've tried to sell some. I gave some away...still, there are ten!

Pentax KX (my first "real camera - even my wife agrees, this one's a keeper).
Nikon FM3a, black FA and chrome FA
Minolta X-370N and SRT-201
Yashica FX-3 super 2000 (I'm amazed at the ML glass)
Pentax H1a, Spotmatic, and SP-1000

I won't even go into the glass...am I sick? I need help.

thebanana · Aug 18, 2007

You sound normal enough to me.

Nick Zentena · Aug 18, 2007

That's nothing.

I was glancing at Ebay. Not intending on anything more then glancing. When I saw a nice easel. I instantly knew the model and that the easel was missing parts. All this from a little photo. Do I clue in to the fact I knew too much? Nope. So I put in a low ball bid. Thinking of all the things this strange and unusual easel will let me do. It shows up and I go to put it away. Right on top of the one I already have. :rolleyes: I then understood why it looked so familiar. At least it was only $5.

Konical · Aug 18, 2007

Good Morning, Brad,

Why the concern? You still have MF and LF to work on.

Konical

BradS · Aug 18, 2007

Konical said:
Good Morning, Brad,

Why the concern? You still have MF and LF to work on.

Konical

Well, I kinda skipped right over medium format and went stright to 4x5...then 5x7.

8x10 is calling me. I can hear it beckoning...

Keith Tapscott. · Aug 18, 2007

BradS said:
A couple of weeks ago, I suffered a moment of weakness and I ordered yet another 35mm body from KEH. A chrome Nikon FA in EX condition....

While I was waiting for it to come, I realized it would make....geez, when you loose count surely, it is a sign.

I hauled out all the 35mm bodies I could remember. I left my wife's Canon EOS out of the count...one, two....eleven and one more on the way makes...TWELVE!

I've tried to sell some. I gave some away...still, there are ten!

Pentax KX (my first "real camera - even my wife agrees, this one's a keeper).
Nikon FM3a, black FA and chrome FA
Minolta X-370N and SRT-201
Yashica FX-3 super 2000 (I'm amazed at the ML glass)
Pentax H1a, Spotmatic, and SP-1000

I won't even go into the glass...am I sick? I need help.

What, no Leica?!

BradS · Aug 18, 2007

Keith Tapscott. said:
What, no Leica?!

Only in my dreams.

Dan Fromm · Aug 18, 2007

Brad, since you asked, I think you're out of your mind. I don't say sick only because I have uncountably many normal lenses for 2x3 and don't want you to tell me that I'm sick too.

Its not that you have too many 35 mm SLR bodies, rather that you have too many mount systems. The worst of it is that none offers many advantages over the others. If I were you, I'd dispose of all but the Nikons. Or all but the KX and buy another K-mount body or two so that I could shoot more than one emulsion at roughly the same time.

I can't imagine how you maintain equipment proficiency with so many similar but not quite the same bodies.

epatsellis · Aug 18, 2007

BradS said:
A couple of weeks ago, I suffered a moment of weakness and I ordered yet another 35mm body from KEH. A chrome Nikon FA in EX condition....

While I was waiting for it to come, I realized it would make....geez, when you loose count surely, it is a sign.

I hauled out all the 35mm bodies I could remember. I left my wife's Canon EOS out of the count...one, two....eleven and one more on the way makes...TWELVE!

I've tried to sell some. I gave some away...still, there are ten!

Pentax KX (my first "real camera - even my wife agrees, this one's a keeper).
Nikon FM3a, black FA and chrome FA
Minolta X-370N and SRT-201
Yashica FX-3 super 2000 (I'm amazed at the ML glass)
Pentax H1a, Spotmatic, and SP-1000

I won't even go into the glass...am I sick? I need help.

Naw, not sick at all, but as dan said, trim down to one mount and then you will at least have a situation where everything works on everything.

erie

(with nearly a dozen 35mm bodies and tons of glass..)

Toffle · Aug 18, 2007

You are definitely very ill. The only hope for you, I'm afraid, is to pack the whole lot up and ship them to me in Canada. (We have a natural immunity up here.)

Seriously, it is called an embarrassment of riches. Enjoy your cameras; show them love. (they appreciate it.) You only need to send me one.

Cheers,

BradS · Aug 18, 2007

Well, actually my plan is to do almost exactly as Dan suggested. I would like to rid myself of the lot, save the Nikons...life would be so much simplier.

k_jupiter · Aug 18, 2007

You're just a beginner.
Nikon FM2, EM (for copy stand use)
Fujica 605, 701
Zorki 1, Zorki 4 (2)
Retina I, IIa
Cannon sure shot (4)
Zeiss Icarex BM
Oly XA

And I don't even shoot much 35mm.

Now let's talk MF and LF...

tim in san jose

Dan Fromm · Aug 18, 2007

Ah, but Ted, we know that you're just a mindless accumulator.

Don't take this too strongly to heart, that's what Charlie Barringer (google him) called me when he became aware of some of the lenses I'd accumulated. After I explained my reasons for getting them, he relented and agreed that the accumulation made good sense.

So, what are your reasons for having so many?

Cheers,

Dan

Roger Hicks · Aug 18, 2007

Dan Fromm said:
So, what are your reasons for having so many?

Dear Dan,

Historical accident, and the fact that most of it is worth so little it's not worth selling. Better to keep it for the time then I think, "Ah, yes, what I need is..."

Then I have to try to find it...

Cheers,

Roger

luvmydogs · Aug 18, 2007

I don't think you're sick at all!

Isn't this normal?? I mean, can one ever be too thin or too beautiful?

BradS · Aug 18, 2007

Dan Fromm said:
Ah, but Ted, we know that you're just a mindless accumulator.

Don't take this too strongly to heart, that's what Charlie Barringer (google him) called me when he became aware of some of the lenses I'd accumulated. After I explained my reasons for getting them, he relented and agreed that the accumulation made good sense.

So, what are your reasons for having so many?

Cheers,

Dan

My accountant accuses me similarily...but, I can explain all of them...

(long boring personal history deleted. suffice to say, I can easily rationalize the purchase of each and every one).

Bob Carnie · Aug 18, 2007

I have a wonderful 11x14 enlarger just waiting to print some well exposed negs.

BradS said:
Well, I kinda skipped right over medium format and went stright to 4x5...then 5x7.

8x10 is calling me. I can hear it beckoning...

DanCarson · Aug 18, 2007

You are ok. I just had to rent another storage locker, twice as big as my other one. Dan Carson

BradS · Aug 18, 2007

Bob Carnie said:
I have a wonderful 11x14 enlarger just waiting to print some well exposed negs.

Well, I don't know if any of them are well exposed but, next time I come to Toronto, I'm going to bring you a whole stack of negs.

ricksplace · Aug 18, 2007

If you're sick, then there are sure a lot of sickos here (me included).

Edwardv · Aug 18, 2007

We just cannot resist collecting more photography equipment for the days we plan to use it. But it never comes, it just collects dust.

copake_ham · Aug 18, 2007

BradS said:
Well, actually my plan is to do almost exactly as Dan suggested. I would like to rid myself of the lot, save the Nikons...life would be so much simplier.

See, you're already on the road to recovery.

Dan's right - stick to one mount system - that's why all my 35mm gear is Nikon (SLR F mount and RF S-mount*).

Now when it comes to MF, I'm all over the place! A Hassey 503Cxi system, a Pentax 67-II system and a Bronica 645 system in Tucson! Geez, I'd better clean up my act there!

[* Now the Contax III and the Kiev are "generally" compatible with the S-mounts at and below 50mm so I'm counting them! ]

FabrizioLima · Aug 29, 2007

Yeah! I know what you mean. Try to explain to your girlfriend why do you have so many "old cameras" and no digital.

My cameras:
- Olympus OM1
- Nikon FM2
- Nikon FM2/T
- Nikon FM3A
- Nikon FE2
- Nikon F100
- Hasselblad 500CM
- Leica R8
- 02 Leica M6

polaski · Aug 30, 2007

Perfect cure for your ailment

I suggest you stop looking at SLRs and instead make a purely academic study of 35mm and 120 roll film folding cameras. They come in such a variety and have such a rich history that you will be fully absorbed in research and cataloging for the rest of your life.

Of course, should you slip up and buy one, I'm not responsible for what happens next.

k_jupiter · Aug 30, 2007

FabrizioLima said:
Yeah! I know what you mean. Try to explain to your girlfriend why do you have so many "old cameras" and no digital.

My cameras:
- Olympus OM1
- Nikon FM2
- Nikon FM2/T
- Nikon FM3A
- Nikon FE2
- Nikon F100
- Hasselblad 500CM
- Leica R8
- 02 Leica M6

Those ain't "Old" cameras. Other than the Cannon sureshots I bought for kite photography, my newest camera is a 1986 FM2. Most of my cameras precede my birth (and I am 50). Only a couple have meters, The FM2, a Fujica, the EM sitting on my copy stand. That's it.

Explain to your girlfriend why you need 6 cameras that shoot a film format that is almost obsolete (3.25x4.25), 2 5x7 cameras she has never seen a print from, a couple of 2x3 Press cameras, a 4x5 (the work horse), 2 rb67s, a half dozen 120 folders, another half dozen weird 135 cameras, a couple 127s, 3 120 TLRs and associated lens, not to mention all the homemade pinhole cameras.

Obsession.

tim in san jose

How many IS too many?

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