if he / she gave you their camera before they retired or died what would you do with it ?

removed account4 · Sep 15, 2017

lets say you got a chance to meet a photographer you admired. it wasn't hero worship or
anything like that but somehow your paths crossed and you became friends. before s/he retired
or died s/he gave you one of her/his cameras. you didn't ask for it or anything like that, this person
just figured " im not going to use this much more .. i'll just give it to " fill in your name " ..
the person didn't put any stipulations on the camera and you, im sure you could sell it and make some $$
or it on a shelf and sip cranberry juice cocktails with it and your friends and talk about it
and the person who gave it to you, or you could use it until you retired &c and hand it off to someone else.

what would you do, and why ?
sell it?
turn it into a museum piece ?
use it ?

and why ?

Andrew O'Neill · Sep 15, 2017

I got a Mamiya C330 from my wife's uncle in Japan when I was getting into photography. He got it from his Grandfather, who used to be a professional photographer (his studio is still up and running over there, but owned by someone else). I used this camera for about a year until I purchased the RB67. I gave the C330 back to him. This was back in 92. He still has it, but never uses it. The thought of selling it never crossed my mind... even though he did give it to me.

winger · Sep 15, 2017

If it was a format and type I like, I'd probably use it, though perhaps sparingly. I doubt I'd sell it - I'm not usually the selling type (though I do have extras of stuff that I should sell).

faberryman · Sep 15, 2017

I'd use it. Maybe some of the magic would rub off. When I passed on, I'd leave it to my son with a note about its provenance. It would be up to him to decide what to do with it.

blockend · Sep 15, 2017

Garry Winogrand's widow had strong feelings that his Leica M4 should continue to be used after his death. She sold it to a friend who uses it. On the open market it would be very valuable indeed, but in that position I'd honour the lady's wishes.

https://cameraquest.com/LeicaM4G.htm

bdial · Sep 15, 2017

Use it, which is what I've done with the gifted cameras I've been fortunate to receive.

Bob Carnie · Sep 15, 2017

Absolutely use it.

jim10219 · Sep 15, 2017

Do what you want with it. If you want to use it, use it. If you want to sell it, sell it. If you want to donate it to a museum, donate it to a museum. If you want to put it on a shelf so you can brag to your friends about it, then by golly, get that thing a nice display case! It's a thing, not a human being, or even an animal. It's not even a one-of-a-kind work of art. It's just a camera. It's a curiosity at best. If it got lost or destroyed, the world would still have plenty of other cameras. Just make sure that whatever you do with it, you get some enjoyment out of it.

removed account4 · Sep 15, 2017

jim10219 said:
Do what you want with it. If you want to use it, use it. If you want to sell it, sell it. If you want to donate it to a museum, donate it to a museum. If you want to put it on a shelf so you can brag to your friends about it, then by golly, get that thing a nice display case! It's a thing, not a human being, or even an animal. It's not even a one-of-a-kind work of art. It's just a camera. It's a curiosity at best. If it got lost or destroyed, the world would still have plenty of other cameras. Just make sure that whatever you do with it, you get some enjoyment out of it.

thanks jim
but what would YOU do ?

eddie · Sep 15, 2017

I've received a few photo items which meet this criteria (a Rolleiflex 3.5f, and an LPL 4550 w/ the Heiland Split Grade, among others). They were given to me because of a shared passion for photography (even after I pointed out the value of the items). They chose to give them to me because they knew I'd use them, so I do. I also am very conscious of the memory of those that gave them to me when I do use them.

Eric Rose · Sep 15, 2017

I have several such cameras. I either use them or have them displayed. I would never sell them but might gift them to someone who would appreciate the significance of the camera. I gave away a Leica M3 with 50mm Summicron to someone I knew would appreciate it and use it.

NedL · Sep 15, 2017

My dad gave me his F3 and N2020 pretty much under those circumstances. I use them both, and it adds some extra enjoyment knowing they are the same cameras he used before he switched to D191taL

Greg Heath · Sep 15, 2017

Somebody did just that with me. They gave me their Cambo SCX 4x5. I used it. I still have it. It is HEAVY for anything outside of the house. Greg

DennyS · Sep 15, 2017

I'd certainly use it and the first project with the camera would be a portrait of the person who gave it to me.

Rick A · Sep 15, 2017

I have items gifted me by some folks who I greatly admired as a young man. They aren't significant in any manner except to me. I still have them, I still visit the items and reflect on the memories tied to them. One thing in particular that I have, I wore until it was rags, my dads field jacket from Korean war, had a hand painted eagle soaring above snow capped peaks. I also have an uncle's WW II bomber jacket.

MattKing · Sep 15, 2017

My Retina IIIc is one that I gave to my Dad. When he was younger, and had a young family with all the attendant expenses he dearly wanted one, but couldn't justify it.
When he was about 80, I discovered I could find them on eBay for very reasonable cost, so I bought one from a seller in California and then gave it to my Dad.
He was happy to have it and used it for a few years, until his failing eyesight got in the way. He gave the camera back to me.
I think of my Dad almost every time I take a photograph. My love of photography came from him. But I really think of Dad when I use the Retina IIIc.
This shot is one from that camera:

Andrew O'Neill · Sep 15, 2017

Nice photograph, Matt.

MartinCrabtree · Sep 15, 2017

Cherish it and use it 'til it wore out. Restore and repeat. 'Cause that's what it is for.

Fixcinater · Sep 15, 2017

I've been given some gear and I've given some away.

I tend to keep it unless it's something I know I would never use, and then try to give it away to somebody that I know would be interested in using it but have ended up selling it on open market.

Most recently, someone sent me a Leica CL that needed heavy rangefinder work (moving mirror was borked) and some other smaller/easier fixes. I was able to get it working and calibrated, and now it's a great addition to my 35mm travel kit and is very much appreciated.

jim10219 · Sep 15, 2017

jnanian said:
thanks jim
but what would YOU do ?

If it was worth a bunch of money, I'd sell it! Let a collector put it on his/her mantle and dust it once a week while bragging to their friends. I don't need that, but I could sure use the money. If it wasn't worth a ton, and was a camera that I actually might buy otherwise, I'd use it. I value the prints and negatives of famous photographers more than the tools.

Patrick Robert James · Sep 16, 2017

Depends who the photographer was I guess. I have an M3 that a close friend gave me that I wouldn't part with but I don't like to take it out too much. He got it from a photojournalist whose name I have forgotten. I still use it because it is a great camera and it has a certain sentimentality attached to it. The rare occasions I take it out it is rather special.

blockend · Sep 16, 2017

As a romantic I think cameras take on the personality of their owner. A Spotmatic that was responsible for recording a generation would be more desirable than a shiny new Leica that had been barely used. A battered Nikon that had seen war service would be held in greater esteem than a new digital DSLR.

Fewer film camera are used exclusively nowadays, so the sense of history and attachment is rarer.

DannL-USA · Sep 16, 2017

Sell it on eBay. Just write in "once belonged to . . . . ".

dpurdy · Sep 16, 2017

I am guilty of selling some valuable stuff I had no use for. I am currently being the recipient of more stuff from another photographer and I am plotting to sell some of it. They didn't say I couldn't. It will help my photography but in another way.

macfred · Sep 16, 2017

What are cameras for ?
I would use it (given that it works).
A coworker ( a non - potographer from the Ukraine) gave me a KMZ Mockba 5 with badly affected bellows; tried to fix it, but I failed. Now it has a place in a bookshelf.

if he / she gave you their camera before they retired or died what would you do with it ?

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if he / she gave you their camera before they retired or died what would you do with it ?

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