Is it a disease? Bought what I hope was a good deal.

dreamingartemis · Jun 26, 2014

I had bought a Yashica Mat 124G back in 2012 when I wanted to try out a cheap medium format camera. I figured I would stick to this as my medium format as I couldn't get anything affordable in my budget range, but recently I came across a listing on Ebay for a GF670w I had been eyeing for a long time and this time, it's within my financial capability to own.

After thinking long and hard (24 hours), I caved in and bought it. Now I am not sure if I had made the right choice. Surely I wouldn't need any medium format camera. Is this what they call buyer's remorse? I guess I could lessen the guilt by selling my Yashica but it would sell so little considering how low they are going on Ebay and this one I got in almost mint condition. It seemed a shame to sell it.

mauro35 · Jun 26, 2014

Had the very same experience. I use 35mm and I had been looking for a fast wide-angle lens for a long time, even though I already own one. But I fell in the trap of "this is sharper". Well, I bought a new lens in the end, only to sell it back couple of weeks after. It was a good experience, I think I know better how to look for equipment I really need. What I´m trying to say is, don´t worry, we all make buying mistakes or misjudgements. And often we tend to have more than what we actually use.

zanxion72 · Jun 26, 2014

Medium format had me started with a YM 124G. It has been a really nice one, with no marks at all, and my GAS could not resist on it. A year after, me too got into buying a like new GF670w, and while caring for it perhaps too much for it looks, I have not enjoyed many rolls with it. It is that stupid fear of accidental damage to something you like too much.
Then, a while after I have bought a like new Lubitel 2. It is by no means on par with the other two, but for just 10 buckazoids I had given no thought on it. I have to confess that this is the MF camera I have enjoyed more. Not caring much of what might happen to it, I have carried it almost everywhere and it did pretty well. Some time later it broke. No sorrow at all, for a fiver I got me another one and that keeps going.
Selling the other two had crossed my mind many times, especially when being financially in bad shape, but recalling being sorry for letting beloved things go and not being able to buy them again put me back in place. Yes, I have two cameras that I do not use much, but I cannot let them go either.
It is definitely a problem, possibly objects taking filling up psychological (emotional?) gaps, but...

mr rusty · Jun 26, 2014

I have 4 x Olympus OMs in service at the same time loaded with Delta 400, FP4, Ektar 100 and Portra 400. Admittedly the cameras loaded with colour take quite a long time to finish the 36 exposures, but the B&Ws turn over quickly as this is what I mainly shoot. I also regularly take out a Zeiss Nettar 6x6 and a Mamiya 645, which are also both presently loaded and part shot. Moral - nothing wrong with having several cameras!

railwayman3 · Jun 26, 2014

Nothing wrong with owning several cameras if photography is your serious interest/hobby/relaxation.

I have several, 35mm and MF, bought over the years and all of which are used from time to time. My only fault is deciding which to take on photo outings...it's too easy to think "I'll take this one with slide film, and this one with colour neg. And, oh, I'd better take this one as well in case I want to take some B&W shots. And, oh, better just put the P&S digital one in the bag for any quick record snaps. And that reminds me, I'm trying out the shutter on that old one I've been given, pop that in as well ! "

Then I just get bogged down not knowing which to use!

I really try nowadays to take one camera with one type of film, and just concentrate on getting good shots on that ! Much easier to carry, as well.

paul_c5x4 · Jun 26, 2014

railwayman3 said:
I really try nowadays to take one camera with one type of film, and just concentrate on getting good shots on that ! Much easier to carry, as well.

"Just one camera" is all I took on a recent trip up north - Still 10Kg of gear that I didn't want to go lugging up a mountain (but I did anyway).

dreamingartemis: Once you get the camera in your hand and start using it, any pangs of guilt will disappear and you'll marvel at the size of the negatives. After a while, you may get the hankering to try a larger format

baachitraka · Jun 26, 2014

Yes. It takes your personal time and money. Me trying hard to concentrate on printing and willing to save and spend on paper and film.

film_man · Jun 26, 2014

Well you can always sell the GF670 for whatever you bought it for.

bdial · Jun 26, 2014

It's hopeless, you are well and truly addicted now, embrace it.

As for the GF670w it will be a nice complement to the Yashica, very sharp optics that rival 4x5 in image quality.

pbromaghin · Jun 26, 2014

The YashicaMat did just what it was supposed to do - give you a cheap way to explore medium format and find out if it is for you. You discovered that you do like it and so bought yourself one of the best on the market. There's nothing wrong with this picture.

mweintraub · Jun 26, 2014

pbromaghin said:
The YashicaMat did just what it was supposed to do - give you a cheap way to explore medium format and find out if it is for you.

AKA a gateway drug to MF.

pbromaghin · Jun 26, 2014

mweintraub said:
AKA a gateway drug to MF.

Shhhhhh.

dasBlute · Jun 26, 2014

tell us how guilty you feel about the new camera after you've run 100 rolls through it

jerrybro · Jun 26, 2014

Resistance is futile, you are being assimilated.

pgomena · Jun 26, 2014

Use that 6x7 for a few months and then see how you feel.

My MF addiction started with a Rolleiflex that was my only MF camera for about 25 years. Then I got a deal on a Hasselblad. Then a Fuji 6x9 rangefinder. Sold the 6x9 because I didn't use it enough and I never bonded with it. Bought more Hasselblad gear. Not too long ago a friend of mine got me hooked on cheap MF cameras. I now own two Agfa Clacks, a Zeiss Box Tengor and a folding rollfilm camera. One of the Clacks is going to become a pinhole camera.

My most-used camera out of the bunch? The Rollei. It's easy to toss in a camera bag for a short outing. Most flexible? The Hasselblad. Most fun? Any of the "junk store" cameras.

Enjoy the ride!

jp498 · Jun 26, 2014

I enjoy a Rolleiflex, Yashica, and Holga. Haven't got into Hasselblads or rangefinders. thankfully. MF can be a gateway drug to LF as well. I'm pretty much done buying MF gear as I've got what I want, but still buy and use plenty of film. I'm about half MF and half LF for film use.

Alan Gales · Jun 26, 2014

As recommended above shoot the Fuji 6x7 for a month or two and see how you like it.

If you don't like it then sell and figure that any money you lose was a cheap rental fee.

I have done this with both medium format and large format cameras and lenses. If I think I will like something better than what I have then I buy it at a good price if I can afford it (no Mamiya 7's or Ebony 4x5's ). I'll compare both cameras and keep the one I like the best. Sometimes I lose a little bit of money but it's worth it for the knowledge and fun shooting something different.

Jaf-Photo · Jun 26, 2014

I think you would have regretted not buying it even more.

dreamingartemis · Jun 26, 2014

mauro35 said:
Had the very same experience. I use 35mm and I had been looking for a fast wide-angle lens for a long time, even though I already own one. But I fell in the trap of "this is sharper". Well, I bought a new lens in the end, only to sell it back couple of weeks after. It was a good experience, I think I know better how to look for equipment I really need. What I´m trying to say is, don´t worry, we all make buying mistakes or misjudgements. And often we tend to have more than what we actually use.

I guess you're right, though these are costly mistakes =_=;;

dreamingartemis · Jun 26, 2014

zanxion72 said:
Medium format had me started with a YM 124G. It has been a really nice one, with no marks at all, and my GAS could not resist on it. A year after, me too got into buying a like new GF670w, and while caring for it perhaps too much for it looks, I have not enjoyed many rolls with it. It is that stupid fear of accidental damage to something you like too much.
Then, a while after I have bought a like new Lubitel 2. It is by no means on par with the other two, but for just 10 buckazoids I had given no thought on it. I have to confess that this is the MF camera I have enjoyed more. Not caring much of what might happen to it, I have carried it almost everywhere and it did pretty well. Some time later it broke. No sorrow at all, for a fiver I got me another one and that keeps going.
Selling the other two had crossed my mind many times, especially when being financially in bad shape, but recalling being sorry for letting beloved things go and not being able to buy them again put me back in place. Yes, I have two cameras that I do not use much, but I cannot let them go either.
It is definitely a problem, possibly objects taking filling up psychological (emotional?) gaps, but...

Hah! I'll probably be doing the same thing! In the end buying up a cheaper lubitel and shooting with that instead most of the time.

dreamingartemis · Jun 26, 2014

railwayman3 said:
Nothing wrong with owning several cameras if photography is your serious interest/hobby/relaxation.

I have several, 35mm and MF, bought over the years and all of which are used from time to time. My only fault is deciding which to take on photo outings...it's too easy to think "I'll take this one with slide film, and this one with colour neg. And, oh, I'd better take this one as well in case I want to take some B&W shots. And, oh, better just put the P&S digital one in the bag for any quick record snaps. And that reminds me, I'm trying out the shutter on that old one I've been given, pop that in as well ! "

Then I just get bogged down not knowing which to use!

I really try nowadays to take one camera with one type of film, and just concentrate on getting good shots on that ! Much easier to carry, as well.

And then realized you need a forklift to carry them all haahahah

dreamingartemis · Jun 26, 2014

paul_c5x4 said:
"Just one camera" is all I took on a recent trip up north - Still 10Kg of gear that I didn't want to go lugging up a mountain (but I did anyway).

dreamingartemis: Once you get the camera in your hand and start using it, any pangs of guilt will disappear and you'll marvel at the size of the negatives. After a while, you may get the hankering to try a larger format

Sounds like what my mentor is doing right now by going into large format film

dreamingartemis · Jun 26, 2014

bdial said:
It's hopeless, you are well and truly addicted now, embrace it.

As for the GF670w it will be a nice complement to the Yashica, very sharp optics that rival 4x5 in image quality.

I keep telling myself that, but there's that nagging voice of truth in the back of my mind, you'll end up just buying a mamiya later~~~~

dreamingartemis · Jun 26, 2014

pbromaghin said:
The YashicaMat did just what it was supposed to do - give you a cheap way to explore medium format and find out if it is for you. You discovered that you do like it and so bought yourself one of the best on the market. There's nothing wrong with this picture.

Except when my drybox keeps bulging and wallet keeps thinning

dreamingartemis · Jun 26, 2014

dasBlute said:
tell us how guilty you feel about the new camera after you've run 100 rolls through it

I intend to do that! I already ran 20 rolls through the yashica.

Is it a disease? Bought what I hope was a good deal.

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