Somehow I've ended up with a 'collection'

logan2z

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Not sure how this happened - I was going to be a one camera, one (or maybe two) lens guy. But somehow I've accumulated more film cameras and lenses to match than anyone really needs. I'm not sure how or when I officially turned into a camera collector.

I keep thinking about letting some stuff go - the things I'm not using regularly - but I'm finding it hard to part with any of it some reason.

Who needs two Pentax KXs, one black and one silver?? Or several Nikon bodies? A handful of Leicas? At least I've only managed to buy one Hasselblad, but I've been tempted by others. And now I've found another camera that I'm salivating over that doesn't really bring anything new to the table (it's another fully-manual 35mm camera), but it's a classic and in great shape. The fact that it's somewhat overpriced doesn't seem to be deterring me either.

I realize it's all harmless fun. I'm not taking food off my family's table to play with this stuff and I have no other vices. But I've never suffered from this sort of GAS with other hobbies so this has taken me a little by surprise.

What is it about mechanical film cameras that makes them so enticing??

I'll try and answer that question for myself later. Right now I need to go grab my credit card...
 

Sirius Glass

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You have been blessed. Handling this situation/opportunity is easy.
==>
  1. This is easy arrange the equipment in order from most desired to least used or wanted.
  2. Select from the least used or wanted and sell them on the Photrio Classifieds or eBay.
  3. Collect the money and buy a Hasselblad lens from KEH asking for a discount every time when you talk to them on the phone and requesting free shipping.
  4. On receipt, start using the Hasselblad lens.
  5. Return to step 2 whenever one wants another Hasselblad lens,one has GAS, or is just in the mood.
 

madNbad

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I had a run for several years of many of the cameras I had wanted were now bargain basement affordable. Boght a bunch, had most of them serviced, used them for a while then sold them to try something else. Most of mine were either Leica M or Nikons. Retinas were like an addiction, love 'em but know they're not for me. Finally got to the point of a couple of Leica's, a handful of lenses, a Sony for scanning and a whole bunch of Tri-X. Have fun, enjoy yourself and the best part is, when someone post an obscure question you'll probably be able to answer it because you had owned that camera.
 

Sharktooth

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You're not really a collector, just someone who protects these things for posterity. Somebody's got to do it. Think of the children!
 

Steven Lee

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Same! Except I avoided making the mistake of owning only one Hasselblad. And honestly, I feel great about having 14 cameras and twice as many lenses. First of all, my camera collection has outperformed S&P500, and there won't be any capital gains tax in the future. Second, nothing is wasted. Every camera and every lens had a purpose it was originally purchased for, and is used regularly.

I feel so lucky living in 2023 because I couldn't afford even 30% of my collection back when it was new.
 

Dwight Anderson

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Don't worry, at this point you only have an assortment of cameras. You're not a collector until you find yourself searching for a pre merger Goerz Box Tengor to go with your six versions of Zeiss Box Tengors. Or buying a second Clarus MS35 because it has the 2.0 lens instead of the 2.8. Or searching for a No. 4 Folding Pocket Kodak because it's the only size you don't have. Or buying a second Great Wall SLR because the last model has a hot shoe, or...or...or...
 

MTGseattle

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I'm looking for a J A Maurer KE28b if anyone has one of those lurking around. I'm a weirdo I guess. I usually sell a piece of gear to offset the inbound one. I'm sitting at 9 functional film cameras right now with only 8 lenses. (two cameras are "toy" with fixed lenses).
 
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MTGseattle

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That's not too bad. I missed one for $550 a couple of years ago. There have been a few funky "military" cameras over the years.

The Graflex combat graphic KE-4 is another interesting one. Image stolen from an auction website.

 

madNbad

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logan2z said:
Thanks, you guys are making me feel downright normal
Click to expand...

Often when I would get a new camera, it would occur to me this may have been the only camera someone owned and tried to give it the respect it deserved. The enjoyment of having them and having them restored to be daily users was worth it, hoping the next owner would appreciate it.
 

Vaughn

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Funny -- when a sheet of my go-to film costs 7 to 10 bucks for 8x10, and quite a bit more for 11x14, I tend not to think about spending much on equipment.

Just bought 50 sheets of FP4+ 8x10 at 7 bucks a sheet without tax/shipping. Worth every penny!
 
OP
OP

logan2z

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True. In the grand scheme of things, many of these cameras are relatively inexpensive compared to the consumables involved in film photography.
 

Don_ih

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A collection is when you have a bunch of cameras you don't want to use. If you're using the cameras, it's not really a collection. It can turn into one, though.
I actually bought a collection of almost a thousand cameras because I wanted three of them. It was worth the purchase price because of the three I wanted. But unfortunately, it's left me with a ... collection.
 

guangong

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I’m not a collector, just an accumulator. Only disposed of unfortunate cameras that died...Hasselblad 1000F, with delicate shutter mechanism and Minoltacord with very good focusing idea but executed using cheesy metal. And those died in 1960s. Creeping accumulation since then.
 

Sirius Glass

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As the film market collapsed in the early part of this century, kindly photographers made homes for orphaned cameras. You are one of them.
 

Kino

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I have a home for unwanted cameras, not a collection.

They get a wipe down, new light seals and a new roll or sheet of film and a hot bowl of soup.

Most respond well and totally recover within a few days.
 
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