The ethics of using antique caneras.

Arcturus · Dec 22, 2014

I have a Voigtlander Perkeo II that I use heavily and have run a lot of film through. It's by far my most used camera, and recently the frame counter started malfunctioning. Not a big deal but it got me thinking; how should we use our antique cameras? I see cars of the same era all polished up, treated very carefully, and rarely if ever driven. Should I put my beloved Perkeo on the shelf where its safe and get a newer camera to face the rigors of daily shooting? After all, I never see anyone driving to work in a 1953 Bel Air. It's such a sturdy camera it's easy to forget how old it is.

Regular Rod · Dec 22, 2014

NO! Use it until it stops working. Then get it fixed and repeat the process...

RR

Barry S · Dec 22, 2014

Unless you have a historical artifact (like one of Fox Talbot's cameras) or a rare museum piece, cameras are better used, taken care of, and passed on.

railwayman3 · Dec 22, 2014

A 1953 Bel Air would probably not be a practical car for most people to drive to work regularly sixty years later, just as the average person might think that a smartphone is a more practical way of preserving images than an ancient film camera.

But while we appreciate analog cameras in the same way as the car enthusiast appreciates the Bel Air, we have the advantage that a properly serviced and looked-after vintage camera will still be as reliable and usable as the day it was made. The Bel Air enthusiast will have to apply a whole lot more effort and money to keep his car in good condition, and, even then, may, understandably, probably not want to use it every day.

Terry Christian · Dec 22, 2014

Plenty of people actively drive antique cars, but some don't because they're valuable. Cameras, on the other hand, are not generally valuable. Use the heck out of it. It won't do anyone any good sitting on a shelf! You might as well use it, repair it, maintain it, and pass it on to your kids if you can.

jerrybro · Dec 22, 2014

My daily driver is a 30 year old car with nearly 300K miles on it. 3 of my regular user cameras are older than I am. In fact, many of the things I enjoy using regularly are old. So what? The thing that makes them still usable today are the quality of the engineering and components used in their manufacture, so use them. They will probably outlast the latest techno-contraption that is supposed to surpass them.

Ko.Fe. · Dec 22, 2014

Frame counter malfunctioning in little Voigtlander folder...
I sold two of mine to guy who collects them (not using). One was driving me nuts with its frame counter.

snapguy · Dec 22, 2014

olde

My year 2000 Toyota is becoming an antique but the thing just will not die. As for cameras, you can use the old ones with a certain restraint. You don't have to take them out into rain- and wind-storms or leave them in your car trunk all summer when it gets 120 degrees out (like it does here). Mechanical items are best off when used on a regular basis anyway. I just got a fabulous 50-plus-year-old Rolleiflex and I intend to use it a lot, with restraint.

NedL · Dec 22, 2014

I've got a couple cameras sitting in the closet that I feel guilty about not using as often as they deserve!

David A. Goldfarb · Dec 22, 2014

The Perkeo II is a great camera. Someone should make a modern medium format camera that's so compact (which the Fuji/Voigtlander 667 is decidedly not). Better to popularize it by showing what it can do, and maybe more people will bring them out of wherever they may be hiding.

summicron1 · Dec 22, 2014

sounds like it's time to have that perkeo serviced-- gummed up frame counter?

Cameras are tools meant to be used. Nothing uglier than a mint camera, made for work, that has sat doing nothing all its life and, as a result, probably doesn't work (see the Leica MP for sale in another thread.)

I recently spent a day shooting with a Graflex RB Junior made about 1920, and I suspect it was happy to be running film again. For the ultimate, check out Elliot Erwitt's M3, a thing of beauty of ever there was one.

So get that Perkeo fixed. Might be as simple as squirting a little lighter fluid into the mechanism...

miha · Dec 22, 2014

It's our throw-away consumer society that is unethical.

frank · Dec 22, 2014

There are no rules. Do whatever you think best, and don't fret about what others decide to do.

Ian Grant · Dec 22, 2014

I guess it's personal. I have a mint Rolleiflex 3.5E, about a a dozen films from new when I acquired it 15/20 years ago from the 1st owner (a friend of my fathers). I treat it with respect, sure I use it but very carefully, I'd rather use my YAshicamat 124, Microcord or Rolleiflex Automat as poick up & go cameras.

Yes cameras are tools but we shouldn't wear out those in short supply, there's plenty common ones we can

Ian

pdeeh · Dec 22, 2014

Ian Grant said:
poick up & gom

I believe this is illegal in parts of the USA

Sirius Glass · Dec 22, 2014

Use it

BrianShaw · Dec 22, 2014

pdeeh said:
I believe this is illegal in parts of the USA

Probably everywhere except parts of rural Georgia and Arkansas.

bergytone · Dec 22, 2014

I just went through an old Voightlander Bessa (30's?), and other than the shutter speed being off a bit, I can't wait to take it out and get 'the look' from people on the street. I've got an old MG that I take out in the summer and enjoy it. But for every day use, I don't think it would take it. So for certain shots your antique camera needs you...maybe what you need is ten antique cameras so you don't wear one out, you rotate!

R.Gould · Dec 22, 2014

I only ever use Classic Cameras, they were made to be used, I collect them to use, and if they go wrong I get them repaired, I have too many to list, I also have a Bronica ETRSi, and a couple of modern pentax's, 35mm with some nice lenses, they are sitiing looking nice on a shelf gathering dust,I preer the results with my old cameras.
I love old classic cars,I show them, I have two that I use as daily drivers, one is an early Saab 900 classic,from 1980, the other is a ford pop from the 1950's I love them and, like my old cameras, they are well looked after, but between them they provide all of mine and my better half's transport needs,
If I had a historically important camera, a Museum piece, them I wold lend it to my local Museum, If I had a car that was Vintage, from the early part of the last centuary, then I would take it to shows,and nothing else,My belief is that both cars and cameras benifit from being used, and I love the fact that people want to talk about them, are interested in them, be it my old cars or my old cameras, but, like my cameras, I don't enjoy a ''new.modern'' car, so yes, use your old cameras, and if they go wrong get them serviced, and go on enjoying them,same goes for cars, enjoy these old beautys,
Richard

DWThomas · Dec 22, 2014

As a Perkeo II owner, I use mine, in fact, I bought it to use it! I do try to handle it gently and avoid environmental abuse. It had been CLA'd when I bought it a few years ago, and since I'm 73, I think it might see me through to the great darkroom in the sky. Mechanical things are more likely to gum up from sitting around for years at a time than from use, in my not entirely humble opinion. Now if it were a new old stock utterly pristine piece that magically fell into my hands, perhaps I would consider displaying it in a bell jar.

I also have an Ercona II of similar vintage that I use, and bought to use. It sees a little less action because it is bigger, heavier, and at 8 shots per roll chews through film faster than the Perkeo. My even older B&J 4x5 Press shows more deterioration, some rust and corrosion on a few parts from neglecting it in a basement storage area years back, a slight embarrassment, but live and learn.

Actually, bergytone has a good idea which I subconsciously do -- have a bunch and rotate the use. I also have "modern" stuff (hehe) like a Bronica SQ-A and the Yashica Mat 124g which I used on my last vacation trip. (I also have even newer stuff we don't talk about here ... )

ColinRH · Dec 22, 2014

Up until 18months ago I was using my Thornton Pickard triple extension 1/2 plate as my out and about camera - so light. The problem was having to cut 5x7 film to fit the original glass holders. The camera and everything was pristine and beautiful.
I have now managed to get exactly the same camera but it has been converted (not very well I have to say!) to modern 5x7 holders. Still take it out and love using it. Use the old cameras and take extra care when necessary - for me that is in windy conditions

Jim Jones · Dec 22, 2014

Another advantage of using cameras that others would consider antiques is the familiarity and ease of handling them. My Leica M4 (a youngster of only 44 years) fits in my hand like the hand of a friend, as an ad for another fine shooter claimed a long time ago.

pseudobreccia · Dec 22, 2014

There is no possible way you are serious!

Arcturus said:
I have a Voigtlander Perkeo II that I use heavily and have run a lot of film through. It's by far my most used camera, and recently the frame counter started malfunctioning. Not a big deal but it got me thinking; how should we use our antique cameras? I see cars of the same era all polished up, treated very carefully, and rarely if ever driven. Should I put my beloved Perkeo on the shelf where its safe and get a newer camera to face the rigors of daily shooting? After all, I never see anyone driving to work in a 1953 Bel Air. It's such a sturdy camera it's easy to forget how old it is.

There is nothing ethical or unethical about using an antique camera. However, I find myself in an ethical dilemma by responding. Enjoy you Perkeo!

winger · Dec 22, 2014

My husband has a few older cars. Anytime he drives the GTX in particular he comments that he should drive it more because it's really sweet to drive. But the wipers need fixing, the headlights are questionable if it's wet, and it has other issues he says he needs to fix.

I say use it and find someone to do a good CLA. I recently had my 50+ year old Pentax CLAd and it's so sweet to use again. It wasn't always cocking the shutter when the film was wound. Now it's great (knock on wood).

If I had a '65 Mustang, I'd drive it more than just to car shows. But I wouldn't drive it as much as the '06 I do have.

summicron1 · Dec 23, 2014

Posted a thread elsewhere on the Graflex I shot with, but here's a link to the blog as well.

Great camera, lovely images.

http://charlestrentelman.blogspot.com/2014/12/assignment-days-shoot-with-graflex.html

The ethics of using antique caneras.

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