The need for different cameras

[baachitraka]

For me Olympus OM-1n either with 35mm or 28mm zuiko.

Rest is how alert am I on the street for an opportunity.

 

[frank]

I didn't understand that from the original post either, Frank. Given some of other posts I must be "slow" or reading way too literally this morning. Thanks for clarifying your point.

And with that understanding... are YOU happy with your gear?

Very happy. About the only cameras that piqué my interest that I haven't experienced are the Rollei 6x6 SLR, and the Hasselblad SWC.

The thing that I love about photography is its blending of technical (including gear here) and art/creativity.

 

[M Carter]

There's something to be said for old cameras morphing into sort of art objects that are also useful on a practical level.

As some items age (and survive) they can come to symbolize things, to some folks anyway. My modern Nikon gear and video cameras are all in cases, ready for gigs. But my 1960's era 35's and rangefinders are on shelves in my office - I like seeing them. And there's something about the fact they're roughly my age and I can stick a battery in for the meter, load some film, and go. I never take a DSLR anywhere, really, for fun. But these old metal bodies feel like partners. And they're kinda beautiful objects as well.

I only have 4 60's era working 35's, not like it's an obsession. I have cases of modern DSLR gear, video gear, etc - but I don't leave those on the shelf where I can see 'em, like the old cameras.

So yeah, you may only "need" once camera. You only "need" one shirt, too.

 

[BrianShaw]

Very happy. About the only cameras that piqué my interest that I haven't experienced are the Rollei 6x6 SLR, and the Hasselblad SWC.

The thing that I love about photography is its blending of technical (including gear here) and art/creativity.

Me too. I don't have "one of everything" but have "some of something"... enough to do what I need to do. Doing it well (or good) is something quite different, of course.

My taxonomy (which is crude and not well refined, at best) has more to do with type of scene and environment than camera category. It is not orthogonal at all and several different pieces of hardware can sometimes fill the need, but generally one is more optimal than all the rest.

 

[frank]

Owning and having owned a myriad of camera types and brands, I've found that some cameras work better for me than others, (along with the more obvious matching the camera type to the purpose at hand). Within a type, say 35mm slr because that is my biggest grouping, I have a preference for certain brands over others, and certain cameras within a brand. The ones that work best for me sort of disappear and just let me do what I aim to do photographically. The ones that don't work best for me seem to fight me along the way.

With me so far?

The argument for sampling different cameras is that the photographer who sticks with his/her one and only camera and lens, eschewing all others, may be stuck with a camera that doesn't work the best for him, and never know any better.

Just a reminder here, I'm a happy guy with my gear and photographic output, and I'm not looking for a heated argument, or looking to be called silly, I'm just enjoying some free time, on the 'net talking about photography. Angry persons should just chill.

 

[BrianShaw]

I'm sorry, what was the question again?

 

[BrianShaw]

...
The argument for sampling different cameras is that the photographer who sticks with his/her one and only camera and lens, eschewing all others, may be stuck with a camera that doesn't work the best for him, and never know any better.
...

That is an "experiential" logic. One needs to try and try again to determine what is right.

There is also the logic of "influenced by opinion" but I won't go there.

I know that I'm not alone in a preference for an alternative logic, which is more engineering based. I think through my requirements and likely future needs and assess the options against those criteria before buying. Case in point: in 1981 (or, 82) I wanted a 35mm SLR. I bought one and still use it. Never had another brand or model and never needed one. Same with my LF camera that was bought a few years later. I bought lenses and accessories and gobs of film but I'm not missing anything for wont of trying alternative gear.

But needs change and so does requirements and so does gear. Case in point: I shot MF using a TLR for two decades when I needed/wanted more focal length options. That was not happening with the TLR I had so my updated requirements incited a need for new gear. So TLR gave way to SLR. I still ahve the TLR, and I'm not likely to ever use it again, and I really don't care if anyone agrees with it becoming a "shelf queen" or not. How's that for self-confidence?

What I think is important to remember is that my requirements and equipment selection is MINE, no matter which logic is used. And yours (meaning that generically, not pointing at you, Frank) is yours.

When the conversation tends to get opinionated is when folks forget that. I seriously doubt that anyone has a profound opinion about how many cameras any of us own, use or display.

 

[Steve Smith]

I can just about remember when I had only one camera... imagine that!


Steve.

 

[BrianShaw]

I can just about remember when I had only one camera... imagine that!


Steve.

Ya, for me that was a long time ago. Happy days too!

 

[Sirius Glass]

Horses for courses. Different cameras have different strengths, weaknesses, and uses. Just as a carpenter has more than one saw or more than one hammer for different purposes, it is logical for a photographer to have more than one camera.

So, some categories to consider:

35mm
Point and shoot, compact, electronic -
Compact mechanical -
Electronic SLR -
Mechanical SLR -
Electronic RF -
Mechanical RF -

120
SLR -
TLR -
RF -

4x5
Press type -
Field type -
Mono rail -

Agreed

 

[Kyle M.]

In the past year and half I have used no less than 25 different 35mm and medium format cameras. I have now settled on a Nikon F with a Nikkor-S 35mm F=2.8, and a Nikkor-S 50mm F=1.4 for lenses. In all honesty if I can't get the shot with what I've got then I'm either doing something very extreme or I shouldn't be doing it in the first place. It just seems that every time I have more than one camera one gets used alot and the other just sits. I have also done my own B&W, C41, and E6 processing in the past year, and have settled on B&W. I don't know why but I'm really not a fan of color (C41), E6 on the other hand I enjoyed quite alot and may have to get back into it a bit before it falls by the wayside.

 

[frank]

I can just about remember when I had only one camera... imagine that!
Steve.

I remember too. I bought myself a Pentax ME. I loved the auto exposure, but soon, I longed for the mechanical MX as a good pairing, and bought one when I was able.

 

[DannL.]

It's nice to have access to at least one camera for each format. You just never know what the weather will be. This could develop into the perfect 6x7cm type of afternoon. Tomorrow might be a 4x5 kind of day. I may have to drop the project I'm doing with the 8x10 because of fierce winds, and rush off with the 6x9 to take family snaps at the picnic. You just can't predict the weather.

 

[MattKing]

My needs change with my opportunities and interests.

When I was photographing weddings, I wouldn't have considered going without a backup camera body at least. I don't need a backup now, but I like having one available.

I have more cameras/types than I should.

 

[benjiboy]

I have 1 Mamiya TLR and 5 Canon SLR bodies and one Zeiss Contax rangefinder camera, for the first 20+ years of my interest in photography I only had one camera, and I don't consider what I have now after 62 years in photography an excessive amount especially since in the last 20 years I have only bought 2 of my cameras.

 

[BrianShaw]

I have ... and I don't consider what I have now after 62 years in photography an excessive amount especially since in the last 20 years I have only bought 2 of my cameras.

And Frank doesn't consider his much larger hoard of cameras excessive either. Which is a true testament to his intestinal fortitude and self-confidence!

 

[frank]

I have about 70 cameras. For some, that's crazy many, for others, that's no big deal.

 

[BrianShaw]

Amen... that is crazy. But if it makes you happy it makes me even happier. I have over 100 cookbooks but I really only need 4. We all have our passions and a few quirks. Many of us have a "collecting" quirk. I also only have only one wife but I really need

 

[Nuff]

I also find the more my photography develops and the more I envision an image I want to make, or should I say as my style develops. The need for lots of cameras decreases, since I get closer to the goal.
But it doesn't mean that I don't change cameras. Most often it's not the camera that I change, but the lens and as such I need to get a body to go with it. At that point I sell my old gear (or try to if I'm not lazy).

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

I'm not a pro, I have a job that supports me and my family, but I sell a decent amount of photography. Luckily I do not have to depend on my photography or my gear for my living. I have tons of cameras of all sorts that I've picked up over the years. I have a great time using them. And that's all that matters.

 

[mweintraub]

I have a love / hate with buying gear. I love playing and trying out equipment I could have never owned before digital, but now I can for peanuts. I've paired down my 35mm gear a lot and only kept the Nikon system (to pair with the digital) and the Minolta system because I'm keeping my dad's SRT anyway and I have a nice collection of nice primes (missing the f/1.2, though) that I can't seem to want to sell.

For medium format, I have one 645 body, a few 6x6 bodies (all different, SLR full system [Bronica], TLR, and a Kiev 60c), and a 6x7. Funny thing is that I've purchased 645 backs for both the SQ-A and RZ.

 

[frank]

There are cameras that I'd happily sell, but their value is so low nowadays that it irks me too much to sell (example is the Nikon F4 that sold for $100 here), or it is just not worth the bother to negotiate, package, and ship.

 

[Steve Smith]

I have about 70 cameras. For some, that's crazy many, for others, that's no big deal.

About the same as me.

Both crazy and no big deal!


Steve.

 

[Pioneer]

I have about 70 cameras. For some, that's crazy many, for others, that's no big deal.

Wow Frank! You're just getting started.

I find personally that which camera I have in my hands at the moment is less important than it used to be. I used to worry about it and try to restrain myself by working with one camera and one lens, and I have done that for the better part of a year.

Now I don't get too worked up about it. It all depends on my mood for that day...or month. Sometimes I can shoot the same type of camera for a month or two. Last month I shot a lot of medium format, mostly through my TLRs and folders. I started this month by pulling out my Crown Graphic so I have this feeling that it could be a large format month. After all, I do have several large format options to choose from.

But my mood can change quickly sometimes and I'll find myself packing only a Leica I for weeks.

I could sell them, but in most cases the money I would get would not equal the joy I receive when I see the prints I get from them. Sometimes I sell one or two. And sometimes I buy them back as well.

Besides, with only a few exceptions, most of what I own are not worth a lot on the market these days. Face it, old Billy Record 8.8, 7.7 and 45 folders are not worth much now days, even if they still take gorgeous photos.

It is much more fun to use them the sell them!

 

[Ian Grant]

I met a guy with 1700+ cameras when he was downsizing slightly I was after an Exa IIb.

While I have an awful lot of cameras a great many are restoration projects, I have a large backlog but Winter months are coming and I should have finished alterations on my new house. There's at least 10 wood & brass cameras needing parts, bellows etc, a few LF SLR's maybe 6 or 7, 20 or more roller blind shutters - some focal plane.

For practical use though I've always had a pair of 35mm SLRs same with 120 a pair of SLRs, then a 5x4 studio camera and later a field camera, plus 10xs field camear. Now I've added Press cameras for LF hand=held work.

Living on 2 continents I've duplicated the MF and LF cameras & lenses as prices were so low about 7 years ago on Ebay, I'm always very tight on weight when flying so not having to carry MF & LF cameras and assorted accessories really helps.

Ian