Too many cameras??????

Thomas Bertilsson · Jul 17, 2010

It might seem counter intuitive, but a Hasselblad is really easy to hand hold, and I do it very often. It's also a lot lighter than you might think.
All in all, a very versatile camera that can be used successfully for almost any type of work. Studio, portrait, product, landscape... The only thing you can't do very well is hide it. The mirror slap is very loud, and it's not good for candids.
But it is the best compromise between quality, versatility, and ease of use that I have so far come across!

Sirius Glass said:
That is easy! Trade the two in for a Hasselblad. You wil be glad you did.

Steve

magkelly · Jul 17, 2010

Rule of thumb, if you use it regularly, keep it. If you don't get rid of it and find something you will use regularly! Personally when you're using them to shoot I think anything more than half a dozen cameras is an excessive situation unless you're collecting them for the purpose of collecting them, are a professional who needs to have several bodies ready to go or are talking about several different formats that you need to be able to photograph and can't do unless you have more than a couple of cameras, IE people going from regular format, to medium or large format or from those to digital etc.

Some people collect cameras as if they want to start their own museums. I get that, and I respect that because someone has to, otherwise they'll only be lost to time and no info about them will be readily available. Other people use a lot of cameras professionally, or the different format, but people who have 2 dozen cameras or lenses who supposedly bought them to shoot with, and who really don't end up shooting with more than one or two all the time actually rather perplex me.

To me ultimately that's just hoarding, but for the record I don't think you're in any danger of that. 3 cameras? Heck, I've got more than 3 cameras and I'm not the type to collect them at all! That's nothing compared to some people around here, laugh, and at least you USE them, right?

P C Headland · Jul 17, 2010

Pfft, that's not many. I mean, what happens if they both break down, you'd be left with no MF cameras!

You're missing the C330 that would give you 6x6, and the Mamiya Super which would give you a nice rangefinder with formats up to 6x9.

Start looking in the classifieds, I'm sure someone can help sort out your camera shortfall.

guitstik · Jul 17, 2010

Multiply what you have by 10 then throw a few more in for good measure and you might get close to what I have squirreled away. In fact I just traded a guitar I haven't played in a long time for an RB67 that needed a good home. My problem isn't to many cameras, cause I shoot almost all of them, but a shortage of film. There are a few that I don't shoot but that is because they are awaiting conversion or restoration. If you are so worked up over this that you are loosing sleep, I will demonstrate my compassion by relieving you of one of the M645's.

stradibarrius · Jul 17, 2010

I knew when I asked this question that I would be stoned for even implying that i wanted to sell some of my gear. LOL!!! I only mentioned the MF gear...not the 35mm and digital stuff. To me the RB is the most enjoyable to shoot but the least practical. to carry around. The M645 has a meter in the prism so it is lighter and more convenient. But with a neck strap and waist level finder the RB can certainly be used without a tripod. I will probably just keep everything.

I have three guitars I made for myself that I have been thinking about trading for more gear! In one breath I am talking about thinning out my camera collection and the next trade something for more gear! We have a incurable sickness!!!

NJS · Jul 17, 2010

well, photography has taken over for me that I'm also selling 90% of my music gear, 2 basses, one 6-string, POD X3 Live, Whammy 4, M-Audio Oxygen 61... I can easily relate to what you're saying here.

I'm keeping the Korg KP3 and Koassilator, though.

stradibarrius · Jul 17, 2010

When you have the camera disease and the instrument disease you are terminal!!!!

guitstik · Jul 17, 2010

As I get older I am finding that I don't have the dexterity in my hands that I once had. There are times I can't even hold a pen in my hands and I get the dropsies so the guitars end up sitting and collecting dust but the cameras are ever present with me, I have one with me now and one in the car, that was never the case with the guitars. It was even harder to tote drums around when I played but two torn rotator cuff's ended that for me as well. I will say this tho, the last guitar that I sell or trade will be my 71 model 58 LP sunburst replica. Note my nickname, those of you who play may recognize it.

Steve Smith · Jul 17, 2010

Whilst reading this post on having too many cameras, my sister called me to say that her mother in law is having a clear out and has a Cosina CT 1A and would I like it?

Well, it's nothing special - just a generic K mount camera. I did say yes though!

Steve.

guitstik · Jul 17, 2010

You just can't say no to an orphan camera.

fotch · Jul 17, 2010

stradibarrius said:
I knew when I asked this question that I would be stoned for even implying that i wanted to sell some of my gear. LOL!!! ............

Masochist?

eddym · Jul 17, 2010

Sirius Glass said:
That is easy! Trade the two in for a Hasselblad. You wil be glad you did.

Steve

That's exactly what I did when faced with a similar decision about 30 years ago. I did exactly that and did not regret it. The Hassleblad gave me better photos that either of the Mamiyas.
A year or two later, though, I did add another Rollei TLR to the stable. I had borrowed one from my brother when I first began photography, and wished I had never returned it to him.

photomat- · Jul 18, 2010

eddym said:
That's exactly what I did when faced with a similar decision about 30 years ago. I did exactly that and did not regret it. The Hassleblad gave me better photos that either of the Mamiyas.
A year or two later, though, I did add another Rollei TLR to the stable. I had borrowed one from my brother when I first began photography, and wished I had never returned it to him.

That's where I am at for MF gear, Hasselblad 500CM and Rolleiflex Automat. I plan on adding an A16 back after fighting off the urge to buy a Mamiya 645 There will come a time when I will upgrade my Automat to something with a Planar.

Grif · Jul 21, 2010

Perhaps they're just too close and overlap to the point it's uncomfortable to make the choice? Swap the Mamiya 645 stuff for a good 35 rangefinder and some kit, and add to the RB 67 a little as well. That way you have two "different" systems. I've shot quite a bit with an RB 67, never with a 645, but have handled one a bit,,, 645 just didn't seem like a good "point and shoot" format for me. You've got the studio type of photography covered nicely with the RB. (if you're a submini format guy ;-) )

Or,,, if the 645 does good for your point and shoots as well doing studio duty,,, dump the RB and get a 4x5 field camera. I just can't see a lot of difference between the RB and the 645. (Ok,,, religious war to start here I'll bet).

Questions begging to be answered. You need more of a point and shoot for day to day stuff? Easier to handle did come up about the RB. Do you really need bigger film than 645? Grain bother you? Need the available light stuff with asa 3200 and so on? Is the RB format large enough? Does the 645 really fill the 35mm slot for you? Or do you even need that format? Is 6x7 really an advantage over 645? Have you found it limiting and too small at times? I assume you really don't need any real camera movements.

For me,,, I just have a major problem with grain. Why I've still got my Nikon's is just a matter of my rules, see below. When I was using my buddies RB, it was as big a fuss for me as my Linholf Technika. I just never really bonded with it, and the format didn't do anything for me that 2 1/4 square didn't. I really miss the C33. (didn't sell any of these,,,all loaners from the same buddy that just swaps equipment like some folks do wives and cars.)

So much for my rational answer. "MY" answer? I never sell cameras, guns, fishing gear, Ham radio stuff, or RC planes. (or pets, or wives for that matter). Two does not count as a collection of cameras, I'm not at all sure it's even proper to start counting when you have fingers on one hand left over. Keep your two systems, add a good rangefinder and a 5x7 or 4x5 if you must, and be well!!!

What do you think the chances are of any of the folks on this thread actually doing the one camera, one lens, one film, one year class is? So much equipment,,, so little time ;-)

stradibarrius · Jul 21, 2010

I have two good 35mm cameras...a Nikon F100 and aFE which I just love. To me it's a better option than the 6 rangefinders I have had. I guess I just hold for the time being. I don't have to feed them so they don't cost anything in my collection.

skahde · Jul 22, 2010

Onto the general question I'd like to say that, no, there is no such thing as to many cameras.

Limitations are in time and money, though: not enough money to buy another one, not enough money to build a house big enough, not enough time to use them, not enough money to have them all cla'd, not enough time to learn how to use them efficiently, not enought money to buy all the neccessary accessories or time to find them used...

Therefore, having a lot of cameras is not just distracting and keeps your mind focussed on gear instead of photography, it eats up your most precious ressources.

But I admit to be an adict and keep buying and selling gear.

Dave in Kansas · Jul 22, 2010

This last post describes me too. Time and money are big limitations for me on using the gear I have. Probably more of a time limitation right now.

Dave

photoncatcher · Jul 22, 2010

May as well ask. To many potato chips?

Q.G. · Jul 22, 2010

skahde said:
Onto the general question I'd like to say that, no, there is no such thing as to many cameras.

[...]

But I admit to be an adict and keep buying and selling gear.

A true addict doesn't sell gear.

FM2N · Jul 22, 2010

I am having the same problem of which camera to keep or feeling I have to many. I have a Bronica ETRSi, Mamiya RB67 and a C220 all with multiple lenses and backs. Does the difference between 6x7 and 6x6 justify having both formats? If I feel the final image should be rectangular I could always crop the 6x6. Also is there that much difference between the 6x4.5 neg and the 6x7? In the end I have a feeling i will keep one of the systems with the bellows since I feel the focusing is sharper because of it.
Driving myself crazy.
Arthur

Steve Smith · Jul 22, 2010

Not sure. I have an RB67 and an ETRS too - and a Rolleicord in place of your C220 to give me the same three 120 formats.

I would never sell the Rolleicord as it is such a nice piece of engineering and I wouldn't sell the RB67 either because I like it too much.

The ETRS only gets occasional use but it isn't worth much to me to sell it. The body is a bit cranky as the battery check/shutter LED is missing and batteries don't last very long in it so to sell the whole lot I would need to buy a new body first. It's not worth the bother to me.

I got the ETRS first as my first medium format SLR then progressed to the RB67. I suppose if my first had been a SQ instead, or a Hasselblad, I wouldn't have bought the RB67.

When I am using the Rolleicord I tend to use the square format for composing so I don't think in rectangles.

I suppose I just like lots of different formats. That's probably why I'm currently building a 6x12 format camera.

Steve.

fotch · Jul 22, 2010

I have only sold what I know I will never use. Unfortunately, that has only applied to a very small number of cameras. Logic would say I have many that I probably will never use but its hard to really know that, so I keep em. Can't help myself so I guess I am an addict.

ishutteratthethought · Jul 22, 2010

One can have too many women & too much whiskey (maybe)..... but too many cameras? I beg to differ

Sirius Glass · Jul 22, 2010

photoncatcher said:
May as well ask. To many potato chips?

:munch::munch::munch::munch::munch:

lxdude · Jul 22, 2010

Grif said:
I never sell cameras, guns, fishing gear, Ham radio stuff, or RC planes. (or pets, or wives for that matter).

Kids?

Too many cameras??????

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency