Too much crap

[nolanr66]

I am going to meet a Craigslist seller today and probably buy a Nikon FM2n with a 35mm f2.8 Nikon lens. It's the older lens with the little knobs on the focus ring. The lens looks kind of big but I do not have a 35mm prime so I will probably buy it if it looks good. He is selling them separate so I may buy one and not the other but at the moment my intent is to buy the kit. However I do not have a lot of film gear actually. More then I really need but I am figuring the world is running out of camera's and I want to have at least one that is working in 20 years. My other three 35mm camera's are electronic and I figure they will stop working at some point. I was using my F100 yesterday and when you set it down it wants to roll over like a log with my flash on it (sb15). They could have made it a little flatter on the bottom. It's the most functional and my least favorite camera I own. I would not have it repaired if that ever came up.

 

[cooltouch]

Nolan, hope things work out for you. One comment about that FM2n and the 35mm lens. If the lens is a pre-AI one -- one that does not have the tab or notch for the later style meter but uses the prong instead, don't mount it on the camera! You'll want to make sure that the aperture ring has been either replaced or modified for AI-style cameras, such as the FM2n. Unlike the FM, whose metering tab can be lifted up so the aperture ring doesn't impinge upon it, the FM2n's metering tab is actually part of a plastic ring and can't be lifted up out of the way. So there is a risk of breaking off that tab if mounting an unmodified pre-AI lens onto the camera. Caveat emptor and all that.

 

[nolanr66]

Thanks CoolTouch, I am on it. I am assuming it's all ok as the advertising photo shows the camera with lens mounted. But I am up on the AI and non AI lens compatibility more or less. I think this lens is the Nikon 35mm S model and that there were 2 versions. One had 6 elements and the other had 7 elements. I would not know how to tell which is which however. I googled it up last night to find out what I could. But basically if the lens appears to be in good condition I am going to buy it. If it's a non AI I do not want it and do not want the broken camera. In that case I will have a pastry and coffee before going over to my daughters house. I will make a post later today with update on how it worked out.

 

[ColColt]

The secret of "not having too much crap" is not buying too much in the first place, I have only bought one camera and two lenses in the last twenty years.

I would feel so deprived my mug would be hanging on my shoes. That's like never having bought but one car.

 

[benjiboy]

Yes, congratulations. I on the other hand have had the pleasure of experiencing dozens of different camera types, brands, and models; learning about their functionality, specifications, and place in history. Most I've run film through, though some more than others. It has been an enriching experience. It's kind of like refusing to smell the fragrances of a wide variety of flowers, sticking only to one or two, and then going to your grave without having experienced something life had to offer.

Just my opinion.

I'm not a camera hoarder or fondeler my only interest in them is as a means to the end of making pictures, and I intend to go to my grave without giving my descendent's the problem of disposing of a house full of old cameras.

 

[ColColt]

I have but one descendent and he'll have a great time deciding on what to fold and what to hold.

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

Not trying to rain on the parade, Ben. But when my father passed he left behind a fair amount of cameras. As his descendants we still have each and every one of them, and the photographs he made with them.

That stuff isn't a problem. It's a priceless treasure.



Ken

 

[ColColt]

My Dad never had any hobbies of any sort. When he died I only got what I could find-his razor, a few old 1940's ties and a couple of coats and jackets and a few Zippo lighters. Would to God he had been a camera collector. Even 2-3 would have been great.

 

[nolanr66]

I met with the Craigslist seller and the lens is an older AI'd model. I put my own lens on the camera to insure a good function and everything is working well. The lens is good and had a UV filter on it. F-stops click good and the focus does not have any tight spots. Meter working well and it had batteries in it and he said the camera had just been sitting for about 5 years. The Camera top and bottom are real nice with no dings or scratches. However the black strip just above the bottom piece has a few chips. The camera has a broken rewind handle and it just flops around and I told the guy I was going to take a pass and he immediately dropped the price for the camera and lens down from $250 asking price to $100 and a little haggling got the price to $60.00. So I bought it and stopped at the Mission in San Juan Bautista and burned a roll of film. The Film is drying as we speak and the negatives look good. I already sent off an email to Garry's Camera and asked if he could do a CLA and fix the rewind lever. I sent him a couple Minoltas a few years back and he did a very good job on those. So I just wait until he responds. The camera is the "n" model with aluminum shutter. Serial number N8628xxxx so not really knowing a great deal about the years and such I think it's a later model.

Anyway more crap or is it good stuff. You decide.

 

[fstop]

Yes, congratulations. I on the other hand have had the pleasure of experiencing dozens of different camera types, brands, and models; learning about their functionality, specifications, and place in history. Most I've run film through, though some more than others. It has been an enriching experience. It's kind of like refusing to smell the fragrances of a wide variety of flowers, sticking only to one or two, and then going to your grave without having experienced something life had to offer.

Just my opinion.

I agree, I saw the opportunity to try out cameras other than my 2 favorites and found a couple new favorites to add to my list favorites.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

I'm not a camera hoarder or fondeler my only interest in them is as a means to the end of making pictures...

I know you have the Canons and a TLR, I think. Do you have something small and light (pocketable) like a Canon QL-17 to carry everywhere more frequently?

Or maybe you just prefer using what you have.

 

[benjiboy]

I know you have the Canons and a TLR, I think. Do you have something small and light (pocketable) like a Canon QL-17 to carry everywhere more frequently?

Or maybe you just prefer using what you have.

Yes I do have a Minox 35 GT compact camera I have owned for about 25 years that I use rarely.

 

[jeffreyg]

I never know when I might need some of the stuff I haven't used in ten + years. When I do I hope I can remember where I put it.


http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

 

[benjiboy]

After more than sixty years of photography if I haven't got it by now I don't need it.

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

If the age of the Earth were proportional to the length of an American football field, then the average human lifespan would be represented by about 1/32 of the width of the average human hair.

That's it. That's all we get. And then only if we are very lucky.

So sure, one can make a statement by saying no to some or most of what comes along in life. But when they close that lid and set those seals for the final time, there is a quiet but inescapable transition that takes place from 1/32 to infinity.

And infinity is a really, really, really long time to go without experiencing anything new or interesting coming along...

Ken

 

[nolanr66]

Time is a funny thing. The infinity before I was born went by so fast I did not even notice. I figure the next infinity will be about the same. But while I am waiting for my next infinity maybe I take a few photos of the Grand kids, ride my bicycle and who knows maybe I will even make it to Yellowstone with a few rolls of HP5.

 

[cooltouch]

Hey Nolan, sounds like you got a great deal! The busted rewind lever is an easy fix. Sounds like it's missing a small spring. Your repair guy can fix it while you wait, if he were so inclined.

Regarding my camera habit -- I'm in my early 60s now and I've begun to think about my own mortality and all the things I still want to accomplish. But one thing I know for sure about my cameras (and lenses, of course!) -- I will from now on be very careful about any cameras that I decide to sell from my personal collection. It has grown fairly large -- over 40 35mm SLRs at last count, probably close to a hundred lenses. About a half-dozen medium formats and a good assortment of P&S cameras. Several of my cameras I've owned more than once. Sold them when I thought I no longer had a need, only to discover that I simply missed them. And this emotion only grew with time. So I bought back the same models, as clean as I could find. And then I began to slowly acquire cameras that I've always been curious about but never owned. This quest is still ongoing. Most recently it has resulted in the purchase of four more 35mm cameras: a Canon T70, Nikon EL2, Pentax MX, and Minolta X-570. I have specific reasons for buying each one, too. And then, there are lenses -- most of which are manual focus by the way. I'm more selective about my lens purchases, but I still have a few on my "to buy" list. So my collection continues to grow.

And as for my heirs having to deal with it (actually, heir -- I have only one daughter), well, first of all, I should say that this is not my only collection. So she will have her job cut out for her. What I did regarding my collections was to write her a long email one evening with instructions as to what she should do to maximize her return on my investments. I suspect she'll keep some of my gear, but not all of it.

 

[benjiboy]

Yes, congratulations. I on the other hand have had the pleasure of experiencing dozens of different camera types, brands, and models; learning about their functionality, specifications, and place in history. Most I've run film through, though some more than others. It has been an enriching experience. It's kind of like refusing to smell the fragrances of a wide variety of flowers, sticking only to one or two, and then going to your grave without having experienced something life had to offer.

Just my opinion.

I worked at a professional camera Dealers Frank for more than twenty years and am familiar with have played with and shot with just about every professional 35mm and medium format camera on the market in that period, and for my personal equipment I have chosen canon New F1 and Mamiya C330F cameras and am happy to stick with that choice and concentrate my time and efforts in to enjoying using what I have and not accumulating any more " stuff".

 

[nolanr66]

Cooltouch your camera collection could be a camera store it seems like. Myself I just have Four 35mm camera's and a few prime lenses and most likely not of much value. As far as moving on to the next infinity I do have a Trust for the kids and Grandkids. My camera's have no value to speak about and are of no consequence really. I just have one son that shoots some film and he may keep them around but I am pretty sure he is going to buy a digital Leica as soon as his wife's head nods up and down on the purchase. His friends all have them and he wants that too.

 

[frank]

It's good to hear Ben, that your photo store experience let you handle many different cameras. It would be sad IMO, not to experience this. As a parallel example, I've been riding a BMW airhead motorcycle for many years. Great bike. But I had the opportunity to acquire a vintage Honda 750/4. After fixing it up, I rode it and let the BMW sit in the garage. The BMW felt comfortable like my wife, while the Honda felt like an exciting new girlfriend (I imagine.) I even chose the Honda to ride on my trip around the US a couple of summers ago when the BMW would clearly have been the more logical choice. For me, variety is enriching. This summer, I'm going back to my airhead.

 

[benjiboy]

It's good to hear Ben, that your photo store experience let you handle many different cameras. It would be sad IMO, not to experience this. As a parallel example, I've been riding a BMW airhead motorcycle for many years. Great bike. But I had the opportunity to acquire a vintage Honda 750/4. After fixing it up, I rode it and let the BMW sit in the garage. The BMW felt comfortable like my wife, while the Honda felt like an exciting new girlfriend (I imagine.) I even chose the Honda to ride on my trip around the US a couple of summers ago when the BMW would clearly have been the more logical choice. For me, variety is enriching. This summer, I'm going back to my airhead.

I'm happy to hear it Frank, although I know what you mean I have been married for more than fifty years although I will never claim understand women, I very much doubt if your wife would be as happy with your analogy , I know if it was my wife I would be sleeping in the spare bedroom for the foreseeable future

 

[frank]

I did qualify that with "I imagine".

I do have a strong imagination.

 

[nolanr66]

My wife of 40 years is the love of my life. Nothing can be compared to her. As far as camera's go I just want a couple camera's that work well. I am happy with HP5 or TX all around.

 

[Huss]

I've been riding a BMW airhead motorcycle for many years. .. The BMW felt comfortable like my wife, while the Honda felt like an exciting new girlfriend (I imagine.)..This summer, I'm going back to my airhead.

Frank, did u just call your wife an air head?
;
Huss

 

[frank]

I also like playing with words.