what equipment did you buy, and you NEVER EVER use ?

darkosaric · Feb 21, 2015

Patrick Robert James said:
Rolleiflexes.

I think I have had either 4 or 5 of them in the last two decades. I get that romantic feeling of using one just like Newton or Avedon and succumb. Then it sits around and collects dust. I end up selling it, and some time goes by, and I see an Avedon book and want another damn Rollei.

These days I don't feel the need anymore since they are so dang expensive. I picked up an Ikoflex with a Tessar along the line and it is perfect. Lens is good enough, it was cheap enough, and I dinged it so it isn't worth selling.... Now I have a TLR if I ever get the hankering to use one, but of course I never do.

I am selling my second rolleiflex now on ebay. Absolutely same as you: romantic and beautiful, mechanical perfection that has a feel like a Leica, but just sits there and collects dust. So I decide to sell it - it is a pity that those cameras are not in regular use. When I want square - I have Diana and Holga.

frank · Feb 21, 2015

ambaker said:
Does this count?

I've promised myself no more gear till I open all of these. So far I've only cheated once... Ok maybe twice..

I did buy much of it here though.. Makes it better, right?

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

You've got gear that you've bought, left sitting unopened? Really, or is this a joke?

amellice · Feb 21, 2015

frank said:
You've got gear that you've bought, left sitting unopened? Really, or is this a joke?

Yeah unbelievable opening a package is an excitement in itself,

Mustafa Umut Sarac · Feb 21, 2015

ah693973 · Feb 21, 2015

Two Travelwides.

ambaker · Feb 24, 2015

frank said:
You've got gear that you've bought, left sitting unopened? Really, or is this a joke?

Sadly not a joke. Now that I have retired, (10 days ago), I will have more time and will get them all opened.

Before I retired I worked 11 to 12 hours a day, for three to four months a year, it was six to seven days a week. 50-60 hours a week the rest of the time.

And yes it will be like a birthday... I have had many of them long enough that I do not remember what is in the boxes.

heespharm · Feb 24, 2015

ambaker said:
Sadly not a joke. Now that I have retired, (10 days ago), I will have more time and will get them all opened.

Before I retired I worked 11 to 12 hours a day, for three to four months a year, it was six to seven days a week. 50-60 hours a week the rest of the time.

And yes it will be like a birthday... I have had many of them long enough that I do not remember what is in the boxes.

Make a video of your reaction and post here ;-)... I'd follow it

Vilk · Feb 25, 2015

Metz 45 CT-4 and Manfrotto 055. Both gathered dust for almost 30 years. Never shot anything worth shooting with a flash or on a tripod. (Actually, finally sold the Metz last week; will keep the legs for art repros--definitely outside the "worth shooting" category.)

(Dis)honourable mention: any piece of equipment I ever bought "for backup." I could have fed a small village with these wasted resources, it hurts now.

MichiTimm · Feb 26, 2015

ambaker said:
Does this count?

I've promised myself no more gear till I open all of these. So far I've only cheated once... Ok maybe twice..

I did buy much of it here though.. Makes it better, right?

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Mind. Blown.
When I order something I almost immediately begin stalking the mailman, staking out the mailbox, following tracking numbers like it's my job.

I consider myself patient if I wait until I'm actually in the house before opening it!

As for the actual topic - stuff I bought and never use .... remote controls. I've tried a couple but really I just end up using the self-timer instead.

Steve Roberts · Feb 26, 2015

A 100mm SMC Pentax macro lens. Thought it would be a handy addition to the photographic arsenal, but on using it I couldn't see why anyone would want a macro lens for 35mm photography in such a long focal length. I don't even use my 50mm macro very much, preferring to use the standard lens and extension tubes for close-up work.
Steve

jose angel · Feb 27, 2015

Steve Roberts said:
A 100mm SMC Pentax macro lens. Thought it would be a handy addition to the photographic arsenal, but on using it I couldn't see why anyone would want a macro lens for 35mm photography in such a long focal length. I don't even use my 50mm macro very much, preferring to use the standard lens and extension tubes for close-up work.
Steve

Maybe because the use of the scales, without the need of spare accessories, more convenient working distance and improved image quality?

Roger Cole · Feb 27, 2015

A 4x5 Grafmatic, oddly enough. Bought one. Read up and practiced on how it worked, loaded with some barely-expired E100SW I'd bought at the time. Made a few shots, most are probably ok but I fogged one sheet I'm aware of. Back in the bag after shooting and now it's still in the 4x5 bag and has been for two years now, with a few sheets left unexposed. I'm not at all sure I even remember HOW to use it.

I think not being set up to do my own E6 right now and not wanting to send the stuff out at $2+ a sheet might have something to do with it.

Roger Cole · Feb 27, 2015

jose angel said:
Maybe because the use of the scales, without the need of spare accessories, more convenient working distance and improved image quality?

Yeah, a 100mm macro is, IMHO, more useful than a shorter one. But then I don't own either - I use my "almost go to macro" zooms, which I usually use at the longest focal length and accordingly the greatest film-subject distance at which I can get the scale I want and need.

RalphLambrecht · Feb 27, 2015

jnanian said:
we all know photographers like to buy gadgets
sometimes it is advertising, word of mouth, forums
magazines or just the thought that you NEED to buy something
because it might work for you in ways you couldn't imagine.

do you have anything you bought thinking it would be perfect!
but you have never used it, or used it maybe once or twice ...

i bought a calumet polaroid clearing bucket back in the day when i was
shooting tons of #55 polaroid film but i realized maybe after using once
it was easier for me to just mix a batch of permawash in a tray ... i used it once.

i a few years before that, i bought (at the suggestion of a friend ) a xenophon / behind the lens filter holder
also sold by calumet ( i lived down the road from them ) ...

haven't used it even once ( its been 20 years )

what about you ?

Yes and No.I bought lots of stuff made for professional use and not used it enough but I always found a need to use it eventually.That said, I wonder now why I need three 4x5 cameras.:confused:

Steve Roberts · Feb 27, 2015

jose angel said:
Maybe because the use of the scales, without the need of spare accessories, more convenient working distance and improved image quality?

Scales - not information that's of any value to me
Need of spare accessories - a set of tubes takes up less space and is lighter than another lens
More convenient working distance - Far LESS convenient for me as being further away I need more working space
Improved image quality - can't say I've noticed the difference in my applications. 50mm SMC Tak and tubes works well for me.

The 100mm macro undoubtedly has advantages for certain applications, just not for what I do and the way I do it.

Steve

Rick A · Feb 27, 2015

I bought up all the dark room gear in a 50 mile radius of my home, culled the bits and bobs that I wanted, and then sold a ton of cheap gear on line. There was far too much schtuff to list here, but I still have a bit of it left that I've been giving away.

Sirius Glass · Feb 27, 2015

I have ended up with never used equipment because the equipment was part of an auction buy. I had a Uni-?? 4"x5" development tank that was part of a Jobo tank collection that I bought. I never used it and finally got around to selling it.

dpurdy · Feb 27, 2015

Biggest waste of money for me was a brand new in 1990 beseler 45mxt. I already owned an old grey one from the 60s that I bought used when an old photographer went out of business. I started my own business including custom printing and figured for certain the old one would crap out and so got the new one for the day it did. It still hasn't crapped out and the new one sits under the basement stairs behind the furnace and the track has started to rust... never used.
Dennis

Tom Kershaw · Feb 27, 2015

dpurdy said:
Biggest waste of money for me was a brand new in 1990 beseler 45mxt. I already owned an old grey one from the 60s that I bought used when an old photographer went out of business. I started my own business including custom printing and figured for certain the old one would crap out and so got the new one for the day it did. It still hasn't crapped out and the new one sits under the basement stairs behind the furnace and the track has started to rust... never used.
Dennis

Did you never have need of a 2nd enlarger? I find having >1 enlarger rather useful.

Tom

dpurdy · Feb 27, 2015

Tom Kershaw said:
Did you never have need of a 2nd enlarger? I find having >1 enlarger rather useful.

Tom

I did have it set up for awhile but I found that counter space was more valuable. I even took a workshop from Jerry Uelsmann.

Tom Kershaw · Feb 27, 2015

dpurdy said:
I did have it set up for awhile but I found that counter space was more valuable. I even took a workshop from Jerry Uelsmann.

I tend to use one of my enlarger base boards as counter space. If I was designing a darkroom again I'd make sure to arrange for more counter space if possible.

Tom

polyglot · Feb 28, 2015

Flash gels - not even once. Macro rail: about 4 times in 5 years and then only for setting up stereo shots. 81C filter, just once. Green filter, uh, twice?

I got a 4x5 masking punch and easel, haven't had time to use them yet in 6mo. Not really the fault of the item there though as I'm really looking forward to doing an unsharp mask. One day...

Jeff Bradford · Feb 28, 2015

I have several 120/620 view-cameras that I have yet to (may never) use, plus other cameras that snuck in with auction lots. Also, neutral density filters for just about every lens I own.

Probably most frustrating is an expandable bounce-reflector that pretty much requires an assistant to hold it. I keep trying to use it, but there is just no way to mount it to anything.

frank · Feb 28, 2015

I've bought and sold 3 Hexar AF cameras in succession. Great results, just didn't like the push button interface.

BradleyK · Mar 3, 2015

A Nikon MC-12 remote cable and a pair of remote shutter buttons (don't know Nikon's nomenclature on them and they are buried somewhere in storage so I can't verify). Purchased from that auction site several years past, each is still in its (if I recall correctly) original packaging. Not out a lot of $ - perhaps $30 in total - so not really concerned...

what equipment did you buy, and you NEVER EVER use ?

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