What have I done?

[dferrie]

Hi guys,

Haven't been around in a looong time, life, work etc.

I'm having sellers/advertisers remorse. I have a Mamiya m645j with a 80mm and a 45mm Sekor C lens, which has been sitting unused for about 8 months now. I had planned on setting up a darkroom and getting an enlarger which would handle the MF negs, but realise that's a pipe dream. Considering I have had a 35mm enlarger (and rest of kit) sitting in my attic for 10 years and haven't been able to get that set up I know I'm not going to follow through with the MF kit.

So I just put the Mamiya and lenses up for sale on adverts.ie and now just a few hours later I'm beginning to regret the move. I know it's the right decision, it will provide some funds should I want to get 35mm kit, still it's sad day

My Father had been encouraging me to sell his old Minolta SR1 and XD11 with a mix of minolta/rokkor lenses, but I just can't bring myself to part with them. The SR1 is probably 40 years old and in great nic, the XD11 looks like it just came out of the box (me and my Dad tend to look after our kit), I even have the original manuals for the XD11. It may be time to dust off the MF kit and get shooting, then of course there's my 500si and 800si - too many cameras (did I really say that ) and too little time.

Hope to catch up with the APUG folks soon.

 

[Tom Nutter]

You might just keep that Mamiya...it probably won't fetch much on the used market, and as they say, "It might be cheaper to keep it." It's not hurting anything just being around, is it?

 

[Sirius Glass]

Tom has a good point. Heck, if you do not use it, it can become a paperweight or a book end.

Steve

 

[hughennis]

Theres another way to look at it - at the moment its lying idle and being wasted! it has feelings you know! You are better to sell it and let it have a new lease of life - think of the new places it could be taken to - the love and care that will be showered upon it . A part from old cameras I've rescued many a valve radio which was lying unloved and paint splatter covered in a shed . How happy they must be cleaned up and playing daily and being admired by visitors . Just a thought.

 

[Slixtiesix]

If I were you I wouldn´t sell it, especially the Minoltas. I doubt that the money they will bring would be as nearly as high as the value they have for you.

 

[Rick A]

I agree with Hugh. after all, one mans castoff is another mans treasure. If you arent going to use, allow someone else to.
Rick

 

[Jeff Kubach]

I wouldn't sell them and if you do you might regret it!

Jeff

 

[dferrie]

The Minoltas are being kept, aside for being nice cameras, there is a huge amount of sentimental value attached to them. The SR1 was the first "real" film camera I used, it officially belongs to my Father but I have been the caretaker for years now.

As far as the Mamiya is concerned, I guess I'm thinking like Hugh and Rick - it's a nice camera, good lenses and it's not being used. It deserves to be used.

 

[phyllis72]

yeah, I had remorse selling my 'blad, (and other camera gear when it went idle) only to buy another and a mamiya 645 AF (which ended up being stolen a month after I got it) too boot. Keep it, bring it with you when you go someplace. Make yourself use it.

 

[funkpilz]

I know money is a factor here, but if you need to declutter your camera setup, there's nothing better than giving cameras to your friends. I've done this quite a few times and I have no regrets. I know the cameras are being used more than I could ever use them, and I don't feel like a whore for selling them.

 

[Tom Nutter]

I know money is a factor here, but if you need to declutter your camera setup, there's nothing better than giving cameras to your friends. I've done this quite a few times and I have no regrets. I know the cameras are being used more than I could ever use them, and I don't feel like a whore for selling them.

YEAH!! if you can introduce a teenager or somebody impressionable to the world of photography, I'm all for that.

 

[thefizz]

Tough decision Dave, not sure what I would do.

 

[Mike1234]

Don't do something you'll truly regret but... if selling unused gear is the only way to fund what you really want and will actually use then it's the best decision. Whatever you decide... don't look back and cry about it. That's sissy behavor.

 

[polyglot]

Yes, it deserves to be used. While having your own darkroom to process prints in is probably the best solution, it's not necessary - you can put slide film through it and have a pro lab develop and mount them. Get an MF slide projector and you're set! Or you can run C-41 (Ektar is available in 120 now!) and have the lab scan+print them for you.

 

[dferrie]

Well the deed has been done. I have sold my Mamiya along with the 80mm and 45mm lens, I didn't get a huge amount for it but that doesn't overly worry me. It's gone to a good home, where it will get used frequently and so it gets to live another day.

I also parted with my much loved Minolta 800si, together with the VC700 vertical grip and a 35-70mm minolta lens. That was one beauty of a camera, again though it was not getting used. So I now really back to basics, I have a Minolta XD11 with a lovely 50mm prime and a 135mm prime. I also have a SR1 with 35mm & 50mm Rokkor primes - and you know I'm kinda pleased to be back to basics - the SR1 is fully manual and while the XD11 (once Minolta's flag ship) has Automatic Exposure, I reckon I'm either going to shoot manual or with either aperture/shutter priority. It has a real sense of going back to my photographic roots. I know the SR1 (and possibly XD11) need a good CLA done, hopefully they'll get the attention they need in the new year - the money from the 800si/Mamiya will come in handy.

The last remaining AF lens that I have and will be parting with is a really great Sigma 18-35 Aspherical (Minolta Mount) lens. Not sure what to ask for the lens, it's in excellent condition, complete with hood, manual, original hard case and a UV filter. All I need now is to find a buyer who will offer both a fair price and a good home.

Hopefully next year will see me more involved in film photography using the cameras I started my photography with and who knows maybe I'll even get to join an APUG Ireland outing. I know it's early for new year resolutions, but mine is to make time to use my film kit and to follow Les McLean's guidance and "Shoot the light" - he signed that on a book for me and then helped me understand it, it's something that will always be with me and that I'll always be thankful to him for.

Well better get back to the grind of work, if anyone out there knows of a fair asking price for the sigma or even wants to buy it let me know.

 

[thefizz]

Good to see you are getting organised David, hopefully we'll see you out and about soon.

 

[melball]

Out of interest did you get much for the 800si? I too am suffering from camera overload (both my father's and grandfather's Prakticas, two 500si a 700si and an 800si, and a Canon 650 body acquired from a family friend, oh yeah and the lubitel and a holga on walkabout somewhere) but now that I have my beautiful dynax9 nothing else gets a look in. Some of them have sentimental value but I'd quite like to trade in the 800si, 700si and one of the 500si's and probably the Canon and perhaps get some cash for film or other accessories.

 

[2F/2F]

Why is the darkroom a pipe dream?

What about scanning your medium format negs until you can get one set up?

It will certainly be cheaper for the amount of print quality than digital will be.

 

[dferrie]

Mel,

I got €160 for the 800si + VC70 + 35-70mm lens, it was all in excellent condition, with original manuals, lens/body caps and packaging.

I'm thinking of asking €150 for the sigma lens, it really is a great lens but I don't need it as much as I need to money. I also just remembered that I have a 500si super with an 28-80 kit lens, my Father borrowed it a couple of years ago and has never used it.

2F/2F,

The mamiya is history now. But I still have three 35mm minolta cameras (XD11, SR1 & 500si), so I will still have the ability to shoot, process and print. I have an enlarger, which I have loaned to a friend who is making sure it gets used (and has offered me use of her darkroom), so I can and will get printing at some point.