What is "enough" in a camera for you?

Moose22 · Oct 19, 2021

Huss said:
I come prepared:

The user banks on my Z6 and Z7 are
U1, U2, U3 -- Birdies, Kitties, People (High speed, pet eye detect on and medium speed, people eye detect on low speed)

I did it in Birdies Kitties People alphabetical order to remember which was which when I programmed it, but this would have been better. It is like a cheat sheet to help me remember.

Moose22 · Oct 19, 2021

CMoore said:
Or.....................i will put a few pieces of black tape on my camera.
THAT will make it..... and Me.... invisible.
Nobody will notice me holding it to my face, pointing it in their direction and taking their picture.

Except, that's pretty much what happens.

Folks ignore me with a black camera. I might as well be holding up a phone or any digital camera, so there's nothing strange to them. They go about their business like nothing's happening.

ciniframe · Oct 19, 2021

Interesting question. At least for myself the answer is; it depends. Sometimes a suitable cardboard box, a piece of aluminum from a drinks can, a sheet of photo paper and a bit of masking tape has been ‘enough’. Since I already have all the needed stuff for paper negatives the cost was minimal and you just cannot get any simpler device to make an image.
Other times of course a much more capable camera is needed. For 35mm full frame (I also shoot half frame.) an OM-1 is my preferred platform.
If youall slide over to the ‘low fi’ subforum you will see that the OP does some amazing work in 110 neg size. So, sometimes a Rollei A110 is all he needs.

Pieter12 · Oct 19, 2021

Huss said:
Everyone looks like that IRL.

We just think we are Brad Pitt or Jennifer Aniston...

CMoore said:
Do i really look like that.?

Huss said:
I come prepared:

I'd swear you've done a lot of photoshopping to make him look that good. But you should know better than to point the camera right into the sun. Surprised there's no flare--but wait you photoshopped that out, too!

RalphLambrecht · Oct 19, 2021

Huss said:
While out shooting, I had an M3 with me. I just like the size and how quiet it is. In public settings you are not 'that' guy w the big camera and bazooka lens. I passed a gentleman using an Olympus OM1 - and man it was the SLR equivalence of the Leica. Beautiful, small, discrete.
I've had small Pentax SLRs, and liked them, but not enough to keep them. Just my deal, nothing against the cameras. But it made me think, what is "enough" camera for you as a daily carry to have fun with, without you feeling limited? As in, you don't want to think 'if only I had my..'
It's making me think as to why I'm keeping my Nikon Fs.. awesome cameras but I really don't use them as they are in the middle - too big for 'fun' - too small for serious (AF, motor drive etc like with the F4 and F6).
I guess its part of the paring down of gear that is being used, not collected.

I'd Maybe ask you with a Basic mechanical camera; don't need a light meter but auto-f focus as an option would be great. Maybe a hot shoe, self timer, mirror lock up and of course a tripod thread. That's enough for me.

Pieter12 · Oct 19, 2021

RalphLambrecht said:
I'd Maybe ask you with a Basic mechanical camera; don't need a light meter but auto-f focus as an option would be great. Maybe a hot shoe, self timer, mirror lock up and of course a tripod thread. That's enough for me.

I assume you want an SLR since you want mirror lock-up, but you will have a hard time finding an autofocus camera that doesn't have a light meter.

flatulent1 · Oct 19, 2021

Huss said:
Everyone looks like that IRL.

We just think we are Brad Pitt or Jennifer Aniston...

When I start thinking I'm Jennifer Aniston, you have my permission to file commitment papers on my behalf.

MattKing · Oct 19, 2021

I've met Fred.
He didn't remind me of Jennifer Aniston at all!

AZD · Oct 20, 2021

faberryman said:
With film camera prices up now might be a good time to sell all those extra cameras which have the buttons, dials, and switches in the wrong places.

Thinking about this thread has proved to be good motivation for that. I put my N6006 up for sale in the local classifieds. The thing is, an old all-electronic SLR like that still doesn't sell for much - if at all. Oh well, I'm sure the N6006 will find a new home eventually. It's a great camera. I just don't care for the button/dial interface and loud film advance. But if you want a glorified point-and-shoot it's hard to beat. It was super cool when I had my first one in 1996. I sold it a few years later for $350 when I was poor and still not a National Geographic staff member. This one might get ten percent of that. Maybe.

The funny thing now is thinking about me back then: I had an N6006 and plastic fantastic zoom. A heck of a good setup for the time. Buuuuut, it wasn't an F5. Clearly owning an F5 would have immediately put me to work at National Geographic. It's a shame I couldn't afford one. Opportunities missed... Languishing in the closet was an old Spotmatic and Takumar 50mm 1.4. A lousy beginner's camera. And my old Retina Ib, a dorky folding thing with scale focus and sticky slow shutter speeds (that also happened to take my best picture ever).

Now, of course, I could have the F5 if I wanted, but I don't. I'd much rather have my shiny silver conversation-starting SLRs, my beat up Zeiss TLR, or even a clumsy (but beautiful) screw mount Leica.

And by the way, it happened again on Sunday... "Solid camera, bro!" as I was walking my dog along a wooded trail, silver FE in hand. It's getting weird out there. Maybe I need a black one instead.

snusmumriken · Oct 20, 2021

I don't like fancy features, so it could almost be my Rollei 35. However, I stepped up to an M6 to get Leica lens performance, plus the rangefinder, meter and very flat film plane that you need to get the best out of such lenses. If only the Leica was as small as the Rollei 35 light, but of course it couldn't be. So I switch between them, depending how encumbered I'm willing to feel.

Jon Buffington · Oct 20, 2021

Huss said:
I come prepared:

Brilliant!! I am stealing this idea

Huss · Oct 20, 2021

snusmumriken said:
I don't like fancy features, so it could almost be my Rollei 35. However, I stepped up to an M6 to get Leica lens performance, plus the rangefinder, meter and very flat film plane that you need to get the best out of such lenses. If only the Leica was as small as the Rollei 35 light, but of course it couldn't be. So I switch between them, depending how encumbered I'm willing to feel.

It's the rangefinder and being able to nail focus under all conditions that is going to make the difference in image quality between your Rollei and your Leica.
I use the Rollei 40mm 2.8 Sonnar in Leica LTM-M on my Leicas - this is the same lens pretty much that is in the Rollei 35SE. And it is fantastic on the Leicas.

Autonerd · Oct 22, 2021

Great question. My go-to has always been my Pentax KX (all mechanical, 1-1/1000), and it's definitely what I think of as "enough" camera -- but I think that has more to do with familiarity than anything else. My Sears KS Auto (Ricoh XR-2s) is probably the better all-round camera as it has an automatic mode, my Pentax ME Super is my favorite walk-around camera, and my Nikon N8008 and Minolta M5 are my absolutely-positively-must-get-the-shot cameras, but when I can't decide, I always reach for the KX -- been shooting with it for 30 years and it's the camera I know the best.

As for lenses -- I find with a 50 and a 28 there's little I can't accomplish. Just got a 100/2.8 and a 135/3.5 and I'm trying to use them more.

Aaron

flatulent1 · Oct 22, 2021

MattKing said:
I've met Fred.
He didn't remind me of Jennifer Aniston at all!

I've always fancied myself the Chris Farley type.

polka · Oct 26, 2021

Minox 35 since 1979
POLKa

CMoore · Oct 27, 2021

Autonerd said:
Great question. My go-to has always been my Pentax KX (all mechanical, 1-1/1000), and it's definitely what I think of as "enough" camera -- but I think that has more to do with familiarity than anything else. , I always reach for the KX -- been shooting with it for 30 years and it's the camera I know the best.
Aaron

Well said and well done.!
Beware the man that owns just one gun"

Philippe-Georges · Oct 27, 2021

When the digital tsunami inundated my 'world', I set the 135 format film aside and adopted the 120 format as my personal standart.
A Hasselblad 500CM, a SWC/M, a Planar 80mm (and sometimes a Planar-S 135mm), two filmbacks (B&W 400ASA and 1600ASA), a few filters and a Pentax spot light meter is all what I need.
All the rest is feels superflu.

ericB&W · Oct 27, 2021

From my cameras i say Nikon FG, has one of the smallest body
ever build, 1/90 and B shutter speed without batteries, mirror flip up
with self timer, in automatic can read many seconds of exposure in dim light.
I can put the body in a large pocket, 24mm and 100 mm E series in another pocket
and have almost a complete system for most of the situations and nobody notice
anything .
If one doesn't need interchangeable lenses and knows how to use hyperfocal,
rollei 35 is a great option .

Huss · Oct 27, 2021

I'm almost tempted to say one of my Rollei QZ 35s are enough. 28-60 or 38-90 zoom lenses which are 2.8 on the wide end. Superb glass. EV 1 to 20. Gorgeous Titanium build.
16 sec to 1/8000 available in all modes - AE, Shutter E, Manual, Program. Plus that shutter speed range is available all the time, you don't need to get to specific situations eg the Fuji Klasse only lets you access 1/1000 if you also need f16..
Downside is the camera is a bit noisy.

But sometimes it's not down to 'just specs'. There is a satisfaction of doing more with less.

Sirius Glass · Oct 27, 2021

Philippe-Georges said:
When the digital tsunami inundated my 'world', I set the 135 format film aside and adopted the 120 format as my personal standart.
A Hasselblad 500CM, a SWC/M, a Planar 80mm (and sometimes a Planar-S 135mm), two filmbacks (B&W 400ASA and 1600ASA), a few filters and a Pentax spot light meter is all what I need.
All the rest is feels superflu.

That is when I crossed over from 135 to Mamiya 330f to Hasselblad. I got the top equipment at bargain basement prices.

Chess · Oct 28, 2021

I could live with a manual SLR and a lens.
I've only got a Ricoh KR-5 Super II that is really fully manual but could happily use that camera alone forever.
New tech in film cameras was kinda fun but digital just does too much for you. It takes out the fun and the need to truly learn the craft imo.

Down Under · Oct 29, 2021

Next year when the C-you know what crisis has lessened, I plan to go roaming again in Southeast Asia, Taiwan and Korea with the simplest possible kit - a Contax G1, two or three lenses (most likely the classic 28-45-90 combo for the G) and some of the 100 or so rolls of (mostly B&W)35mm film I have left in my darkroom fridge for want of good subjects to use them up on.

My goal for 2022 is to finally use up the 20 rolls of Kodak Panatomic-X I have left. Asian light is ideal for the subjects I most enjoy shooting - old buildings and people going about their daily tasks. Australian light is okay with slow films, but I find I'm somewhat lacking in inspiration to get out and about of late, especially so as we are restricted to travel too far during the C-19 lockdowns.

A similar alternative would be a Nikkormat FT2 with a 28 or 35, a 50 standard or 55 micro, and an 85, all of which I own.

Or ultra-minimally, a Rolleicord Vb with a 16 exposure kit, a lens hood, a UV and a yellow filter, one or two close-up lenses, and of course film, a lot of it. The old-fashioned way people travelled pre-1970, still most enjoyable.

Film is fun for travel. It takes up a little more space in my bag than a similar digi kit, but with 'analog' I shoot less, I think more, and I enjoy myself in the moment and at the time, without thinking too much about gear or having to look at everything I see through an electronic viewfinder. So a triple win for me.

Then there's digital, and my Nikon Ds - but we won't go there today, that's for another thread.

In December next year I'll turn 75, and then maybe it will be time for me to slow down a little, stay at home more, and work on fixing up my photo archives, which should keep me busy until I'm about 106. I did say "maybe" - I'll make up my mind about that in 14 months' time.

mehguy · Oct 29, 2021

Chess said:
I could live with a manual SLR and a lens.
I've only got a Ricoh KR-5 Super II that is really fully manual but could happily use that camera alone forever.
New tech in film cameras was kinda fun but digital just does too much for you. It takes out the fun and the need to truly learn the craft imo.

I've been eyeing up this exact model on the popular auction site very recently as a backup body to my OM2. It looks like a great camera to just grab and go and not have to baby it.

freecitizen · Oct 29, 2021

Just at the moment ….. a pinhole is enough for me.

Chess · Oct 29, 2021

mehguy said:
I've been eyeing up this exact model on the popular auction site very recently as a backup body to my OM2. It looks like a great camera to just grab and go and not have to baby it.

I've never actually used my KR-5. It's brand new with maybe 50 clicks on it at most from just firing without film. A film it's never had loaded.
I did however use another borrowed one back in the day a few times. It's a great manual camera with the bonus of a 1/2000 top shutter, 1/125 sync speed and the self timer will also work as a mirror lock up for reducing vibration.

I'm considering doing my first video for YouTube for this camera. A simple unboxing video. As it is in new condition and I have kept all the original packaging. It would be one of the few unboxing videos that show the real and all original contents of an old camera. I also have the 50mm F2.0 lens and case for it which I would also include.

I'm about to start shooting film again for the first time since the early 2000's. Totally miss film and the old days. It's why I joined here now. The KR-5 Super II is my cheapest camera but also the camera I am looking forward to using the most above all my other gear.

If you find yourself a good version, I'd certainly recommend getting it. It's a solid piece of gear from all aspects.

What is "enough" in a camera for you?

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