Your Dream Camera

[analogaddict]

Dream camera.

I would love to have a leica m6 but i cant afford it right now.

 

[vpwphoto]

I would love to have a leica m6 but i cant afford it right now.

Unfortunately for you and many of us Leicas cost more than they really should because folks think they have to have them that are willing to spend crazy money then use them on an "trip of a lifetime" put them in a closet, and forget about it until a speculator buys it at an estate sale.

From what I know Lee Freedlander and Walker Evans, and others couldn't afford a Leica either, they borrowed them from rich friends.

I solved my Leica lust I bought a good Leitz lens and I use it on a Russian clone.

 

[Matus Kalisky]

There are several, actually

in 4x5: Toyo 125VX or Arca Swiss F
in 120: Contax 645, Rolleiflex FX
in 35mm: Leica M7 with Summilux 35 or 50 (I am trying to be flexible here)
binary: Leica X2 (X1 with 35/2.0 lens and built in optical viewfinder with focus and exposure data confirmation - c'mon - why not)

(Moderators - please delete the last line if inappropriate)

 

[removed account4]

Unfortunately for you and many of us Leicas cost more than they really should because folks think they have to have them that are willing to spend crazy money then use them on an "trip of a lifetime" put them in a closet, and forget about it until a speculator buys it at an estate sale.

From what I know Lee Freedlander and Walker Evans, and others couldn't afford a Leica either, they borrowed them from rich friends.

I solved my Leica lust I bought a good Leitz lens and I use it on a Russian clone.

yeah
but some people like garry winogrand had leicas and used so much
the an image of his film appear on the pressure plate

http://cameraquest.com/LeicaM4G.htm

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

Like you, Nicole, I'm lucky to already have my dream cameras. They work great every time, takes very little maintenance, have fabulous lenses, and the pictures are as I expect them to be, so that attention is steered away from the camera, and onto the pictures... What else can one possibly need?

Hasselblad 500 (my trusty friend)
Leica M (thanks again, you know who you are)
Pentax KX (just acquired a 35mm f/2 lens for it that's bloody amazing)

- Thomas

I'd like to slightly revise this statement. My dream camera is one that stands between me and my finished print as little as possible. It needs to be intuitive to use, so that I don't have think about HOW to use it when I do.
That's why I love the cameras that I have, and lust for no other. They don't get in the way, but are rather a sort of extension of what I see when I take pictures.

 

[removed account4]

you're right thomas
the equipment becomes a distraction

- john

 

[guitstik]

That's why I do lumen prints, no camera

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

That's why I do lumen prints, no camera

Ha! Talk about eliminating clutter.

 

[vpwphoto]

@ jnanian and thomas
--- equipment can be a distraction in two regards...as you both have put it, and on the other side when it fails or can not perform..... no real photographer in the sense of what photography does can perform a task well with a Diana, or Lomo, anyone who says they can use anything is fooling around and blowing self aggrandizement around.

 

[removed account4]

hi vpwphoto

" no real photographer in the sense of what photography
does can perform a task well with a Diana, or Lomo,
anyone who says they can use anything is fooling around and blowing self aggrandizement around. "

do you mean unless only a "real photographer" uses "real camera" ?

there is more to life and photography than expensive equipment ...

 

[Pumalite]

I used a Kodak Brownie once...

 

[michaelbsc]

do you mean unless only a "real photographer" uses "real camera" ?

there is more to life and photography than expensive equipment ...

Simple predictable equipment in skilled hands is good. The pinhole crowd proves that daily.

Hoping the black tape doesn't fall off at the wrong time - or that it does fall off at the right time - is wishing for fairies.

If you want a low contrast soft focus minuscus lens workhorse get a $6 Brownie Hawkeye.

If you want a Diana get one.

If you want a Holga get one.

But learn and control the equipment, including the black tape if necessary, thereby controlling the process.

Don't count on the faries. They're unreliable.

 

[removed account4]

Simple predictable equipment in skilled hands is good. The pinhole crowd proves that daily.

Hoping the black tape doesn't fall off at the wrong time - or that it does fall off at the right time - is wishing for fairies.

If you want a low contrast soft focus minuscus lens workhorse get a $6 Brownie Hawkeye.

If you want a Diana get one.

If you want a Holga get one.

But learn and control the equipment, including the black tape if necessary, thereby controlling the process.

Don't count on the faries. They're unreliable.

i agree with you 100% , michael
but vpwphoto suggested that if you use other than
an " expensive " / "name brand" ? piece of photo equipment
you aren't a "real photographer who makes real photographs"

he should look through the apug gallery there are plenty of
people using holgas and dianas and pinholes and other stuff that can easily
put folks who use " expensive " / "name brand" ? ... cameras to shame.

as you say, its all about knowing and knowing how to use the equipment

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

@ jnanian and thomas
--- equipment can be a distraction in two regards...as you both have put it, and on the other side when it fails or can not perform..... no real photographer in the sense of what photography does can perform a task well with a Diana, or Lomo, anyone who says they can use anything is fooling around and blowing self aggrandizement around.

I have tried using a Holga, and it is as much fun as it is antagonizing. It is not a reliable camera, that's for sure. Can you make good pictures with it? I think so. But bring five of them, in case the other four don't work.
Look at the beautiful work of JerseyVic here. Much of his work is done with a Holga, and I wouldn't mind calling his work extremely wonderful.

However, same as you I find that reliability is very important. I don't get many chances to take pictures anymore due to other responsibilities, so I definitely want it to work every time. That's why I literally ran my Holga over with my car, just for the satisfaction of seeing that piece of plastic crap never have a roll of film go through it again.

 

[vpwphoto]

hi vinny

" no real photographer in the sense of what photography
does can perform a task well with a Diana, or Lomo,
anyone who says they can use anything is fooling around and blowing self aggrandizement around. "

do you mean unless only a "real photographer" uses "real camera" ?

there is more to life and photography than expensive equipment ...

I MEANT... Photography was desired and invented to capture a certain reality.
I know the place of a Lomo or Diana.
The essence of photography for ME and the HISTORY of it is to capture a reality (however edited and framed). Decent optical equipment is needed to RENDER a IMAGE and KEEP THE MEDIUM from being FOGGED. TO THIS END... crappy equipment is a HINDERANCE... It would be like trying to hit a home-run with a cracked bat or a Plastic BAT.
I AM NOT ATTACKING ANYONE... DO NOT CALL ME VINNIE
THe OP was asking about dream equipment and we know what the spirit of that question. NO need to be dragging down the intent of the post. AND I WILL STAND BY my assertion that yes decent equipment possibly with "BUTTERY SMOOTH" action and high resolving power is what the foundations of the craft is about. I do use soft focus devices... but a "random camera" like a Diana and even a pin-hole are not for me... they have their place... but various posters here that say they can use any POS for any situation are blowing smoke.. Thanks

 

[vpwphoto]

I made several portrait (digital) of the last man to walk on the moon last night. I wasn't going to use a plastic camera or tattered Leica with iffy cloth shutter to do it.
Sure if I had a half hour with him in my studio I would have liked to use the Anthony with the Petzval.and some 5x7 film. There is no way I would waste his time or mine with a Brownie.
We have members that carry two Hasselblads into the bush because they don't trust them to not break down 20 miles hike from the car... I personally think they worry a bit much. The quest of photography is to render a certain reality.
I LOVE THE WORK OF MANY OF OUR PIN-HOLE and "alt" camera users.... I just DO NOT TAKE seriously folks that like to say people who use good stuff are showing off.... I don't want my surgeon to use an exacto knife or sewing needle on me unless we are in a post-apocolyptic Mad Max world. Cheers.....

 

[removed account4]

...

 

[Pumalite]

I once did a Tracheotomy with a pencil in an Emergency Room; which saved the child's life.

 

[removed account4]

I once did a Tracheotomy with a pencil in an Emergency Room; which saved the child's life.

pumalite

thanks for the reality check ...
there are obviously many ways of achieving a goal ...
sometimes they require "perfection", and sometimes
they require "other materials" ...

johnny

 

[michaelbsc]

I have tried using a Holga.... It is not a reliable camera, that's for sure.

That's why I recommend the Brownie Hawkeye to people. It is a properly done Holga. Once you get one cleaned up you can put 5000 more rolls of film through it and it will never miss a shot. Decent minuscus lens, too.

I'm not kidding about the 5000 more rolls of film. No, I haven't counted. But it is a tank. And of yours doesn't go 5000 rolls I'll give you $5 for it.

You can put 120 on the supply spool, but you do have to use a 620 spool for the take up side. That's the only major caveat.

 

[removed account4]

That's why I recommend the Brownie Hawkeye to people. It is a properly done Holga. Once you get one cleaned up you can put 5000 more rolls of film through it and it will never miss a shot. Decent minuscus lens, too.

I'm not kidding about the 5000 more rolls of film. No, I haven't counted. But it is a tank. And of yours doesn't go 5000 rolls I'll give you $5 for it.

You can put 120 on the supply spool, but you do have to use a 620 spool for the take up side. That's the only major caveat.

yep,

box cameras are the best -
bulletproof, and originally marketed to kids ..
$1 / brownie

they let you think more about composition and photography
instead of the pissing-contest of acquiring name brand equipment ..
photography is about making photographs -- light drawings ... not about dropping names.

but then again, i guess it was always about equipment ... oh well ...

nevermind

 

[pen s]

Late as usual but I just joined APUG.
As I have aged my 'dream camera' has passed through several iterations.
In the past I admit to falling into the trap of '..if only I could get this camera' or 'that magic lens, then I'd be content and want for nothing else.'

Those days are past. I have come to be content, film wise with my OM-1 as a primary body, and a few Zuikos. The body is more compact than my M4-2 and I can focus as close as I need to with a macro lens. This is my 'serious camera', at least...as serious as I ever get.

Now, my fun cameras are various Olympus Pen half frame cameras. A Pen F and 3 basic lenses and my all manual Pen S3.5 and a modified Pen D. B&W film is still available and easy to develop. I can scan film or in 15min be ready to wet print in the bathroom.

So....I already have my 'dream cameras' and this is, for me, just a fun little hobby.

I also have a digital camera, a Olympus E-410, and it is fine for vacations and color snaps of the grandchildren. I've also found it handy for digitizing my half frame negs. I use an ancient Vivitar 55mm f2.8 macro with an adapter on the E-410 at a reproduction ratio of 1:1.3 that just covers the 18X24mm field size.

One more point. Ironically, the only camera I have that needs tape is the E-410. You see, one of the little plastic tabs that hold the card door shut broke and the camera won't work unless this door shuts tight so I hold it shut with a little piece of blue masking tape.

 

[zsas]

no real photographer in the sense of what photography does can perform a task well with a Diana, or Lomo, anyone who says they can use anything is fooling around and blowing self aggrandizement around.

I respectfully disagree with your above statement. David Burnett, photojournalist and co-founder of Contact Press Images (who reps Annie Leibovitz amongst others)[1], uses a Holga, among other cameras whilst on assignment. His 2001 Holga photo has won awards (2001 White House News Photographers' Association's Eyes of History contest)[2].

References:
David Burnett’s resume, per his website:
[1]
http://www.davidburnett.com/content.html?page=2
[2]
Which Camera Does This Pro Use? It Depends on the Shot, New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/08/technology/circuits/08schiesel.html

 

[Someonenameddavid]

I once did a Tracheotomy with a pencil in an Emergency Room; which saved the child's life.

Are you sure it wasn't a cricothyrocotomy....

Once, in my residency program, an attending physician who was otherwise known as "dangerous" seriously suggested doing such a manoeuvre to a security officer who had evidently aspirated a piec of food and was uncontrollably coughing. The four residents offered to physically restrain the physician should he attempt this on a conscious and coughing and vocalising person.

David "I would use a ball-point pen"

 

[Someonenameddavid]

Oh and my dream camera would be a Nikon F2. Modified with interchangeable lens mounts to take any manufacturer's lenses and an in "the body" meter. And a variant that was a coupled rangefinder like an M6.


David