I managed to cure my camera GAS completely! Here's how I did it. I decided to embark on a hobby of making electronic music. I haven't bough any new camera gear since. I do however now own 7 synthesizers, 13 FX pedals, 2 samplers and 4 field recorders. There, you see? I'm totally cured of camera GAS. Great light everyone! Cheers!
Yep. You understand the beauty and historical value of these lovely cameras. And your knowledge of them is amazing. They should all be kept together as an eclectic collection. As you say if you sell them they may end up in a skip somewhere because their historical value isn't appreciated.
You must be about the same age as me (I'm 63 and in Cheshire, UK). My photo journey started in 1978 with a Zorki 4 (not the K) on which I learned the basics of shutter speed/aperture/film speed, depth of field etc. My interest in photography was sporadic thereafter because of 'life' (divorce x 3, redundancy and all the other sob stories that catalogue our lives). I'm disabled now which frustrates me beyond measure because it's near impossible to go out to take photographs. One of the things that keeps my interest alive is your channel. It's by far the most relatable and I look forward to every episode. Please keep going, and whatever you decide, I'll be tuning in for sure.
Keep them you can never have to many cameras I have about 600 and still collect them if I see a bargain or they are to good to resist. I also like the tactile feel of them I go through them all at least once if not twice a year to check if they still work okay. I have lots of cameras I could not afford back in the day and got most of mine for a song and have been collecting since 2004.
GAS sufferer here too. Try to keep only those that you can use at least once every 3 months and maybe also that 10% extra cameras that you really LOVE.
I appreciate your love of finely crafted items like cameras, and the inherant dilemma associated with collecting them which is what to do with them all. I am the same way myself. I remember reading a good article somewhere regarding materialism. The main idea of the article was that the world needs more materialism not less. Everyone believes the opposite to be true, but the author explained that if your definition of materialism is the love of beautifully made items, and the desire to preserve and protect them, then that stands as a bulwark against the trend towards a throwaway culture where everything is made to be used for a short time and then disposed of. I believe you and I are materialists in that sense of the word, and that's actually a good thing.
Oxford dictionary. Materialism: 1. a tendency to consider material possessions and physical comfort as more important than spiritual values. 2. the theory or belief that nothing exists except matter and its movements and modifications. the theory or belief that consciousness and will are wholly due to material agency.
I understand you completely. I am 59 and I bought my first film camera when I was 15 - with my own money! I was an actor as a boy (in Zagreb, former Yugoslavia) and I actually first bought Practica but returned it the next day because there was something wrong with the lighmeter. In those times you couldn’t just get your money back so they told me to pick something else. There was Canon AV-1, much more expensive and 2,5 times more expensive than in Western Europe. And I still love it. In the late 90’s I bought Canon EOS 50 and it’s better than any older film camera (all brands). You can still buy it for nothing because it’s “plastic”. Strange world. Few moths ago I started watching your channel and now I own Zorki 4, FED 5b, Yashica Minister D, two more AV-1’s, I buy old lenses left and right and I’m in debt 😫 It’s all your fault, Nigel 😂 If I was you, I would sell some of the stuff: I would pick the best Olympus and sell other ones, and so on. I love film but it’s too expensive. I want to buy Sony A7 (that will have to wait) and adapters for the old lenses and still use film cameras sometimes.
Keep them! Especially the ones that you got from other people as gifts. I have my father's old cameras. When I was a teenager in the seventies my father let me use it. It was a Leica III F. I'm fortunate that I have the camera today because it is a connection to my Dad who has passed. I also have his Nikon F3 and Nikon FTN. Then I started buying things that I read about and also cameras and lenses that you rave about on this channel. Fifty sounds like a good number; but there's no such thing as "too many cameras". As long as you are not using the rent money to purchase cameras, I see no harm and it obviously makes you feel good to have the little gems.
I think you should keep but perhaps you could make 3 piles - one you love and would never part with, another with others you're quite confident you could live without and the last pile of undecided. Try and use those and shoot some film and perhaps it will help you to make a decision.
Wonderful presentation and history of your cameras. They are absolutely gorgeous and it is evident how much you love and care for them. I also have a good number of cameras, but not as many as you. I have sold a couple of them and given away some, but I admit it’s hard. Tried to get my own boys interested, but it is not their thing. Perhaps for the future grandchildren one day? We should think of getting less fortunate young people involved, as the art of film photography is not only creative but therapeutic. So grateful to you for sharing all your cameras and lenses with us over the years and please leave yourself enough to continue to enchant us with them.
I sold my entire collection, c.40 cameras and 60 lenses. Leicas, Russian, 70s Japanese etc. It reached the point where I couldn’t decide which to use on any particular day. I’ve kept a mint 1950s Isolette, and with the money raised bought a Canon R7, a Leica Q3 and a (just for fun) Leica Sofort 2. The R7 does sports action wildlife (with a 100-400) plus wide angle (adapted 10mm), and the Q3 is for everything else. Doesn’t stop me looking at eBay though 🤦♂️
I have similar private issues to many of your listeners. So we are not alone with our luxury problem. Many of us have a more or less large collection that seems rather bizarre to most of our fellow human beings. For me, it's old lenses, old cameras, old (small) hi-fi devices, mostly cassette players. Few people still need this junk today. We enjoy them. On the one hand, this makes us lonely, as it's difficult to find someone with similar quirks in the neighbourhood. That's why a blog like yours is all the more important. It shows us all that there are other mad men out there who think and act like us.
Because you are emotionally attached then I would say keep them. I feel the same way about my cameras although I don’t have as many as you. If the only reason you feel you have to make a change is lack of space put some shelves up and enjoy them!😀
Nigel, keep your treasures. I have the same luxury problem with my vintage motorcycles. Contemporary witnesses, mechanical masterpieces. Don't want to give them into other people's hands. Take her with me to my grave😊
My story is quite similar. I started with Canon AE 1 in 1976, but really wanted the Canon F1, both the old style and the Canon F1 New. When they all became cheap I started picking them up in 2016, and now own 70 cameras and 140 lenses. All the known ones, Nikon F, F2,F3 , Canon F1, F1 new, Olympus Om 1, Leica 3f, and so on. My maximum is what I have, and in order to buy more, I have to get rid of some of the others. I have them all cleaned and lubricated, in the hope they will live on after I have left this beautiful globe. ❤❤❤
I love your camera history lessons and memories! And emotions with cameras… well just look at them, hold them, like you said; ‘fire’ them… let the memories come! Thanks!!
I was a news reporter in the mid 90s when the staff photographers convinced the paper's owners to invest in a couple of digital SLRs (I don't recall which model, but I believe they were Nikons). I think those beats paid for themselves inside a month. I carried my Canon A1 with me constantly while I was in that job, but I only had a single front page credit. Still, I was very proud of that shot, especially given I was hired to do research and to write, not to take pictures.
I had too many cameras. Loved purchasing them as little gifts to myself, and didnt hurt much because they were generally no more than £50 a pop and purchased here and there every other month for the last couple years. Was fascinated by the old tech of classic film cameras i could not afford to have in my youth. Now I am selling them, they are beautiful but im not using them. I will only want to keep a couple of my absolute favourites. I am not planning to shoot much film, but when i do I want the choices for best experiences of my lot of cameras that i will hold onto. A early 50s TLR, a beautiful unique 50s Exakta, a 1930s 6x9 folder and a fully modern 2000s automatic film camera. All else will go.
I always enjoy watching photographers who film themselves on photography walks. I always learn something new from these. Composition, aperture, shutter speed, etc. With the better weather coming in a few months, will inspire photographers to dust off their cameras and get out into the open, with fresh ideas, projects in which they can persue.
Sell the ones you're not inspired by (to good homes, of course) and save up money for that special camera you've wanted for a long time. Or buy that special lens. That way gas continues, but where there were once 3 or more cameras there's only 1. I've not heard you talk about medium format cameras, try them out! They'll take up the same space of 3 or more 35mm you send down the road. I really appreciate learning about your many cameras and credit you for getting me into film cameras and developing significant gas of my own. Thank you!
Build an extension. 😆 I feel your pain Nigel. I knew I'd got too many when I stopped counting. It's ridiculous really. But something just sparks you off and you end up with several cameras that you know you are probably never going to use. I might pick up a Retinette for £5.00, and then I'll get interested and.... Well, you know the rest. Although, I've been very good lately. I do sometimes think I should get rid of some. But then I find it quite therapeutic to dive into my collection and fiddle about with one. So, like yourself, I don't know what to do. I think my solution will be to stick them in a chest of drawers so I can pretend they don't exist. 😄
I'm approaching 60 years of age and I had a lot of cameras too. I've narrowed it down to keep the cameras I wanted as a teen, which was an Olympus OM1 (black) and a Pentax Spotmatic (black). I have since used Minoltas and Zenits and will be keeping a black SRT 101/ Zenit EM, 12XP, Zenit E because of their really logical layout. I will also keep cameras I bought for taking pics of my kids as they grew up (Minolta Dynax 5xi, a digital Nikon D40x) for sentimental reasons. So I will have managed to get over 50 down to about ten, which is manageable and useable. I also use Olympus OMD's now for travel, they are great.
My first camera was badged Boots (the chemist) it was 35mm with weather symbols and focusing by guess with the markings on the lens, a tiny thing. It actually made good photos.
I have about 50 cameras in my collection. I've been a Picker for 43 years so all of the cameras in my collection were acquired opportunistically. Recently I acquired a mint condition Canon A1 with its original box and two Canon FD lenses . It does have Canon "Squeak" so I will be getting it serviced before using it.
I would not sell any except for ones that don't work or you have duplicates off. I have many film and Digital cameras and Like you I am attached to a few for personal reasons. love the channel 👍
I had GAS with guitars. What helped me a lot was really assessing what was actually getting used and comparing guitars side by side. Once a side by side comparison happened, I realized a lot of interesting things about what I had and how some items were far less versatile than I thought. I try to take this into cameras. Comapring side by side helps a lot. I also limit myself to only 2 lens mounts for film SLRs. And if I buy something it has to be something that genuinely adds something to my photography that I couldn't do before and/or is an upgrade of a current camera. I do sell cameras that I don't use much or lost interest in. I also try to get CLAs done on my cameras, which certainly limits my quantity of cameras if I don't feel it's worth investing in repairs. I suggest selling off the cameras that are least sentimental to you and putting that money towards 1 or 2 cameras that are very, very sentimental. Especially the cameras that are very sentimental and also fairly versatile. A collection of Leicas, Kievs, Feds, Olympus SLRs, and then one or two automatic cameras would be a well rounded and versatile collection.
I'm starting my journey with photography and I have only Nikon Zfc and consider buying Zf. But there is worse hobby: collecting old typewriters. They are big and heavy, demand more work to keep them in shape and take far more space than cameras.. But there is something magical about this old machinery
Nigel I have 30 cameras in my collection. All fully working and in mint condition. My main digital slr is a Canon 200D. The rest are vintage digital from Sony, Minolta, Praktica and Olympus, I even have a Centon K100. I have all the 300 series of Canon 35mm film cameras. And yet I do not have any Nikon cameras, I have some early models on my wish list though. I'm not sure I have what is called GAS, could we label stamp collectors as having GAS? I see my self as a camera conservationist. I do use several of my vintage cameras, and yes I feel, like you, a responsibility to preserve our wonderful camera legacy. These beautiful machines deserve our due care and loving attention. I will never sell any of them. And like you, I too have an emotional attachent. My conservation continues. Regards Rob.
Keep what you like and love, if you see an opportunity to help out a young photographer gift them a camera. I’ve gifted several to young budding photographers that don’t have the resources we old guys have enjoyed.
Use them periodically. Keep them in plastic freezer ziplocs. Display your favorites on a wall shelf with a your favorite print from the camera behind it. Update the shelf with new favorite camera and print once a year or so.
I’ve 27 film cameras, the oldest being my father’s Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta. They are not in use anymore. I also have 14 digital cameras, five of them mirrorless. They are all in use. I buy one or two cameras per year these days. And they are all secondhand mirrorless ones.
in my opinion, you just need to take care and love them)) Unfortunately or fortunately, I don't have such a large collection as yours) But most of my cameras are from Zeiss Ikon and most of them are for 120 film. I am fascinated by finding them in good condition, repairing them, cleaning them, servicing them and starting to shoot them. It gives these wonderful fancy cameras a new lease of life and they take stunning pictures. Fortunately, I have an older daughter who is also fond of film photography and I give the best examples of my collection to her) She also has a small collection)) In the last couple of years, I stopped shooting with digital cameras, as did my daughter, but this is what I consider wonderful) Unfortunately, I don't take as many photos as I would like, because there is a war in my country, I am from Ukraine, Kyiv. But I hope that after our victory (and it will surely come), I will still implement all my planned photo projects. Good luck, health and love.
Would love to see you walking around with those cameras and sharing the photos. More times than not I regret selling a camera, selling remorse not buying remorse'
Hey, I have the same problem, lots of old film cameras. I'm keeping most of mine, sold the expensive Leicas and Hasselblads but keeping my old Exaktas and Nikons. I like looking at your show, have enjoyed you for several years now. Keep up the good work. Cheers!!!
When the "I'm Back" kickstarter comes out with their digital insert for film cameras, it'll make for lots of fun episodes to try it out in all the Zenography cameras.
I guess I'm in a similar yet different situation. I'm a mere 26, and only started with photography about three years ago, and soon switched over to mostly analog, at first since I wanted to get the "full frame look" for cheap. That aged poorly, and I spent multiple times on analog equipment what I spent on digital. However, I also try to get as much camera as I can for my money, place low-ish bids on eBay, also on untested or defective specimen since I like to tinker. Most of my cameras I bought for 40€ or less. I actually have a decent track record when it comes to fixing cameras, leaf shutters in particular. And there I can also relate to the emotional attachment, when I manage to get a camera working again I feel like I really made it "mine". I try to cycle my cameras as well as I can, at least putting some film through every single one twice a year, more through a smaller selection. I don't have a single favourite but like some of all different kinds and formats. I feel sad for cameras that never get used. And please, please, don't only flush your shutter mechanisms with lighter fluid! A tiny drop of oil at the right places is all they need in my experience. If you remove all the oil and grease its designed to have, please also replace it with new one later on. Flushing is like fixing a leaking pipe with duct tape. Yes, it works sort of, but there's a good reason why you shouldn't do it especially if you want a solution for the longer term. P.S.: If you ever want to get rid of that Leningrad....I have a particular fascination for mechanical motor cameras ;) tried to find one for a more reasonable price for about two years by now. If you don't have one yet, look at the earlier Robot cameras. Superbly dense yet compact, with good to very good lenses and 24x24mm square frames for a change of pace. There's also the Agfa Moto Rapid C but I think its let down by the very simple lens design (meniscus I believe) though that one fits with the Agfa Rapid intended purpose as an inexpensive and simple camera for casual photographers. As for your question: I think one of the most rewarding things one can do is to hand lesser-used cameras to people you meet that are just starting out with photography.
As someone who has far too many old cameras (the wife is nervous about my mental health lol) I think you should keep the ones you love, use or have a deep emotional connection with. And sell the others off, one at a time, for a reasonable price, so that someone else can enjoy the ones you have, but don't have the time for. Also make an episode for each one before it sells and post it after it's gone. I love the idea of a zenography photo walk (London pub walk!!) or even a swap shooting episode, Even though I live across the pond from you. Make it fun and as always, we will watch. Thanks and Cheers!
I've probably got over 100 cameras nowadays. The rise of digital in the early 2000s was my dream come true and for pennies on the dollar I began to collect the ones I used to drool over in the late 70s when I was just learning photography. Do I use them all? I'm not sure that would be possible. My go-to cameras as my Hasselblad, Nikon F, Nikon S3, and an Olympus XA I purchased in Tokyo when I was 18 years old. Now I'm 62 and getting ready to take it back to Tokyo for some shooting in a few weeks. Enough is a relative term.
Never got to fifty but I had about 10 at one time with format ranging from 4x5 inches to 35mm. I guess a kind soul seeing me that embarassed with so much stuff took out of his kind heart to help me by breaking into my house et stealing most of it. He dis not touch the enlarger prolly because the beast is too bulky and heavy. I would not suggest that kind of solution to your predicament but it was for me an healthy reality check which made me realize that I don’t need much to enjoy photography. Limiting your options can be liberating even though I regret the loss of some gear that had sentimental value I treasure the negatives much more than the equipment. Now I am happy with just two cameras, an analog medium format and a digital micro four third and of course 25 years worth of processed films, far more than I would be able to print even if I lived to a very old age.
Great video Nigel - you obviously have a very understanding wife 😂. I’d keep them and continue to check them over. Like the Trip I guess the cameras are more likely to go wrong over time though compared to your lenses. However I hope you have your collection well insured - your children have a nice little inheritance potentially! Thanks to you I’m waiting on delivery of a Canon FD 100mm SSC - the latest in my own very modest collection of 10 vintage lenses.
I had an OM2 SP many moons back and I fitted a 'micro lumi matt' viewfinder screen, which was simply astonishing. Dear OM System / Panasonic / Fuji or whatever, give me a digital mirrorless camera with a viewfinder experience like that!
I restricted myself to collecting one brand of camera: Nikon, preferably black bodies. It's hard turning down nice cameras so self control must come into play!
@@zenography7923 Yes, I have this double door between the living room and the bedroom, it'll have to go, it's taking up the space of at least 150 cameras!
Although i dont have as many cameras. I do have a fascination with Japanese rangefinders. My collection 2 x canon ql17 giii, 1 x ql19 giii, 2 x konica auto s3, 1x Olympus 35 SPN, 1x yashica electro 35 gsn, 1 x yashica electro 35 gt, 1 x zenit e (russian obviously), 1 x Olympus dc , 2 x canon demi ee17, 1 x canon demi ee28. I've been torn to either sell or keep. If i do decide to sell them it will fund my other obsession which is buying vintage lenses for my Olympus OMD E10 mk2 😅
I think you should put up some shelves on the wall behind you. I did attempt to run film through every camera and post the results to flickr, then they brought in a small charge charge for having lots if pictures, and that charge drastically increased ,and that was not what i signed up for, had to whittle down several thousand images to 1000, kinda took the shine off that project. I was given a canon like tgat recently, i have another of a very simimodel i bought as the cheapest camera that would accept a lens of that mount which i aquired. Think the camera was a fiver including pistage, smashing pictures from it. I think your collection is a great educational tool and should continue ti be, i imagine you have more than 50 lenses lol. I value your lens recommendations and have acted on quite a few, and youve highlighted the virtues of some of my unassuming lenses that sat at the back in the shadows. Due to looking unexciting or requiring a less common arapter. Oh , i also experimented some lens grindung , overpaid for a LTM canon 50 1.2 , when the light hit it a middle element was hazed, and would not clean, guess it was fungus etched or something, (had a missing screw and witness marks so someone else had a go before me) got it all sparkling, and i feel ok about the price now. Intend to sort out sime of my other lenses that have glass damage, i like the challenge of resurrection, At that price no wonder the leics is a favorite, my fake one cost about 4x that. And i had to fix it ,twice. Splashed out on a a7r2 (with 16 spare batteries 🤦♂️) as he 12mp from the a7s was bugging me, (another battery grip converted to 18650s kept the extra buttons function this time) . If a object has perceived beauty ,another function is a bonus.
I would create photowalk projects with each camera. Focus on the strengths of each camera/lens, and then put together episodes based on your photo results, kind of like a photobook on video. This would allow you match the right lenses with the right cameras, and target styles (film/digital/B&W/composition). In fact the more you focus on composition, the more inspirational it will be.
I sold most of my film cameras after getting an EOS 1. I don't care that it's deeply unfashionable because, with an L lens, it beats all of my pricey German rangefinders when it comes to image quality. For me, film is too expensive to not have autofocus and good metering. I still rock my old lenses when it comes to digital.
You could make a compromise from now on. Keep all your current cameras that you cherish. But if you buy any new ones, then you have to let one of the existing ones go. It’s a bit artificial but it could be an option to restrict further growth. I love your channel. My favourite episodes are about the art of photography. Keep up the great work and thank you x
I'm afraid I've caught a GAS infection recently. After getting a Praktica just because it came bundled with the two CZJ lenses I was after, I can't help but keep scrolling through the online advertisements of vintage film camera gear. And a new thought comes to my mind: buy a processing kit for B&W film to restart at least the negative part of my long gone hobby from the 1970's / 1980's. This might also be a fun way for you to really use your old gear on a regular basis, if you like to invest the time. A pro photographer once said: 'Home is where I hang my films.'
Maybe the best option is to do a little bit of all you mention and use occasions to make YT content for us far away... One bit you haven't mention is maybe offer malfunctioned cameras to patrons for the shipping fee, it is certain that among your audience there will be an enthusiast for each... That said, I will follow on how similar yet different our camera paths are. I started with seeing but not allowed to use my father's 1950s Alissa Altix-n(#1), seeing my interest he got me cheap Russian Smena 8M when I graduated 1st grade. By 4th grade I decided that I want to make artful images and develop my own film. For 8th grade graduation he got me my first SLR-Minolta SG9, still with kit 45mm lens. Bored with just 50mm range of lenses for "all my life" but in poor little Eastern European country, I spent all my savings on Minolta to 42mm mount adapter and got me several cheap prime Russian lenses. One of them defined my photography, Jupiter 9 85mm/2 . By 1990s I moved to studies in USA and Minolta started showing issues, traded it for similar but well working Minolta X700. Unfortunately, after jus 4 yrs with it, it got stolen at the University. For a while I used my wife's 35mm Mamiya (forgot model, similar to Minoltas in design). That one died while visiting her family in Hong Kong, left there but used relatively cheap HK market to get me Sigma SA300 and that one I still have(#2) though, not use that much. Another big adventure defined my next camera. I used same early 2000s cheap market to get me Fujica ST701(#3) for particular purpose: we were to go to dog sledding expedition, camping and dog sledding in Alaska at -20F to -40F. I was worried about battery life of SA300 so I brought along all mechanical Altix-n and mostly mechanical Fujica. Battery on A300 wasn't the problem, plastic was. It was so cold that minor bump you wouldn't raise an eyebrow broke plastic housing holding the battery. Altix-n also malfunctioned, winder froze (it eventually defrosted at home, working now). Fujica did the job 100% in the cold and snow. Now I use it for IR film photography. However, like but unlike you, what I lusted for in the young age were medium format cameras! So, from that aspect came relatively cheap purchase from Japan, Bronica ETRs, anniversary edition(#4). I still use it regularly. Saved my sanity during CV19 times. So, 4 film cameras for me, two in frequent use, two in occasional use. I have two digital ones too. My first one Sigma SD9 is now waiting to be converted to IR photography and I just traded my Nikon D600 for newfangled Nikon Zf. 85mm lenses still define my photographic vision (and I still can't stand 50mm lenses, be it that I own several great ones).
Nice collection of camera, Having more camera it depends on you, I have 3 cameras right now, before i have 5 cameras, I sold other I didn't use much, because it will get dust. 3 cameras or 4 cameras are already enough for work and personal use.
You can arrange photography walks and classes and have people use them and return. That way you're not selling them and other people are also using them.
If it's something you bought for yourself and have used a lot, keep it. If it's something you bought for the show, then sell it and free up some space and cash to buy again for the show. Keep looking for new items of interest and keep active with the show. That's my 2 pennyworth. Regards, Peter
I've got 200+ camera's just finished shooting the leica R3-R8-M3-M4,contax RTS, RX,G1, canon7-P-Eos 1n F1-new F1, nikon SP, F-F2-F3-F90- F801-F100-FM2-FE2, Konica Hexar,Topcon super Dm, Pentax LX, Hasselblad 500C/m, mamiya 645 PRO, Linhof 220...i must have forgotten some. This week i'll be shooting the nikonF4 and i'm preparing the mamiya super23 for a test run. The problem is i'm running out of time to try all the others (and lenses) in the collection, i'm running against 70 and don't know how long i'll be able to keep doing this. The thing is i want to make every shooting session worthwile with usefull subjects, not ending up shooting weeds in the garden. So it's often difficult to shoot all 36 images in a limited amount of time.
Well, just sell the less used ones...you know, the dust collectors into the cabinet, onto the shelf....you can't use them all...i'd only keep the best gear from your collection, and sell all the rest.
If you use the cameras as working tools then maybe one interchangeable lens camera is probably enough. Maybe a stills optimized and a video optimized model if you do both, though nowadays many cameras do both extremely well Especially digital, in film days it was common to have a couple of bodies with different film. If you collect classic cameras and enjoy them as objects then collect as many as you want.
At the last count I had around 20 cameras. The earliest is a Coronet 020 that my mum had from the 1020's. Then there is an eclectic mix of film cameras including Zeiss Ikon Colora, Voigtlander Vito B, Canon FTb QL-the poor mans F1, Zorki 4k, a couple of Minolta X300's and so on. Digital wise, a Fujifilm Bridge, a Canon 1200d that I bought specifically to fit the fixed focal length later version of the nifty 50. But what camera would I grab and save if the house was on fire? Well 2 actually. My wifes Canon A640 and my Canon A590is- both Power shots. So why these 2? Well they are so small- especially the 590- that I can just stick them in my pocket. I am never without the 590 which over the 13 or so years since I bought both of them actually have taken some really amazing photos, many of which have appeared in many glossy publications. I've never found the 10mps and 12mps to be much of a problem. The bigger cameras are all well and good, but how often when you are out do you miss a shot because the camera was on the sideboard. Incidentally I don't think many, including those who own one of these two, realise that despite their ages they are effectively mirrorless cameras, and you can actually fit additional lenses. Canon made at least 4 additional lenses for these cameras. I never actually ever got my hands on any of them though. It would be interesting to know how they performed. Have you ever seen one of these fitted with additional lenses I wonder? Keep up the good work.
250+ almost all in working condition. Started with a Zenith 12xp early 1980s. Then Chinon CP7m when I couldn't afford a Canon T70. Finally progressed to Nikon F70 and F801 before transferring to digital. 2018 I noticed the film cameras I would lust after in the shop windows were cheap on Ebay. Then the collecting started. My collecting has slowed down now as prices have gone up again but there are still some bargains out there.
I also managed to pick up a replacement CP7m and the CP9AF. The CP7m is a very capable camera probably better than the T70 (which I now also have) @@grahvis
Make a sort of time capsul museum where younger people are encouraged to use your equipment and get interested in history and photography. Lead photowalks and explore different themes each time, sharpness one day, bokeh, helios 44's, macro, bw/color, etc. Basically, just continue to pass the knowledge down and give the chance to use some equipment people most likely don't have access to and help facilitate that experience for those interested. My first film camera (as an adult) was just last year. I purchased an Olympus OM2 with a zuiko 50mm f1.4 for $40. I don't plan on selling it and hopefully pass it down to my kids if they get into photography. At 3 and 5 years old, they're very willing to be silly and pose, and try to use my digital camera, so I'm hopeful 😊
How many? Well, in 1959, when I was 11 years old and about to go on a school trip to Belgium, Holland and France, my Mother and Father bought me a half-frame, VP Twin. Later, over a number of birthdays and Christmases I got a Brownie 127, a Kodak Instamatic 50 and Kodak Instamatic 100. Since then I have added quite a few cameras up to my most recent purchases in 2023/2024 of a Fuji X-T5, X-H2 and a pair of Nikon Zfs. I have never sold any of my cameras and currently own over 70. I have folding cameras, Box, half-frame, TLR, Rangefinder, SLR, Compact, DSLR, Advantix, Polaroid, Kodak Instant Film, Fuji Instax and left-handed. Film Formats include 110, 120, 126, 127, 35mm, Advantix, Instant film as listed. Too many? Not enough? Just right? Who can say. Am I a collector? No, I just happened to have collected quite a few, almost by accident. Why did I keep them all? Some I inherited from my grandfather, a Box Brownie No 2 that he bought from George Eastman in New York in 1910, and father so they have sentimental value. Some bring back specific personal memories such as my time in the army. Others were my first foray in TLR, SLR, DSLR, Mirrorless etc. Also, used cameras are worth very little from a sellers point of view so why bother? So, there we are. Have I finished collecting yet? No, as I am hoping to add an X-Pro4 if and when it is launched. Love your channel by the way and this one is great as a conversation starter. By the way, I also live in London and go out most weekends doing street photography for pure, personal fun.
I have 5 digital (4 mirrorless & 1 DSLR), all in (good) use with vintage lenses by me and my family members. However, I also have 30+ analog cameras, never used by me, mostly obtained in lots while chasing for lenses, Exaktas, Altix, Paxettes, Practicas, Zenits, ... Most of them (if not all) are in working conditions but i feel my film skills are bad and overall, it's a bit pricy, so they're left in controlled environment until I figure out what to do with 'em
If your collection isn’t causing you problems in life - financial, space, safety, etc - there’s no reason at all to sell them! There’s nothing wrong with having a collection of things you love.
I think i am at the beginning stage. Along with 2 digitals i have 3 TLRs, a contax ii, a Contina, a canon z115 and a praktica L2. The only one i really do not like using is the canon and may be the L2, but they are quality and i am not sure what i would get fir them. Eyeing up a Konica I or kiev ii as a backup fir the contax. Needless to say i am trying to stay away from anything like leica or hasselblad
I do have a mild case of GSA I think. I saved my Saturday job money in 1980 and bought a Ricoh KR10 for £120. It was my camera for years until the 2000s when I bought a Canon compact digital. But, like you, I loved the technology of the mechanical cameras. And 5 years ago I treated myself to a motor drive and other lenses for my Ricoh. And then bought a couple of Olympus Trips because I always wanted one, then the Olympus XA range, a Rollei compact, and others! I would love to use them all but I never do. I try to keep them dry with silica jelly sachets but…I do think I should sell/pass them on. Any suggestions as to what I should do would be most welcome.
Even if they doubled in price since you bought them, doesn't mean that they might have kept up with inflation. If you have more than 1 copy of 1, you should probably consider at LEAST selling those.
Great collection, you only have too many cameras if you don't have someone worthy who will cherish them, to hand them down to. If such a person doesn't exist in your circle, sell the cameras you don't use.
Do what I did, pick one person and leave it all to them in your will. They will keep he good stuff that they can use and make it worth their while to collect some money on the stuff that they don't want.
