Poll: How often do you USE your camera(s)...?

Rich Silfver · 10-11-2003

I know we all own and love our cameras - but do we 'walk the talk' - do we actually put these tools to use?

Are we users or collectors?

Let's find out...

Oldprof · 10-12-2003

I go in spurts. Sometimes I shoot a lot, especially when traveling and doing documentation that is related to my profession as an anthropologist. Other times I can go months without taking a picture. I like to think of myself as a user rather than a collector. Regardless, I do have more cameras than I really need. In the past three years I have purchased five Russian rangefinders because I get a kick out of them. Where else could I get Leica and Contax copies for so little money? (I lusted for Leicas and Contaxes in the late 1950s when I was just getting into photography.) But I use SLRs for my professional work.

taffer · 10-12-2003

Well, I think I switch from user to collector and viceversa more than I would like to. I really enjoy taking pictures when I go travelling but sometimes I also like to simply take a camera with me on a "normal" day and use it almost on impulses.

On the other hand, one of the things I enjoy from taking pictures is USING the cameras, and I enjoy reading and investigating about them too. Also, the FSU rangefinder bug bit me hard, but as Oldprof says, the possibility of using generally good Leica and Contax copies so cheaply is one of the main points.

BTW, anthropologist ? that sounds interesting, there are no many interesting things to photograph in computer engineering...

or at least I don't know how to "see" them...

znapschatz · 10-12-2003

My poll answer was #1 (every day, doesn't everybody?), but qualification is in order. I carry a camera every day, but don't always take photographs with it. Whenever I leave home without one, however, God punishes me with subject matter. So, under a definition that toting is a form of use, I am a constant carrier, with a chronic backache to prove it. BTW, most of the time, I also manage a snap or 2 or more.

Doug · 10-12-2003

I am bravely trying to resist being a "collector" in favor of remaining simply a "user"! Today I almost bought a sleek Voigtlander Vitessa with f/2 Ultron but managed to control the impulse.

"Too many" cameras spreads the usage too thinly, I think, and at some point I'd buy interesting cameras and never get around to trying them out.

Last month I felt the collecting danger too late to avoid getting a couple of ancient Pentaxes; one H3 just like my first one in 1964, plus an earlier 1958 vintage to keep it company. Must... resist....

Peter · 10-13-2003

Although I am in the healthcare industry, I do try to take photos on a weekly basis to document the world around me and to take photos of my colleagues at work and play. I would say I am a user. By the way I am Peter and I am new here. I posted some photos at www.pgallery.net/imago-singapura/

back alley · 10-13-2003

hi peter & welcome to the forum!

i took a quick look at some of your stuff, is that a self portrait in the men's room? i had to laugh because i have done the same thing!
great minds...

joe

Oldprof · 10-13-2003

Welcome to the forum Peter! I enjoyed seeing your pictures.

SolaresLarrave · 10-13-2003

Like znapz, I carry my camera with every day... and the day I choose not to take it, that's when I see more things. In any case, I'm a ferocious user, formerly collector and now seller.

Rich Silfver · 10-13-2003

Peter, some great photos there. Welcome to the RFF !

When it comes to carrying a camera anywhere you go I may start to put an Olympus XA in the briefcase going forward...

Peter · 10-14-2003

Thank you guys. In fact I actually volunteered to do a photo essay on nurses in Singapore that would be published in a Nurses' Day picture book next year. Back to the thread, I think most of us would be tempted to buy more and more RF equipment that we probably will not use. I am guilty of being tempted by the 'dark side'!

Oldprof · 10-14-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by Peter
... I am guilty of being tempted by the 'dark side'!

Don't worry, there's plenty of guilt to go around.

back alley · 10-14-2003

Originally posted by Peter
... I am guilty of being tempted by the 'dark side'!

that's ok, just use faster film!

joe

Picture Guy · 10-15-2003

I think it is okay to be both.

I'm not really a collector, because I will certainly take something out and use it rather than keep it pristine.

I carry several cameras daily, if you include car trunk, depending on weather (Heat damages equipment.)

I do a lot of shooting from a moving car, despite the fact that I have never got a good shot from doing this.

Mainly shoot on weekends.

Oldprof · 10-15-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by Picture Guy
... I do a lot of shooting from a moving car, despite the fact that I have never got a good shot from doing this ...

For some strange reason I'm not surprised this technique is problematic.

wierdcollector · 10-16-2003

Guess I'm the token collector in the group. Still, I try to use 3 cameras a week in the summer and fall but taper off in the winter since most shots of snow tend to look awfully similar. I'm falling behind the "use each one I buy at least once" credo I try and maintain, since lately I've bought approx. 8 and only have five films on the go right now. (and winter's coming too fast). Need to get out and use my 3 new FEDs this week.

taffer · 10-17-2003

Curt, maybe you should try to check Lars' PAW pages. Since I read those and other pages about the photo-a-week project (well, ok, only 3 days ago...), that I've convinced myself about following this project and carry my camera with me on my 'normal' life.

I cannot speak about results yet, and probably it will be difficult to find a really good one

but at least, I enjoy having (and using) my camera on a daily basis, and I must admit I've found some pictures that deserved to be taken, or this is what I thought then... so I didn't regret bringing the 1 Kg aprox. Zorki3M+J8 with me...

Its easy with portable cameras such as 35mm rangefinders, and I'm still waiting the Isolette to arrive from UK to see if it really works as it should... Maybe you could try to establish some turn system in order to use each camera periodically.

This said, I think it's going to be difficult to choose another one and leave the 3M at home...

as Jim Blazik said, these things are flat lovely !

MamaMiya_Girl · 10-19-2003

Wish I could say that I took photos every day..or even every week. I still have 3 cameras that I haven't even tried yet...

MamaMiya_Girl · 10-19-2003

Make that 2.5 cameras... one is a Brownie Hawkeye that I just got to replace one that had a very bad viewfinder. :-)

Doug · 10-19-2003

Hey MamaMiya, welcome! And how about dusting off those unused cameras and embarking on a Picture-A-Week project yourself? Good practice, good discipline, and keeps you "seeing." Hmmm... maybe I'll follow my own advice once I figure out how to run this new-to-me MF point'n'shoot! :-)

Doug

jacemanuel · 10-26-2003

I'm a user - didn't even collect stamps as a kid - I never understood collection mania.
I can't say that I use my cameras every day or every week, but some times I use 5 cameras and shoot 20-25 rolls for a couple of days, and nothing for several weeks.
If I had cameras of value($!) to collectors, I would sell them to get shooters instead.
Some of my Nikons look like the have participated in several of the more violent incidents since the Vietnam war.

BTW * And how about dusting off those unused cameras and embarking on a Picture-A-Week project yourself? Good practice, good discipline, and keeps you "seeing." *

It's not a bad idea, but I noticed that I "see" a lot of pictures when I'm not carrying a camera, and some of them I do return to later WITH a camera.

Jacques.

oftheherd · 10-27-2003

MamaMiya_Girl

Welcome to the forum. Is your name a cute takeoff on Mamiya cameras, or are you like me, and that is the first word out of your mouth when looking at the most recent photo attempts?

taffer · 10-27-2003

Well, my first PAW roll is now being developed, and I must admit that I've enjoyed my first 2 paw weeks a lot ! Taking pictures and using your beauties, what else could you ask for ?

BTW, a lot of time has passed since the last time I used one of my non-RF cameras

but they are also fantastic users (a couple of manual focus Minolta SLRs and a Rolleicord).

Rich Silfver · 11-10-2003

The result from this mini-poll doesn't really surprise me - it's great to see that so many of us are active photographers!

I am personally now looking for a new 'always-with-me' camera. Not that I really need to replace the XA with anything - it's just that I'm itching for a new, small toy. :-)

taffer · 11-12-2003

I am personally now looking for a new 'always-with-me' camera. Not that I really need to replace the XA with anything - it's just that I'm itching for a new, small toy. :-)

Something like a voigtlander vitessa or some of the small 35 mm collapsable and pocketable rangefinders ?