Camera & Lens Rotation...

[LeicaVirgin1]

Dear Tom-

How do you go about keeping your gear in rotation? Meaning; How do you keep them working without sitting so long? This goes for both cameras & lenses.

Also, what is the advantage of Kodak Dbl XX as opposed to traditional offerings from Kodak, Fuji & Ilford?

Thanks,

LV1

[Tom A]

Every year I rotate through all lenses and cameras. It used to take most of January to do it - but as the volume has multiplied - I am still at it. Gone through all the M's and Nikon Rf's, at the moment it is screw mount Leicas.
As a rule I also trigger through each body at least once a month to keep shutters nimble. I cycle through all the speeds at least 3-4 times. If something sounds funny, I shoot a roll with it and check the result.
Lenses are a bit easier as you really only turn the focus back/forth for a minute or two and "spin" the aperture ring at the same time.
Occasionally you find that old, weird camera that you forgot in a corner and that has been gathering dust for a year or two. Remarkably, they still tend to work though. What tends to go is slow speeds and sometimes the top speed. Heavy exercise usually helps.
Modern cameras (post war) are quite resilient and tend to hold their speeds. Leica M's are quite good at it, but cameras like Nikon S2/S3/SP's are even better. Rarely a problem with slow speeds or shutter movement. Same goes for old Nikon F's!
You do develop excessive muscles on your thumb after a while doing this - a mini exercise class!
AS for the advantage over XX and other films: It has better midtones and it is cheap! The fact that the minimum volume is 400ft rolls also makes it attractive. You load up 70+ cassettes and shoot away - film consumption becomes a non-issue as you have lots of it.

[LeicaVirgin1]

Thank you Tom for that quick and concise response. I surely do appreciate it.

LV1

[aperture64]

Just a follow up question: Why do you own all of it? Are you a collector or is it all GAS? I ask because I used to own a lot of different types of equipment and used to stress over what to pack or use. Now it's just a Leica and some Rolleiflex cameras, and I use them all. Do you ever think of just selling it all off?

[Tom A]

Everytime I have to move it - I am considering keeping just a M2 and a 35!! What happens is that I accumulate stuff and i am not good at selling any of it. My M2's,M6's and MP's as well as assorted M4P's and M4-2's are kept for checking Rapidwinders on ( as are my Leica screw mounts).
Some of the stuff are gifts from friends and thus cannot be sold, some of it dates back over the last 25-30 years and is still being used. Some of it is just "there" - no rhyme and reason.
I am not a collector - I only would keep a "collectible" if it has some practical use for me. There is also that fascination with mechanical toys - fiddling with shutters and controls, occasionally taking something apart and re-assemble it.
This is not the biggest "stash" I have had. When I used to work as a photographer, I had triple and quadruple systems, 35mm, 120 film, 4x5 and 8x10 - everything duplicated and matching coverage for several lenses. That stuff I unloaded in the early 80's and went back to 35 as my primary system
It is not a retirement portfolio - the value of the stuff fluctuates and I never expect to make my money back - but it all gets used one way or another and occasionally I trade an item for something else.
In the long run it is probably cheaper than golf - and I know that it is cheaper than trying to keep a vintage car on the road!!
I also like taking pictures and the various lenses and cameras gives me an impetus to shoot more with different pieces of glass and cameras.

[Ben Z]

Originally Posted by Tom A

It is not a retirement portfolio - the value of the stuff fluctuates and I never expect to make my money back -

Sounds a lot like my retirement portfolio in this economy

I sold off most of my stash of film cameras a few years ago, kept just a few select cameras and lenses. A couple of screwmounts, a couple M4's, a few Nikon FTn's, cameras I personally like, and that are somewhat iconic. My last two M6's got sold after I got the M8. Nice thing, all my old Nikkor lenses see duty on my Canon DSLR's with adapters, and of course all the Leica lenses including screwmounts, work on the M8. DAG said the lubricants he used on my Leica's for their last overhaul won't dry out or gum up as quickly as the originals did, but still I exercise the shutters like you do. I wish there was something for cameras like the watchwinders I use to keep my watches running. Maybe that should be your next invention

[bobwith2bees]

TomA:

Until you design and build your new "periodic shutter winder maintainer", you could twist my arm and let me exercise the shutter on your MINT, black IIIf red dial LTM with that fancy CZ Jena collapsible/RIGID converted 50/3.5 I saw the other day. Anything for a friend . . .

[Tom A]

What a kind offer Bob. Might take you up on that. How about some exercise for my olive green IIIg? Let me know if you need some Sodium Carbonate for the Beutler. I have several lbs of it - it is rock hard and you need to bash it to get it powderized though. It is the left overs in a 50lb can. Works fine though.

[bobwith2bees]

tomA:

"Let me know if you need some Sodium Carbonate for the Beutler"

That would be great if I could purchase a working supply from you to get started on the Beutler system. I think I have all the other powders "in stock"

I keep getting the names mixed up, I suppose if the negs don't turn out then I will need the sodium Bi-carbonate, otherwise it's sodium carbonate.

One day I'm going to make it to the Friday meetings. If the market every re-covers then I can retire, but for now it's off to work I must go

bob