Consolidation of Cameras

[Rich Silfver]

Funny I should think about - and write about this today with two more cameras en route to me - but maybe that's why...

I've lately gone back and forth on the 'value' in having a high number of cameras. As it is I have about 25-30 cameras (most fixed lenses) and about 5-6 additional lenses.

There are cameras that I no longer use - heck I don't even 'fondle' them... ;-) so I've been thinking more and more about maybe selling off a number of them in order to get down to what I would consider my 'core'.

I think many of you see how this can be hard...some cameras you may not use or like now but who knows what your preferences will be in a year or two from now. I'm also 'afraid' of selling cameras that it took me a LONG time to find in the condition that I wanted. But then again...if I don't use them their value has been 'reduced' to display/decoration and I don't really display more than 4-5 cameras as it it.

SO - I *think* I've made up my mind and have defined what I consider my 'core' of cameras that I want to keep (or in some cases add..):

Cameras and lenses to keep:
Hasselblad 500c/m w/ 80mm lens
I love this camera and lens and can't see myself ever selling it.

Olympus 35SP/SPn
Here it gets tricky..I now have 2 SP's (chrome), 1 SP (black) and 1SPn (chrome) - all in excellent condition. Think I will just sell one of the chrome SP's and keep the rest.

Leica M3
Only had it for a month but I already like it a lot. It's to be sent out for a CLA in a few weeks and hopefully it comes back even better :-)
The 50/2.0 Summicron is a gorgeous lens and is staying as well.

Cameras/lenses still to get:

Summicron 90/2.0
Old version from the 60's. That should complete my need in lenses for the M3.

Olympus 35UC
I just really, really want one.

That's it.


Cameras/Lenses to sell off:

A bunch of Olympus cameras; RC, EC (chrome), EC (black), ECR, EC2, Trip (chrome), Trip (black), 35LC (three of them), ED, etc...

Various: Ikon, Mamiya Super Deluxe, etc...

All in excellent working and looking condition...sigh...


If YOU would sell of your collection - what is your 'core' of cameras that you simply couldn't imagine parting with...?

[GeneW]

What a tough topic. And one I've thought about too. I mainly shoot digital now and I often wonder if I should sell off most of my film gear. But I can't bring myself to do it because I still shoot film occasionally and enjoy it.

Cameras I could never part with:

Rolleiflex 3.5F Planar TLR -- it doesn't get used so much anymore but it's a beauty and the images it takes are superb

Leica CL and lenses -- just too much fun and I love its compact size

Olympus OM-1 -- I have two bodies and might sell one but I'd keep most of my Zuiko lenses. They're excellent glass and with an adapter I'm using them on a Canon Digital Rebel

Olympus XA -- there's just something I like about this camera. I could never part with it.

Stylus Epic -- too convenient to get rid of -- the ultimate pocket camera

Pentax H1a -- needs new seals but it still works and was my first good camera and my first SLR. I'd keep it for sentimental reasons.

What might I part with?

Maybe, just maybe, my Canon G2 digital. Now that I have a DSLR it doesn't get used much.

I see your point Richard. We have so many cameras because we can't bear to part with them ...

Gene

[Rich Silfver]

Darn, you made me remember the Rolleiflex...I've never owned one - never even USED one - but have always wanted one...

[Brian Sweeney]

I have sold off some great cameras; Retina IIIS; Nikon F with eye-level prism; Black Canonet Ql17; and others; but always to Upgrade the Collection. But these were all duplicates, or bought-cheap, sell high. This is not a good time to sell cameras on EBay; wait until October. I picked up a Nikon SP with 5cm f1.4 lens for $925 with shipping last month; and some other real deals. I put up a Mint Nikon F2 Photomic w case and F1.4 lens but took it off after it went 4 days with no bids. I put a minbt Black DE-1 on it and kept it. The SP was such a buy that I did not need the extra money for it.
Keepers: almost all of them.

[back alley]

for now i'm keeping my small collection as is.
if i were to sell anything it would be the 2 minoltas, the 7 & the 9.

joe

[Todd.Hanz]

I have always sold cameras to move up or into a different format. I picked up a "Meridian" 4x5 from a junk man once, it was a beautiful camera in near mint condition. This was a camera that was American made during the war when Linhoff was not being imported to the states. It was only made for 4 or 5 years. I decided to sell/trade it for some 6x7 equipment, another nice rig, but I miss that 4x5.
Fact is, everything I have gotten rid of I have regretted.
I too have a multitude of equipment: Hassy, Rapid Omega, Speed Graphic, Scads of Nikon glass, F4S, Fuji S2 DSLR, and now a few RF's.
My two boys (8 and 11) have shown an interest in photography as of late, even to the point of entering and winning a statewide photography contest, they'll get the fruits of long hours on ebay and time spent in thrift shops.
I probably will never get rid of any other cameras I own, unless the price on the black M6 TTL comes down to earth!

Todd

[Doug]

I know if I sell anything I'll regret it later. :-) I wish I still had that old Olympus Pen D2, one of the few I've traded. Each camera purchase has been carefully weighed and "justified", so no "buyers remorse" to rectify!

There surely is gear that I don't use, or very seldom use. But it's useful for discussion and comparison, and/or sentiment.

[Kris]

'One man's junk is another man's treasure' surely applies here. Opposite of Richard, I'm going to get rid of my Olympus SP.

The Zuiko lens on the SP is surely great but ergonomics of the camera is just not for me. I'm not fond of photos taken with small aperture so using auto mode with this SP is a no-no. Using manual mode is PITA because turning shutter speed ring in a hurry will often turn the aperture ring as well. Plus the unusual-for-me position of focusing tab.

For me, camera bodies can go if they give up or I have the money for a better replacement. I have only R2 and EOS30.

Lenses I will never sell are Color-Heliar, Nokton and EF50/1.4 because I don't see anything better to replace them. Maybe the new 50 Summilux Asph but with that kind of price, not even if I had the money.

Lenses to go/get:
TSE-24mm if I can get a very good second hand deal to replace my 28/2.8 and 135/2.0 for all portraits (candid or not) work.

Not a long list, but need big bucks!

[wierdcollector]

I'm still regretting trading my Kiev 4, my Contax ll, and selling my Exakta VXll. I know they went to good homes, but I'd still like to have them again. The Zeiss Biotar on the Exakta especially. As far as the rest of my little horde, I've given downsizing some thought but I'm a major procrastinator, so maybe one of these days.

[oftheherd]

I have acquired many cameras and lenses over the years. I don't think I could get rid of any of them. I got a great deal on a Calumet 4x5 with two lenses, and then another on a Cambo body only, thinking I could get rid of the Calumet. I have decided it will be my roust-about 4x5. Right!

I also couldn't get rid of my SLR's. I have several screw mount cameras as well as bayonet mount cameras, and lenses to go with them. I like redundancy. I do have a lens or two that I could get rid of, as they don't perform as I want them to. But the camera bodies and other lenses, no way.

I especially would never get rid of my Mamiya Super Press 23, nor probably the extra body I have (you guys might boot me off the board ). And for you that have the Rollei 3.5 or want one, yeah, I understand. I won't get rid of mine either, even though it gets little use. I just like it.

And the two Weltas, well they are just fun to use.

Aren't we a sorry lot? I don't even take photos as often as I used to, much less have a chance to regularly excercise all those cameras. Most sit somewhere wishing they could come out and play too. But give them up? Naw. I will get around to using them, really.

[rover]

I took out my Konica S3, Minolta Himatic 9 and Yashica GSN with the intention of making sure all is still well with them, and then to sell them, but, I can't do it. The S3 is just a nice camera overall, and the 9 has a great lens. I think I can part with the GSN, but it isn't worth the effort as they don't command a high price.

[back alley]

hey rover, want to trade a minolta 7s or 9 for that konica?
if you push me i might go for a 2 for 1!!

joe

[Rob]

I have had lots of various cameras thru the years, some never
worked, some worked well. Many I did not like something about.
So, at the moment I am keeping 2 Canonet GIII's and
2 Yashicas since they shoot good and are easy to work on.
Rob

[rover]

Originally posted by backalley photo
hey rover, want to trade a minolta 7s or 9 for that konica?
if you push me i might go for a 2 for 1!!

joe

No, I am in love with the Konica again. I can part with the GSN, it just doesn't feel right to me ergonomicly, but my other cameras will stay with me.

[Laika]

rsilfverberg wrote:
If YOU would sell of your collection - what is your 'core' of cameras that you simply couldn't imagine parting with...?

HHmmm... what I couldn't part with? I guess it all depends on how extreme the cull was to be

I guess I could sell off about 20 assorted Soviet RF's and lenses to leave me with .. Red Logo Zorki 5, Cobra Skinned FED2, Black paint FED2, Zorki 1 .....Glass - J12 35mm/2.8, J3 50mm/1.5, J8 50mm/2, Ind 22 50mm/3.5

I'd keep most of my Nikon SLR gear and primes, I don’t have much I don’t use or really want to keep.

Also for sentimental reason I'll keep my Pentax SuperA (my first SLR) and my Kodak Instamatic 50 (my first camera as a kid, was my mums) and my Olympus LT105.

At the mo a Nikon F2 and a Leica M(?) with 35/2 lens are on my must have shopping list (or should I say dream list) but I dont see myself getting either anytime soon.

[SolaresLarrave]

I already went through the consolidation... and it doesn't look like it. There was a time when my shelves sported a Minolta G, Yashica GS and Konica S2, together with a Contax G1 and a Canonet G-III. I just trimmed the RF collection and kept my Contax & Canonet stuff to add 2 Leica bodies to the party. Was it wise? Definitely no, but I don't regret it.

So, Richard, I can see another Leica body and glass in your future...

[taffer]

Hmmm... if I had thought about selling them I wouldn't have purchased them in the first place

No, seriously, I've thought about selling some equipment, but more than selling, what I would do is TRADE them for something I really like. That way my 'need' for testing different equipment could be fulfilled.

Yep I could go to my local store in BCN and sell some stuff easily, but I prefer to trade it with somebody here or on another forum than selling some of my SLR Minoltas for X to the store and then see how them list it the next day for 3X. Mostly when I know they DON'T need a CLA at all. Nah.

Francisco, maybe you should post at least once more just now... that 'Posts: 666' looks scary...

[jdos2]

^^ Me too- I love the idea of trading. It's getting tough, though, to find stuff that the shops consider worth trading. I took a big hit on a Mamiya 645AF when getting the M-6.

Now, I just need someone who wants to trade a bunch of dead Kievs (or perhaps their associated J-8's!) for a nice Leica 90mm Summicron.

[taffer]

Or someone willing to trade a Leica CL for a Oly SPN + G-III QL17 + G-III QL19 ? ^_^
Hmmm. the sooner I write down the name of a 'victim' camera the sooner I start regretting ... LOL !

[jdos2]

Very true!

[SolaresLarrave]

Oscar, here we go, two posts away from the dreaded 666.

I never thought about trading. In fact, I've reached a weird kind of nirvana: I'm not longing for gear (well... not unless it's a paramender for my Mamiya C220). I may decide to replace my Elmar some day, but only if that one dies on me. Now, considering it was made in 1936, chances are it still has ginger enough in it to last another seven decades.

It's been sitting in my bag, pampered and sheltered since late June.

[Russ]

Sell a rangefinder? Blasphemy! You should all be ashamed for even speaking of it!

Russ
"Photography must contain one thing; the humanity of the moment."