Why do you own multiple cameras/lenses?

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Leica Photography : One Thread

If Bob Fleischman doesn't mind, I will submit the question he touched on in response to Andrew's question. Why do you own more than one camera and lens?

I own an R8 with 4 lenses and 2 extenders, a Nikon F3HP with 2 lenses, and a 30 year old Nikon F2 Photomic with one lens. The F2 I am keeping for my grandson to use for learning photography. The F3HP with 50/1.4 and 80-200 (all mint), I will sell if someone wants them. The R8 and Leica lenses ARE NOT FOR SALE!

I could justify these multiple cameras with all kinds of reasons but confess that I basically bought them because I wanted to play with them. I enjoy using fine photographic equipment and pleasure is the only justification needed for a hobby! LB

-- Luther Berry (lberrytx@aol.com), December 12, 2001

Answers

I agree Luther, who needs justification when it's this much fun? :-)

-Duncan

http://www.leica-gallery.net/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/leicam6

-- Duncan (airborn@euromail.se), December 12, 2001.


I've never been one to dupicate types of camera sytems at any given time, though over the years I've owned too many to count. At the moment I use Leica rangefinder (IIIg/35 F2 Asph/50mm F2), an R3 with 35-70 (that I use mainly for copy work) and a Rollei 35 that sits in my briefcase for those important grab shots that happen on a daily basis> I think I now have 4 of these ;-) I don't see the point in having other SLR sytems, or a Voigtlander kit, etc because I have to many other vises (guitars, books and good scotch).......

-- Bob Todrick (bobtodrick@yahoo.com), December 12, 2001.

I have many cameras ranging from Minox 8x11mm to 6x6cm format. I bought some of them simply because I think they're neat, others because I'm fascinated with the model line, and others because they have unique features or capabilities that allow me to take pictures more easily that I can't with another. The different formats each bespeak a different mix of resolution, depth of field, etc allowing for a lot of expressiveness.

Cameras are interesting in and of themselves, apart from their use as photograph makers.

-- Godfrey (ramarren@bayarea.net), December 12, 2001.


A lot of people wonder why in the heck do I have lots of cameras and lens? I have lots of cameras because of the following:

1) I don't like to change film mid-roll so I load each camera with different film and shoot accordingly. Leica R4 w/ Kodak Gold 200 and Minox GT-E w/ Kodak Gold 800 etc. etc.

2) Each camera is like a paintbrush. An artist has a camera to paint life in one way. The Leica R4 paints life differently than a Minox or a Voigtlander Bessa R,T,L etc. etc.

3) Learning the difference between SLR and rangefinder. A photographic experience.

4) I like having a good outfit and I'm still finding the nice outfit which I feel most comfortable with. It's like dating girls I guess and then settling down for one.

Hope that helps. By the way, why have many lens? Don't. Use a few lens which you like often. The three primes are good enough for me.

Leica-fully, Alfie

-- Alfie Wang (leica_phile@hotmail.com), December 12, 2001.


I use more than one camera body in several ways:

) Use them as film backs. Load 2 identical bodies with the same film; when one runs out, switch to the other body and re-load the first when time permits.

) Keep different film types loaded at the same time. Black SLs are for K64, the chrome SL is for K200.

Backups. Never forget the klutz factor. I drop stuff.


-- Douglas Herr (telyt@earthlink.net), December 12, 2001.



Oh yeah, I forgot about lenses...
I specialize in wildlife photos. A 560 is better in wide-open spaces or for flight shots, while a 250 is more useful in forested areas, with the 400 fitting into the vast region in-between. I also like photos of my kids, where 90-135-180mm lenses are handy; macro is fun too so the 60 is my 'normal' lens, but then for a little more light the 50 Summicron-R is handy and relatively cheap. A 35mm lens is my token wide-angle.

Some days it's just too much stuff so on those days I just carry a black SL with the 400. One camera, one lens, one film.

-- Douglas Herr (telyt@earthlink.net), December 12, 2001.


There are several reasons (for cameras):

1. It is nice to have always the right tool available
2. I'd like to see things also in a different way (RF, SLR, medium format, P&S)
3. As exchangable film backs
4. To lend them to other people (no, not the leica)
5. To have at least one camera sitting there where I need it (in the car, the backpack, ...)
6. Because some were cheap an noone else wants them
7. To recognize that Leica is better than any of the others (maybe except my old Contax SLR - you may flame me, but I'll stand firm)

Lenses just make cameras work, and it is easier to carry lenses than complete cameras. This is why the tele- and wideangle-rolleiflexes TLRs vanished, could you imagine runnning around with 3 Rolleiflex TLRs or would you rather take an M with 3 lenses (ok, this is not a fair comparison, but you know what I mean).

-- Kai Blanke (kai.blanke@iname.com), December 12, 2001.


Nothing wrong with having an appreciation for fine crafted machinery and polished glass, as I can think of worse things to blow money on. An old friend of mine calls fine camera eguipment "jewelry for guys",and indeed it seems to be mostly the male of our species that hoards this stuff. When someone asks me how many cameras I own, I often reply "a few too many". Seriously, you can't really use more than 3 or 4 cameras that often, at least I can't-I don't shoot enough film to do so. I never wanted to become a camera collector when I grew up, but believe I'm slightly "overstocked" at the moment. The hard thing is figuring out what to get rid of.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), December 12, 2001.

Can't argue with those who confess to enjoying mechanical cameras. I imagine that's true of most of us who look at this forum. Since I'm not a pro who has to be prepared for anything, I usually just have my M6 and a 35mm lens. However, on trips or vacations or personal projects, when I can carry around a small bag of gear, it's wonderful to have access to the perspectives and subject distances that other focal lengths permit. That bag usually also includes my Widelux or sometimes another M body for a different film. However, I always think of those cameras and lenses as supplements to my basic kit of M6 + 35. I admire people who can switch among different film formats, but I would find it confusing to have so many choices. I'm already overwhelmed with too many choices of good films!

-- Tim Nelson (timothy.nelson@yale.edu), December 12, 2001.

I always think of how much simpler life would be if I only had a single camera and a lens or two... after all that is what I use 90% of the time. I do however regret the loss of most every camera and lens I have ever sold off, and have even suffered financial loss in the re-acquisition of long discontinued models that I thought I could live without. Therefore, I have more cameras than some photo shops have on their use equipment shelves, and many dozen lenses. I just can't get rid of anything based on the remorse of past sell-offs.

It's funny I have a closet full of gear, I spend time agonizing over what to bring on a photo excursion, and I always grab the same thing (s)... a Leica M6 with 35 and 50, or a Nikon F-something with a 35 and 105.

Yeah, life would sure be easier... but I'll never know.

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), December 12, 2001.



I'm a great believer in simplifying my gear (as well as my film stocks). I never ceased to be surprised at the people I know who use 10 different films (or lenses) and say that they are not really satisfied with any of them. It has taken me 15 years to learn all the nuances of Tri-X, and only this last year have I really began to feel comfortable with my 50mm (90% of my work is with a 35). And though I use a 35-70 on my R3, in know way would I claim to get consistently good results (compositionally). I think it was Ansel Adams who once said that if you gave him a standard lens only, and that he could only shoot in his backyard that there would be lifetime of photos..

-- Bob Todrick (bobtodrick@yahoo.com), December 12, 2001.

If they come by chance at a good price, and they are a good investment, and if I´m afraid one day I´ll be without one, then I buy them when I can; and like Al, I usualy end up using the same gear. Now I use a diferent body every week to keep them working.

-- r watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), December 12, 2001.

feeling nostalgic: contax IIIa or my black SL; medium format with kids: fuji GA645i; medium format with out kids: fuji GW690; throw in a back pack and take off: R6.2; i love the vertical control grip so much i use it for most portraits: maxxum 9 with 100mm; sports maxxumm 9 with 80-200 2.8 or old 100 - 300; trips with children when i dont want to carry 20 lbs: minolta 7000i and 35-105 zoom; my first, and it still feels just right in my hands: olympua om2n. does any one have some good justification i could use on my wife for a m6?

-- greg mason (gmason1661@aol.com), December 12, 2001.

I always like to have two of each of my important tools so when/if one has to go in for repair I can keep going. I can't afford or justify it with lenses, but it's easy enough to do with bodies, so I do. Then I split them between black and white and color (which I actually rarely shoot.)

-- Michael Darnton (mdarnton@hotmail.com), December 12, 2001.

Because I'm sick. I pedal faster, but slide backwards. I flog myself over this every other day. On alternate days I find another bargain I just can't refuse. I'm joining PEA (Photo Equipment Anonymous).

-- Ken Shipman (kennyshipman@aol.com), December 12, 2001.


The difference between men and boys is the quantity and quality of their toys !

On a philosophical level, modern man is the most bored creature around. He constantly needs to distract himself because otherwise........... he gets bored !

I only have one leica, a standard lens and take 1 roll of film a year :-)

Yip bracing himself for a verbal attack ( which itself is worthy of a pic) !

-- Yip (koklok@krdl.org), December 12, 2001.


Like Mr. Todrick, I have no interest in pursuing lots of equipment (or varieties of film.) I don't own multiples of anything except some old broken cameras. I am left wondering after I read this what people are doing that they can't have a camera down for a few weeks. I used to shoot bands but I was paid so I had two bodies.

Now, I shoot between three and seven days a week and have yet to have a problem. If something is going in for a repair, I shoot with something else. My wooden pinhole always works, no matter what.

I've never found more, or sometimes better, equipment helped me take better photographs. Usually it was spending my spare time walking locations or trying to find models rather than perusing camera catalogs.

I realize some people are camera nuts, but that shouldn't be confused with photography.

-- Jeff Spirer (jeff@spirer.com), December 12, 2001.


Right you are, Jeff, but this is the camera nut thread!

I have 10 cameras. The only actual duplication is between the Nikon system and my R4. I have about 10 lenses for the Nikons, and three for the R4. I just wanted to explore the benefits of the R system lenses vs. Nikon. Just for fun. I don't feel that having both Leica M cameras and reflex models is a duplication. Rather, they complement each other. And owning a Hasselblad is not duplication, since it's a different format. Of course, only a Minox will fit in my pocket, and I'm going to get back to using the Rollei TLR any day now . . . I think I even had a reason for getting four different 50mm Summicrons.

Well, it just makes me happy, that's all. I don't feel I have to justify it. It's my hobby and I love it!

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), December 12, 2001.


Simple! I've got spare money to spend. I like cameras more than expensive cars which required much more space to store. As I've said in the earlier thread, we hard earn the money and we need to get some reward or else why we need to work so hard?

-- tom tong (tom.tong@ckh.com.hk), December 13, 2001.

I don't know.

I do know what a complete waste of money it has been.

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), December 13, 2001.


I am very heartened by the number of people who own more, and more expensive cameras than me, and shall hasten to tell my wife this post-haste. One can never own too many cameras, surely? If you enjoy them, why not? They are cheaper than cars or computers, after all, and provide a lot of innocent pleasure and a chance for camera nutters to keep on raving about them. There are few cameras I wouldn't like, but I do enjoy using older ones too, including old 50s Agfa folder and Ricoh rangefinder, Olypmus 35RC, Leica M3, and my oldest one, Leica III

-- David Killick (Dalex@inet.net.nz), December 13, 2001.

>>>I am left wondering after I read this what people are doing that they can't have a camera down for a few weeks.<<<

Some wildlife activities occur only for a few weeks each year. Miss it and I have to wait another whole year before I have an opportunity (assuming scheduling conflict don't arise).

-- Douglas Herr (telyt@earthlink.net), December 13, 2001.


Hey Luther:

Just because we like to have them, even if we don't use it everyday.

There was a time when I always had a camera in my bag/pocket, a Minox 35. But now, most of the places forbid photography so I eventually gave up.

Owning for plesaure (like recently bought a Rollei35SE) or for discovery (a Digital Omympus). The pleasure of owning fine equipment such as the R system and use it to create sharp and contrasty images (most of them are useless thought..)

Just some interest into those mechanical/electronical devices.

Regards. Xavier

-- Xavier d'Alfort (hot_billexf@hotmail.com), December 13, 2001.


...why do you own more than one pair of socks?

:)=

-- Rick Oleson (rick_oleson@yahoo.com), December 13, 2001.


Jeff--"can't stand to have a camera down for a couple of weeks"???? I just got my M2 back, after waiting for it from DAG for over three months. The previous work on my M4-2 took two months. You seem like you use your equipment a lot--how long could you do without it--all of it, entirely, without *something* to fall back on? I assume that you cast off that remark casually, knowing that if your Leica quit there'd be something else in the cabinet to use, and that you really wouldn't have to tolerate a couple of camera-free weeks.

-- Michael Darnton (mdarnton@hotmail.com), December 13, 2001.

As to Rick's "...why do you own more than one pair of socks?, I'd say because when mine stink, my wife will wash them. But as for cameras, ...

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), December 13, 2001.

Here are my list of reasons: 1) I am bored and always want more toys to fill the void... 2) Cameras and lenses are fascinating mechanical and optical toys/gadgets, besides sports cars and stereos. 3) My wife does not disagree, as long as they all can fit in the 3- foot tall humidity controlled dry cabinet. 4) Photography (making and taking picture) is fun 5) I learn the optical difference myself among Canon EOS, Nikon AF-S, Leica M, Carl Zeiss, Schneider... (still in progress....) 6) I collect and use interesting lenses, lenses that makes interesting pictures, and lenses with specific optical property, regardless of the brand. That's why I have 4 systems.

-- Damond Lam (damondhk@hotmail.com), December 13, 2001.

"I think it was Ansel Adams who once said that if you gave him a standard lens only, and that he could only shoot in his backyard that there would be lifetime of photos."

Yes, but they would bore everyone to death, unless his backyard was Yosemite! He also did not follow his dictum either, since he went on long treks to clearly "spectacular" places to make photos.

-- Robin Smith (smith_robin@hotmail.com), December 13, 2001.


If I could afford to own a closet full of cameras, I probably would own a closet full of cameras. But then I would never know what to take with me when I left the house in the morning. So I keep myself to one bagfull--in this case a LowePro Micro-Trekker. Amazingly enough, I can fit an R8 and a Hassy with two lenses each. (Actually, I plan on expanding my Hassy system so I will probably have to buy a bigger bag!) I find that these two cameras compliment each other beautifully.

Over the years I have owned more cameras than I can count--everything from Nikon F's to Deardorff 8x10's. I miss them all but I'm glad I don't still have them to burden me down.

All of the Japanese cameras, with the exception of the Nikons and Canons, are forgettable. Sometimes I miss the idiot-proof automation of the EOS or the built-like-a-brick solidity of the old Nikons, but I found that the technology in the EOS cameras sapped away my joy of photography and the older Nikons are just not automated enough for day-to-day professional work. Sometimes I wish the Hassy was a 6x7 camera but all of the 6x7's I've owned were less than endearing; let's face it, one is never going to fall in love with a Pentax or a Mamaya.

I keep coming back to Leica and Hassy, so I have now decided simply not to get rid of them. That way I don't ever have to come back to them. I love the Leica M's but, alas, I find that they are not really suitable for the type of work I do--and I can't afford to have thousands of dollars tied up in a paperweight. Still, I look at them fondly every time I go into my dealer's showroom.

-- Peter Hughes (ravenart@pacbell.net), December 13, 2001.


Robin - in part I agree with your response. I have a couple of Ansel Adams books and darned if I can find a single image of his backyard......but I understand what he was saying. Cartier-Bresson did what - 80% of his work with a 50mm. Even someone as 'flush' (I'm assuming) as Salgado says he shoots with a couple each of M and R bodies and a total of 4 or 5 lenses. So I'm always amazed at people who complain (and I'm not pointing fingers at anyone in particular on this forum) that with 3 or 4 systems and 10 - 12 lenses that they can't get the shot they want....

-- Bob Todrick (bobtodrick@yahoo.com), December 13, 2001.

Moderation questions? read the FAQ