4 cameras?! WTF???
Hi! My name is Paul and I have a problem … I collect cameras, sometimes unwittingly, unknowingly, and unintentionally! Well, that’s probably not so true about the unknowingly, etc. 
About a year ago, more or less, I sold down my camera ‘stock’ to 1 camera, a Nikon D300. I don’t count the Canon Powershot point & shoot that I never use. Well, the other day I had a look and that one camera has now grown to 4! 3 film cameras, one digital. Huh? Say what? I know, I’m just as surprised as you are, maybe even more!
So, here’s how it happened: I’m going to blame the first film camera on Chris Klug for telling me about the the Mamiya 645e. Yeah, he came all the way from Arizona, at the time, twisted my arm, took out my wallet and made me order it. Honestly! He did!!! Well, after absolutely falling in love with medium format and those glorious negatives, then somehow, I got bit by the Leica bug. I think that I’ll point the finger at Mike over at TOP and his Leica for a year article!!! Yeah, that’s it. It’s his fault! You can’t trust those people from Wisconsin!
I thought: Hmmm, it would be nice to have a rangefinder. I’ve never shot one of those before, so I went to eBay, saw the price of the Leicas and decided to go with something a lot cheaper. I made a bid, $25, on a Olympus 35 LC rangefinder. I placed my maximum bid at $35, I think. During that time (7 days), I decided to treat myself to an extravagant expenditure, a Leica. After all, I had some glass to sell and could more than make up for the cost of the Leica, right?! (Yeah, Paul! Whatever helps you to sleep at night!!!). I had a friend in need who wanted to sell his camera to me and Presto! Changeo! I had a Leica.
Not a problem, right. I figured that I’d never get that other rangefinder for $25! Wrong! No other bids! We have a winner!!! Crap! Oh well, so that’s how I got 4 cameras. I’m waiting for the Olympus to come back from Camera Repair dot Com. I sent it in for a CLA, Clean, Lubricate, Adjust, which cost nearly 4 times what the camera did! If you’re going to use it, it might as well be in tip-top shape!
I plan to load the Olympus and the Leica with the same film, head to the streets, shoot both of them, and then let you try to decide which was taken with the Leica, and which was take with the Olympus! It will be an interesting test, to be sure! I’m interested in the outcome myself. Naturally, I will use the same developer/temperature/agitation on both batches of film.
Of course, I’ll have to photograph different scenes with each one because one has a 42mm lens, the other has a 50mm and you might be able to tell based on crop/object size within the image. I imagine if no one can tell the difference, it will amount to heresy and I may be censured by the Leica community for even suggesting such a test, let alone actually performing it!
Stay tuned!
I’ve shot Olympus for 25 years, so I’m interested in seeing the results.
-scott c
[Reply]
Paul, I don’t believe it’s an official problem until you have over 6 cameras–according to my rules.
Besides, it gives credance to my having two cameras (D300 & D700) when the wife ask why I need more then one…”But honey, I only have two cameras, Paul has four!” So thanks, buddy!
[Reply]
Paul, It;s not a problem until you need a larger vehicle to transport all your gear!
[Reply]
You can have my Yashica rangefinder if you want a fifth camera. Just let me know.
[Reply]
@Earl: Thanks! I’m glad that my “issue” works out in your favor! LOL! I’m sure that your wife would respond with something like: “If Paul jumped off of a bridge, would you do it too?”
@Steve: I might have to save that excuse should I ever want to purchase a truck! However, right now, it all fits comfortably inside of my Toyota Camry!
@Rob: Thanks for the offer, but I think that I have enough cameras for now. Perhaps you should make it a point to load some film and use that rangefinder, eh?
[Reply]
LOL!
That Olympus sure slipped in on a banana peel. What to do, what to do??? Well well, I’m certain you’ll find out a way to use it along with your others.
[Reply]
Let’s see, maybe Paul can return the favor. I am looking very hard and long at Leica M6 TTL’s on eBay, mainly because now Paul has one!
Hold on, let me think how many I have: Canon 10D, Canon FTb, Nikon F100, Nikon F3, Bessa R2a, and (theoretically) a Mamiya 645e (currently being repaired by Adorama). So, I’m at Earl’s limit of six.
I bought the F3 recently on craiglist to get the three Nikkor lenses the guy was selling with it so I could actually shoot the F100. If I bought the Leica I’d sell the Bessa to help offset the purchase.
I can’t wait until that contest. What lens do you have with the Leica, Paul?
[Reply]
@Chris: I have the 50mm Summicron. The contest will probably be sometime in the next couple of weeks after I get my Olympus back. You’ve already reached the threshold; now you’ll need to attend meetings!
[Reply]
I’ve got something like a dozen cameras. Mostly film cameras though (I’ve got 2 digitals right now).
I keep finding good deals on interesting cameras, and it’s just not worth it to sell film SLR’s as the only ones I have worth any real amount, my Nikon FM2n, F2a and Mamiya 645 Super, are the ones that see the most use.
[Reply]
4 – you’re barely trying. I’m not even going to disclose how many I’ve got.
Like bicycles (I’ve quie a few of those, too), the right number of cameras to have is n+1, where n is the number you’ve currently got.
[Reply]
I wonder if we’re doing it more with film cameras now because they are so cheap, and using film is something of a luxury or a novelty, that the whole process is kind of indulgent. I’ve started to slide down that slippery slope too with a 3 polaroids for instant gratification, plus a little flexaret TLR for some square medium format action. But I don’t have the same urge to buy multiple digital cameras…
[Reply]
Cuz’n, I cannot begin to tell you how happy you’ve made me!! Not only because you’re shooting film again, but because it’s good to know I’m not the only one with a collection problem. I collected yet another 35mm film camera this summer – my first Canon; and I’m on my way to pick up my second medium format (if it’s in good condition) today. Well, if you count the two Holgas and the two twin lens, then it’s actually my sixth medium format…
Talk to you soon!
[Reply]
You can never have to many dogs, cameras, guns, motorcycles or friends. Main one is you can never have to many dogs, at least it is warm in the dog house when I add to the others on the list.
[Reply]
@Martin: Well, I guess that I’ll have to try harder! I don’t know about that n+1 thing, though! That would be impossible to keep up with!
@Julie: As you can see, you are not alone! I’m not sure why we like to keep buying those film cameras, but we do.
@Micki: How ironic is that?! I remember when I tried to recruit you to come to the digital side. Of course, you told me: No way! Well, if you can’t beat them, join them! If you had time, I’d say “develop your own film!”, but I know how time constrained you are!
@Ray: Great point!
[Reply]
Paul, actually, I don’t care about time any more. The thing that keeps me from developing is my septic system. I really don’t want to screw that up with the chems. However, I will get that figured out some day…when I have the time to do it.
;o)
Man, I like that Ray K’s thinking!!
[Reply]
I think Ray K may be a genius! And, I don’t own a single film camera!
[Reply]