Camera collecting problem (medication needed?)

[truls]

I could need some Medical treatment...
Or some advice from you seasoned collectors, or a kick in the *ss ..

My goal: Getting a somewhat Complete Collection in some or other way. Until now, I have accumulated various cameras, but it is not ending up in a Collection. As cameras come and go different ideas are spreading in my head. Nikkormats, really old Box cameras, Leica, Y/C, unusual or rare camera, cameras hard to get, russians, and so on... Any small advice appreciated, or ideas that could end up in a coherent Collection to show.

Problem, I like all cameras.

Solution: <fill in the blank>

Thanks!

[Deleted]

Truls:

You need to focus. In my case my decisions were based of cost. Back in 2002 there were a lot of Soviet era cameras on Ebay at reasonable prices. At that time I couldn't afford to collect Nikons or Leicas, I Like the Soviet gear because of the history and the many variations. Since then the prices on just about all film cameras except Leicas have come down so I have acquired a number of Nikons. I now regret that because I don't shoot film any more. I'm also starting to worry about what would happen to the cameras when something happens to me. I would hate to see them all hauled to a thrify store (or a landfill). So I' probably going to start trimming down my collection. But I don't want to sell on the on-line auctions because it takes too large a piece of the selling price. I recently set up a seller's account on Amazon and may experiment with selling a few cameras there to see how it goes.

[SidW]

May 27, 2014 16:26:47 GMT -5 @wayne said:

... I recently set up a seller's account on Amazon and may experiment with selling a few cameras there to see how it goes ...

That sounds interesting, Wayne, please let us know how you get on.

[philbirch]

Hi Truls. I was collecting anything. Then started going for ones I had owned in the past (Agfa Flexilette, Rank Aldis, etc.) My collection was rag-tag and non coherent until one day my (now)ex GF gave me a box of old cams of her dads. Upon researching I found they were all 1957 models - the year I was born.

That was when I started my theme: 1957 models, advertised or in the shops in that year. I have extended back to 1954 as models then had a long life span so now the bulk of my collection is from then.

I bought a bunch of Olympus Trips to pimp up but they look so nice I don't want to sell them!

Links to my collection and my trippy Trips can be found on the home page of this forum.

I have a small collection of Rokkors - early ones and a brace of cameras to use them with - A SRT101 and an X700

[SidW]

Like Philburch, I looked for stuff I had once owned in the 1950s, and soon had a FED1g and FED2 and an Exacta Kine II. On the way I got more to be sure of working properly. So I have a selection of Exacta Kine I and Varex. Then a few luxuries I couldn't afford in the 1950s. But today I can't afford an Enna 85mm/1.5, which was very affordable in the 1950s and almost the only lens I used then (that's it on the left there), along with a Meyer 180mm/3.5.

Remember "rare" and "desirable" aren't necessarily the same thing. It's the desirable stuff that's expensive today. I've seen rare items ignored for an asking price of a few pounds. On the other hand, there are plenty of Angenieux lenses out there, and Zeiss 75mm/1.5, and they're all extremely expensive today.

[philbirch]

Yes a huge difference between rare and desirable. here is one I picked up for a few pounds. Made for only a few months, this is as rare as you can get particularly as it is fully working it is in almost new condition. Look up the Luxa six and you see photos of mine and about 3 others only.

link

[mickeyobe]

OK Truls you are about to get some advice from one who should not be giving advice.

The very best medicine is to get another camera.

I started collecting about 15 years ago. I collected anything that struck my fancy and that I could afford. The last requisite eliminated some real goodies but still applies.

One day at a local antique camera fair I saw a box under the table of an exhibitor. It contained four small old Kodak folding cameras and he induced me to part with $10.

Once home I did a little research and found they were all VPK's - Vest Pocket Kodak Model B.

I started to clean up the four cameras and noticed that they were not all alike. There were minor differences. Back to the books. I could not and still can not find any mention of these differences anywhere. It occurred to me that nobody cared.
What an opportunity to form a collection of them without the exorbitant prices often encountered when differences become desirable.

At present I have twelve VPK's. Three are basket cases for parts. Of the other nine, each is unique having one or more variations not possessed by the others. I am sure there must be others and will keep on looking. None has cost me more than $25.

So that is my affordable specialty.

Here are some of the variations. Location of tripod socket on lensboard. Number of folds in bellows. Different leather covering. T - I or I- T. Different lens.
Different viewfinder (Black with chrome top, Knurled lens retaining ring & smooth retaining ring. All black. Knurled lens retaining ring. Smooth ring. )
Different winding key. Different stylus. Smooth focus track. Patterned focus track. Made in Canada. Made in USA.




Mickey

[matty]

If there is medication for this please let me know. I start getting all itchy and restless on certain days of the week, Saturdays and Sunday mornings are the worst. If I'm working on a Saturday or Sunday its not too bad (I'm a staff nurse so work shifts) but if I'm off or on a late shift then the symptoms reach their peak. The only thing that seems to alleviate the itch is to tell the dog she's going for an early walk which usually turns out to around the local carboot or fleamarket.
You are right the only way to ease the problem is to focus your collection. I've got rules that I follow (most of the time)to try and keep things in check. No more than £25 on one camera (FED 3 for £35 broke that rule); no dealers (again the FED broke that rule); charity shops, junk shops, fleamarkets and car boot sales are allowed hunting grounds (Spotmatic on Ebay broke that rule); no autofocus or plastic cameras, pre 1990 really (I keep telling myself that the Lubitel 166 doesn't really count as plastic.) The other good rule is to come home every so often with something that pleases the missus, for some reason she absolutely loves my Kodak Retinette 1b and bringing back something that can be sold on for a profit helps.
I think the basic problem is that I am an addict, I just like cameras.
Regards
Matty

[mickeyobe]

"I think the basic problem is that I am an addict, I just like cameras."

That pretty well describes most of us here.

Mickey

[truls]

Yes, that's what I thought, there are no Cure Or, if we could classify "Camera Collecting" as a disease, we could be entitled for extra Money from the Government?

No joking, Wayne is right, I need to focus and get some disiplin into collecting. I also like the theme way of doing it, e.g. cameras from an era.

Mickey is also very right, wisdom is really Gold! And the VPK's are awesome. Matty should, as I, maybe attend to some sort of addiction or drug rehab? I have some of the same emotions regarding camera aquisition.

One year ago I had a plan to collect only Ricoh gear, it may well be a good start. Not overwhelming number of cameras, prices are mostly fair, and they will fit in my display cabinet. Ricoh cameras are also good solid shooters, With quality lenses.

[mickeyobe]

Stick around here, truls.
You wont be rehabilitated but you will certainly enjoy your addiction.

I need another fix.
Mickey

[hansz]

Not a fix, but a sure Collecting Restricter: I got 3 kids studying right now at a University (2 medicine, 1 engineering).
That fact puts a strain on the financial side of our hobby, I can tell you!

I sold my Nikon stuff, next week I hope to sell my Topcon equipment, I only retain Zeiss Ikon, Exakta, Canon, Kodak Retina line... oh yes, my Rolleiflexes... Who is talking about restraining one self$%^$^%

All right, I'm addicted...

Hans

[truls]

May 29, 2014 16:09:51 GMT -5 mickeyobe said:

Stick around here, truls.
You wont be rehabilitated but you will certainly enjoy your addiction.

I need another fix.
Mickey

I will. If everyone were camera collectors, there would be no more WARs, exept bid WARs.. We should not Call it addiction, it is negative publicity. It really is true love for cameras.