Too Many Cameras 2

The original thread, rather than encouraging me to get rid of cameras, actually got me out using my film cameras. I have had a project in process for some months to complete a test roll with each of the film cameras in my collection that I am likely to use, but haven't used for some time to confirm functionality. Of course I have the Digital FX Nikons and Ricoh GXR Mirrorless mentioned in previous posts, but today I ran down the line of Nikons F4 (recently obtained) F 3, F 2, my First Nikon, the F TN (the latter, I probably won't use much, even if it tests well). Remaining, the F Photomic FTN and Nikkormat ELW, and My Dad's Leica M 3. Since the film (XP2) will be going out to Dwayne's in the morning mail, I'll only have time to finish the roll in the Leica. Except for the F4, which is quite a different beast, all the others felt pretty familiar / comfortable in hand. I was kind of surprised that "time slowed to film speed "-- I suppose because the I have shot the area on & near the ranch a great deal, it took a while to shoot the 12 and 25 exposures that were in each of the cameras.

Rummaged around in the box room / AKA junk room, and found all the necessities for processing monochrome, an old unopened bulk roll of TMAX and a bulk loader with some even older TriX. All I need to do now is mix up the various chemicals and keep moving. Season shifting into cold weather, being inside more might be just the thing. We'll see how my resolve holds out in the face of the ease of digital.

felt something was wrong of course found that the film was not advancing.

I always watch the rewind knob -- works on Nikon anyway!

I have 9 rolls of slide film and 9 rolls of Acros b/w film (120 format) and another 2 rolls of Delta 100 (120 also). Probably take me a year to finish this hopefully if not longer. My RB67 and H500 were both used last in April this year so been 5 months. I also have most of a bulk roll of HP5 with 35mm and maybe 1 individual roll of 35mm HP5 and 1 of Cinefilm (ISO 800). I am out of developer, still have some stop bath I think my fixer is starting to flake so need more of that also.

How many rolls of film do you use generally on a year basis? For me it it is usually 10 or 15 rolls but a lot of the time I just go out in the afternoon for a casual wander under noon light, yes it is strong and harsh but then I think why did I do that. I could see how 35mm b/w film might be more ok for street style but a 120 system is a more deliberate style. Maybe it was an excuse to use up my film if nothing else hahah. If I was out of film I would most certainly not go and buy more film before I do those casual outings.

Edit - I probably decided that for 35mm it's only b/w for street style now mostly and color stuff will be on the 120 system. At least for me I don't have multiple bodies of the same brand system. I do have a Nikon F100 and Fm2n the F100 does get the lesser use. I have used it more for color photography, with tripod since the meter goes up to 30" ie - low light photography cityscapes etc. but color for is probably 120 format now.

I always watch the rewind knob -- works on Nikon anyway!

Been there done that, lol. Learn from my mistakes.

How many rolls of film do you use generally on a year basis?...

I wish I could shoot 100 plus rolls a year, but I live in the middle of nowhere and photo opportunities are few and far between unless I want to drive 60 to 90 miles round trip to the nearest decent sized cities. I'm averaging one roll a month now.

I get down to New Orleans once a month for 3 days (213 mile drive), and I head straight to the French Quarter. Last time I was in the Quarter, I shot 3 rolls, and rain forced me to head back to my sister-in-law's house. RATS!

I head straight to the French Quarter.

Haven't been there since the hurricane, great place for photography. When I was there it was "strictly business" so I didn't bring cameras. Regret!

Haven't been there since the hurricane, great place for photography. When I was there it was "strictly business" so I didn't bring cameras. Regret!

Back in the late 70's I changed over to Nikon... shot with it every Saturday in the Quarter for 4-5 hours. Those were the days!

In 1984 I was about to be laid off from my job with Western Electric (AT&T), so at age 33 I joined the Army and became a Signal Intelligence Analyst with a top secret security clearance. Had a great time photographing in Germany, but by 1986, I freaked out with my undiagnosed manic depression and was honorably discharged. I drifted away from photography until 2005, got heavily involved for a few years, quit again, and in 2016 I jumped in headfirst into photography again. That's where I stand now.

The original thread, rather than encouraging me to get rid of cameras, actually got me out using my film cameras.

Even better !

Shooting film is definitely a slower process and usually involves some planning since I don't carry a film camera around. Last year I just left one at work all the time and I might go back to that. I work in the "Warehouse District" of downtown Minneapolis. Lots of potential subjects and a reason to keep one more camera. :)

My kids provide other reasons to shoot film. My 13 year old daughter and her friends love to get their pictures taken and she asked me to take some pictures of she and a friend around Minnehaha Falls with the "good" camera. She meant the DSLR, but I brought the old Yashica TLR along too to get some pictures of Fall colors. She rolled her eyes at that, but one has to put up with the photographer's quirks. ;)

The big difference between digital and film really comes into play with my daughter. She likes about 10% of the pictures that get taken of her, so it's an exercise in patience. With film she can't look at them and have you take "just one more" about 15 times until she sees one she likes.

my daughter. She likes about 10% of the pictures that get taken of her,

Mine is all grown up & out on her own, but that sure resonates! I would discard about half before showing her anything.

I almost always use digital for grandchildren to make sure I do not loose the moment

I just wonder if digital will turn out to be more watched than the boxes of snapshots, 8mm, Super 8, color slides, videos of various types sizes that inhabit albums a good bit of space in the box room. I suppose it will be the next thing for a while 3 D holo projection? VR?

Digital images and video gets more viewing early in its life, I don't know if that lasts.

Watching old 8mm movies when we were kids was an event. When I was a bit older I knew how to run the projector and where the movies were kept. We'd watch them a couple of times a year.

My kids enjoy the old digital videos if I dig them out but they don't know where to find them, even though I've told them.

On the other hand, the picture books I make every year are very visible and get looked through regularly.

On the other hand, the picture books I make every year are very visible and get looked through regularly.

I have a bulletin board of prints that get changed after every photo excursion, and a photo frame that displays from SDHCs whenever someone is in the room -- that usually plays a "Big" trip till the next one. At least some of the kids are coming West for Christmas -- either a book, which I think is a good idea, or gift of a frame with a big SDHC and a lot of their childhood experiences. A lot of work, but maybe a way to pass things along.

I just wonder if digital will turn out to be more watched than the boxes of snapshots, 8mm, Super 8, color slides, videos of various types sizes that inhabit albums a good bit of space in the box room. I suppose it will be the next thing for a while 3 D holo projection? VR?

Well , there will be a lot more "snapshots" with inexpensive digital cameras that will go the way of photos taken with snapshot cameras. But there are quite that I have taken that I keep and tune up and save (fog in no words). On an unrelated tact I love looking at those snapshots that people leave in the attic (and have not been discarded). I get a lot out of people's old snapshots and IMHO it is very fertile ground and important aspect of photography. Not for the quality obviously but to get a sense of life