Should I cull the herd?

[kivis]

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I have an M-A and an M3. I also have a Voigtlander R4M plus a Nikon FE. I thought I would use the R4M with a 21mm more but I don't. Since getting the M-A I never use the M3😩. I also have an OMDS OM-1 and 12-40 2,8 Pro II lens. Oh yeah, I have an iPhone 13 Pro Max. And somewhere in one of my old bags is Nikkormat FT2 last seen some years ago.

I hate having stuff I don't use. Maybe someone else can enjoy them. If I had lots of courage, I would considering letting go of the M3, the R4M and the Om-1 (I never use it) Why? Many moons ago I shoot professionally (mainly weddings) I used Nikon DSLR's and my lovely M3 with the Super Angulon 21mm. What a pair! After many years of 10-12 shoot hours days, I sold my book of business to my assistant, who by the way is doing well. Why the OM-1 Mirrorless? I bought it thinking I would have it for the occasional gig, but it hasn't really happen enough to justify it sitting around.

Today, I have my iPhone and M-A with me at all times

Pardon my ramblings from a long time photog in his mid seventies. It's hard to let go.

Ciao

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[CSG123]

The answer is, of course you should.  At 72 so should I.  But I'm not.  I like living with all the things I've collected and used over my years -books, original art, music (vinyl, cassettes, CDs), cameras, audio gear, watches, guns, etc. and I'm going to live with them until my time comes and then my children will decide what to keep and what to get rid of.  You're right, it's hard to let go so I'm not going to!

The above said, I'm nuts.  Perhaps, you're not.

Edited May 29, 2023 by CSGreene

[twogun]

 I would sell the digital OM-1 first from a future value standpoint and then look at the Nikon FE or R4M. I would never sell a Leica M body unless I'm put into a dire financial situation or have an opportunity to trade it for another Leica body. 

[Fotoklaus]

I would sell the FE, the FT2 and the R4M.

The M3 is a valuable classic, kind of an "investment". I would never sell that. The OM with the 12-40 is a ultrafast and useful combo for everything, would not keep just a phone for digital.

The M-A ... well, of course... keep it.

[Guest]

This is what I would do: go to a dealer that accepts trade-ins and exchange all the non-Leica equipment for a (good discount on a) Leica M lens of your choice. I would keep the M3 as a backup.

[kivis]

Thanks fellers.

[kivis]

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Got lots of watches, guns (well three pistols). Got a '21 VW Jetta GLI manual Transmission. A million books. Hidden Gold and Silver. Let the kids and grandkids divvy the stuff out. That appeals to me. HELL!!I'm keeping all of it!😁

[CSG123]

19 minutes ago, kivis said:

Got lots of watches, guns (well three pistols). Got a '21 VW Jetta GLI manual Transmission. A million books. Hidden Gold and Silver. Let the kids and grandkids divvy the stuff out. That appeals to me. HELL!!I'm keeping all of it!😁

Now, you're talkin'!   Seriously, when it comes to this sort of decision making as we age and come to terms with our own mortality, there are two types of people it seems - those who have no emotional attachment to material things and those who look at their possessions as part of their lives; they attach memories to things as to where they were when they bought it, their experience/s with it, and a sense of comfort these familiar things have.  The smart group, is probably the first one who says, "It's just stuff."  The second group (me), is like the scene from an old Seinfeld episode having to do with George's books:

 

[madNbad]

I have bought and sold so much gear over the years that sometimes I felt like the one paying the electric bill for KEH. If a camera sits unused, I think how someone else might appreciate it. I have tried hard to pare down to just one camera but it never last. I may have reached a balance point of a couple of analog M bodies, a digital camera for scanning film and a SX70 for nostalgia. 
 

We live in a small house and our philosophy has been, if it isn’t used in a year, it’s either sold or given away. It has worked well for years and only every now and then we ask, “Hey, whatever happen to…”

[kivis]

I guess there are two valid ways at looking at this.

[madNbad]

There must be a reason storage units are such a big business.😉

[Fotoklaus]

vor einer Stunde schrieb kivis:

Got lots of watches, guns (well three pistols). Got a '21 VW Jetta GLI manual Transmission. A million books. Hidden Gold and Silver. Let the kids and grandkids divvy the stuff out. That appeals to me. HELL!!I'm keeping all of it!😁

The question is: Do you feel happy to use/ touch/ collect your stuff? Put a nice watch on, grab your M3 and drive to a nice location with your Jetta taking some nice pictures 🙂

[Pyrogallol]

2 hours ago, Studienkamera said:

This is what I would do: go to a dealer that accepts trade-ins and exchange all the non-Leica equipment for a (good discount on a) Leica M lens of your choice. I would keep the M3 as a backup.

Yes. Twice in the last month I have traded in a dozen or more assorted cameras and lenses in part exchange for a nice Leica 35mm Summicron and Summilux. But I still keep buying more photographic junk. After a few months use the junk will get traded in for something better quality.

[kivis]

14 minutes ago, Fotoklaus said:

The question is: Do you feel happy to use/ touch/ collect your stuff? Put a nice watch on, grab your M3 and drive to a nice location with your Jetta taking some nice pictures 🙂

Yes sir

[Guest]

32 minutes ago, Pyrogallol said:

Yes. Twice in the last month I have traded in a dozen or more assorted cameras and lenses in part exchange for a nice Leica 35mm Summicron and Summilux. But I still keep buying more photographic junk. After a few months use the junk will get traded in for something better quality.

Have been doing this myself for ages. An Ernemann got replaced by a Nikon S2, which I traded in for a Pentax 67II. Two Nikon F2 (A and AS) had to make space for a Leica MP, etc. Ok, maybe none of these qualify as junk.

Edited May 29, 2023 by Studienkamera

[250swb]

The OMD is the sort of camera every photographer should have as an equivalent to a Swiss Army knife, even if you don't use it much, so don't sell that. I would sell only one, the M3, and with the money buy film and some more lenses for your Nikon's.  

[hansvons]

@kivis,I’m 20 years younger but I’m already in the let go business. There are a couple of reason why to do that:

1. A clean shelf is appealing.

2. Reallocation is the best thing to do in times of scarce sources and the need of rethinking sustainability. I try to buy used whenever it makes sense. The times of unhinged consumption are over. 

2. Life consists of stages/levels. These stages are often associated with stuff. Acknowledging that by selling stuff that get no use anymore helps to move on. I sold my cine gear because this book is closed. If I’d ever shoot a proper film project again, I’ll rent. 

3. There’s timeless stuff that isn’t based on these stages like inherited family stuff (19 century books, classic furniture, paintings), the old Porsche you bought in your 30ies and still enjoy to drive very much, the M3 and MA you regularly use, etc.. these are keepers and at some point up for the kids. 

Analogue cameras in working condition that could be in younger hands should be passed on—if they live a sad shelf life. I passed my old R4 to a student who loves shooting film but cannot afford buying a proper camera. She’s regularly shooting with it. I did the same with my other R4. It’s right now in my daughter’s hands, as she travels Europe. Don’t know whether this will take off. If she won’t bite, I’ll pass it on to someone else.

I own a complete R6 setup, sold the R6.2 because I never warmed up to it but kept the original R6, which is a trusty workhorse. I don’t use it anymore, but use occasionally the lenses on video projects with my SL2-S. I own a M4P and an M6 with a 35mm and 50mm Summicron. Both are heavily used daily carry. These will stay for a long time. 
 

 

[LocalHero1953]

2 hours ago, kivis said:

Got lots of watches, guns (well three pistols). Got a '21 VW Jetta GLI manual Transmission. A million books. Hidden Gold and Silver. Let the kids and grandkids divvy the stuff out. That appeals to me. HELL!!I'm keeping all of it!😁

Thats, er....click.....and click......and again....click.......pull up Google StreetView.......and the latest satellite images to check the back yard.

Ok, and......checking your recent posts and "what lens should I take to Italy next month" questions.

There - that's your problems sorted - nothing left to worry about. 

😉

Edited May 29, 2023 by LocalHero1953

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Ouroboros]

 

1 hour ago, Fotoklaus said:

The question is: Do you feel happy to use/ touch/ collect your stuff? Put a nice watch on, grab your M3 and drive to a nice location with your Jetta taking some nice pictures 🙂

The odd one out in that classic list is the clapped-out Jetta!
Spoils the effect, better to get the bus……

[Anbaric]

It sounds like the Leica gear is what you actually use. If you keep more than one body, you can switch to a different type of film without having to finish the first one. Useful unless you always use the same film!