Collector vs Photographer

[CGW]

Sums up the dilemma nicely:

http://fractionmag.blogspot.com/2011...lector-vs.html

[Shawn Rahman]

Great article/blog entry. Although some of my cameras take better pictures than others.

[bwrules]

You could be doing far worse things than collecting, but I feel they might be doing the photographers disservice as the prices increase due to all the collecting going on.

[R gould]

I am a camera collector, I collect usable classic cameras, every camera I own, from a 1938 bessa 66 to a 1961 rolleicord Va2, from folders to rigaed body cameras, from rangefinder's to fixed lens folders both 35mm and 120 must be a working camera and able to earn it's keep, and my collection keeps growing,
Richard

[bobwysiwyg]

.. but I feel they might be doing the photographers disservice as the prices increase due to all the collecting going on.

Collectors may have similar thoughts about those of us who insist on still using film cameras, thus driving up the costs of collecting.

[elekm]

I try not to buy cameras just to possess them. I really want cameras that I can load with film and use.

[benjiboy]

I'm not a collector, I don't keep any equipment I don't use regularly.

[Paul Goutiere]

I have a few cameras but I don't think I'd be considered a collector, but:

Better a camera to be collected than thrown in the garbage. A collector will keep his/her cameras safe and dry, perhaps maintained as well.
A collectors interest in the cameras will keep the prices of used equipment high enough that they continue to have value and
keep them from being thrown out.

[R gould]

I try not to buy cameras just to possess them. I really want cameras that I can load with film and use.

I have only once or twice bought a camera just to own a camera, and I soon sold them again, every classic camera I have in my collection is a camera that I have wanted to buy to put film in, for me a camera, whether it be 1 year old or 70 years old, they were made to be used, and should be bought to be used,and since I made the 2 mistakes early on in my collection I have stuck to that, I will not buy a camera just to look nice on a shelf, it has to earn it's keep, and must be a camera that I will enjoy using.
Rochard

[MattKing]

I have an old 1A Kodak Autographic Jr. that is only for display. Otherwise, I at least intend to regularly use the rest.