How often do you use "toy" cameras that you have?

[darkosaric]

Beside my nikons and leica I have bunch of cheap stuff: minolta, yashica, agfa, zorki, argus, lomo, polaroid ... You know how it is, it is so cheap that you must buy it

But I noticed that I don't use it at all. I test it once, twice and that is it. Is this usual case with all of you? Or you use it often as more 'serious' cameras?

[Herzeleid]

Similar... I played with my lubitel & lomos a few times, done testing. I tried the corbis pinhole cam once. I plan to use lubitel actually with some expired color neg. but I tested the film and it is not expired enough yet.

[archphoto]

Same here, I got my working equipment and some older camera's that I hardly use.

But sometimes that older stuff can come in handy when I need an optic or shutter for something new or for testing new idea's.
And some have too many dear memories.......

Peter

[dougjgreen]

I actually don't have any "cheap" stuff that isn't really excellent at something. For example, in Medium Format, I have Mamiya RZ67 and Rollie 6006 systems, but I also have a Yashica Mat 124 TLR that is just wonderful for shooting street candids - much better than my bigger MF SLRs and their superior lenses happen to be.

Similarly, I own Nikon F3s and N90s for serious 35mm film use, but there are plenty of times I'd rather shoot with a Minolta SRT or XD11, or a Konica Auto S2, because I just don't feel like lugging the big heavy gear around, and I know that the lenses I have with the other gear are just as nice, and have some beautiful rendering capabilities.

[Akki14]

I used my sx-70 today but I tend to use my Holga more often. It depends on what I'm after. I guess I've been using my 4x5 more lately but that doesn't mean I won't use the other things sometime soon.

[Leighgion]

I admit, I have a certain scorn for the whole "toy camera" thing.

I do own an Agfa Clack, which was only €20 plus shipping while I was visiting Germany, but I don't think of it as a toy, just a very simple box camera from an era when those were normal. I actually find myself enjoying it and have loaded up my third roll of film, which technically ties the Clack for usage with my full-featured Fuji GA645, which I've owned for just slightly less time.

[funkpilz]

I have a fisheye camera that I use relatively frequently. And the Holga, too. Although I get sick of toys fast, and they spend up to a month on the shelf before I use them again.

[Valerie]

All the time.... I take my Holga with me on walks, or drop it in my purse in case something interesting passes my way. I'd say I shoot several rolls a month with it.

[Akki14]

All the time.... I take my Holga with me on walks, or drop it in my purse in case something interesting passes my way. I'd say I shoot several rolls a month with it.

You have a bigger purse than I do. I only throw my Vivitar Ultra Wide & Slim in my purse... oh hey that's a toy camera I use all the time actually! I'm surprised I forgot.

[flashgumby]

Beside my nikons and leica I have bunch of cheap stuff: minolta, yashica, agfa, zorki, argus, lomo, polaroid ... You know how it is, it is so cheap that you must buy it

But I noticed that I don't use it at all. I test it once, twice and that is it. Is this usual case with all of you? Or you use it often as more 'serious' cameras?

Since I only use Minolta, I must always be using a toy or *cheap* camera I don't think I've ever heard a Maxxum 7 or an XD11 (or lots of other excellent Minoltas) called a toy, but there's a first time for everything I suppose.

And to answer you question, I don't get enough time for getting out and taking photos to risk using anything less than the best tool for the job, so it's mostly the Maxxum 7 nowadays, with the 600si or my son's Dynax 5 if I want a different film as well.

Oh, I almost forgot - I *do* have one toy camera here, lent to me by a friend, but I've only shot one roll with it and now it sits gathering dust - a Nikon N90S even though it has some nice manual focus lenses with it, I just don't like the layout. My 7 and 600si are like old friends after using anything else

Regards,
Gordon