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Thread: Buy new or buy used?

  1. #11

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    Re: Buy new or buy used?

    Basically if I had to buy new, I would never have started with LF photography. My main concern is that there will be film for the next 15 or 40 years. I can get by with used stuff. I do wonder sometimes if the market for film will die when there are no new film cameras to be made but there's not a whole lot I can do about that.

  2. #12

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    Re: Buy new or buy used?

    Quote Originally Posted by E. von Hoegh View Post
    But I doubt the U.S. government would bail out the camera manufacturers.... so they'd all be gone by now, and we'd be buying used anyway.
    Good point.

  3. #13
    Format Omnivore Brian C. Miller's Avatar
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    Re: Buy new or buy used?

    Quote Originally Posted by genotypewriter View Post
    So, if you care about the future of LF, do you think buying new is the way to go? Or should we stick to buying used, since it's one of those "put the oxygen mask on yourself before you attend to the child" things? Or... is LF doomed, regardless?
    Buy what you like as you can afford it. When I started with 8x10, I decided that I would have two new lenses. So I bought a Nikkor and a Fujinon in my price range. The rest of the lenses are used, and two are really used. I can't afford a new 8x10 camera, so I bought used both times. Nikon is out of the LF lens business. I think Fuji might still be making new lenses, I don't know.

    I'm guessing that the hey-day of LF was probably up through the 50's and 60's, while the press cameras were popular. Graflex ran out of steam, and its parts went to Japan, with Toyo still holding that torch.

    When is the end of large format? When there's nothing for us to use as an image base. When we won't be able to make tintypes, wet collodion, dry plates, all of that. As long as we have film, photography will have a certain convenience to it. Once all film is gone, then things will go back to requiring more effort. But will film ever be gone? I have no clue.
    "It's the way to educate your eyes. Stare. Pry, listen, eavesdrop. Die knowing something. You are not here long." - Walker Evans

  4. #14
    8x10, 5x7, 4x5, et al Leigh's Avatar
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    Re: Buy new or buy used?

    My 8x10 Tachihara and an 8x10 to 4x5 reducing back for it were purchased new from MPEX,
    after a year of searching unsuccessfully for a used one.

    All of my other LF cameras were purchased used.

    I never buy used film.

    - Leigh
    If you believe you can, or you believe you can't... you're right.

  5. #15
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    Re: Buy new or buy used?

    Once film is exposed to light it can't be reused to make a photograph (double exposures not included).

    Descriptive words for previously owned film are unexposed or out-dated.

    When film it is exposed, it's used up. If stored properly, out- dated film can be useable for years.

  6. #16
    8x10, 5x7, 4x5, et al Leigh's Avatar
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    Re: Buy new or buy used?

    Quote Originally Posted by Gem Singer View Post
    Used film is an oxymoron.
    No it's not. Used film is used, as in exposed.

    New film is unexposed, regardless of any expiration date that may be present.

    It was a joke, a play on words, but some people are really dense...

    - Leigh
    If you believe you can, or you believe you can't... you're right.

  7. #17

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    Re: Buy new or buy used?

    Quote Originally Posted by Leigh View Post
    <snip>...some people are really dense...
    Yes, they are... and arrogant.

  8. #18
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    Re: Buy new or buy used?

    Leigh,

    I made a joke about the expression "used film".

    Attempted to to insert a smiley, but was unsuccessful, so I have now edited my post.

    I'm not dense, only getting tired of the games you seem to enjoy playing.

    This forum is not a competitive sport.

  9. #19
    8x10, 5x7, 4x5, et al Leigh's Avatar
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    Re: Buy new or buy used?

    Hi Gem,

    Yes, I think we both ran afoul of the internet demon. Humor doesn't always come across as intended.

    You can insert smileys either in their original ASCII form, or by clicking Go Advanced and picking one in that editor.

    - Leigh
    If you believe you can, or you believe you can't... you're right.

  10. #20

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    Re: Buy new or buy used?

    Interesting responses from everyone, when on-topic!

    Quote Originally Posted by David A. Goldfarb View Post
    So often the best we can do is to do our best work as photographers and get it out there, and hope it inspires people with deeper pockets to buy new cameras and lenses.
    That's my favourite so far.

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