$10.50's Worth 1000 words?

I have a problem.

Well, I don't really see it as a problem... but my bank account/time management troll (the little guy I keep employed in my daily planner) may disagree.

My problem? My hobby is becoming a bit of an obsession.

I've realized that when I travel anywhere, I carry at least three cameras with me. Four, if you count the fact that my cell phone also takes pictures. Basically, I have my big fancy DSLR, which I love to death, plus the lenses and hot-shoe flash. I also carry a digital point-and-shoot, for those times when I want a fast photo instead of playing with lighting and all the fun dials on my big camera. And, just in case I feel a picture just isn't quite enough, I have my Flip-cam for taking videos. To go along with these, I have a full-sized tripod and a mini gorilla-pod, plus a few other miscellaneous accessories.

But the real problem? I WANT MORE.

Tonight I was a few minutes away from winning a vintage Praktica Super TL3 camera with accessories on ebay, with a bid of $10.50.
It was something I bid on purely on a whim, and mostly because it was such a great deal... I mean, a vintage 35mm SLR, in working condition, that comes with 2 lenses, a flash, and other miscellaneous attachments?? That's what we call a STEAL. I even went so far as to check out what batteries it needed, where I could get them, and how much they would cost ($5.95/battery... not too bad). It came down to the last 10 minutes of the sale, and it totally looked like nobody else was going to bid... there were only 3 of us involved in the original bidding, and they both stopped at $10. So there I was, picturing opening the box, pulling out my new toy, loading some film, and having the time of my life. Maybe I'd try to sign up for evening photography classes on campus so I could develop my own film... and then I'd hone my darkroom skills and learn how to create different photo effects while developing the shots... and then my photos would be so good that somebody who turned out to be the owner of a small independent gallery would randomly see them, beg me to show at their gallery, and my photography career would be well on its way to getting started....

But while I was busy planning out the rest of my creative life, I stopped paying attention to the auction... and in the last 5 minutes missed 12 bids, and lost the camera to somebody who paid $22.50. Damn.

I don't know what exactly it is about the old vintage cameras, but there's something about them that I love. I think part of it is just that they look so effing cool! Yes, I know, that's totally a shallow comment... but it's true. I mean, even drawings of them are cool looking. In fact, I've recently fallen in love with these amazing dishes from Etsy that I would get, if I had a house of my own to use them in:



Even more than looks, however, is just the feel of the older cameras. They have heavier bodies and more angular shapes, which makes them different to hold. They have the fun little film-advance lever that makes the "cachink!" sound when you flick it. And the shutter click is just so much more satisfying on the old cameras! My fingers twitch just thinking about it...

I think part of my love for the old cameras comes from the fact that I learned the basics of SLR photography using my Dad's old Ricoh. Taking pictures with that camera just felt more pure than with digital, and I can remember the thrill of using it for the first time. Plus there was the excitement of never actually knowing what would come out with each shot, and the exhileration of developing the film in the darkroom and watching what would suddenly appear in the frames... man, I miss those days (however brief my stint in the darkroom was).

Now, don't get me wrong, I DO already have a 35mm SLR. But the thing is, it's a relatively new one and reminds me a lot of my DSLR. I love them both, but they just don't feel the same as the older ones. (Oh, and it's currently back home in Canada...) Hence my recent obsession with tracking down the perfect vintage SLR (preferably for less than $30... but that may be asking a lot). Yes, 3 SLRs is excessive. No, I don't need another camera. But this little voice in my head just keeps whispering "but it's a good deal! It's an investment! It's only $30-ish dollars! You've been thinking of getting a vintage camera for a few years now, and if you're still thinking about it then it's ok to get one... you've held out long enough!"

Could somebody please tell the little voice to shut up? Either that, or help me justify getting another camera... and then help me scour ebay for a nice one in good working order.



Oh, and ps: school's ok, life's ok, and only 11 more weeks in Durham... I'll update when I have something more interesting to add.