Re: [Leica] To sell or not to sell

[Henry Ambrose <digphoto@nashville.net>]

>I am at a crossroads. For several years I used a Nikon F3 system
>exclusively. I easily have equipment I could probably realize $1,500 to
>$2,000 or possibly a little more. I have now been using a extensive "M"
>outfit for almost a year & do not see using the Nikon gear much, if at all.
>I have not even opened the bag since May & I had the F3 CLA'd in January, so
>it would be a good time to sell it if I'm going to. I do not do sports or
>wildlife photography, so I really do not need the long lenses for much of
>anything. I have occasionally used the close-up capabilities for copying old
>photos and photographing stationary objects (Wildflowers in the spring,
>etc.) but I feel like I might be better served in picking up a Visoflex III
>& maybe a 65 and/or 200 lens & bellows to use with mainly my M6, or
>sometimes the M4 for those very few times I do those things. For the 4 or 5
>times a year I would do that, wouldn't it work as well?
>
Similar situation here.
A couple of years ago I sold/traded all my 20-25 year old Nikon stuff and 
got new Nikon stuff. I am STILL amazed by some of the new developments; 
incredible flash control, fast built-in motors, great meters. This 
applies to NEW Nikon stuff, not the older manual gear.

When I got my new Nikon gear I used it to the exclusion of the old and 
continued to sell/trade off the old and buy new. After a bit of this 
though I realized that my pictures were no sharper or better than the old 
stuff. Certainly I had autofocus and auto flash without even thinking but 
the pictures were no better.  I sold most of the new Nikon stuff and kept 
just the pieces I needed and bought Leica M gear which I think I'll NEVER 
part with. 

With my small, modern Nikon system when I need to use on-camera flash, I 
have it, as good as it gets. When I need AF I have it, also as good as it 
gets. With your old gear the choice is not quite as clear.

Even if I had not ventured off into new Nikon stuff I would have kept a 
skeleton system of the old SLR for those times when I need it. As it 
stands today I have a skeleton system of new Nikon AF, autoflash stuff  
and use it when I need it. I'm happy I have it. There are things it'll do 
that just won't happen easily with M cameras.  


Henry