Welcome!
Ever since I was a kid I’ve been fascinated by cameras, both in the process of creating an image, as well as the actual technologies behind the camera itself.
I’ve decided to collect information on my growing collection of cameras and related ephemera on this little website. I’m by no means a camera expert – there are those on the web with decades of experience selling and servicing cameras with far more experience than I have. I’m also well aware that many have come before me with far more extensive experience and far larger collections. I’m not in any way trying to compete, rather I get a kick out of the technological advances every camera seems to showcase: some incremental, some earth shattering, some trivial, some only a marketer could love, and some evolutionary dead ends. And some… oddities which get cast off along the way.
My initial focus was on Canon cameras, which I have the most experience with by far. As of this writing I have roughly 4 digital and 2 film cameras in active use, and over 100 digital and film cameras, the vast majority of which are at least 95% functional. I do prefer cameras which by and large function as they should. Generally I want a camera I can use, and don’t get too hung up on having *perfect* copies. There are a few -such as my dad’s Yaschica TL-Electro-X which sadly has incorrect shutter timings – which I keep for sentimental and/or curiosity purposes as I’m not (yet) able to do the needed repairs (replace capacitors).
Why this website?
I really like the stories behind the cameras, and some of these devices have interesting histories, either related to the development of the camera itself, or in some cases, the specific camera has a notable story to tell. I’ve found I’ve gotten to the point where I can no longer keep all of these stories in my head, thus a large impetus in the development of these pages is simply to get the stories out of my head and recorded somewhere. I figure it’s also a handy place for me to look up what battery each camera uses, etc.
I hope to post a couple of cameras a week, perhaps more, perhaps less, depending on how much time I have to get through the pile.
I’m still actively collecting, and occasionally selling… so there should not be a shortage of subject material any time soon.
Peter
Spring 2017