I have a faint memory of using a plastic camera in secondary school. My first real film camera was a Konica rangefinder (probably C35) that my father gave me when I left Hong Kong for Canada in 1975. I used it to document my college life. In 1979 he gave me his Pentax K1000 and it was later stolen. With the insurance money I bought a Nikon N2020, moving up to Nikon N70 later. I couldn’t justify the N90. When I was working on my apple photo book project, I bought a Nikon F100. I later acquired a Nikon F3 with a motor drive. I gradually moved to the medium 6x6 format because I love Michael Kenna’s minimalistic black and white prints. I unloaded all my Nikon gear when I bought the Leica M6 gear from my optometrist.
I explained my approach to collecting antique cameras to my sister this way: they are film cameras from the 1950’s to 70’s that our father wished he could afford. They must be in working condition. Each camera is unique in its design and therefore has its quirks. I enjoy overcoming those challenges and becoming proficient and producing beautiful images.
Here is my current holding.