All You’ll Ever Need Is One Camera

“ All you’ll ever need. One camera forever. Never buy
another piece of photo gear again. "

Forgive the rumbling sound. That’s deceased photo trade executives turning over in their graves.
Let me start out by saying that some people have actually believed this, bought goods accordingly, and proceeded to take a lifetime of pictures based upon the idea. Somewhere out there is a box camera loaded with 120 panchromatic film that is in regular use - not daily, but at least once a year when the family gathers under the Hills Hoist for the holiday snap. The owner of the camera is perfectly satisfied with the results - they let the family see who has died
since last year.

Other people have advanced. I’m sure there is a Leica M2 user somewhere who loves the slides the camera produces, as much as the vinyl LP’s of 60’s Motown music. The selenium light meter stopped working years ago and was replaced by a CdS one that stopped working when the batteries it ran on were banned. But by now the user can guess exposure pretty well. 

The professional user who decided to get one digital camera and stick to it was wise, right up until the manufacturer changed the lens mount and no new lenses were going to fit. There was an adapter, but that just delayed the sadness. 

Moral of the tale is: everything ages, and generally not well; look at yourself in a morning mirror. Getting new equipment can be extremely beneficial to what you do. it can get you doing new things, and you might be good at them.

There is no shame in starting afresh and learning new techniques and ideas. If you want to be retro, order garlic prawns and wash them down with sparkling Porphyry Pearl. Just don’t spill any on your
leisure suit.