Lee’s beloved Kyoceras are one of those victims of the ravages of time. “I’ve had 15 copies pass through my hands. About 11 of them were dead on arrival, and three died within a year. That means I have one left right now. It’s basically a camera only for special occasions, because you never know when “he’s going to die.”
These photographers have learned that sometimes it is better to leave a potential time bomb behind, especially if the device is still in demand. O’Keefe points to the Epson R-D1 as an example. This digital rangefinder from printer maker Epson, with meters on top made by Epson’s watchmaking arm Seiko, was originally sold as an alternative to Leica, but now commands similar premium prices to Leica. “I actually sold mine a year and a half ago,” he says. “I loved it, it was beautiful. But there’s a point for me where I can see that this is certainly going to die, probably in the next five years.” So I sold that one, but it’s an amazing experience shooting it because what other digital camera has a lever that actually releases the shutter?
#NoBadCameras
For a group of people with a recent influx of newbies, the digital camera community seems to be adapting well. Sofia Lee says the growing popularity of digital cameras is an opportunity to meet new collaborators in a field where it used to be difficult to connect with like-minded people. “I love that more people are interested in this, because when I started doing it they thought I was totally crazy,” she says.
Despite defining digital cameras as transforming to include a broader range of cameras, Lee seems to accept all comers. “I’m pretty lenient in allowing people to explore what they think is right,” Lee says. While not every camera is “right” for every photographer, many of them agree on one thing: resurrecting used gear is a win for the planet and a way to resist the constant updating of consumer technology.
“It’s interesting to look at what is considered obsolete,” Lee says. “From a carbon point of view, the largest footprint occurs at the time of manufacturing, which means that every piece of technology has this untapped potential.” O’Keefe agrees: “I love it from an environmental perspective. Do we really need to create waste by (releasing) a new camera every few months?”
For James Warner, part of the appeal is using lower-cost equipment that more people can afford. And with that lower cost of entry comes easier access to a broader community of creators. “In some clubs they don’t invite you if you don’t have good things,” he says. “But they feel welcome and like being able to participate in photography on a limited budget.”
O’Keefe has even coined the hashtag #NoBadCameras. She believes that all digital cameras have unique features and that if a curious photographer takes the time to learn about the device, they can achieve good results. “Don’t be precious about it,” he says. “Just grab something, shoot and have fun.”