I know, I know, I know...

Haaaaaaa.....

As a backdrop, I got into digital back in '98 after selling off thousands of dollars of 35 MM and Medium format film gear. I got started in photography when I was a Marine infantryman in Vietnam back in '68 when I purchased my very first camera - and a good one at that - the Yashica Electro 35. From there, I became hooked.

So, since 1998 I was able to sell and buy digital gear and in the past for a period of around 5 years, if I wasn't using a particular piece of gear, I'd sell it. But then, as like in clockwork, I came to regret selling particular cameras due to their superb IQ capabilities and the emotional ties I had with the gear. In some cases I wound up "repurchasing" some of the same model gear (what a waste of money - buying the same things twice).

Since that "lessons learned" time period, I decided just to hold on to the cameras I really enjoyed (even if I wasn't using them much anymore). Selling used gear is a sin, meaning you are lucky to get 40% of what you paid (especially after having the camera for a year or two). So I've just left the cameras at home. Right now I have around 43 cameras - sigh...I know, sick, right - and yes, I do occasionally use them all. Some of the very old ones, in particular, the ole' venerable Olympus 5 MP E-1 can still hold muster with the best of them today. That E-1 had the fabled Kodak made Four Thirds sensor which resulted in a gorgeous color tonality. Folks are still buying used E-1's on eBay for $100 - some as low as $50 and everyone who still has one or has recently acquired one will tell you that camera rules in the ergonomics department.

Now just think about this for a moment. This 5 MP E-1, coupled with good glass, can net you images that can take on the big boys. Look below at this scene taken with the E-1 and the Leica Vario 14-150 f3.5-5.6 OIS lens. This zoom lens, quite expensive, has a sharpness level equivalent to some primes. Look at the detail in this image - you'd never know it came from a 5 MP camera.

Click on the "original size" link below the image to bring up a larger, clearer version.

So having all of these cameras - part collection (although I use most of them from time to time) is a really nice scenario. And it allows me to make accurate comparisons between gear.