On Using Old(er) Photo Gear Again
Do you still have your old cameras? Do you turn them on every once in a while?
The last time I visited Dad, he reminded me that he still had my old (2006) Panasonic point-and-shoot camera, and that it was still in good condition. He offered to give it back to me, since he’s been using his iPhone and now has a much newer iPhone version than I do.
I looked at my old Panasonic, charged the battery, and found an SD card to use as a memory card. And then snapped a few images.
It felt small(er) and lighter in my hands, and a bit clunky and slow, but it did the job. I had to refamiliarize myself with the buttons and menu, but that didn’t take long.
Then, this summer, when I briefly visited family and friends, I decided to take the Panasonic with me. After all, it is lighter and smaller than my Nikon. And while it did slow me down, a bit, I was in no rush and actually enjoyed taking my time photographing with it.
So, why keep around some of your old(er) gear? Because:
- one day it may come in handy
- it brings back memories
- refamiliarizing yourself with your old gear sharpens the mind, and helps you appreciate your journey through life and craft
- it forces you to slow down, photograph in a different way, and be different
- it forces you to “think different,” if only for a moment
Give it a try! And please feel free to share your experiences in the comments, below.
Happy photographing and, as always, thanks for stopping by!
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