Should I throw away my old film cameras?

#61
Killing Floor said:
The modern models and digital processing and solid state gear has likewise surpassed audio reproduction. The reason the B-15 sounds subjectively great is because it reminds us of the sounds we grew up with. But no young players are looking for that.
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I disagree that no young players are looking for that. A buddy of mine is a sound engineer at a well regarded recording studio in the Chicago area and they're constantly using their B-15s to record bass, precisely because young artists are asking for it.

Modern, digital gear can do some amazing things that vintage gear can't even begin to approach. Plus, it's reliable and affordable.

I got started in multitrack recording in the mid 80s and started adding digital gear in the mid 90s. By the year 2000, I had gone completely over to digital with the exception of my tube driven bass amp.

I could use plug ins and emulators if I wanted to and get 80% of the way to where I want to be, tone wise, but there's something special about the tone of a tube amp recorded through a speaker cabinet that simply cannot be equalled by digital processing.

But, given the rate of progress in the field, I suspect that within another 10 years, that will no longer be true.
 
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#62
Mike N said:
Seems this thread has gained some traction lately and I'm happy to see that.

For those that have read thru it, you've likely seen my posts about the cameras that my Grandfather designed for Zeiss and Graflex..... groundbreaking stuff for the time.

However, my Grandfather's biggest accomplishment was the Kodak Instamatic.... which was probably the first point and shoot camera.
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You've spoken about your grandfather on other threads and I'm so glad you did. He sounds like an amazing guy and it makes me wish I knew him and had a chance to talk with him about his career.

I've also been an amateur astronomer since I was a kid and have owned several telescopes over the years. The hobby can be expensive.

Zeiss once produced a set of telescope eyepieces (ZAO, for $1180, which included the 4, 6, 10, 16, and 25mm eyepieces with a walnut case). They've long been discontinued, but you can buy a used set (if you can find one for sale) for about $4,000.

While that may be part nostalgia and part name recognition, most of that price is about quality and performance. Even without the modern technology of multiple microcoatings and inert gas media and such, just the accuracy and precision of the lenses and the optical engineering that went into their design, makes vintage Zeiss lenses worth their cost, today.
 
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#63
hbarcat said:
I disagree that no young players are looking for that. A buddy of mine is a sound engineer at a well regarded recording studio in the Chicago area and they're constantly using their B-15s to record bass, precisely because young artists are asking for it.

Modern, digital gear can do some amazing things that vintage gear can't even begin to approach. Plus, it's reliable and affordable.

I got started in multitrack recording in the mid 80s and started adding digital gear in the mid 90s. By the year 2000, I had gone completely over to digital with the exception of my tube driven bass amp.

I could use plug ins and emulators if I wanted to and get 80% of the way to where I want to be, tone wise, but there's something special about the tone of a tube amp recorded through a speaker cabinet that simply cannot be equalled by digital processing.

But, given the rate of progress in the field, I suspect that within another 10 years, that will no longer be true.
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Next time you’re out at a show of a band that’s younger than 50 and you see the bass player with a B15 snap a pic and post it in a quote. A studio owning one is not an accurate representation of demand. I agree it’s a wonderful sounding amp. And I’m GenX.
 
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#64
Killing Floor said:
Next time you’re out at a show of a band that’s younger than 50 and you see the bass player with a B15 snap a pic and post it in a quote. A studio owning one is not an accurate representation of demand. I agree it’s a wonderful sounding amp. And I’m GenX.
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LOL! I actually started to address this by stating that a studio setting is different from a live setting because there are very good reasons why a vintage tube amp isn't suitable for live gigs.

But, I deleted that part because I didn't want to risk being too pedantic. :D

I stand by my main point. There is a relatively high demand for vintage gear in professional recording studios because so many artists (young and old) are desirous of that unique sound, and it's more than just nostalgia (although that's part of it). It's simply easier to get that absolutely gorgeous B-15 sound by micing up a genuine B-15 amp than by using emulators and plug ins and multiple layers of digital processing.

My engineer friend tells me that having vintage gear as part of their inventory is essential for any serious recording studio. Having vintage microphones, amps, keyboards, preamps, processors, and other gear is a major draw for clients. They'll specifically ask for it, and if you don't have it, then they'll go somewhere else.

Understand that I'm a huge supporter of modern digital technology and I really don't have any nostalgia based reasons to support vintage analog gear, unless it's truly useful or has some other practical advantage.

Within the past two years, I've made an effort to unburden myself from a lot of material possessions that I've been carrying around with me for a long time, for no good reason.

I had an amazing record collection that I never listen to. I actually sold it for a decent amount of money because LPs are a fad right now.

I sold my Hammond M3 organ because why the hell am I keeping that anyway??? I sold it to a professional recording studio and they use it all the time.

I sold my Nikon SLR film cameras because I don't see myself ever shooting film again. Twenty years ago, I was telling people about all of the shortcomings of digital cameras. Five years later, that was all I'd use.

I'll never sell my 1967 Gibson Skylark guitar amp. Nor will I sell my Mesa M2000 bass amp (tube preamp). I still use both of them because they can't be replaced (at least, not yet) with modern, digital technology.
:D
 
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#65
"I'll never use them again and they're impossible to even give away for free. "

You answered your own question.
OTH, if they are any use to a school or interest group, it may not be a compliment to offer them, but at least you won't be the one to dispose of them.
Otherwise, toss e'm - they're worth exactly what you say they are - or, create a display of them as a historical presentation. I have my vintage collection under glass in a coffee table.
Your call...technology dies to make room for its progeny. Never stops...
 
#66
Killing Floor said:
Next time you’re out at a show of a band that’s younger than 50 and you see the bass player with a B15 snap a pic and post it in a quote. A studio owning one is not an accurate representation of demand. I agree it’s a wonderful sounding amp. And I’m GenX.
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You are unlikely to find ANY bassist using one live. They are heavy for what they are, underpowered for live use, and more likely to have issues with the rigors of the road.
 
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