My trusty Canon 50D recently sent me a couple of Error 30 messages, which means the shutter is likely to fail. Or not. Replacement costs with work done by Canon are about $400 ($200 in labor) and I’ll go that route as I think the 50D is a terrific camera with a titanium (versus plastic) body. I’ll keep it as my telephoto lens camera, since its 1.6 magnification factor effectively turns a 100 mm lens into a 160. But I’m thinking of going to a full-frame Canon, the 6D, which gets high marks and costs $1,900. To raise the cash I’m thinking of selling my Hasselbald 500C, Rolleiflex 3.5, and probably my Nikon F2 with 35 mm lens. I dug these guys out of storage and dang, they are beautiful. Superbly crafted and built like a tank (no plastic here). I’d love to keep them as paperweights, but as a senior citizen, saving for the future doesn’t make a lot of sense, since the future is now. Any words of consolation for someone who’s considering ending a long relationship?
once you go full frame you will not regret it. I shoot with a 1DX
Been down that same road recently; only all my old film equipment was cheapie consumer gear. No value at all today, so all but the old 8mm film camera went in to the recycle bin. I would imagine the market for high-end pro gear is getting soft with lots of used gear available. Sell 'em while you still can.
I’m really a novice when it comes to this stuff. Can you explain “full frame”? No way I’ll ever be able to spend that much cash on a camera, but it would be nice to know what I’m missing :]
Joe… I’ve used all the film cameras you have listed and loved each one. That was way back in the middle ages… From 1960-1986, that is.
Sold the studio in 86… Started with a 4x5 Crown Graphic with film holders and flash bulbs to photograph weddings…
Loved the Hasselblad… The F2 was a fine camera…
Full frame digital is a grand way to go but I’ve been very happy with the smaller 14 meg in the Nikon 3100…
Surprisingly, I’m doing a great deal on my iphone 5…
Go figure…
Ain’t tek-nol-o-gee grand… 
Jon Radder said:
I’m really a novice when it comes to this stuff. Can you explain “full frame”? No way I’ll ever be able to spend that much cash on a camera, but it would be nice to know what I’m missing :]
“Full frame” cameras have a larger sensor that is the frame equivalent of 35mm film.
The entry level DSLR’s have a smaller sensor.
Ralph
Yeah, selling the stuff is the way to go. I just had another camera geek buddy weigh in on the 6D and he says it is terrific. This from a guy who owns a 5D Mark II and is pretty well off financially (he inherited something like $6 million). Jon you already got the explanation of “full frame.” One of its advantages is that because it has more pixels, it’s better in low light conditions, in addition to providing better images. Or so I’ve read. Stan, yup, I went down the 4 x 5 road and once owned a Linhof Super Technica, which I sold for a song. Sheet film had a steep learning curve, though. If ya didn’t get the film under the guides, when you went to reinsert the dark slide, it would jam against the film and not go in. Ask me how I know this. As for the iPhone–yessir, I shoot more stuff on my 4S than I do with my 50D. The phone is always around and can do some remarkable things like balance light nicely. Plus I can email a photo straight off, although the 6D and other new cameras have wi-fi capability.
Not to muddy the waters, but something else to posit is these rangefinder-like cameras such as the Fuji X100-S, which seem to be stealing the DSLR’s thunder. Many of them look like old Leica M3s, are fairly small and unobstrusive, make no noise, have great available light capability and make great “guerrilla” cameras–like for taking candid pictures of “life.” Some have only a single lens, usually a 35-mm equivalent, so you’re limited in what you can get. But they tend to blend in with the scenery, and if ya gunk ‘em up like pro shooter Zack Arias does (by pasting black gaffer tape over the shiny parts and beating up the lens shade and camera strap), they look like trash, but take stupendous pictures. Just sayin’…
i have a collection of nikon film camera if anyone is lookin