LOL...I think I must have a larger 35mm camera collection than the Smithsonian does.
I sold all my large and medium format TLR cameras about 15 years ago to a budding photographer. She made me a deal I could not refuse, and off they went. Speed Graphics, Rolleicords and Flexes, Yashicamats, Mamayas, you name it. The things I could not rid myself of were the spy cameras, the 35s and my bellows lense collection in various formats.
As for Albert and Müller system clarinets--yeah, it's an addiction. Who cares if they're 20 cents off, here and there? They are brillianly constructed pieces of history. I will keep a handful of my no longer viable cameras, but I've decided to sell many recently, as I have no heirs passionate about them, and they are money in the bank.
The difference between film cameras (no matter how top of the line they were), is that without film (Tried to purchase any recently? It exists, but not at the corner store or the drug stores, anymore), a changing bag, chemicals and a darkroom, they are only shelf items. A clarinet, no matter how old it is, once tuned up will ALWAYS provide decent (if not good or excellent) sound, as well as aesthetic appeal.
Yeah, I'm in the same boat and I want to get back to dry land. See the only "problem" with vintage clarinets is there availability - they're literally only a mouse click or two away from appearing at the doorstep. My wife is not a fan of collecting things and I can totally see her point. I have vintage film cameras as well, and just like clarinets, they're all different but ultimately produce the same results.
I'm getting to point of stopping or at least slowing down this runaway clarinet train. I always feel like I'm looking - just to see what's on the market and what certain instruments are selling for . . . . . that's a slippery slope.
I still find 35mm film at places like Walmart and occasionally Rite Aid. Developing is another matter. CVS does a decent job, but you don't get your negatives back.
Costco, on the other hand, ONLY gives negatives back and does not do prints.
The only place I've seen that *might* give prints and negatives is Walgreens, but I've never tried them.
Otherwise, it's off to some online store at right around $20/roll.
It's definitely a rich man's game and costs a bit too much for me to risk having a roll of terrible pics.
