Anyone willing to donate a professional camera? HELP!!!?

Question

I'm starting my own photography business but I don't have the money to purchase a camera. If anyone is so kind I would greatly appreciate it if you could donate me a camera. I don't care if its used or old I just want to take portraits and develop my eye for photography. If you are so kind i'll be sure to contact you by email. Thank You All So Much!!!!

Answer 1

I think my husband may be willing to do that......but he is thinking that you wouldn't want a film camera......he has a nice used one that is pretty nice but it is film.....we would love to help you out if you want it.......I checked and saw that you take email but I can't do that I don't think.....he is checking to see right now what he has so I will modify this in a second or two....hope we can help!!!

He wants to know if you want a film camera.......is that okay..it's a pretty good one but it is film.....so is that what you want is what we need to know before we go on.....don't want to waste your time......!!!!!!!

Answer 2

Some pros use $15 Holgas (with their light leaks, cheap plastic lenses, etc.) and sell the images as fine art for an awful lot of money. So I would say that a "pro" camera isn't going to make you a "pro."

If I were in your shoes (and I was once), I'd look at finding an M42 screwmount body. Try something like a Mamiya 500DTL. They usually go for $10 on Ebay. It should come with a 50mm lens (usually an f1.8 or an f2...but maybe an f1.4). Since your interested in portraits, look for an off-brand 135mm f2.8 to go with it. There are lots and lots of 135mm's out there, and since it's a fairly simple optical design, they're usually pretty good (portrait lenses can be a little soft anyways).

After you've learned a bit, sold a couple shots, and have some extra money, go over to www.keh.com and get this set-up:

Bronica ETRS body - BGN condition - $53.00
Waist Level Finder - BGN condition - ~$50.00
120 Back - BGN (engraved) - $33.00
75mm f2.8 - BGN condition - $19.00
150mm f3.5 (optional but good for portraits) - BGN - $65.00

Since you'll be shooting medium format at this point, you'll have a camera that will give better results than 95% of digital cameras on the market. Up until Tamron quit manufacturing the Bronica line a couple years ago, this was a "PRO" camera. There's still a lot of Bronica users out there, too. Eventually parts and repair may get a little problematic, but I think you should have several years of good use out of such a system.

Best of luck to you!

Answer 3

Well I can give a few leads, though I think since you want to start a business you should be willing to spend a little money because one thing you will quickly realize as a photographer is that photo equipment is expensive.

Try pawn shops and secondhand electronics places, eBay is another bet, though you can't guarantee quality because you won't be able to see it before you buy. You will get the most flexibility these days with a decent minded digital camera because then you can do all your adjustments digitally, with old school print photos you will need more than a camera, you will need a black room to work in and a developing setup, which is where it will really cost you because there is a special light machine you need to use and you need to ventilate (expensive install) your workspace because you have to soak the prints in different chemicals, and then you if you want to do any of those cool image tricks then there is additional things you will also need. For a starting photographer you should go with an old 35mm camera which is the classic basic camera most photographers start out with. If you want to do it as a business you have to have a black room, you will never make any money if you have to get someone else to develop your prints.

Your best bet is to do some business research and do up a business plan for your expenses, if you really want to make it a business you should be looking to get a small business loan to set yourself up a studio with basic equipment. If you don’t know how to do up a decent business plan check out your local college and pay a third of fourth year business student to do it up for you for a few hundred. It will be worth the cost if you are not that great with business figures.

A free ride will not be in the making in this business. You could try to hook up with an established photographer or studio, get a feel for the ropes of the business, and if your work our they might be into selling you their old equipment because some studios like have a few independent photographers on call because on Fridays and Saturdays you can get a number of weddings or other event happening at one time and having more than one photographer comes in handy. You will defiantly need a reliable form of transportation.

Answer 4

I wish you well, but.....

You're starting a business without equipment (and probably without much knowledge as well) and without money????

Jeeez, Louise.

Oddly enough, photography is one of the very few areas you will hear comments like that. The assumption is that everyone can point a camera and snap a picture, so everyone can be a professional photographer. You never hear, "Well, I have a scalpel, I'll start a surgery clinic", or "I have a wrench, let me fix your car."

Of course, you CAN become a successful pro photographer without a single formal lesson, but it takes some time, hard effort, failures along the way, trial and error. and perhaps a bit of luck.

Oh......and it takes a camera.

Answer 5

used cameras dont cost a lot ($50?) so i feel it would be better to do some research on which camera you acquired rather than being a freeloader all your life

Answer 6

NOT CAMERA, BUT OTHER EQUIPMENT IF YOU NEED AND YOU ARE IN NY CITY

Answer 7

no