Some two years ago my long time friend and co-worker Alberto died leaving his widow with a two room studio packed with film and sound equipment. The local University took some of the old cameras (Standard8 through 16mm to 4K) but nobody wanted all that rack mounted audio processing equipment. All that stuff is done in software now so heading to the dump is what once cost thousands of dollars of non-biodegradable metals that no-one wants to use or recycle
The moral is before equipment becomes obsolete trade it in or you will be left with yet another load for the landfill and whenever possible do it in software.
ned c
Old equipment
-
Dave Watterson
- Posts: 1936
- Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 11:11 pm
- Location: Bath, England
- Contact:
Re: Old equipment
Good point ... and as most of us on this forum are aging something we should all consider.
New kit is expensive, but often the reason we don't change is because we feel too tired to tackle learning how the new stuff works. Ironically it often works better and more easily than the old.
Of course what really mattered was how a skilled person could use the tools. Alberto could work wonders with that "old fashioned" kit.
New kit is expensive, but often the reason we don't change is because we feel too tired to tackle learning how the new stuff works. Ironically it often works better and more easily than the old.
Of course what really mattered was how a skilled person could use the tools. Alberto could work wonders with that "old fashioned" kit.
-
James Mitchell
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Sat Mar 16, 2024 11:44 pm
Re: Old equipment
Ned
The reason we bought "non-biodegradable" kit is that it's all there was back in the day. No-one thought about the day when physical kit would become obsolete and would have to be disposed of.
I've bought a few old tape recorders to play with (see my post on film sound) and although they'll be disposed of when I depart this earth, I'm not going to beat myself up about any effects I may have on the planet post mortem. As I bought most of the machines as "non runners" to do up off E-bay , I've already postponed the time when it becomes land fill by in effect re-cycling (repairing) it. When I'm gone it will probably go to charity, so will yet again avoid landfill.
(As for trading equipment in, would anyone be interested in part-exchanging faulty 60 year old tape recorders for new kit? )
As you touch on, modern kit is not really kit any more but actually software which, as it exists virtually presents no disposal problems, which is the best way of doing things.
While I'm fascinated by old kit (hence a chronic lack of space in my garage) I could really get by with only my DSLR, digital sound recorder and PC to do any of the audio/visual things I do. Note, however, that while I love old gear, I only actually use (reasonably) modern digital equipment on a day-to-day basis for the versatility and ease-of-use it affords.
Exempting the PC, the rest of the gear can be carried in a small bag which is a blessing with increasing infirmity and age. You know you're getting old when you want a smaller and not a larger camera bag.
And finally, Dave, you're right - I feel too tired to learn anything these days.
The reason we bought "non-biodegradable" kit is that it's all there was back in the day. No-one thought about the day when physical kit would become obsolete and would have to be disposed of.
I've bought a few old tape recorders to play with (see my post on film sound) and although they'll be disposed of when I depart this earth, I'm not going to beat myself up about any effects I may have on the planet post mortem. As I bought most of the machines as "non runners" to do up off E-bay , I've already postponed the time when it becomes land fill by in effect re-cycling (repairing) it. When I'm gone it will probably go to charity, so will yet again avoid landfill.
(As for trading equipment in, would anyone be interested in part-exchanging faulty 60 year old tape recorders for new kit? )
As you touch on, modern kit is not really kit any more but actually software which, as it exists virtually presents no disposal problems, which is the best way of doing things.
While I'm fascinated by old kit (hence a chronic lack of space in my garage) I could really get by with only my DSLR, digital sound recorder and PC to do any of the audio/visual things I do. Note, however, that while I love old gear, I only actually use (reasonably) modern digital equipment on a day-to-day basis for the versatility and ease-of-use it affords.
Exempting the PC, the rest of the gear can be carried in a small bag which is a blessing with increasing infirmity and age. You know you're getting old when you want a smaller and not a larger camera bag.
And finally, Dave, you're right - I feel too tired to learn anything these days.