Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Terry Richardson Bought My Point-and-Shoot Film Camera

I recently sold a point-and-shoot 35mm film camera on eBay to someone named Terry Richardson in New York City. I asked (via email) whether this was *the* Terry Richardson--the fashion photographer who famously uses compact "point-and-shoot" 35mm cameras to do his high-paying fashion photography...? Well, I didn't get an answer.

Of course, this leads me even more to believe it's probably him...(!)
(Update: He did eventually email me back. His message: "Hi,yes its me...love that camera its awesome for street shots..and fits in my pocket better then the yashica. keep on clicking...thanks Terry")

Terry Richardson is renowned for shooting with a compact 35mm film camera that is no longer manufactured: the Yashica T5/T4 Super. As a result, Yashica T5/T4 Supers now sell for more used than they did new in the 1990s!

It would make sense that he would have to buy more used Yashica T5s/T4s on eBay when they wear out because they're no longer made--or even, probably, serviced--by Yashica. (Does Yashica even still exist as a company?)

But that is not what he bought from me.

Terry Richardson--this one in New York City--bought a compact, point-and-shoot camera from me that was not made by Yashica. It was another relatively famous point-and-shoot 35mm film camera that was manufactured around the same time as the T5/T4 Super.

Now I'm inclined to keep it a secret so that the price on this gem doesn't get as inflated as it's become on the Yashica T5s/T4s. However, if someone guesses it, I'll come clean and tell you what it was.

Note: anyone who posts a "Who Cares!" comment has become too jaded for their own good...;-).

Michael Grace-Martin is a professional wedding, portrait, event, stock, and fine art photographer based in Upstate New York. He is also the author of this blog. All images and text are (c) Michael Grace-Martin Photography. His main website is: http://www.mgm-photography.com/.

10 comments:

  1. Let me just add that it wasn't a Contax, so you don't come back guessing Contax T and/or Contax T2...:p

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  2. Amazing.. Can't think. An Olympus Epic perhaps Darn! Hahahaha.

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  3. You're very warm, but that's not it either...:-)

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  4. Hahaha.. I don't think I'll get it. They only Olympus' I can think of from around that period are the Stylus, LT series or Trip. Maybe I need to do more research.. I'll keep on trying. Thanks. Love your flickr page.. Cheers!

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  5. Thanks, great to hear! Look in your Flickr mail...;-)

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  6. Was it a Ricoh GR1? That's one of the few I can think of that would be more compact than a T4 and has a good reputation for street shots.

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  7. Ding ding ding! We have a winner. To be even more specific, it was a Ricoh GR1s. It would be cool to actually see some photos he's taken with someday. Maybe I'll ask him to send me some so I can post them on my blog...:-).

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  8. Michael, that would be AWESOME if he sent you some.

    On the plus side (if you can call it that) the GR1's are already popular. I doubt they'll go up any more just because Terry is using one. Or at least I hope not...

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