Hello & some help/advice!

[Sarah Lyndon]

Hi everyone,

My name is Sarah and I am a stage manager in London. I love taking photos, especially playing with the macro function, but I don't have a fancy camera - its a Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3, so not fancy, but I love it!

I'm really after a bit of help - I'm rehearsing a show at the moment called 'On The Record' which is a new piece of verbatim theatre based on 6 journalists around the world. One of these is war photographer Zoriah Millar, and so we need the actor playing him to have two DSLRs as props. We are working to a tiny budget so I'm after some advice from you knowledgeable people - we're aware how expensive this equipment is, so we've accepted that we will probably have to settle for broken ones - does anyone have any thoughts where I might find them?

For reference, a quote from an interview with Zoriah about his equipment of choice; "I shoot with two Canon 1DS MK11's, I carry one with a 16-35 2.8 and another with a 70-200 2.8. I carry my old 10D body as a back up and a backup long and short lens".

We don't need to have the exact same stuff, but as close as possible.

Any help or advice would be hugely appreciated!

Thank you,

Sarah

 

[Pete Askew]

Hi Sarah,

Welcome to the forum.

That is a tricky problem. There may be members who have some non-functioning cameras that could be used but the ones described are fairly modern and reasonably distinctive looking. It might be worth contacting Canon UK (if you haven't already) as they probably have some 'empty' cameras used at shows etc and be prepared to sponsor you in some way.

Hamish might have contacts via the sales reps. that come into the shop he is sometimes based in.

 

[Hamish Gill]

Hi Sarah ... (i used to have a LX3, nice bit of kit!)

Have you thought to try a camera repair centre? might be a long shot, but if they have old bits they might be able to help

Alternatively and possibly more likely an option would be to source some 35mm film cameras that look similar

a canon eos 1n might be an option, they dont look to dissimilar to the 1d..

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Canon-EOS...ilm_Cameras&hash=item2c5d9fae65#ht_500wt_1156

lenses might be a sticking point on price ... canon "l" lenes are big and have value from whatever era they come from .. that might have to come to the repair centre option

 

[Hamish Gill]

im not sure canon would loan anything them selves ... but it might be worth asking ... you would be best off talking to their PR department id have thought??

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Was going to suggest a 1D film body as well - no way anyone in the audience would be able to se the difference from their seats

And I see they are cheap!

The 16-35 is a fairly generic looking black lens, so a cheaper Canon fit lens could be substituted with little issue I expect

Here's a list of dead lenses on EBAY UK, from which you could pick

http://photography.shop.ebay.co.uk/Lenses-/3323/i.html?Brand=Canon%2520&_nkw=canon%20lens&_catref=1&_dmpt=UK_Lenses_Filters_Lenses&_fln=1&_ssov=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m282&LH_ItemCondition=7000

The 70-200 is an issue - as they are always expensive.

However, something you may want to consider is buying a replica 70-200 lens, actually a coffee mug copy of the lens, and have your props person modify it and glue it to a camera body.

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/sis.html?_nkw=CANON+EOS+CANON+EF+EFS+70+200mm+L+Lens+THERMOS+MUG+CUP

Looks just like the real thing - doesn't work - only costs a few quid, and a little time with a saw and some superglue

 

[Chris Dodkin]

If you're going down the glue on coffee cup lens route, then buy a dead Canon 1Dn. Saves money, and you won't feel guilty that you killed a perfectly good canon camera! LOL

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Canon-EOS-1N-w-Power-Driver-Booster-E1-Faulty-/150626675292?pt=UK_Film_Cameras&hash=item23120caa5c#ht_500wt_1156

 

[Pete Askew]

It would be a mercy killing Chris!

Some good ideas there though.

 

[Sarah Lyndon]

Pete, Hamish & Chris -

Thank you so much for all your ideas and advice (apologies for taking ages to reply).

I shall pass on to our designer and props person and see what they think...


S.x

 

[Sarah Lyndon]

Was going to suggest a 1D film body as well - no way anyone in the audience would be able to se the difference from their seats

And I see they are cheap!

The 16-35 is a fairly generic looking black lens, so a cheaper Canon fit lens could be substituted with little issue I expect

Here's a list of dead lenses on EBAY UK, from which you could pick

http://photography.shop.ebay.co.uk/Lenses-/3323/i.html?Brand=Canon%2520&_nkw=canon%20lens&_catref=1&_dmpt=UK_Lenses_Filters_Lenses&_fln=1&_ssov=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m282&LH_ItemCondition=7000

The 70-200 is an issue - as they are always expensive.

However, something you may want to consider is buying a replica 70-200 lens, actually a coffee mug copy of the lens, and have your props person modify it and glue it to a camera body.

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/sis.html?_nkw=CANON+EOS+CANON+EF+EFS+70+200mm+L+Lens+THERMOS+MUG+CUP

Looks just like the real thing - doesn't work - only costs a few quid, and a little time with a saw and some superglue

This is a brilliant idea Chris, thank you, I'm not sure we'd ever have found those on our own!
Just noticed you're in San Diego - beautiful city - I lived in Coronado when I was a kid.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

This is a brilliant idea Chris, thank you, I'm not sure we'd ever have found those on our own!
Just noticed you're in San Diego - beautiful city - I lived in Coronado when I was a kid.

No way - small world or what!

 

[Darren Bradley]

I was just in Coronado today! (There are two of us on this forum in San Diego).

Anyway, I'm late to the party and Chris already said what I was going to suggest (the coffee mug thing), so I got nothin'