Mounting a Fisher is a complicated process, and there is a lot that goes into it. It is not like mounting any other camera, where all you need is a few screws and a piece of plastic. The good news is that if you are doing it yourself, it is not that expensive, and it is not that complicated. You will just need to do some research and find the right people to help you.
The following article will tell you how much it costs to mount a Fisher and what you need to decide whether or not to invest in one.
Table of Contents
What Is It?
The Fisher might not be the most well-known camera brand, but it certainly deserves to be. It all started back in 1884 when George Fisher invented the pin-hole camera. It was originally designed for use on trains, where it was difficult for the passengers to pull down the blinds blocking out the sunlight. So instead of blocking out the light, the camera recorded the passing scene as a series of small, dark images on a tiny film called a “plate”. The plates had to be developed at the end of the day, which meant they were sometimes exposed for hours, particularly during the day when the light was strong. The result was that the passengers got a continuous flow of interesting images as the train travelled from stop to stop.
The invention of the pin-hole camera was immediately recognized as having great potential and in 1885, George Fisher formed The American Photographic Company with his brothers. They set out to manufacture and sell the cameras, which quickly became very popular, in large part due to their innovative design. It wasn’t just limited to trains either, as the pin-hole camera allowed for easy taking photos in any environment, even if there wasn’t any light sources around. It was clear that a camera like this would prove to be very useful for anyone who enjoyed travelling or exploring the outdoors, so The American Photographic Company began focusing on selling cameras to tourists who were heading to places like the Grand Canyon or Yosemite. They also began creating cameras with a wider variety of focal length lenses, allowing for more creative compositions when taking pictures.
How Much Does It Cost To Buy One?
If you decide that you want to purchase a Fisher, you will need to decide how much you are willing to spend. It is not a cheap camera, and it certainly does not come without its quirks. The good news is that you can find them on sale for a significant portion of the price of a new one. The following are some of the more popular models and their price tags:
- Fisher i6SEL-II, $899
- Fisher M6SEL, $2,199
- Fisher M7SEL, $2,399
- Fisher M8SEL-II, $3,299
- Fisher M9SEL, $4,199
- Fisher M10SEL-II, $5,899
- Fisher M14SEL, $7,899
- Fisher M16SEL-II, $9,599
- Fisher M18SEL-II, $11,599
- Fisher M20SEL-II, $13,899
- Fisher M22SEL, $15,999
- Fisher M24SEL, $17,599
The Downsides To This Camera
There are some significant drawbacks to the Fisher, and they all relate back to the fact that it uses pin-hole cameras and film. First, despite its recent success, the company that produces the cameras has stopped making them. Since the early 2000s, they have begun to produce cameras with a CMOS sensor instead of a plate, making them cheaper to produce while also improving the image quality. The downside is that the plates cost around $200, so you are already spending close to $1,000 just to purchase a camera that takes such low quality images.
Another downside is that the film for the Fisher is extremely difficult to obtain. To begin with, it was not designed to be accessible for everyday use, so it does not have a standard film load. Instead, it has six pictures on one side, with the other side left blank. As a result, you will need to specifically purchase the camera with the intention of using it for film to avoid the hassle of having to develop the cameras every day. This is almost certainly one of the reasons why the Fisher was designed to be used on luxury trains and in high-end businesses rather than just by the general public.
Do You Really Need One?
While the above information should provide you with a good idea of what the Fisher is and how much it costs to buy one, the question remains: do you really need one? Let’s take a quick look at what the major differences are between the six models listed above and the standard point-and-shoot cameras that you can purchase at a local electronics store.
The first major difference is the format of the film used. The pin-hole camera only takes six small images that all fit on one side of the film, resulting in much higher image quality. You will also notice that the image quality is significantly better, particularly in low-light conditions. The downside is that the film requires more careful handling, as you will need to remove the glass plates to develop them, which is quite a task for the average person. Plus, developing pins can be pretty fussy and may require the use of certain chemicals that you might not have around the house.
For those who need to travel frequently for work, the M8SEL-II and its accompanying smartphone app provide an excellent balance between image quality and ease of use. It also has a much larger image buffer, which can store up to 100 images, enabling you to shoot much longer without having to delete them to make room for more. Finally, it is worth noting that the M8SEL-II has a much wider range of lenses available than the other models, providing further compositional flexibility when taking a picture.
How Much Does It Cost To Have One Mounted?
If you decide that you want to have a Fisher mounted, you will need to decide how much you are willing to spend for the service. It is not that complicated, as professional photographers and videographers who use the Fisher often have it mounted to a bracket attached to the solid metal camera back. These brackets can easily be purchased online for around $15, and all you need to do is find a spot to mount the camera. For the average person who doesn’t need to travel frequently for work, they can purchase a simple bracket that will allow for easy transport to and from the camera.
However, if you are looking to have a Fisher mounted in a permanent location, such as a studio or an outdoor location, you will need to have a specific one designed for the task. Depending on how big you want the lens to be, the depth of the mount, and how high you want it to be, the cost can range from around $500 to $1,500, with the average price closer to the higher end of that range. In some cases, the mount can be as high as three feet deep, so if you are looking to have a large lens mounted on top, you will need a tripod to ensure that it does not move when you shoot.
Wondering Which Camera To Purchase?
With all the information above, it should be clear what the Fisher is and why you may want to buy one, but now it’s time to find out which one to purchase. As previously stated, the cost of the camera varies significantly depending on the model and the number of lenses available. Therefore, if you are looking for a versatile camera that you can use in many situations, you may want to purchase one of the cheaper models, as you will be able to use the same lenses in a variety of ways. If, however, you are looking for a camera with a high-quality image, you may want to consider purchasing one of the more expensive models, as they have a higher image quality.
Final Takeaway
The decision to invest in the Fisher is certainly a significant one. It is not a cheap camera, and it requires a certain level of expertise to use it effectively. As a result, it is not an easy camera to own, and it is certainly not something that the average person should tackle without the help of a professional. Despite the above information, if you have already made up your mind that you want to purchase a Fisher, then use our handy tool below to get an estimate on how much it will cost to have one mounted and ready to go.