Before heading into the classifieds section again...

[Dr Gaspar]

I need a second job. I'm a graphic designer, but I would also clean, cook and iron clothes.

PM if interested.


Jokes aside, I've been spending more time on ebay than on the streets taking pictures. I think my inner collector is winning the battle against my inner photographer. In fact, my inner photographer is not even fighting back.

Has this ever happened to you? I personally don't think it's bad, it's just that my inner collector lied, saying he would give all those cameras and lenses a good use.

 

[kxl]

Sure, although some of us regularly go through the binge-purge cycle of GAS (gear acquisition syndrome) and GLS (gear liquidation syndrome)... a vicious never-ending cycle.

 

[Vickko]

Um, yeah. Currently bitten by the Nikon F and F2 bug, and Leica R lens bug.

I think the Nikon bug is over, but suffering greatly under the Leica R bug, because I fell in love with a Leica R9. And it is killing my bank book.

R lenses haven't hit the stratosphere like M lenses, but still aren't cheap.

Vick

 

[nikon_sam]

I have finally been able to get rid of gear I don't need and won't use...and have gotten to the point where I look at stuff (ebay, craigslist, here) and can honestly say I don't need it I have enough already and it will just sit on a shelf anyway so walk away...
Two weeks ago I was at an estate sale at the end of our block...I did walk away with a small tripod and a lens with hood...I bought the tripod for myself but I had no reason to buy the lens because I don't have a camera for it...I bought the lens knowing it was an older lens (all metal) but I also saw that this lens and the hood were in Mint condition...
THAT impressed me more than anything....here is this lens maybe from the 70's that was in perfect condition...I had to have it mainly because it was so beautiful...
BUT I did know this when I bought it...that I would offer it here in this forum...I figured that it would take weeks before anyone saw the ad and responded...well it was less than 24 hours later that we struck a deal and the lens was off to it's new owner...more than anything I was thrilled that this beautiful lens was on it's way to someone who truly wanted and could/would use it...I felt great that I may have saved this lens from being thrown out and now it's doing exactly what it was made to do but up until now hadn't...
You would not believe just how many times I took that lens out of it's case just to look at it, turn the focusing ring, clicked the aperture settings and just fondled it...I did this one last time before placing it in a box to ship it off...I had to tell myself to stop, put it back before you drop this and feel really bad for holding it again...well I got it off to it's new owner and he was very happy with it and was planning on using it the same day he got it...
I've come to an honest point in my life where I can say I don't need any more cameras...That I need to really use the ones I already have and be happy with that...
Will I keep looking...sure...will I occasionally buy something...yup...BUT I can also let things Go..and at times that's more fulfilling than anything...

 

[shadowfox]

Don't fight it. It should pass.

In the mean time, read a lot about photographs, visit photo-exhibitions, learn about processes (darkroom, alternative printing, etc.), watch "Genius of Photography"

Plus, GAS can become a tidy profit center, if done properly.

 

[rxmd]

Plus, GAS can become a tidy profit center, if done properly.

In particular other people's GAS!

 

[ItsReallyDarren]

When a busy spell at work comes in and I'm spending a lot of time at the desk I tend to buy more stuff. A combination of more time at the computer and less time out making photographs makes me antsy for gear I probably don't need.

 

[konicaman]

Oh yeah, sure, of course, been there, done that. At the moment I am on a cold turkey - well almost - trying to minimize my collection to only Konicas, Voigtländers and a few FSU users. Heck I have cameras in plastic boxes under my bed and in my closet 😱

So watch the Classifieds in the near future!

The running FSU contest actually made me put a couple of rolls in a couple of cameras and go out shooting - man, did that feel great!

Happy collecting...oh sorry, I mean: Happy shooting 😀

 

[FalseDigital]

This has totally happened to me before! I'm starting to finally sell off all my collection except the cameras that I use most frequently. Sometimes having less cameras actually makes you more inclined to take more photos.

 

[Keith]

This has totally happened to me before! I'm starting to finally sell off all my collection except the cameras that I use most frequently. Sometimes having less cameras actually makes you more inclined to take more photos.

I've discovered that the only way to supress the inner collector in me is to make sure I don't have the money. I tend to drift in and out of employment and when I have the cash I'll buy something I don't really need every time!

I'm currently in the process of selling a little more gear that's not getting used ... the hardest part is deciding what must go.

Deep down I know that I only really need one RF body with a 50mm and 35mm lens and an SLR with the same but add an 85mm or a 90mm for portraits ... I virtually use nothing else outside these choices!