A year without camera purchases

I could do that and I believe I have...now does trading count as buying...??? Just asking..
What would be harder is not looking...
I've said it before but for now I'm good on gear...my last two acquisitions were through trading, in one I finally got the body that's eluded me for some time and the second I happen to find a very nice lens that I didn't even know I wanted...
 
Vickko said:
How would you go a year without camera or lens purchases, regardless of intensity of GAS?

Selling is acceptable.

But no purchases.

Buying and processing film is okay, so is buying and using consumables for printing digitally.
Click to expand...

Try being out of work. I recently bought a camera, and the last one was bought in 2008.
 
I don't think i've bought or sold anything in over two years, aside from the $5 i spent last month on a thrift shop Olympus Stylus.

I think the digital takeover has had a tremendous impact on my GAS. I used to want so many different film cameras. Even though i will have to buy a 5DMkIII soon, it's with reluctance. It doesn't excite me. I got so much more 'juice' just the other day when i thought about (re-)buying a Contax RX.... Film cameras are so much better for fondling.

I was in a Sony store last week, and they had a refurb RX1 for $2400. I toyed with it, for the first time. It seemed to do everything one would expect of it. Felt solid, etc. But, like every other digital, it's sorta soul-less. Just another device.

I never thought i'd be able to go two years without an acquisition, but Finances and Digital combined to make it easy.
 
I did not purchase new gear in a 365 day period between Feb. '12 and Feb. '13. I just used my D7K constantly, to the point where I'm wearing paint off of it now. I did add an X100 back into the mix in the last two weeks.
 
I was pretty good over the last 3-4 months, as I didn't purchase any photo gear. Until about a week ago when I saw a mint condition somewhat rare Tamron SP 300mm f2.8 (latest 360(b) model) lens come up for sale. I have fantasized about having a superfast super telephoto lens for about 30 years now and just couldn't resist. I have rationalized this GAS lapse in my mind by thinking about the perfect glass and huge front element, near perfect cosmetics, ultra light internal focusing that allows one to focus with one finger, and extremely bright and easy viewfinder focusing.

On the bright side, my resistance overall to GAS is getting better, as I am making far fewer purchases. On the downside, my lapses -- when they occur -- are much more expensive!
 
I can understand the hand wringing about gear (GAS) excessiveness if your kids don't have shoes to wear, you're living on beans and rice and your priority in life is your next piece of photographic gear while your financial situation crumbles around you.

Otherwise ... where's the problem?

You can still be a serious photographer and have a sh!tload of camera gear that gives you as much pleasure as the philatelist (who probably never posts a letter) gets from his/her stamp collection.

'Enjoy' the fact that you are financially able to be this way for chrissakes! 😀
 
Just did that. My previous purchase was an X100 on March 2012. A couple of weeks ago I've fallen for a black painted M2 offered in this site. Normally, my purchase rate was one camera per month (mostly cheap, of course).
 
The last time I bought any sort of camera gear was September 2011. I got a Panasonic 20mm f1.7 lens for my EP1. That said I have the itch for a X-E1 pretty bad.
 
I'm almost where I want to be, as far as cameras. Haven't bought one in about two months, but mostly because I've been super busy.

Last purchase was an Exakta 66 -- the vertical version.
 
For a period of 8 years, I did not purchase any camera gear. I did that by not visiting shops, e*bay, or forum classifieds. I like shooting film with classic cameras and have most of the gear I wanted and can afford. I caved-in last year and made purchases.
 
But what if I bought it for 'investment' and there is always a 'potential profit' upon resale, that is not GAS now, or is it? 😀
 
Vickko said:
How would you go a year without camera or lens purchases, regardless of intensity of GAS?

Selling is acceptable.

But no purchases.

Buying and processing film is okay, so is buying and using consumables for printing digitally.
Click to expand...

I've bought a lot of stuff over the past two-three years, and another little burst recently. But I'm almost poised to slow WAY down now, sell off all the stuff that I enjoyed experimenting with, and get to work on some photographic projects. I know what I want to work with now, and have acquired most of it already.

Once I get to that zone, I'll be buying very little other than materials for a good long while. Let's see when/if I can call a start 'Mark!' and not buy anything for a year or two. 🙂

G
 
I haven't managed to not buy any new gear for a year since 2005 when I first joined Rff 🙂

However, my goal this year is to stop my gear acquisition and just concentrate on taking photographs!

With my, hopefully, very last purchase of a battered (but good user) Rolleiflex Automat 6x6 I believe that I have every base covered camera & lens wise.....,,,,,,,,

(One way to stop buying gear is to tell myself that I can't buy another camera except for the new Leica M (240), which is so far out of my budget that I won't be tempted for a very very long time...)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
Suggestions / advice for new camera
2 3
Replies
45
Views
2K
silvershadelynx
S
Peter_S
A cautionary tale about buying on Ebay from Japan
3 4 5
Replies
80
Views
10K
aw614
A
kxl
W/NW: Solo portrait of a friend, partner, spouse or loved one
2 3
Replies
44
Views
2K
underlord
underlord
Pioneer
Argust Day 25
Replies
0
Views
247
Pioneer
Pioneer
O
Rewinding MP without engaging the 'R' lever
Replies
5
Views
589
onehappybunny
O
Back
Top Bottom