GAS is definitely an illness

[noimmunity]

Until a week ago, the classifieds was always my portal of entry into RFF.

I reset my entry page to the forums listing, and now I have a much better time here.

 

[pdexposures]

Until a week ago, the classifieds was always my portal of entry into RFF.

I reset my entry page to the forums listing, and now I have a much better time here.

I've done the same recently. I'm reading, having fun and learning instead of shopping haha

 

[Spavinaw]

I've got so much stuff now that my GAS is pretty well under control. Of course occasionally I run into an offer I can't refuse, like a black Nikon FM2n with Vivitar 70-150mm lens for $75 or the large camera bag with Pentax LX, 50/1.7 lens, Kiron 30-80mm and 80-200mm lenses, 2X teleconverter, lens reverse mounting adapter, two different prisms, and sports finder with adapter all for about another $75. Some things you just can't pass up. Also a couple of Yashica T4's for $3 and $5 at the thrift shop.
Anyway, in the past some of my GAS has run along the lines of updating what I have. Got a basic Olympus Infinity Stylus. Then realized I needed a date version (everybody needs a date version camera for holiday and party pictures) so I got one. Then the panorama craze came along, and I got one of them with panorama. Since I liked these cameras a lot, I got to looking at the LT-1 versions with simulated leather covering in various colors; so lovely, so stylish, so cute. Of course I wanted panorama and everything. Eventually I found what I wanted on eBay. Didn't have pictures to confirm it, but the description said it had the panorama feature--TWICE! You guessed it--NO panorama feature. Anyway, I got it so cheap that I didn't complain or send it back, but I hate the lying seller to this day. By the way, I just checked eBay and found two LT-1's that claimed to have panorama but the pictures show they do not! Buyer beware. I have other similar tales, but I love y'all and respect your time, so I'll save them for another day. Cheers!

 

[Adso]

IMHO, forums are the main cause of GAS; they produce a compulsive shopping effect, kind of social feedbacked hysteria. I can see this same thing on every forum I use to visit. And not only with cameras: there are people out there spending lots of money on 30 years-old-new Porsches because they had read a good review from other user, even if they are far from being Warren Buffett.

Lately I'm more on a FAS period: after reading some news about the inminent increase of Fuji films and the possible discontinuity of some others, I spent more than $500 on all kind of film, even from some brands I had never used before...

 

[gb hill]

I had a bout with gas for a 85mm canon FD lens. Went to Keh & ebay to check prices. 😱 I no longer have gas. I'm satisified with my Tokina 135 for my train photography.

 

[aizan]

GAS is not a disease, or rather, it's often a symptom of a larger problem: PAD (Photographer's Anxiety Disorder).

 

[Jamie Pillers]

Akiva,
Here's my recipe for avoiding as much GAS as possible:
1.) Read at least 5 thorough reviews of [whatever product].
2.) After reading each review, ask yourself if this product will add anything to your ACTUAL enjoyment of photography.
3.) Never buy anything online between 6pm and 8am... no matter how much you want it.
4.) Replace any late-night thoughts of "The [product] being offered in the classifieds won't be there tomorrow!" with the thought "There'll always be another one of those for sale later."
5.) Check your desire-to-buy level after 8am the next day. Usually its gone. 🙂

This has been working for me fairly well over the past year or so. Not perfect, but its definitely help me clear out the shelves to a sane level.

Best of luck. And don't forget that there's probably a CAAA* meeting somewhere nearby tonight.

*Camera Acquisition Addicts Anonymous

 

[grapejohnson]

I had a bout with gas for a 85mm canon FD lens. Went to Keh & ebay to check prices. 😱 I no longer have gas. I'm satisified with my Tokina 135 for my train photography.

Just get an m42 Jupiter 9, that way you can get converters and put it on whatever SLR you like. That's what I did.

that is only if you NEED it. 😉

 

[froyd]

I bought a Leica in January of last year thinking it would cure my GAS.

Nope, all it did was make me want the expensive stuff instead. I used to be so happy with my thrift store finds...

Yep... there was a time when a $500 body and a $500 lens were really top end gear in my mind. Now I see a ZM Planar selling for 850 and think "what a bargain!"

 

[anjoca76]

Akiva,
Here's my recipe for avoiding as much GAS as possible:
1.) Read at least 5 thorough reviews of [whatever product].
2.) After reading each review, ask yourself if this product will add anything to your ACTUAL enjoyment of photography.
3.) Never buy anything online between 6pm and 8am... no matter how much you want it.
4.) Replace any late-night thoughts of "The [product] being offered in the classifieds won't be there tomorrow!" with the thought "There'll always be another one of those for sale later."
5.) Check your desire-to-buy level after 8am the next day. Usually its gone. 🙂

This has been working for me fairly well over the past year or so. Not perfect, but its definitely help me clear out the shelves to a sane level.

Best of luck. And don't forget that there's probably a CAAA* meeting somewhere nearby tonight.

*Camera Acquisition Addicts Anonymous

This about sums it up.

 

[Shirley Creazzo]

Guys - I am sitting here smiling knowingly. What all of you are describing is exactly what I witnessed with my young sons each time they finished restoring a hi-performance car, and said "this is it for a while." Then about a week later ..........................."

It is a kind of ailment relative to mountain climbing I suspect.

Don't feel bad. There are a lot worse symptoms you could be suffering.

 

[raphaelaaron]

to be honest, this forum gives me G.A.S.


already saving for an X100S in black if/when it comes out.

 

[aizan]

oh, you don't want that. the black paint makes the bloody built-in flash stick out more.

 

[canetsbe]

Is it still GAS if you're selling gear to fund the purchase of fewer pieces of other gear, resulting in a net decrease in overall gear???

 

[Thanimal]

...a little trick that works for me (aside from the obvious "go out and shoot") is to read reviews of the gear I already have.

This is really excellent advice.

 

[froyd]

Akiva- despite my advice above, I too have faltered and just this weekend have ended up with a new camera and lens despite promising to NEVER ever look at the RFF classifieds again after finding my dream 3 lens Leica M4 combo last year.

Lesson learned: when it comes to GAS the statute of limitations applies to the word NEVER.

 

[FrankHarries]

Is it still GAS if you're selling gear to fund the purchase of fewer pieces of other gear, resulting in a net decrease in overall gear???

I am asking that myself. At least selling keeps me a little from buying, it's sometimes so hard to part - even if I haven#T used a cam for about a year or more - I still have a hard time selling it, although I want to get the Fuji x100s. I have to admit: it's my wife who is - if not curing me from GAS - making it harder for me: "if you want to buy new cam, you have to get the money by selling some other stuff!!" its hard but I know, she (and this way) is the ONLY way to keep me from buying......at least, it slows the process down a bit 😀

 

[68degrees]

If you cann't control it anymore, buy a lenscap, a filter or a hood.

PS: Joe might tell you that a bag works to. 🙂

One thing I did to help curb my gas was I would just by the manual or print a nice photo of the camera I wanted and set it in the empty place on the shelf where it would go if I had it. Having it in the place where it would be somehow satisfied that there was no longer an empty space. After a while I didnt want some of them anymore and gas for that camera went away.
I almost made the medalist go away with this technique but it still has 20% grip on me.

 

[peterm1]

I am asking that myself. At least selling keeps me a little from buying, it's sometimes so hard to part - even if I haven#T used a cam for about a year or more - I still have a hard time selling it, although I want to get the Fuji x100s. I have to admit: it's my wife who is - if not curing me from GAS - making it harder for me: "if you want to buy new cam, you have to get the money by selling some other stuff!!" its hard but I know, she (and this way) is the ONLY way to keep me from buying......at least, it slows the process down a bit 😀

In my case its unspoken - the wife implies it mostly. But in any case I try to do it as a matter of self discipline. Its worse when you are like me and are into at least 4 systems including Leica. Sheeite! But I have been into Leica for so long that basically I have what I need and mostly what I want so my desires are mainly pointed elsewhere right now. At the moment I am craving a lens for my Nikon DSLR system. Sigma has made a 35mm f1.4 that everybody is raving about,saying its built like a high grade pro lens and most technical reviews are saying its better on the numbers than either Nikon or Canon equivalents can manage and in the case of the Nikon is a bit over half the price. So I have three other Nikon lenses up for sale to pay for it. But I know its the Sigma today but it will be something else tomorrow. I know this because last month I sold Leica glass to buy another Nikon lens. (And last year sold some Nikon glass to buy some Leica glass) Oh boy. My camera guy loves me.

 

[Heru Anggono]

I have tried many digital cameras over the last ten years, but I found nothing that gives me the rangefinder experience. So I stick with film. 3 years ago Leica hit the mark. No more the excuses, the M9 is a true full frame digital rangefinder experience. So I start saving. I was finally able to get an M9 with less than 3500 shutter actuations for $3400. Done, right?
I am still trolling the classifieds and not just lenses!!
GAS Anonymous anyone?😱😱

Don't feel too bad Akiva. Women suffer similar problem with clothes/fashion. So we're pretty even with them, I'm in the same boat with you regarding GAS. 😀