GAS is definitely an illness

[kshapero]

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?😱😱

 

[N.delaRua]

The internet is the worst contributor to GAS....... Now with speculation websites like the xrumors.... I can't contain my brain from dreaming about what is next.

 

[back alley]

i have a bridge that you might be interested in...

 

[kshapero]

i have a bridge that you might be interested in...

Is that in the classifieds? Then I'm interested.😛

 

[back alley]

private deal...just for you...

 

[PaulW128]

Akiva;

I hear you, it's unrelenting. Last week I read two reviews of 2 different cameras and after I finished, I NEEDED to buy them both!!

I asked myself if I was so weak, so lacking of moral fiber that I could be so easily swayed but I guess the answer is yes (haven't pulled the trigger on something yet but I want to!!

Good luck
Paul

 

[anjoca76]

I love RFF, but it's a terrible place for GAS. Everyone has new toys all the time and post images that show what those toys can do, and I suddenly find myself thinking I must own those too! Just last week I was sure I simply had to own a large format camera. Fortunately, my lack of disposable income prevents me from acting on those impulses....usually.

 

[back alley]

the biggest cause is that there is just so much really good gear available these days...plus really good old gear at very attractive prices! some of that old stuff was so expensive at one time that it was the stuff of dreams but now there it sits for pennies on the dollar!

 

[ferider]

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. 🙂

 

[gho]

Hey, accepting the problem is the first part of getting rid of it! I went down the camera buying route also and tried a lot of different systems, but the key was that the camera really did not improve or change anything with my photography.

Sure, cameras are wonderful machines and it is interesting to try all sorts of things out, but I guess I went through the gross of it and there is nothing new to learn camera wise. Now I am mostly using a simple, inexpensive point and shoot, well, rangefinder cameras of course and occasionally an TLR and very seldom a Graflex. I am keeping all the cameras I have and simply have stopped buying new ones for quite some time now. If I feel the itch to try something new camera wise, I simply take one of the cameras I own, but for my kind of camera use, the simple point and shoot really is mostly sufficient. Amazing. Well, probably I would not have learned that after going through all that gear.

On RFF I am still following the gear talk, it is quite interesting to follow the new developments, but I really do not want to buy anything new anymore for now. Instead I am thinking of getting rid of the unused stuff.

Good luck and happy shooting!

 

[hepcat]

Trying new stuff out is always fun. Trying new stuff out you got for a song is even better, and it's even better yet when you can re-sell your stuff for more than you pay for it.

But... eventually, you hit on a system that works for you and then, believe it or not, GAS really settles down. It's still fun to look, but you begin to realize that it's the looking that's most of the fun. It's the same with bicycles.... how many is enough? n+1. I think I'm buying another tonight. 😉

 

[Murchu]

Yep, step one is getting off the internet (imo)..

 

[PaulW128]

I first read about the Merrill cameras here on RFF, there were links to reviews on Luminous Landscape and Get DPI....1/2 hour prior I didn't even know these cameras existed and now I want one.

Then I go to Strobist and read David's excellent review of the Fuji X100s and within that review, there another link to Zack Arias's review of the same camera and now I want THAT camera as well!!

 

[gho]

I first read about the Merrill cameras here on RFF, there were links to reviews on Luminous Landscape and Get DPI....1/2 hour prior I didn't even know these cameras existed and now I want one.

Then I go to Strobist and read David's excellent review of the Fuji X100s and within that review, there another link to Zack Arias's review of the same camera and now I want THAT camera as well!!

Well, does not that simply tell that those guys are doing a good job? But I guess, even if you bought the cameras, there would still be something missing.

If we bring it down to a psychological perspective one theory could be that the camera is a substitute for something else that is missing. But as buying the camera really does not solve the underlying 'lack' the craving lingers on.

But as far as I know GAS has not been investigated in much detail scientifically.

 

[froyd]

I'm forcing myself to sell before I buy...it's been kinda hard seeing some really nice deals go by lately that I stopped myself from approaching (Akiva's M9, the recent M8 + Ultron package, and the deal of the week Biogon 35)

Thank goodness for eBay, though! My stuff never sells on RFF and then sells for a higher price when I list it on the auction site.

But like you, I finally came to the realization that I might just never be done trying new gear. I chalk it up to an inquisitive mind rather than crass consumerism.

 

[kshapero]

Of course GAS cuts both ways. At some point I will be listing some really cool gear. GAS on!

 

[froyd]

...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.

 

[grapejohnson]

I think a lot of it does have to do with how cheap incredible things are these days. And a lot of it has to do with seeing images of and from cool stuff. I bought so much stuff in the past few months, i've decided lately that I am just going to use it all and get to know it - but it kind of sucks, because sometimes I have too many lenses to pick from and can't decide what to bring with me for the day. I think the more you keep buying **** and the less you keep using it the more you want other stuff because you compare all the stuff to all the other stuff you have, if that makes sense. That's why I have an f/1.4 normal lens for all three of my camera systems. I feel like I have to have a comparable setup for all of them, which ends up making it harder to choose which ones to shoot on, and defeats the purpose of having different systems for different things.

 

[pdexposures]

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...

 

[Roger Hicks]

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?😱😱

Highlight: as we do say in Cornwall, "Bigger fool you." AA is a con job. Not everyone needs it: many CAN drink moderately after being 'diagnosed' as alcoholics. It's being persuaded that you are not strong/smart enough/godly enough on your own that is the problem.

Just take pics with the M9. To hell with others' whingeing and peddling.

Cheers,

R.