Gear Deacquisition Syndrome?

Dante_Stella

Dante_Stella

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Does anyone else get the opposite of Gear Acquisition Syndrome? In other words, do you ever get the insane urge to get rid of gear that you know might actually need?

D
 
I've done multiple round that. Of course that will ultimately result in another round of GAS, and that will lead to the new GDS and so on. I'm done with both for now. And when I say now, it's the next 24-48 hours.
 
I don't know about the very end of your post and "actually need." But, it is sure is refreshing to purge what you don't "really need."

I am at about 10% of my peak capacity and don't miss any of it.
 
I just cleared out a bunch of gear, but it wasn't an "actually need" bunch of gear. More like closet cleaning syndrome for things that I use sparingly.

That was just GAS in hiding.

Those funds went toward more gear.

Shawn
 
shawn said:
I just cleared out a bunch of gear, but it wasn't an "actually need" bunch of gear. More like closet cleaning syndrome for things that I use sparingly.

That was just GAS in hiding.

Those funds went toward more gear.

Shawn
Click to expand...

I hear you. I'm actually worried that lately I have unconsciously targeted something costing a couple grand and now am freeing up money for it by unloading stuff.

D
 
My logic (and a true story):

Hey I am a married man. I need to get rid of my excessive toys: Sell an M body.

1 week later,

Hey I NEED a 28/35mm CV mini viewfinder because we have a trip coming up and I don't want to carry two viewfinders.

1 day later,

Hey I am a married man. I need to get rid of my excessive toys to balance out the new purchase: Sell a couple of viewfinders.

1 week later,

Hey my wife wants color photos of our future trips: Buy an M Type 262.

I (and many of us) have issues.
 
No. I do not.

I view it as a community illness, a self-flagelation, a public wearing of the hair shirt, and part of that retch-inducing moan that somehow one's photos will improve if only one can get rid of stuff (or conversly, buy some new stuff). Navel-gazing of this sort never excites me.

I was just going to say no, but I had to post more than 10 characters.
 
Dante_Stella said:
Does anyone else get the opposite of Gear Acquisition Syndrome? In other words, do you ever get the insane urge to get rid of gear that you know might actually need?

D
Click to expand...

Uh huh.

Just sold off my BP MP, 500cm, and Mamiya 7.

Then promptly bought an M2, Mamiya 7ii, and an X100T.

I miss the old lineup, but the new team is also excellent.
 
i am in the middle of a major GDS at this very moment. i think though that 'what we need' is an ever-evolving concept, sometimes more quickly evolving than others.
 
Yeah I have done it twice now. Actually in the middle of realizing I have two many cameras right now. I like to have just one. But then I have to travel, then winter comes and wlf becomes a snow scoop...
 
I just sold a custom made 150mm Rodenstock Imagon in Pentacon Six mount to a friend in England. Now I am buying some small things but for now I think I am ahead overall. I have so much stuff it dosen't make a bit of difference.
 
In the great universe it is a physical law that for every act of GAS is an act of GDS. It's part of the Law of Conservation of Matter (ie. STUFF!!). Just be careful to not store your Nikon, Leica and Fuji stuff too close together in an open container since it would cause a mass imbalence and result in divorce.
 
I once had to unload almost all my gear for financial reasons. As stated above, it was painful, but it kept the rent paid for another month or two.

I kept my newest camera kit (Nikon N90s and lenses), a Yashica Electro 35 GTN for sentimental reasons, and my Dads' Argus CC. It was so long before I got back into shooting the POD went bad in the GTN. And I didn't feel like lugging the N90s around everywhere, so I basically felt like I was done with the whole film thing (the CC was pretty much worn out).

So when my situation improved, I bought a digital P&S camera that I never really bonded with. And with a lot of time on my hands, I got to thinking about all the great cameras I never got to experience when I was younger. I started buying anything I could find locally, which meant a lot of "needs repair" items. That got me started on doing my own camera repair. So I'd buy a camera, fix it up, give it a test shoot, and it was on to the next one.

So I now have too many cameras to keep them all in use. But at least they are all sorted out, and ready to be photographed for sale. This way I can concentrate on my Nikons, LTM, and medium format.

Not so much a de-acquisition, but a retreat from the many different camera platforms I've been chasing the last three years.

PF
 
Interesting, but not my experience.
While true that every act of GDS is followed/balanced by one or more acts of GAS, the relationship is asymmetrical. Not every act of GAS is followed/balanced by an act of GDS.
Don't take my word for it; speak to my closet, or family.
 
It goes this way:
Multiple gear to try, fix, learn. Selling all of it to get something one to keep.
This is how I have M4-2 and Summarit 35 2.5. The list of the gear to get it was huge.
I'm getting ready for another short sale wave at this time. Two MF folders, one view LF camera kit, one RF lens and couple of fancy miniature cameras. To get one...
 
Must be down to the last six or seven bodies by now. Haven't used the film gear much in the past five years. Probably time for someone else to enjoy it.
 
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