Gear Deacquisition Syndrome?

[Soeren]

Nope the everlasting regrets after selling a Bronica SQ-ai was an effectively vaccine against that confusion, never again. That was eleven years ago, I wonder what would happen if I finally get another one.

 

[Stephen G]

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

Yes, I sort of feel I am doing that to make way for the Q.
I keep telling myself to not buy any new kit until at least September and the inevitable "new M" announcement..

 

[jsrockit]

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

Not that I might need... but any gear that is worth anything and is not used for a period of time needs to go. It gives me anxiety seeing it there. I just don't have the collector's mentality.

 

[willie_901]

If I actually have a reasonable need, then I keep it. Otherwise...

 

[Michael Markey]

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

Yes ... I got rid of some nice film gear (but kept the M bodies and glass).
Sure I regret it from time to time but I just didn`t like loads of cameras cluttering up the place .

 

[Dralowid]

Break the cycle, buy a boat or if you are far from water, a classic car. Either (or both) will consume funds at a rate that will prevent future GAS and encourage DGAS.

 

[daveleo]

I have sold off all my gear (down to one camera / one lens) at least 3 times in my life, with the intent of simplifying / minimalizing my photography. Each of these epochs was followed by a backlash epoch of buying stuff all over again.
I have learned to accept with this cycle as part of "who I am", I guess 😀

 

[Mark A. Fisher]

I'm in the process of De-Gassing right now. When I taught I would pick up film cameras for students to use. Now that I'm not in the classroom I have given a great many of them away to former students - about 50 cameras of different stripes so far. I'm now to the point where the more expensive ones - Hasselblad, etc - are on the market as well, to friends and colleagues. I'd like to get down to maybe 2 or 3 digital bodies/lenses, and 4 or 5 film bodies/lenses.

But I've been looking at the Fuji X100T, the X-Pro2, a Nikon Df, a ...

Well, maybe my De-Gassing is doomed already...

 

[B-9]

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....

How's the Summarit? One of those lenses I always find myself looking at.

I also enjoy the cycle of selling, buying, selling. So many cameras to try, but no so much cash to do it with. I see no wrong or illness in this cycle, I would argue it's actually an act of responsibility, no need to involve money where it's not being utilized.

I also get in moods, I want a different lens, I'm bored with the one I have.

This is refreshing, a new piece of gear lets you get excited about your shooting if your feeling bored.

Some things you just do not like even after all the hip reviews you've read, nothing wrong with sending it on its way.

I believe we all have GAS and GDS here at RFF, why else would we be here ranting over cameras?

 

[jamin-b]

Sounds like the binging and purging may be part of the same phenomenon / disorder.

Not a problem for me, since I don't suffer from GAS, I am a COLLECTOR! 😀

 

[JOCO34]

There is something about getting a new peice of gear That makes you feel like your work will be vastly better. Of course we all know the truth of that! Then there is an opposite feeling of liberation in selling off unused gear in the hopes of getting that new stuff. It all repeats so go to the beginning of this comment.

 

[Vics]

A young photographer is on his way over to pick up ALL of my darkroom gear. Hallelujah.

EDIT: Hallelujah! It's Gone!

 

[Huss]

I love the mechanics of camera gear, as much as using it. But I have too much stuff now, so will be selling off.
I'm thinking of only having Nikon as my film SLR system, which means I'd sell off my Minolta XK gear w AE and AE-S heads, lenses etc. As much as I like it, it's just too much stuff.
Most probably sell off my mint CLEs, as now that I have an M7 I don't see using them.
Sell my mint Widelux F8 because while I fell under The Dood's spell, my Noblex has a sharper lens and more useable shutter speeds for much much less money. It's so perfect I don't want to use it in case I put a mark on it. The curse of mint gear.

etc
etc

 

[Timmyjoe]

Yeah, I'm one of those, if I ain't using it, sell it. Drives my wife crazy. Not the selling it part, the six months later, "Damn, now I have a project where I could really use that ______ that I sold six months ago." part.

And the stupid thing is that most of the gear I sell is in pristine condition (I keep things regularly serviced), and worth less than $1000. So I sell it, don't make a whole lot of money in the process, and six months later I need/want it again, but can't find anything in the condition of the stuff I sold.

Tis a vicious cycle.

 

[Jockos]

Currently trying to sell a 50 summarit, that I reallly think I should keep; every fall, I complain that I don't have a small 50mm that fits in my coat pocket! I sold the coll. 'cron, I sold the coll. elmarit, I sold the 40 nokton, and always regretted it.
I love the Summilux, but even my largest coat pockets are simply to small!

 

[Noll]

I spent the latter half of my 20's buying up almost anything I could find, in addition to the occasional ridiculously expensive digital whatever. Now, in my early 30's, after a thorough re-evaluation of my relationship with money (which is just another form of time and freedom), my acquisitions have flat-lined and I plan to sell off a lot of gear in the coming months. I doubt I'll ever re-acquire as much.

But my philosophy is this: Keep the bare minimum of what you need and go places. Use your freedom for experiences rather than things, because everything we own is gonna end up in a dumpster one day. For the man of modest means, I think this is the only rational way forward.

 

[jsrockit]

Use your freedom for experiences rather than things, because everything we own is gonna end up in a dumpster one day.

I've come to find sometimes expensive experiences end up in the dumpster somewhere in my mind. Sometimes things do it for you, sometimes experiences... none do it 100%! I find that buying a camera allowed me to enjoy myself year round.

 

[lawrence]

I am just now going through this, having acquired four 35mm lenses when really I only need a couple at most. Trying to figure out which to keep and which to sell is a nightmare. In case anyone's interested:

• Nokton 1.4 S.C.
• Summicron IV
• Summicron ASPH
• Biogon 2.0

 

[robert blu]

All tha cameras a do not use have a sentimental value for me and a very low monetary value, therefore no desire or reason to sell.

The only piece I sold was a lens I still regret having sold!

But I do not buy so much on the other side...

Robert

 

[lxmike]

Recently l have paired down my gear, to three fuji x digital bodies, two 35mm film bodies and a 6x6 body, plus glass.