Go one year without buying

Vickko said:
On my birthday, I am going to try to go one full year without buying.

I may sell stuff, but I will not buy any gear.

I will buy only film.

Let's see if I can do this.
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You can definitely do this. I seem to be on board as well - with my M4 & 35 summilux, Hexar AF, and Rolleiflex, I really have no desire for more cameras or lenses. I don't know about a year, but it'll be a good long while before I buy anything other than film.
 
Vickko said:
On my birthday, I am going to try to go one full year without buying.

I may sell stuff, but I will not buy any gear.

I will buy only film.

Let's see if I can do this.
__________________
Vick

35mm : Leica 1A, M4, M9, R6.2, Nikon SP/F2, Xpan II, Olympus OM4TI
6x6cm: Hasselblad 501CM, 203FE, SWC, Rolleiflex 2.8F, Wide
6x9cm: Fuji 690II/III, Bessa II, Super Ikonta 531/2
4x5in : Technika Master, Crown Graphic
Durst L1200
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Don't do it!!! With what are you going to shoot all that film then?! :D
 
I also wanted to go on a gear diet some weeks ago, but I find lately very good deals pop up, the new M and new generation digitals, seems to motivate people bringing the 'good analogue stuff' for trade in to their photographic dealers, to be able to swallow the price.
makes it sometimes impossible to resist. so the 'dream' analogue camera we always wanted seem to come within reach for us film shooters.
 
O.k. That's a tough one. Say you see a sweaty blinking at you for just five bucks, could you ever resist? :)
 
Vickko said:
um, already working on exclusions.

But what if that "Three crowns Leica IIIg in black" shows up at a Sally Ann and I'm the only one there?
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Hi,

Well, um, you could hire it by handing over the ten dollars and then return it after the year is up or reconsider its future.

Regards, David
 
I'm a short way off being able to avoid buying for a year. I've got a film SLR kit I'm happy with, I have the fixed-lens RF I want, I've just bought a CSC that I want to develop the system, and I now have a scanner, but my shopping (wish) list includes:

New PC (not just for photography - all internet use including radio as well as media centre)
17/2.8 Pancake lens
40-150/3.5 Telephoto zoom lens
EP-5 body
VF-4 EVF
Zeiss Ikon ZM with 35 Biogon & 85 Planar

Realistically, the first three are the only ones I'm getting in the foreseeable future.
 
Really, I can't remember the last time I bought anything. Oh: yes I can: a new printer (Epson 3000) in February or March. The old one had stopped working. Apart from that... no, I just don't remember. The idea of "a year without buying" strikes me as akin to "one camera, one lens". Either it comes naturally, or it doesn't. If it doesn't, why force it? And if the right thing comes up at the right price, why not buy it? Either for fun or for profit?

Cheers,

R.
 
I was just posting that the last gear I bought was my EM5 and that was well over a year ago, then it dawned in me. I bought a Minox 35PL YESTERDAY for $1. That counts I guess.
 
First world problems!

Challenging one's self not to be excessive ... our version of fasting I guess? :)
 
Roger Hicks said:
Really, I can't remember the last time I bought anything. Oh: yes I can: a new printer (Epson 3000) in February or March. The old one had stopped working. Apart from that... no, I just don't remember. The idea of "a year without buying" strikes me as akin to "one camera, one lens". Either it comes naturally, or it doesn't. If it doesn't, why force it? And if the right thing comes up at the right price, why not buy it? Either for fun or for profit?

Cheers,

R.
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I suppose because some of us have a problem with with buying stuff. I used to buy and sell very frequently. Although it's exciting at the time, getting that new parcel in the post, I found that it was making me a bit miserable. So I got rid of everything I didn't want or need, and am now down to 4 cameras from 9. Also, only one of those cameras has interchangeable lenses.

So, basically, I thought I liked buying cameras, but I don't, I like owning nice ones, certainly, but the constant churn was quite unpleasant in retrospect. I'll buy more cameras, sure, but now they'll be more considered choices based on wants and needs rather than immediate gratification.
 
Vickko said:
On my birthday, I am going to try to go one full year without buying.
. . . .
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Great idea, Vick !
You will be driving prices downward - fewer buyers !
Thank you, good buddy :D

Seriously, good luck with the plan - save your money for a year, then splurge .
 
Sounds like a good plan. :)

I'll try that till my bday now...3 months to go.
Should be hard enough. :D
 
I guess I've always bought my gear for what it could do. I've learned over the years that there isn't much I can't shoot with a set of large-aperture 28-135 lenses, a second body for redundancy, and a Visoflex III for closer work. Or the equivalent equipment in SLR-land with the exception of a longer tele. When I was shooting DSLRs I had three bodies and would upgrade the oldest about every 18 mos or two years so I wouldn't fall too far behind, but I never bought on the 'bleeding edge.'

I switched back to Leica at the end of 2012 and had a buying-and-selling spree to change systems, but I really haven't bought anything since then. Well, until this week: I did buy a used Panny GX1 and lens as a p&s.

I find that there's a pretty simple test to gauge whether a purchase is necessary: "what can I do with this gizmo that I can't already do with the gizmos I have?" If the gizmo lends substantial functionality, then it's probably a worth-while buy. If it is merely going to add to clutter, then I probably don't need it. And even then, I try to buy my gizmos used and bundled with accessories so I can sell the accessories and have as little invested in the gizmo itself as possible.
 
thegman said:
. . . So, basically, I thought I liked buying cameras, but I don't, I like owning nice ones, certainly, but the constant churn was quite unpleasant in retrospect. I'll buy more cameras, sure, but now they'll be more considered choices based on wants and needs rather than immediate gratification.
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A wonderful analysis!

Cheers,

R.
 
hmmm...., not sure if I'm happy with all these "fast" intentions. Won't make it easier to sell that wonderful M4, beautiful 3.5 Summaron and excellent 90mm Elmarit still sitting in my "for sale" drawer impatiently waiting for a new user.... :)
 
Vickko said:
Oh god, I think I've just made my last purchase. Leicaflex SL2.
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I thought you'd acquired one of those already..?

It really is time to clear out some of the unused stuff around here. But I've not had the time available to do it in recent months. Perhaps as Fall arrives ...

G
 
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