Help Required...

[dcsang]

Ya.. I need help alright.. serious psychological assessment.

How do you guys stave off The Beast; The Great Tempter; The Prince of Lenses etc. etc.

How do you retain your sanity when you're presented with such fine glass; such good prices and such friendly and trustworthy sales folk?

I'm talking about the usual stuff here.. GAS.

I really should be concentrating on other things like home renovations etc. but then there's this excellent lens ... and it would go so well with some other items I have.. or am receiving soon... :bang:

How do you guys and girls say "Nope.. I'm going to take a vow of abstinence" when it comes to gear !!!

Resisting Temptation,
Dave

 

[rover]

Just give in. Eventually you will, better sooner than later.

 

[FrankS]

If I have the money in my photography stash then I buy what I want. The money in this stash comes from paid photography work and from the sale of unused photo gear. If I don't have the $ to buy what I want, then I don't.

 

[Toby]

Have you outgrown what you have? If not concentrate on growing the brain that holds the camera -the really important piece of camera equipment

 

[JoeFriday]

I just buy new gear and sell old gear to pay for it.. in theory, at least.. I haven't gotten around to selling any old stuff yet

 

[captainslack]

I look at my bank account. That usually settles me down.

 

[dcsang]

I just buy new gear and sell old gear to pay for it.. in theory, at least.. I haven't gotten around to selling any old stuff yet

I think you know my situation well enough.. 😀

I could sell some EOS gear that I'm not using and some Medium Format Gear that I know I'm not using....

I have to admit.. ever since I've gotten the Bessa R3A I've had it with me and pretty much used it daily or at least carried it with me where ever I go.. something that I cannot say for the EOS or Blad.. but they have their place in the arsenal for weddings etc.

Dave

 

[Kin Lau]

Most of us use the "she'll kill me if she finds out" route... I know you don't have a Significant Other right now, but how about getting a mother or sister to breath down your neck once in a while?

OTOH, try borrowing some money from a close friend or relative... that should kill the GAS urges for a bit. But that's kinda using a shotgun to take care of an ingrown toenail 🙂.

 

[dcsang]

Most of us use the "she'll kill me if she finds out" route... I know you don't have a Significant Other right now, but how about getting a mother or sister to breath down your neck once in a while?

OTOH, try borrowing some money from a close friend or relative... that should kill the GAS urges for a bit. But that's kinda using a shotgun to take care of an ingrown toenail 🙂.

heh.. too old to use the "mother" route.. and no sister available.

I do like the borrowing money from a close friend/relative thing.. but maybe I should "up it" a bit and borrow from some.. *ahem*.. less savoury individuals... maybe I need a finger or two broken before I "learn my lesson real good like" 😉

Dave

 

[Alec]

Dave, why don't you carry all the photo stuff you have already? (I mean, including MF)
After a day's wandering you should be cured for a while.

For me, I take an occasional walk with my Dynax 9 + grip + flash + 2.8/28-70 + 1.4/85 + 3.5/17-35 + 2.8/200 + 1.4 converter, several sets of batteries and film rolls. Very healthy, especially when I also carry my youngest son on my back.

YMMV of course, that could direct you to "subminiature GAS" !

ag

 

[dcsang]

Dave, why don't you carry all the photo stuff you have already? (I mean, including MF)
After a day's wandering you should be cured for a while.

For me, I take an occasional walk with my Dynax 9 + grip + flash + 2.8/28-70 + 1.4/85 + 3.5/17-35 + 2.8/200 + 1.4 converter, several sets of batteries and film rolls. Very healthy, especially when I also carry my youngest son on my back.

YMMV of course, that could direct you to "subminiature GAS" !

ag

That's a great idea Alec !! 🙂
I'll wander around the city with the 20D, EOS-3, Blad, all the lenses, 2 tripods, my K1000 that I have just for the heck of having one, and my Bessa and lenses....

I'll wander right into the chiropractors office... but you're right.. it will cure me of this affliction 😀

Dave

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I have a set allowance for "spending money" and my wife gets the same amount. We've done this for over 20 years. I buy mostly cameras, she buys mostly women's clothing and jewelry. Guess which one of us has enough saved to pay for Nikki's college? And I will not blow freshman year for a new Nikon SP-2005. Maybe I will sell the two M's.

 

[hoot]

Remove your hands, slowly, from the keyboard and mouse, and step away from the computer. Take your photo gear, put it in your camera bag, leave the building and start taking photographs. Stay clear of neighborhoods with camera shops. And above all, do as I say, not as I do.

 

[DougK]

I'm finally slowing down on acquiring camera gear. I think I've finally figured out the features I need to take the kinds of photos I want so it's getting easier for me to say no to something that I don't think I'll use (no matter how cute that Minox is over in the classifieds...).

 

[Toby]

Consider Henri Cartier Bresson

With a camera that would not match the specification of a $150 second hand SLR and one lens that did not have the benefit of computer design or aspheric coatings, he managed to create some of the most iconic pictures in the history of photography so did Robert Capa and Robert Frank. For the months salary (at least) that their equpment cost you could buy camera equipment that is state of the art and offer creative possibilites they could only dream of. Do you think you could equal his achievements? Do you think buying yet more camera equipment is the answer? Do you think I've just really depressed myself?

answers on a postcard to...



Toby

 

[back alley]

oh toby!
i'm selling it all now, just keeping one p and one 35mm lens...who am i kidding🙂?

dave,
i have no wife to nag me or make me feel guilty.
i have no debts.
i rent.
i doubt highly i will be the next hcb.

i just need to check the bank balance and that usually settles me down!

actually, i'm a bit like frank.
i have a photo fund, in it goes/went any earnings from shooting. i don't hire myself out any more so that part has dried up quite a bit. i usually sell to buy and supplement some with a 'photo allowance' from my monthly wages.

i also stay away from german glass & cameras...😉

joe

 

[Sonnar Brian]

And Joe stays away from Nikon RF's. He also buys low and then talks the price up. He has beaten the stock market by investing in Canon P's.

I make a lot of my spending money buying and selling cameras. I figure my Mint, Black Nikon SP cost $400. Dollars spent, the rest is thanks to EBay.

 

[dcsang]

I think my solution has to be a combination of all of these suggestions.

I'm much like Joe.. no wife, no kids, very little mortgage considering the city I live in (under $15K) and no real other "responsibilities" but at the same time I don't want to go "willy nilly" and spend oodles of cash on gear that will just "sit".. that's the one thing that bugged me about a lot of the Leicaphiles - the gear is not being used.. 🙁

Thanks for the advice guys...

And after I purchase just ONE more lens.. I promise I'll stop.. 😉

Dave

 

[Kin Lau]

I'm much like Joe.. no wife, no kids, very little mortgage considering the city I live in (under $15K) and no real other "responsibilities" but at the same time I don't want to go "willy nilly" and spend oodles of cash on gear that will just "sit".. that's the one thing that bugged me about a lot of the Leicaphiles - the gear is not being used.. 🙁

I can take care of the "not being used" part 😀 I'll even come over to pickup/drop-off the lenses.

 

[dmr]

Maybe I'm the odd one out here, but I very much love shooting with the gear I have rather than acquiring new gear.

I do admit, however, since joining this board I've acquired more cameras that I ever had before, plus things I've always wanted like the 18mm ultra-wide, but I still think I'm semi-immune to GAS ... for now. 🙂