How do you remedy your GAS??

GAS is wrong? Bad?

GAS is better than alcoholism, drug addiction, or gambling.
GAS helps the economy.
GAS is self-limiting; the more you succumb to GAS, the less likely you will be able to continue -- unless of course you have no financial limits -- in which case, do you need a friend?
GAS allows you to test whether gear works for YOU -- the only real test of whether it is good gear.

The tried and true way of managing temptation is to give in to it -- otherwise it just eats away at you. Be one with your GAS.
 
First, take a bunch of photos with your expensive gear.

Then, buy some inexpensive gear. Take a bunch of photos with it.

Compare the output. If the difference is worth thousands of dollars to you, then stay with your expensive gear, or buy more expensive gear if you think it makes a difference.

Sell whatever you dont need and be happy. Spend the extra money (if there is any) on film, a vacation, family, etc.
 
Place all your gear and equipment on the table. Get some q-tips, soft micro fiber cloths, rubbing alcohol, and distilled water. Give every piece of equipment you own a good cleaning.

That should keep someone occupied until the craving settles down.
 
It's taken a while to figure this one out, but I basically bought every camera and lens that interested me and shot them, then compared the photos. Then sold the ones that didn't work out. The end results were really about what one would expect. I found that LF is just too slow for my tastes and too heavy, so I now have a Graphic View 4x5 mostly for decor in the living room. In 35mm again no surprises. Leica lenses were clearly what I saw as the best, so I have an R-5 w/ a 50 Summicron and a 90 Summicron will come later. I tried the Bessa RF cameras but couldn't deal w/ their build quality (although if you are going to shoot LTM lenses the Bessa R is a great way to go), and just prefer an SLR to a RF camera for out-and-about shooting. I also decided to keep a Konica C35 for it's small size and sharp lens, and a Leica IIIa for it's design and optics. For MF I found that a TLR is just not something I want to schlep around, even though the Rolleiflex cameras are a joy to shoot and produce great photos. I don't much like Japanese lens imaging so the Mamiya 7 was sold and the Fuji MF 6x4.5 cameras, while having great optics, are just too plasticy and suffer reliability issues. So I am keeping a Welta Weltur, an Agfa Isolette or two, and the best camera I own, a Voigtlander Bessa II w/ a Color Heliar 105 lens.

None of these keepers should surprise anyone, as they are all pretty much legendary performers. At this point there's not much reason to get anything else other than film.

But I might!
 
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First of all, ship it off to me gratis ;)

Seriously, go out as much as you can with one camera and two lenses tops and take some photos, then get prints done or get the slides processed.

Use the things for what they were made to do, and enjoy photography.
 
I agree with the "shoot more" solution. However I did go out shooting in the city yesterday and managed to come back with an extra lens. Perhaps I should switch to landscapes. :eek:

That said, I recently went out and blew megabucks on exactly the gear I wanted and have no regrets. :)
 
For me, there isn't a cure. I can only see the end of it coming as i've gone through all the conceivable options. I've tried just about everything at this point, and i've tried some things multiple times. Still, even as i think i'm getting over it, and consolidating systems and eliminating others, manufacturers keep coming out with new stuff. I probably would have sold my rangefinder kit last month if CV hadn't come out with the 50/1.1, a lens i had hoped for years would be available by someone other than Leica.

The other thing that has helped me is the setting of limits. I've tried, over the past few years, not to spend 'new money.' That is, i've tried to only make lateral moves. If i acquire something, i sell something of equal value. I'm trying not to put any more money into the complete kit. Ebay has been wonderful. I buy at good (used) prices, and i've been lucky to get my money back in the majority of situations. It's almost like a free rental if you manage things well, and keep the gear in good condition.
 
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I got the shutter working smoothly in my yard sale 1959 Minolta Autocord, cleaned the dozen or so filters and close-up sets and Autopol that came with it, debated whether or not to line the lenshood with black velvet or felt and decided to leave it alone. After enough shutter actuations even the flash synch started working again. Now I have to epoxy a bit of wire on the sportsfinder to keep the flap open. I spent about six bucks at the German bakery on fresh rolls and cherry turnovers though. They always give me GAS.
 
I cured my camera gas six months ago, got a banjo and started to learn to play! trouble is - I'm now buying vintage twenties and thirties banjos instead!:eek:
Dave.
 
I survived with a Pentax and 2 zoom lenses for 10+ years. Something about rangefinders makes gas happen. To control gas:

  1. Have a separate and distinct foreseeable purpose for each lens. You may want a 50/1.4 for speed or a 50/3.5 for compactness, but having four different 50/2 lenses is likely overkill.
  2. Sell stuff if there is too much overlap or if you find yourself not using it..
 
Take more photos!!
sometimes I use one of my homemade pinhole cameras, like one made from a bit of 65mm pvc pipe.
I found myself with a few 50s and a couple of 35s, so I did some test comparison shots. While I could tell a difference in bokeh etc, the difference was not so much that I would be bothered to change from one lens to the other, so I kept the most convenient to use version in each focal length.
Try carrying it all with you for a day
 
So far I have only been assuage it with buying more stuff. Luckily I've been able to keep it to inexpensive used gear.

I didn't have it too bad when I was using my Nikon cameras. It was only when I realized all the variety of lenses compatible with my R4M and M2 that I really began lusting after new stuff.
 
yeahhhhh...

yeahhhhh...

remedy-schemdy!!!

seriously, sometimes you have go through different gear (photography, fishing, motorcycle, etc,etc,etc) of different types and models and so-on to find the "right fit".

i am just barely begining to understand for me there is no "one" right camera or lens or tripod or bag or whatever photographic "right fit". GAS acquisition and sell-offs have helped me somewhat distill/refine/discover what the "right fit " is for me.

take care,
kenneth
www.neverforgetbeslan.org
 
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