i need help...i think i really do!

[RML]

Though no-one really wants to admit it, I think Rich hits the nail on its head. In retrospect, I too have gone through such phases and they've always been accompanied by "collecting", especially when finances did not allow for it. I mean, who is dumb enough to buy a 600 guilder lens on a 1200 guilder income, before paying off debts and the bills and buying food? Well, I did and it only got better when I found my current employer with a steady, much higher, income. Now that have wife and daughter living with me I'm even less tempted to buy all kinds of things to "complement" my camera kit. Even the 15mm lens I've been longing for for up to a year now, is still out of the picture. I simply don't "need" it as badly as I would have a couple of years ago.

 

[Doug]

I've got the same problem as Gid, too many cameras, film formats... an overwhelming number of choices every time I want to go take photos. It's good for getting rid of excess cash, but not improving my photography.

Sometimes I miss the days of being a kid running around with a cheap Kodak 110 camera and just shooting what I saw, not knowing anything about apertures or shutter speeds. It's probably time to purge the collection and go with a nice simple outfit again.

Nahh, that's just crazy talk. 😀

You and me both, Doug... but yes that's crazy talk about purging. You should know that's not good for you. 🙂 Take my suggestion and just pack up the excess gear securly for storage and stick it in that dark back corner of your closet shelf and then pretend you don't have it.

I do think that one advantage to already having at least "one of everything" is that it helps you fight off GAS, making justifications that much harder. Like, "Ok, I already have five K-mount Pentaxes so I don't need Jon's Chinon! No matter how cheap it is..." See? Easy.

But it gets a lot harder when then GAS has you fixated on something clearly "improved" over what you have... Like, I have a 25mm Skopar, and the 25mm ZM is not only one stop faster but it's also RF coupled... ARggggg!

 

[reagan]

I once read that "discipline is just remembering what you want." If collecting various shooters/gear/widgets is enjoyable and what you want, do it. Buy, sell, trade, clearance, upgrade, have fun. If taking the shot is the priority, I need to get out there more and do it and stay out of the Bay and the Sassyfieds.

So that's where my brain is right now... remembering/deciding "what I really want." The thingys dat makes de snapshots? or de snapshots dat come out of the thingys? ... or both?

The conclusion I'm starting to lean toward is this; whether I take a little or a lot, I like taking the shots more - and I've got about twice as much gear as I need to do that and enjoy it.

 

[Kyle]

yep!

the camera seems fine and ray had it done before also.

Thats what I thought, but I just wanted to make sure. It kinda seemed like you were saying both lenses and the camera were being CLA'd. I was a bit worried there might have been some recent problem.

Anyways, yes, you have "complete" kits, but buying stuff is fun. No matter what your addiction is, its always great to buy new stuff. My other passion is car detailing. I have so many different chemicals its ridiculous, and don't get me started on my high quality microfiber towel collection (nearly 100!). No, I don't do it professionally, but if you saw the collection of detailing stuff in my garage you'd think I did. Plus its fun to get new stuff to see what wax works for a certain color, etc.