Justified GAS

As a hobbyist, I used to justify it by the desire/want for new and different experiences in the camera world. I would buy something, use it for a bit, and more likely then not sell it. I largely conquered GAS by just giving into it. Once I used a bunch of stuff, TLRs, folders, pre-war rangefinders, Nikons, Canons, Leica's, ect., there was no longer the desire to have it or acquire it, because I already had the real life, in the hands experience of using it. Most of it just got resold. In the process, I learned what I like, what I need, what was practical. I keep both SLR's and rangefinders around just for variety, so I don't get bored. I think we all try to look for the perfect camera system, and there probably isn't one.
 
valdas said:
I like FAS even better (film acquisition syndrome).
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PAS (paper acquisition syndrome) eats up most of my little budget. Helps a little against GAS too, which I usually justify with "got it cheap, can sell for at least the same" which I hardly do of course.
 
Time here is short...
Can't take it with you...
Enjoy it for what it is...
I am... :)
 
When thinking of having to buy stuff. Just put yourself in the shoes of a regular international traveler: going from the US with stop-overs in, let's say the UK, France, Germany and Switzerland, you'd need a hand full of power plugs. Globalization, the world became smaller...sure but not where power plugs are concerned.
 
If I want it and find it cheap, I'll often buy it. Not much in a still photographic world lately, but I've grabbed a bunch of MP gear for pennies. I'm like this with manual typewriters as well. I need to start selling some of them though or I'll run out of space...
Phil Forrest
 
I was at friends house yesterday. His wife told my wife what he spend 200K USD on business with something like 35K USD in return. And she is paying the rest from her salary.

I don't buy any expensive gear if I don't have money after sale of expensive gear.
The rest is around 100 CAD and I'm not buying it often.
I also like Vivitar SLR prime lenses. Low price, good performance.
 
When I was a kid, a fart was as funny as funny could be. Cut the cheese and we would laugh and laugh and laugh. But over the years, a cramp or two would stitch-up my insides. One more slice was one too many. Pleasure led to regret, and GAS became an experience best remembered fondly, even with a smile, but reserved for special occasions, (at least most of the time).

Still, I can't resist the odd indulgence. I tend to keep the price low and vintage old. Nostalgia runs strong in my blood. My current thing is pre -Ai Nikkors.
 
valdas said:
I like FAS even better (film acquisition syndrome).
Click to expand...


I have an inverse GAS more often than an actual GAS these days. I'd define it as a "Gear I regret selling" syndrome. My Leica MP comes to mind, which I bought new in NYC from Ken Hansen (R.I.P). Sold it for next to nothing a few years back and now MPs are on back-order and cost more than an all-inclusive trip to Bora Bora. The list goes on and on... :bang:
 
I have too many lenses for the bodies I own -> buy another body. Damn, now I have too many bodies -> buy another lens. Damn, now too many lenses -> etc.
 
For me, its all about getting inspired. Sometimes shiny new/old gear does the trick. I've amassed two Leica Minilux, a few Minox 35, Polaroid, three Leica M with a few lenses, a full Mamiya RZ67 system and most recently, I got into LF photography (Linhof V with a couple of lenses). The thing is, I use them all for different situations or how I feel on a particular day. The only situation I could see myself ditching them would be if I migrate from film to digital.
 
Greg Maslak said:
... Nostalgia runs strong in my blood. My current thing is pre -Ai Nikkors.
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Pre-AI Nikkors are nice - good build quality and optics. All of mine, despite their age, have snappy aperture blades - just like new. Yet newer AIS lenses sometimes have the sluggish oily blades after 10 years or so. Odd.

I like to be period-correct, so I'll use my pre-AI lenses on F's, F2's, Nikkormat FT2 and EL. Newer cameras get the lenses contemporary for their time.
 
I seem to be making progress on the GAS front. Spent some money getting an Oly OM-2n and a Nikon FE2 repaired, but haven’t been too tempted to buy anything recently. Did toy with getting a Sony a9ii, but only for a few minutes before recognizing that would be ridiculous as I already have too many cameras (about 25) and too many lenses (over 40).

But if Sony came out with an a9iii with better ergonomics (no slippery vinyl) and about 36 mp, I could be tempted! Might sell a7riii to help defray cost.
 
I am buying an X100V and an X-Pro3 from Fujifilm... even though I'm under a mandatory quarantine. That's GAS. However, after these cameras... (and maybe even with these) ... cameras purchases are starting to feel silly. Coming up on 4 months stuck inside... probably at least a few more to go. Trying to do still life, baby photos, photos of the sky, etc... but it just isn't as fulfilling as being out in the city. Anyone who currently can go outside, wander around and photograph something worthwhile has a good enough reason for GAS for me. Enjoy it.
 
Since last year I've been slowly withdrawing from buying much gear. Right now I have a Leica IIIf that I've been kitting out a bit here or there at a time. Almost complete now, just waiting for the camera to return from a CLA tomorrow. Got enough lenses and accessories for it, so it will be nice to have everything in one bag again.

I used to buy just about anything photographic related that I could find, but since the virus crisis began I could no longer go browsing in antique/junk stores. That really helped on mitigating the GAS. Browsing eBay though for things I need brings up all sorts of things I'd like to have, like a pair of Proximeters for the Summitar. They're cool and all, and look to be in great shape with the included cases, but it's something I'll likely not use enough to justify the purchase even though they are reasonably priced. Already have a NOOKY-HEESUM, so they would therefore be redundant, and thus excessive. So I took them off the Watch list.

See, GAS can be overcome with just a little common sense. And a tight budget.

PF
 
June 1982 prices

June 1982 prices

According to this, I bought two lenses this week that together came to £241.90 at 1982 prices. I paid a sum total of £39.99 !
75-205 f3.8 Zoom for £25
70-150 f3.8 Zoom for £14.99


Vivitar ad June 1982 by E.J. Bragg, on Flickr
 
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