Justified GAS

John Bragg

John Bragg

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I am sometimes in denial about suffering from GAS. What I do buy, I justify by calling myself a collector of certain things photo related
My main soft spots are plastic Fantastic Point and Shoot cameras and lately Vivitar lenses. Specifically Komine and Kiron made ones. They are very well made and robust lenses and good performers and can still be had for little cost. How do you justify your GAS and what do you "Collect" ?
 
I don't as I find it ridiculous to rationalise some of the Leica stuff I buy, but I try now to flog a whole load before adding anything new, and have learned the hard way to stick to a few systems only.
 
CharlesDAMorgan said:
I don't as I find it ridiculous to rationalise some of the Leica stuff I buy, but I try now to flog a whole load before adding anything new, and have learned the hard way to stick to a few systems only.
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Thats what I try to do, end of last year I sold all my manual Nikon stuff 25 plus lenses a couple of F2s five Fs some motorized even some Nikon rangefinder gear, cameras I thought I would never sell once they were gone and I had the cash and all that space free is was a great feeling, and you know what I don't miss them one bit!
 
Ditched my hair shirt decades ago, so no longer feel compelled to justify to myself anything as harmless as buying something.
Want it+have the money=just buy it. Want it+don’t have the money=don’t buy it. And be happy either way.
If guilt enters into that equation anywhere, you’re doing it wrong.
Living well is the best revenge.
If “need” was the only question worth answering, a cave and loincloth would suffice.
 
John Bragg said:
... How do you justify your GAS and what do you "Collect" ?
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I buy cameras because they're a lot less expensive than aircraft.

Part of Gear Acquisition Syndrome is that the process of researching and anticipating the next camera (or mechanical watch, etc.) is so enjoyable. The actual purchase and days afterward might even be deflating... until you spot the next thing that attracts your attention.

Anyway, no harm in it if it doesn't ruin your finances or priorities.

The thing about cameras is that each one has its own particular or peculiar way of doing what is essentially the same basic function, but with different displays, metering, controls, shapes, etc.

For example, I find it a bit charming to load 120 film into my Zeiss Nettar and advance the film until a number appears in the red window - it reminds me of using 127 film when I was a kid. Plus, the focusing, aperture, and shutter speed setting is all manual, with no electronics, no aids - the very basics of photography.

We only live once (so they say, but I don't believe it), so what gives us enjoyment and doesn't bother others is worth it - no need for justification. And, occasionally, I make a good photo.
 
And then, this year my promise to myself is to stay within the budget of proceeds from the sale of other cameras and lenses I bought previously. I have sold Contaxes - G2, T2, Rollei AF35, Oly XA... So I can afford some new and cheaper toys. That is my rationale.
 
I get most of my cameras in car-boot sales and charity shops so problems start when i start running out of storage space. The last couple of years i ended up with a number of cameras that i really like and use so i don't feel the need to buy cameras of different systems other than Nikon and Olympus that I have.
Of course if i find something nice and is within my badget... well...
 
Pál_K said:
Part of Gear Acquisition Syndrome is that the process of researching and anticipating the next camera (or mechanical watch, etc.) is so enjoyable. The actual purchase and days afterward might even be deflating... until you spot the next thing that attracts your attention.
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Nailed GAS for me with this statement. I love the researching and learning about different lenses and then finding a good one. Wouldn't say after is deflating for me. I look back at most film pictures I take and can rarely work out the camera or lens used. On digital it's different but I have my fuji 35mm f1.4 and haven' changed that for a long time.

If you can afford GAS then do it.
 
The only justification I need is if I will use it and if I can afford to have it. However, I think Pal_K hit the nail on the head...
 
Embarrassingly, I've recently started buying some flash related gear.

Why "Embarrassingly"? Well, I've had a Nikon SB16b (which I got for my F301) for a number of years and haven't used it yet. I would've some years ago, only I had an SB22s which I used instead for the couple of shots I needed.

I recently decided that I need a much smaller flash that could be used with all my other cameras.

I ended up getting a Vivitar 2500, two diffuser panels (in case one breaks) and two pc cords (apparently it needs specific ones designed for it, so best get a spare one, eh?) and now I've got a vivitar MFS-1 close-up sensor for it as well.

Just after getting this flash, I saw a Nissin 360TW flash. I thought: "Ooooh, bouncy AND Swivelly, with 3 auto settings and 3 manual settings, and it looks much smaller than my SB16B"! So I got it for £10. Then I thought it'd be a good idea to get a pc cord for it, but it seems this is another flash that needs a specific cord (really, flash designers? Why?) so that meant finding another 360tw with a pc cord, so's I'd know it would fit. The 2nd flash didn't work but the pc cord does. Now I've ordered another (officially) working 360tw (that has a pc cord). Now I can use on 360tw with my Minolta 110 slr mk2 and Ricoh 500GX, and one with my 120 folders and my 35mm agfa rangefinders instead of the more limited Vivitar 2500.

I also bought a folding flash bracket.
 
seany65 said:
Embarrassingly, I've recently started buying some flash related gear.

Why "Embarrassingly"? Well, I've had a Nikon SB16b (which I got for my F301) for a number of years and haven't used it yet. I would've some years ago, only I had an SB22s which I used instead for the couple of shots I needed.

I recently decided that I need a much smaller flash that could be used with all my other cameras.

I ended up getting a Vivitar 2500, two diffuser panels (in case one breaks) and two pc cords (apparently it needs specific ones designed for it, so best get a spare one, eh?) and now I've got a vivitar MFS-1 close-up sensor for it as well.

Just after getting this flash, I saw a Nissin 360TW flash. I thought: "Ooooh, bouncy AND Swivelly, with 3 auto settings and 3 manual settings, and it looks much smaller than my SB16B"! So I got it for £10. Then I thought it'd be a good idea to get a pc cord for it, but it seems this is another flash that needs a specific cord (really, flash designers? Why?) so that meant finding another 360tw with a pc cord, so's I'd know it would fit. The 2nd flash didn't work but the pc cord does. Now I've ordered another (officially) working 360tw (that has a pc cord). Now I can use on 360tw with my Minolta 110 slr mk2 and Ricoh 500GX, and one with my 120 folders and my 35mm agfa rangefinders instead of the more limited Vivitar 2500.

I also bought a folding flash bracket.
Click to expand...

You're not off the deep end yet. Bulbs, and all the wondrous cords and reflectors that go with them. That's the deep end.
 
seany65 said:
...Then I thought it'd be a good idea to get a pc cord for it, but it seems this is another flash that needs a specific cord (really, flash designers? Why?)
Click to expand...


The answer is that if they didn't make them all different - like batteries for digital cameras - once you'd bought one, like the Vivitar 2500, you'd never buy another.

It's good for them that you should own hundreds of different flashes, batteries, chargers, leads and so on and so forth. Otherwise, they'd not be able to retire at 30 or whatever they do with their immoral gains.

Aside, those batteries look like two CR2's or CR123A's in a plastic case. Why not make plastic cases for them? What are 3D printers for, I am wondering?

Regards, David
 
I’m obsessed with early 35mm. Thankfully, I’m able to build a lot of what I want. But the $$$$ flows out at times. Contura Stereo, Foton, UR Leicas....
 
Sometimes I have to buy things for my business, whether I want to or not. One of those purchases last year was a drone - I had resisted getting into them, but a specific large job compelled me to get one (and I'm glad I did). The piece of equipment I had to get this year for virtual home tours was a Ricoh Theta V, which is a pretty neat little thing and can tie directly into Zillow (plus a Matterport is about 10 times the price).

As far as GAS for personal purposes, I tend to jump onto bandwagons and then jump off. Right now it's old glass plate stereo cameras - hopefully I'll be on this bandwagon for a while. Other times I tend to buy, sell, then buy again the same camera. I think it's an effort to convince myself that 'this time will be different!'. I did that with Alpa a few years back, and presently with Hasselblad. Hopefully it might 'stick' this time around :)
 
My GAS has been replaced with CAS (Coffee Acquisition Syndrome) which is far less expensive and tastier. Well, until I get into espresso!
 
I heard somewhere that some people use cameras to make photographs.
Cannot afford the originals but some photographers publish their work in books.
So that is my fetish, sorry GAS.
Monographs of photographers that I like and that often leads on to photographers that I had never heard of. Trouble is new books are expensive, but second hand they can be a bargain.
Still using film and wet printing but I am not as good as some in my books.
Live in hope.
Cheers
Kangaroo 2012
 
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