Too much for too little

[peterm1]

When I first got into photography I went down this path. In particular I had a love of old cameras especially rangefinders and so bought and sold stuff more or less constantly. I bought sold traded and played with my acquisitions much more than I EVER took photos. Now I am less frentic. Maybe I am older. I certainly enjoy getting good photographic results much more than I did so focus more on using them, and maybe its just that digital cameras have less romance about them - they are utilitarian objects that are kings of the world today and worthless junk tommorrow. (Well, next year ) So I am less inclined to chase the proverbial holy grail. If I do still suffer from this syndrome , its more with lenses. I love good glass but mostly I manage to keep it in check. And recently I have decided that the name of the game is owning less - but owning better. I will buy less glass but make sure that what I have is the best I can afford and then hang onto it for longer.

 

[sanmich]

I enjoy very much trying gear, specially when it's very different from what I have so far, or I do have. But the more I take good pictures, the less I care for gear.
So I realized: GL (Gear Lust) is a furstration compensation mechanism.

That being said, I perfectly understand the self limiting method that forces you to concentrate on something. You can do it a zillion ways:
Take your camera, and try to take lots of pictures in the same street, or at the very same time in the day. anything that forces me to make an effort and go look after what is not obvious or the chimeric exotic PJ stuff is a way to become a better photog. So why not with gear?

Bill, I don't know if you're right, but I love your style 🙂, and "the stepes of Absurdistan" will be re-used, if you don't mind...😉

 

[thomasw_]

....But ascetics don't seem to want to do it alone, is the problem....

Do you find endeavors where folks seek fellowship in a common interest or action to be equally problematic? Comparatively, I find the acquisitive spirit far more prevalent than gear asceticism here on RFF; consider that almost daily members make announcements about their purchases in order to validate them. Thus I take it that this desire to have one's purchases is validated is not annoying or a 'problem', it is only the gear limitation pronouncements that are annoying or a 'problem'? It seems to me that both are just seeking to share their common interest, perhaps looking for fellowship of a kind.

 

[BillBingham2]

These days is it but it was a lot looser back when....

These days is it but it was a lot looser back when....

Bill, what are the 4 lenses? That sounds like a nice tight kit.

These days it's a CV 25/4, Nikkor 35/1.8, 50/1.4 Millennium and 105/2.5 on a S3-2000.

When I was shooting M lenses it was CV 15/4.5, 25/4, 40/1.4 and Nikkor 105/2.5. The 25/4 would sit on a Bessa L for backup and the rest on an M6 with a rapidwinder attached.

My S2 kit was a bit tighter as it was CV 25/4, 50/1.4 & 105/2.5 and worked very well. Adding the 35 has helped as I see more that way than 50 and the 25 while great is just too wide some times.

B2 (;->

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

My living space is dejunked more than that of anyone I know, my computers are similarly dejunked.

I live in a household with a couple of packrats, my wife and one of my sons...their computer desktops look like the icon factory exploded! My other son is rather more like me, he begins to get anxious when stuff starts crowding him out.

 

[Roger Hicks]

In getting rid of surplus "stuff", it may help you to remember that although you may love your stuff, your stuff doesn't love you.

It's not love, but there is a sort of relationship that comes from using something for a long time: you don't have to think too much about it, and (especially with a motorcycle) it sometimes allows you to do things you "shouldn't" be able to do (such as going 'round corners too fast).

Many people's lives are hopelessly cluttered -- they spend more time buying and looking after their possessions than they do on enjoying them -- but their stuff is their problem. My stuff is my problem. I dislike having so much stuff that I trip over it even when I'm sober.

Also, what's 'surplus'? If it's more trouble to sell it than I'd get for it, and if I might find a use for it someday, I keep it. But sometimes (once a year or so) I give such semi-useful things to people, either as a present or with the suggestion they make a donation to charity. The last present was a Canon f/1.2 to a friend who admired and the last charity donation was a Werra 3 to someone -- a stranger to me -- who really loved Werras.

Cheers,

R.

 

[maddoc]

I think that I am "2 bodies + 4 lenses guy" ... Bought my Nikon SLRs (FM + F3HP) around 20 years ago and 4 prime lenses (24/2.8, 50/1.4, 105/2.5, 200/4) and after coming to Japan two DSLRs (D70 + D1x) and 17-55DX, 70-200VR, 35/2.0, 50/1.8. Sold all the DSLR stuff when I started using Leica(s) and now I am settled to 21-35-50-90 + M4-P + M7. Works well for me and I don't feel much urge to buy anything else (except maybe to replace broken stuff).