What are you selling and why?

[louisb]

This is not a thread to promote classifieds but rather another slant on GAS.

Many of us buy and sell so we can hop from one camera to another.

I know I do this but I think I am getting weary of the whole thing.

In the last twelve months I have bought a DP2M, DP3M, RX-1, Fujifilm GF670w and several Hasselblad lenses. I have sold my Leica M8 and lenses, a GSW690, most of my m43rds lenses.

The churn is tiring me out and also exceeding my financial abilities. I have a large loan to pay for all this stuff.

The reality is that having come back from a trip to France all I really needed was my RX-1 and DP2M. I sorta used the DP3M but in fact the DP2M crops so well I could live with only DP2M.

I am on the cusp of selling all my film kit with the exception of my SWC - and my V700 scanner. The results from my RX-1 alone outshine film on every level. I really think digital has come a lot further in the last three years where the dynamic range of the sensors is close to film (am I kidding myself?).

So, to start with my GF670w is on eBay and my plan is to divest myself of pretty much everything except for the RX-1, DP2M and SWC - then take stock of my photographic life. Obviously, you have to do what feels right for you but I wondered if anyone else is facing a similar epiphany?

What I really want to be able to photograph is:

1 urban and country landscapes
2 flowers
3 occasional backyard birds
4 family events

I think the RX-1 and DP2M will easily do #1 and #4 I have kept my GH-2 with 100-300 lens for #3. My attempts to use the RX-1 for #2 are variable.

I used to be with just one camera and two lenses. So why did I get sucked into the mileu of more and more kit?

LouisB

 

[clayne]

The dynamic range of digital is not close to film - nor does it react to light in the same way. Try doing 4 stops over in digital and see how those highlights fare.

However, based on the subject matter you listed, maybe you should just use a basic digital something or other. If I were solely invested in #1 I'd be busting out a 4x5 - and I doubt you're willing to go there.

My stock opinion is to always get rid of the rapidly-depreciating, but that's just my opinion.

 

[thegman]

I think if you're in debt to pay for all this kit, then yes, sell it, sell practically all of it.

Isn't the DP2-M a 40mm equivalent and the RX-1 is a 35mm? I think they're close enough that you only need one.

Sell whatever you don't need or don't use. Remember that when you sell digital, if you change your mind in 6 months, you can buy it again for less.

I'd say it does not matter if you're kidding yourself about dynamic range or whatever, the fact is, and I say this as a film guy, that digital is good enough for just about everything, and FF digital certainly is. If you're happy with the results, then it's good enough.

You can certainly make test shots to show that digital will blow out, and film won't, but test shots I guess are not your hobby, and regular photography is.

Sell just about everything, get out of debt.

 

[louisb]

Clayne

Thanks for the response.

I agree about the 4x5 observation. But consider the investment required. Especially in the post processing stage. It may matter from a creative point of view - I suspect the process like any film process is very satisfying. But compared with a 36mpx beast like the Nikon D800 or even a MF digital camera? I very much doubt 99% of the audience would tell the difference.

And I thought exactly the same as you about film versus digital until I purchased the DP2M and especially the RX-1. The foveon sensor seems to preserve sky highlights. And the Sony sensor exactly preserves sky highlights - it seems to cope with a massive dynamic range (don't ask me how).

The tension is between investing in digital - which as you say has rapid depreciation - versus film which is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain.

LouisB

 

[twhittle]

I have GAS pretty bad, but have managed to keep it under wraps this year slightly more.
But I also have the same suffocating feeling when I look at the gear I don't use on a regular basis. So I am trying to sell off my spare nikon and leica lens', my fuji gw690, and am considering selling off my 54 gear.
The main problem is that I bought it all at such a good price it almost seems silly to get rid of it all.

Do people keep hold of anything just in case they want to use it down the line?
Or do people keep a regular turn over of gear and have no qualms re-buying the same thing?

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I just sold my Nikon F3, and will be selling several other things this week. Why? Because I need the money. I used to make my living selling prints and doing occasional commercial work, but the economy has gotten so bad that very little is selling. I knew this was the way things were headed, so I went back to school and got my masters degree. I finished it last year and at the beginning of this year began teaching English at a local high school. I saved money to get me through the summer (no pay in summer!) but wasn't able to save enough since I only taught half of the school year and was way behind on my bills when I got the job.

So...gotta make some money to keep the electricity on and food on the table till school starts back up. This should be my last summer to worry about money; next summer I'll have been able to save enough to live for the summer months!

Selling the F3 didn't hurt too much, I rarely used it. I've sold two prints to RFF members too this summer, hope to sell more!

 

[kuvvy]

I bought the Ricoh GR and this has taken over as my pocket cam. Im gonna sell the lovely Sony RX100. Bought a Thinktank Citywalker 10 bag at a photo show in March and have used it around four times. Love the bag, love the material ect but its too big for my small kit. Also have a GRD IV which will probably go too, thats about it.
I dont seem to do much buying and selling like I once did, though friends may say differently.

Paul

 

[Keith]

I have GAS pretty bad, but have managed to keep it under wraps this year slightly more.
But I also have the same suffocating feeling when I look at the gear I don't use on a regular basis. So I am trying to sell off my spare nikon and leica lens', my fuji gw690, and am considering selling off my 54 gear.
The main problem is that I bought it all at such a good price it almost seems silly to get rid of it all.

Do people keep hold of anything just in case they want to use it down the line?
Or do people keep a regular turn over of gear and have no qualms re-buying the same thing?

I have a lot of gear I have kept for this exact reason and have discovered that its presence is not helpful ... at all!

I have three formats available in MF ... 6x4.5, 6x6 and 6x7 with 6x6 being covered by three different cameras. Haven't shot any MF in over six months!

There is no solution aside from 'hard' choices.

 

[thegman]

I agree about the 4x5 observation. But consider the investment required. Especially in the post processing stage. It may matter from a creative point of view - I suspect the process like any film process is very satisfying. But compared with a 36mpx beast like the Nikon D800 or even a MF digital camera? I very much doubt 99% of the audience would tell the difference.

No question about it, I think at any print size (viewed at an appropriate distance), nobody is going to complain about the difference between a medium format digital and 4x5 film. Tim Parkin has a very detailed comparison:

http://static.timparkin.co.uk/static/tmp/cameratest-2/800px.html

On the picture of the lens, the IQ180 digital back is 'cleaner' than 4x5 and only ever so slightly less detailed, basically nothing of consequence. The only problem is that an IQ180 is $48,000 just for the back, no body, no lens. My 4x5 kit was about £900 with everything included. You can pay less for 4x5 too, even get a handheld one from Razzledog or polaroidconversions.com. Razzledog can swap out the lenses too, so you can have a top-flight 4x5 lens on a handheld camera. Also, Fotoman etc. do handheld 4x5 cameras.

I think you're right though, 99.999% of viewers are not going to notice the difference between medium format film/digital, FF DSLR, 4x5, or whatever. Any of those done right is going to look great.

Cheers

Garry

 

[Cameron]

Not selling anything currently, but in the last few months I've sold my X100, QL17, and Bessa R to afford a Leica M2. Still working on funds for a CV 35 2.5... but it's been a worthy investment thus far.

 

[soultheworld]

thinking about selling 35mm nokton 1.2, 35mm Biogon f2 and my Nikkor 70-200 vri. why ? i have gas for a summilux 35 fle

 

[oftheherd]

I have GAS pretty bad, but have managed to keep it under wraps this year slightly more.
But I also have the same suffocating feeling when I look at the gear I don't use on a regular basis. So I am trying to sell off my spare nikon and leica lens', my fuji gw690, and am considering selling off my 54 gear.
The main problem is that I bought it all at such a good price it almost seems silly to get rid of it all.

Do people keep hold of anything just in case they want to use it down the line?Or do people keep a regular turn over of gear and have no qualms re-buying the same thing?

Some of that for me. Some I just want a particular camera for bragging rights (?). Some I have gotten because of a lens it was attached to. I have a lot of 9x12 because, I don't know, I like them. A couple are for their uniqueness, like a Bee Bee for a 9x12 with interchangable lenses.

I have decided I need to thin down the stable of cameras and probably lenses too. Now I just have to figure out how. Ebay would require I build up a rep with some mox nichs items in order to get proper value out of the camera gear. Seems like it would be a bother. I haven't made the commitment to do that yet.

 

[louisb]

Thanks again for these replies. Some interesting thoughts.

Thomas/Keith, I think part of my problem is that I do hang onto kit assuming that I will use it again. Although, I do have a rule that if I have not used something for at least six months then I sell it. I'm generally pretty good at sticking to that rule (for example relieving myself of m43rds kit I have not used for at least that long).

Chris, welcome to the world of teaching. I hope you find it as satisfying as I have when I made the move to become a teacher ten years ago. Nothing wrong with selling kit to keep your head above water. During the period between being unemployed and becoming a teacher I sold nearly everything I owned of value via eBay just to keep my family fed. Some day I may even write a book called "eBay saved my life!"

Likewise, selling kit to consolidate around just one or two great lenses makes a lot of sense.

But bottom line, as suggested I think I'm selling up to reduce my debt and consolidate on only the RX-1 and DP2M for the moment (we'll see!).

LouisB

 

[jsrockit]

Yes, you're kidding yourself. The dynamic range of digital is not close to film - nor does it react to light in the same way. Try doing 4 stops over in digital and see how those highlights fare.

Most us don't need to overexpose by 4 stops to get the results we want. Conversely, digital offers vastly superior high ISO to film. Neither medium is perfect.

 

[k__43]

I try to part with stuff since the number of people living in our household will increase but I feel too sentimental about many of my cameras or lenses.

Also I've gas for a better digital than my E-P1 .. and I've got this unreasonable feeling for a XPAN right now.

 

[Sparrow]

... nothing, I don't subscribe to this consumer driven cycle in the first place

 

[Michael Markey]

... nothing, I don't subscribe to this consumer driven cycle in the first place

I have to concur with my learned friend.
I have however recently gotten rid of one or two lenses which I don`t need anymore.
As these lenses were given to me in the first place I`m not sure that it counts.

 

[clayne]

Shoot digital just become another nothing. I hate to say it but it all looks the same. Film really isn't that difficult to sustain but you have to want it. If you don't want it, carry on.

 

[jsrockit]

Shoot digital just become another nothing.

And film magically tranforms the same work into something? 🙄 Jeez.

I hate to say it but it all looks the same. Film really isn't that difficult to sustain but you have to want it. If you don't want it, carry on.

Focus on the content instead of the medium and you might see something different.

 

[jsrockit]

Post some of your work hot shot. I'm quite confident you haven't a damn thing I care to look at if anything at all.

Because I choose to love photography (and not just film), I'm a hot-shot?

Ok, so if you don't care to look at my work, that means it isn't worth anything? Very high opinion of yourself huh?

Here you go, a link to older work (because I no longer post online due to focusing on long term projects):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsrockit/

Have fun ripping me apart... your opinion doesn't mean anything to me anyway.

The bias against digital on this site is silly. Photography is photography.