Why “Gear Lust” and “Pixel Peeping” Are Good for You

[--s]

I always see gear hounding and photography as two distinct hobbies. People don't expect a car collector to be a great race driver or an audiophile to be a great musician, but they often expect photo quality to be positively related to the amount of gear one owns.

until today i didn´t get that, it was all "photography" to me. thank you for your simple but effective words!

 

[KM-25]

There are photographers and there are camera enthusiasts....the best thing about the latter is that they help keep the supply of tools and materials for true photographers in steady supply.

They used to annoy me to no end but now I figure at least in terms of film, I no longer care if your beloved flickr stream shows the entire world that you don't have a milligram of talent, keep using up that film man, you are helping to keep it around for those who actually *do* have real talent and truly need it to keep being made...;-)

 

[TennesseJones]

+1 to that.

I've never bought a new camera or lens but I get to use excellent stuff at massively 'discounted' prices because of people upgrading often.

Upgrade more you people I say!

Better still, pixel peepers and gear addicts are forever upgrading, which means that lots if more than adequate used cameras are available at bargain prices.

Cheers,

R.

 

[someonenameddavid]

I like equipment, like some people like fine watches: obviously you dont need to have a fine watch to tell the time. I have a collection, based on a Montgomery Ward 1949 catalog, I go to estate sales and yard sales and see what I can buy: not spending an outrageous amount of money I am slowly building up a fair amount of what was in the catalog: I got a 49 Speed Graphic and a crown for $100 each, lucked out really lucked out on a Bell and Howell Foton, still looking for a civilian Kardon (may never find one) but there are mid century American cameras out there that I can find for not much money.... Then there are the Japanese cameras from 1948-76 that I could get real GAS on..... But when the top plates went plastic... not so much.

it's a harmless hobby and you get to appreciate and occasionally restore a camera. The earlier cheaper cameras are easier to fix.


David

 

[sanmich]

Gear lust/talk pixel peeping etc is a mix of rational and irrational.

Rational: get a lens/camera which answers my need better. it can be better ergonomically, or optically, or faster to avoid pushing film etc. I would love, for example, a 50 summilux asph. Just can't justify it. Neither a Summicron 28. etc...
I once had a 28 f/1.9 Ultron and didn't really like it. Pixel peeping let me understood why: it wasn't sharp. Simple as that. and it happened with two summitars and an heliar 3.5 all of them not calibrated.
In short, yes, some technical aspects do impact my photography, and I got involved with them.

Irrational: I just love shooting my M2, and I feel something special when shooting my 1933 model III. Nothing to do with the results...

 

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

there are a lot of self-important folks who like to deride pixel peeping or w.ever gear related talk in a topic or discussion specifically about gear. these trash posts come from trash minds, but the issue is self-important people act self-importantly and post their drivel which contributes not one bit to the topic.

It was ever thus. Use the Force, Luke; or in this case, your ignore list. 😉