G.a.s? Me!!! Surely not!!

[Tronhard]

It's not until it's all unpacked that one sees how much one has accumulated over the years...



Apologies for the slightly unsharp image.. It was a crop from a hand-held EOS M, 11-22 lens with me bent over backwards to get the field of view.

When I said I think I have a GAS issue, my partner put it down to the baked bean I have at breakfast...

[Panama Hat & Camera]

What I found most interesting is the presence of two Nikon cameras (one is a Nikon Df Gold Edition) and three Nikkor lenses between a world of cameras and Canon lenses. This is very curious!
Cheers,
Antonio.

[Tronhard]

Hi Antonio:

There is a bit of history there. In the 1980's, when I was working on the road at freelance travel, scenic and wildlife photography, I shot with Nikon F3s and Canon A-1s (mostly on Ektachrom), using Tameron Adaptall SP lenses and the appropriate adapters. However when digital came along it was necessary to select a brand. While I hugely respect and enjoy using Nikon gear (I also used Olympus) I chose Canon for the glass - starting with the awesome 70-200 2.8L and a couple of their other lenses. Once the investment started it was easier to continue on.

In those days, my work was mostly in the wilds of Australian and NZ, and through Asia. I had a limited amount of film in my pack and it might be weeks before I was back in civilization and able to process the images I had taken. Consequently each shot was precious and thus was more of an occasion. Fast forward to today and I often see photographers in Rambo Mode (why use a single shot when one can zip off dozens?). I still don't do that, but it is certainly a different experience to the traditional SLR - it just FEELS different!

Then Nikon came along with the Df, for some (but not for me) a very controversial body that gave me the experience of shooting with an SLR but using the technology of a very fine digital camera. I was very happy to see a still-photographer-specific body that had some of the features and constraints of my old SLRs. It has returned the feeling of occasion to taking a photo. Actually have only two lens right now: the 28-300 and the 24-120 f4. The two Df bodies (one silver one black gold edition) are fine cameras (I must admit I got them for a really decent price) and for my purposes (now I am retired) the quality of the lenses is fine.

Now that everything is an expense I am clamping down on my gear acquisition and the next most likely body I would consider would be a mirrorless FF DSLR from Canon, or the much anticipated Df2. But we'll see...

[Shadowman]

I'm drooling.

[zen]

Huh. And I thought I had it!

[Cantab]

Trev, I knew you had a lot of gear but this is a very impressive collection!

[Panama Hat & Camera]

Trev,
I have four cameras: a DSLR (Nikon D5300), a superzoom (Canon SX50), a waterproof (Olympus TG-4), a very small camera (Canon S100) and four lenses (Nikkor lens 18-140mm, 18-300mm, 50mm and Tokina 11-16mm).
Because of my photographic gear, my wife thinks I'm a G.A.S.
I showed her the picture you posted on this thread (hoping to change her mind, but it was in vain).
I think she is almost right (I'm only an amateur photographer), but I have four different cameras for four different purposes.
I think I will be a G.A.S. if I buy another camera for any of the purposes described here.
Cheers,
Antonio.

[Tronhard]

This is a conglomeration of two sets of gear. When I looked at the sale price of the bodies they were pretty low, and since I was based in two different countries it was challenging to actually put stuff I wasn't using on the market.

I will say I still use almost all of it on various occasions, with the possible exception of the G1X, which I tried to sell without success.

[rpcrowe]

I was at a point about a year ago when I said - I have all the photo gear I need! That just goes to show you how wrong I can be.

I do need to get off my duff and sell or give away some of the gear that I don't ever use. I am afraid that I have become something of a pack rat. It's not so much that I want to keep gear, I just hate the process of selling it...

Although, right now, I am in the process of finalizing the construction of my Photo Cart (AKA Golf Club Push Cart). The last item I need for the construction is a Manfrotto Super Clamp which will be arriving on Tuesday. I used the incomplete cart on a shoot last week and it really helped me get my equipment from Point A to Point B The finished cart will be even better

One of my problems is that my photography interests are so eclectic that I need a range of equipment. At least that is what I keep telling myself

[xpatUSA]

I suffer with a sub-set of G.A.S, Trev. I pare down the collection to something sane and sensible, then spoil everything with an impulse purchase.

The last paring involved the sale of a Sigma DP2 Merrill compact. Then I saw a DP1 Merrill on eBay and bought it on impulse because I missed the one I had sold.

Yesterday, I coughed up for an original DP2 because the Seller threw in a Sigma 50-200mm lens and a couple of SA mounts (for experimentation with non-Sigma lens) . . . 100 bucks total, shipping included.

Around and around we go ...

[Rita]

That is some amount of gear. You could always start up your own camera rental business

[rpcrowe]

I get antsy when I see something I have wanted at a very low price. I had always wanted a beauty dish and one day, I saw one with two monolights, a camera stand and two shoot through umbrellas for sixty dollars on craigslist.com. I just couldn't resist that as an impulse purchase.

[JBW]

Admitting ones ignorance can be so freeing. What is G.a.s.?

[Tronhard]

According to "she who must be obeyed", it's passing wind, however to the photographic fraternity it stands for Gear Acquisition Syndrome, specifically thinking that getting a better camera will make one a better photographer.

To my own defense that was not in my mind. Quite few of these bits and pieces came with jobs I was doing, e.g. the 3x60Ds and some lenses were from a job I did over two months in the Rockies. They came as part of the budget and very much to my own surprise I was allowed to keep them!

[JBW]

According to "she who must be obeyed", it's passing wind, however to the photographic fraternity it stands for Gear Acquisition Syndrome, specifically thinking that getting a better camera will make one a better photographer.

To my own defense that was not in my mind. Quite few of these bits and pieces came with jobs I was doing, e.g. the 3x60Ds and some lenses were from a job I did over two months in the Rockies. They came as part of the budget and very much to my own surprise I was allowed to keep them!

Rumpole of the Bailey ~ we are showing our age

[pnodrog]

According to "she who must be obeyed", it's passing wind, however to the photographic fraternity it stands for Gear Acquisition Syndrome, specifically thinking that getting a better camera will make one a better photographer.

To my own defense that was not in my mind. Quite few of these bits and pieces came with jobs I was doing, e.g. the 3x60Ds and some lenses were from a job I did over two months in the Rockies. They came as part of the budget and very much to my own surprise I was allowed to keep them!

Well of course newer and better gear helps you take better photographs. Unfortunately only if you know how in the first place...

[James G]

Trev.... wow! My first thought was to feel that my GAS issues must be in remission...... then my brother who has just popped over pointed out that I am delusional and that I have been 'passing on/loaning' kit all my life to family and friends. He has had 3 bodies over about 20 years along with other kit and assures me that he really only needs to wait for my next purchase to get his upgrades.
I know that as soon as the 7Dmk3 comes out that I will just have to get it because ...... well..... just ..... because....

And after all, every job has its own 'right' tool... my dear old dad, who was a master carpenter before the war always said that, so you see.... it's not GAS.... it is really just having the right equipment for every (photographic) occasion.... Phew! I'm glad I got that sorted out.... now..... where is that review for that new 70mm macro I'm sure I need......

[Tronhard]

Well of course newer and better gear helps you take better photographs. Unfortunately only if you know how in the first place...

Ah, so THAT'S where I went wrong. You have to look through those viewfinder thingies and remember to take off the lens cap and put in a card whatever.
Nah, it's easier just to carry it around, looking really cool!

[rpcrowe]

I took my 7D2 which was suffering from a bent pin to the Canon Service Center in Costa Mesa, California. It is an amazing place, far in advance of their old building which was just a few miles away. Instead of a factory looking receiving desk, they have a tremendous room that is well decorated.

However, it is a dangerous place for G.A.S. sufferers because they have every piece of gear in the Canon inventory on display and available for you to play with. Luckily, none of it is on sale at this Center which sort of mitigates the danger of all that gear being in view...

For you Canon G.A.S. folks, the host at the Service Center stated that there is a very hot rumor circulating through Canon land that we can expect the advent of the 7D Mark-3 next month...

[loosecanon]

Somewhere I still have the box my 1970s Canon F1 came in, gold and maroon, very luxurious, but then the camera cost £200.