Bored - Should I Sell or Keep ?

bl0at3r

bl0at3r

Messages
3,749
Name
Alan
Edit My Images
Yes
Have been seriously struggling for inspiration lately - well for the last 2 months.

I have got a 7D & a GF1 and a selection of other accessories - I can't really be bothered to pick the cameras up, let alone go anywhere and use them.

My head says sell the gear, and move onto another hobby - maybe even have a rest from hobbies for a while.

My heart says, keep at least one decent camera, in case I get my mojo back again in the future.

I'm not desperate for the money, but can't stand having expensive items sitting in the cupboard gathering dust - even for a few weeks or months

So, what would you do :wacky: - obviously none of the gear is rare - if I did sell, I could always buy another camera the same (or better) later on.

Suggestions & views much appreciated (y)


PS - This is not a thinly disguised For Sale thread - if I do decide to sell my gear, it will be advertised in the correct places.
 
Whether you sell or keep, you have to retain something, just in case you think you get the mojo back, and find yourself having to buy a load of gear.

Especially if you then realise mojo's not there.... Good luck whichever side you fall.
 
I've had the same thoughts for a while but will keep one camera for events/days out I will go to and hopefully that will bring back some enthusiasm

Hopefully you will feel the same
 
Been there, done that. Put at all away and go find something else to do for a couple of months - don't even think about photography.
If you still feel this way, sell it all...

I had to re-invest a sizeable chunk after taking a 2-yr 'time-out' back in the late-80's and selling all my Nikon kit...
 
Thanks guys, if I did sell anything, then the 7D, 17-85 and 580 speedlite would go - leaving me with the GF1 + 20mm - which is not much bigger than a decent compact so could still be taken places without having to lug all the gear everywhere.

Keep em coming (y)
 
Put it away and forget it for a while. We all get toggers block or loss of mojo now and again.

Recently I've gone through hell with cameras and lenses going haywire, I was all for giving up and selling up but....

A few weeks without and I bought a Canon 1000d to play with. Now I have all but one lens back I have my mojo back.

The 7D is a fantastic camera and the loss you would make selling it would hurt. Take a break, the camera will still be there when you get the feeling to take pictures again, which you most likely will.
 
anything that'll loose value i'd drop if you really think you've lost the urge however lenses i'd be more inclined to keep

out of the 7d/gf1 i'd keep the smaller as it's more likely to get you into photography again due to it's portability :) thus giving you a 50/50 situation :)
 
I can't believe you can't find anything interesting. Near Essex there is an excellent coastline for stunning landscapes. Now it is spring - a perfect time for birding and macros. Make the most of it!
 
If you must sell it then I'd advise you keep the GF1 and the 20mm just so you have something there should you decide to dabble in it again. Time away is always good.
 
cut it down to the bare minimum, keep the GF1 and the 20mm (great lens!) start taking pictures every day, kind of like a 365, informal or formal. see how you feel in a few months...
a lot of hobby photographers seem to see the hobby as a reason to buy loads of professional kit, bags, lenses, tripods, monopods, etc, etc, etc. then they get bored carting it all around and never do anything with it, they 'lose their mojo'...
as arkady said in a 'what gear should i buy?' thread recently, he has 2 top quality tripods and a monopod and he never uses them. exactly the point!
the GF1 is small enough to carry about, it makes excellent pictures. carry it about, use it and you will 'rediscover' your 'mojo'...
 
Id out the 7d and keep the camera that you can carry. This may spur you on if you keep it handy. Keep the 580 back if you feel you may jump on the canon train again in the future/
 
KayJay said:
If you must sell it then I'd advise you keep the GF1 and the 20mm just so you have something there should you decide to dabble in it again. Time away is always good.
Click to expand...

agreed :)
 
Sounds like you're just bored with taking pics of the same things you've been taking pics of for some time. I've been in the same place. Relief has usually come from finding something new to take pictures of.

This is one of the reasons I've focused on sports photography. WIth so many sports out there, the potential is vast, and every game is different. This gives you constant interest in often very challenging circumstances, so the results are extremely rewarding.

Might be worth you looking for a similar specialisation, and getting out to a few photo galleries (London is great for this and most of them are free!) and getting some inspiration.
 
Alan,
I would sit tight for a while. I go through periods like this myself. Real life takes over, work, family, the usual grind.

Don't do anything too hasty just yet, your kit isn't going to self destruct if left unused for a while.

The urge will return, have you thought about why its gone for now?
 
Know how you feel its a real bummer when it hits I got a panny fz38 recently just to carry about still not sure if I want to sell all my canon gear but as said above just put it away for a while then decide good luck with you choice
Bob
 
Golly Gosh.

I hope that this is just a phase. It's a surprise to read this as your photographs seem to show that you have a good eye and skill. It'd be a shame to turn away from photography for ever or to want to turn back to it and have to buy new gear.

So, if you don't need the money I think that you should just stick the 7D and all of it's bits and pieces in a cupboard (even though you don't like doing that) and keep the GF1 and 20mm handy. That way if the bug bites again your kit is waiting...
 
Thanks so much for all the replies - you've helped me to decide that I'm going to just store it all away and have a break for a month or 2.

When I have something specific to take shots of I do really enjoy it.

Bye for now............. :wave:
 
bl0at3r said:
When I have something specific to take shots of I do really enjoy it.
Click to expand...

Perhaps in your 'time out' you could think of some projects you'd like to undertake when you pick up your camera again. That might give you something to aim for.
 
I can't believe you can't find anything interesting. Near Essex there is an excellent coastline for stunning landscapes. Now it is spring - a perfect time for birding and macros. Make the most of it!
Click to expand...

and it looks like you've got an mx5 to drive there! combine the two and have fun...
 
Have you started to take an interest in another hobby??
My advice would be to put it away and forget photography for a while and see if the urge returns. If you still cannot be bothered after a couple of months then yep consider selling up.
 
mr_pants said:
Perhaps in your 'time out' you could think of some projects you'd like to undertake when you pick up your camera again. That might give you something to aim for.
Click to expand...

Dave Pickett said:
and it looks like you've got an mx5 to drive there! combine the two and have fun...
Click to expand...

pragmatist said:
Have you started to take an interest in another hobby??
My advice would be to put it away and forget photography for a while and see if the urge returns. If you still cannot be bothered after a couple of months then yep consider selling up.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I am designing & building a pond for the garden
 
I'm selling up at the moment. It's a lot of money just sat there. I'm not neccessarily bored, but have just been thinking about what else I could do with the money. I'd like to do a bit of travel and am thinking about starting climbing. I'm gonna swap my equipment for a nice compact though, so I can always take a photo even if I'm climbing a mountain which has proved difficult with a 1D
 
Go out and take pictures of everything that catches your eye .
If you still feel the same way after that, Photography is definitely not for you... sell the lot and forget about it.
 
Find a hobby that floats your boat and move on, you can always come back no bridges can be burnt and your new experiences may light your flame again,I do it all the time but keep coming back.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top