Do you ever get the feeling your equipment is never enough.

squizza

squizza

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Yes
For example, I have a 300mm f4 IS but I now want something like a 500 or 600. Can I afford it. No. Its so frustrating.
 
Well I still lust for a 5D Mk II but can't really afford it and must admit I want it more than really need it.

But looking at the kind of pics I like taking am now considering a 7D.

If I got the 5D I would then probably want (need) new lenses whereas with the 7D I still have the virtue of the 1.6X crop.

I still probably won't be able to afford the 7D until the end of the year but it makes more sense for me.

But it doesn't stop me lusting for the 5d Mk II.
 
No, because I buy the best that my chosen manufacturer makes.

I went through all that in my teens - bought budget-option after budget-option after budget-option, until I finally gave in and just went straight to the top of the range...

Been happy ever since...

Poorer too, it has to be said, but happy.

Since then I've adopted a no-compromise approach to equipment. If I cannot afford the best, I wait until I can, or wait a bit longer and buy it 2nd-hand.
And happily now, the best no longer means the latest when talking about DSLRs at the top of the tree...
 
As arkady says "buy cheap, buy twice"

I am stuck with a D60, 18-55mm kit lens + 50mm 1.8 manual lens. Next upgrade with be at least a d700 although want a d3s. lenses will be 24-70mm 2.8 & 70-200mm 2.8 + a couple of SB900's.

Yes it'll be expensive, no I can't afford it just yet but I can't see the point in constantly upgrading and it costing more! :)
 
i'm very happy with what i've got, but i do keep browsing them lenses. something in the back of my head keeps telling me that i need something wider.

i've got the 135 f2 for portraits which i love and would never part with, the 24mm 1.4 just keep calling me.
 
Its not the cameras for me anymore. Its the glass. I just find I'm always wanting something longer. Although I do agree with buy cheap buy twice.
 
Girls, pay attention: Sarah at least admits it - she wants something longer...


oh well...:shrug:
 
squizza said:
I just find I'm always wanting something longer. .
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Story of my life :)

I've come to the same conclusion as Rob, totally no compromise approach, if I can't afford the best now, I wait till I can, either new or (more likely) second hand.
 
Arkady said:
Since then I've adopted a no-compromise approach to equipment.
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I tend to use that approach to life in general, particularly buying stuff though, be it lenses, cars or anything. Worked it out the last time I bought an every day car, pondered why I was sticking with convention (front engined saloon) when I didn't actually want or need a four seater and certainly didin't want the engine over the steering wheels.
 
squizza said:
For example, I have a 300mm f4 IS but I now want something like a 500 or 600. Can I afford it. No. Its so frustrating.
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Yes i always felt that too, then i had a major eye operation and could not use my gear for 2 months.
I then realised that life had plenty better things to spend all my money on so now i am selling everything and buying a G12.13 when it arrives
 
i hate the way technology moves forward so fast, buy the time youve saved up for the gear you want, another better,fast cheaper one drops in price!!
 
My chosen profession is poorly paid and as such I restrict how mush I can spend on camera gear. I try and get the best out of what I've got but do wonder whether I could achieve more with expensive lenses etc.

Sarah, have you tried hiring a 500 or 600?
 
i was kinda happy with what i have, or at least just getting on with it but in the back of my mind knowing i need to buy some premium lenses at some point!
well that was up until the weekend when a friend let me have a play with his D3 :love: not only that but he leant me his lenses for the day :thumbs:

now rather than having the new lens thoughts pushed to the back of my mind they seem to be dancing around in the front :bonk:
the 14-24 i could live without. but, i NEED a 70 -200 in my life :naughty:
the 50mm 1.4 was pretty good too :)

i need to either sell a load of stuff on ebay or rob a bank now :shrug:
 
Auto-Union R8 perhaps...?

car-logo-auto-union2.gif


Propaganda+da+Auto+Union+durante+a+WWII+-+Dalton+Costa
 
love one ( a buddy has just bought the V8 version) but as i can't even afford any lenses at the moment i'm just going to have to wait a little while until the new shape S8's are a little more affordable :thumbs:

edit or maybe even the new shape RS6! unfortunately they hold on to their residual a lot better than the 8's
 
Yv said:
I was always told it isn't what you have, but what you do wth it....so far that hasn't let me down :p
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Mine never lets me down, whether it lets the Mrs down is a different matter......
 
Arkady said:
No, because I buy the best that my chosen manufacturer makes.

I went through all that in my teens - bought budget-option after budget-option after budget-option, until I finally gave in and just went straight to the top of the range...

Been happy ever since...

Poorer too, it has to be said, but happy.

Since then I've adopted a no-compromise approach to equipment. If I cannot afford the best, I wait until I can, or wait a bit longer and buy it 2nd-hand.
And happily now, the best no longer means the latest when talking about DSLRs at the top of the tree...
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But then do you have every piece of "the best" that you want or are you still finding you want more?
 
joescrivens said:
But then do you have every piece of "the best" that you want or are you still finding you want more?
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Actually I do have what I need... I'd thought about using a D3s-based kit while in Afghanistan and managed to put off buying long enough to realise that I didn't actually need one over a D3.
Don't need or even want video, and don't need the additional 3 extra stops at the high-end...
To that end I deliberately sourced two good, low-mileage (actually, one turned out to be new from that Dixons sell-off) D3 bodies instead of the two D3s bodies I had budgeted for.

My lens line-up is equally complete for the work I do:
I do not have a macro lens of any description and if offered any work that involved that side of things, I would buy a 105mm f/2.8 Micro-Nikkor - but the old AF-D one, not the new AF-S VR G-series one. Sharpness is equally good and the older lens will work on all my Nikon bodies. For considered macro work, I don't think VR offers any significant advantages.

It doesn't have to be either new or the latest to be the best for the job at hand...I'm also trying to buy smart for once in my life...

Maybe the only thing that really bugs me at the moment is the sluggish recycle-times of my old Bowens Esprit-500 monoblocs, but £1800 for a new 3-head kit is too much right now... other stuff is nearer the front of the queue and they'll do...
Unless... I get lots of fashion-work through the door (and the chances of that?) and need to 'up' the game.
 
Arkady said:
Unless it's a V8, rear-wheel drive 2-seater...:D
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I'd make an exception to my "no engine over the front wheels" rule for a Chevrolet Impala SS built by Hendrick Motorsports with an R09 engine. front engined V8, 875bhp-ish, RWD. Not as an every day car though, as they only turn left!

If I was going to have a roadgoing RWD V8 it would be an Ultima GTR with an LS7. And a lottery win to pay for it. That's mid-engined though.
 
Pretty much the same attitude as Rob really. In all things that I buy now. I tend to buy the best that I can. As I've said before, Linda's just pleased that I don't rush out buying cars like I used to.
Good things come to those that wait. It's nice and satisfying when you finally get them then. ;)
I don't have any problems with length. Bit too much girth maybe...

Kev.
 
onomatopoeia said:
I'd make an exception to my "no engine over the front wheels" rule for a Chevrolet Impala SS built by Hendrick Motorsports with an R09 engine. front engined V8, 875bhp-ish, RWD. Not as an every day car though, as they only turn left!..
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For that or maybe a 1970 Dodge Challenger RT/S in Black, Hemi-Orange or maybe even Lime, I'd even consider breaking my 'Ford-Only' rule...:D
 
No, I think I'm alright actually. Focal lengths of 10-200 covered with reasonably good lenses (nothing L badged), couple of flashes, decent tripod and reasonable assortment of filters. I have what I need to take the shots I want in most circumstances. Sure every now and then I'd like the iso capability of the 1dmk4 or the reach of a 600mm, but for how frequently I'd use them it wouldn't even be worth the hassle of carrying the extra weight. I've got the tools to do the job I want and I'm happy with that.
 
Problem is it's not just the old "buy cheap, buy twice" addage, sometimes your needs just change. I was pretty happy with the setup I have in my sig, yes there could be a couple of changes but nothing major. Unfortunately my needs have changed so unless I buy a whole new set of lenses to go with the ones I already have I need to sell the ones I have now...
 
Not hugely. I'm fully aware that I'm the main limitation in my use of my 5D (classic) which is my main workhorse.

Bought it in 2006 at the limits of my budget largely because I wanted a full-frame viewfinder. I'd gotten used to it with my film SLRs and hated the poky view on the 300D that I owned at the time, but that had served its purpose well, so I had no regrets. The other stuff that the 5D delivers was a bonus, especially the higher ISO performance. I bought it with the intention of keeping it for five years or so and it's still a great camera.

I did then find that the 75-300 IS lens I had was mercilessly treated by the 5D, so that got replaced by a 70-200 f/2.8L IS (it was that or a Corrado G60 to replace my Scirocco, but the running costs of the lens are lower ;)).

I'll probably wait until the 5D MkIII appears before replacing the 5D (or the oft-heralded EOS 3D which would go nicely with my EOS 3 film body). I'm occasionally tempted by a second hand 1-series body, but the 1Ds is less of a low-light tool and the 1D is a 1.3 crop. And I do appreciate the ability to work without a grip when I want to. Maybe I don't know what I'm missing... ?

Sure, I'd like some 'L' primes. A 135mm f/2L and a 35mm f/1.4L would work nicely for some of the things I do. I fancy a 300mm f/4.0L IS for a bit of extra reach. Working on Arkady's principle, I'll get them when I can afford to and not bother with a cheap alternative. In the meantime I'll make do with what I've got.

Other than that, the areas where I do have equipment lust is at a completely different level. I quite enjoy using the cheap film rangefinders I have. It's a different experience to an SLR in the same way that shooting with my Yashica 124G TLR is a different experience again. It's refreshing to take an alternative approach to making photographs every once in a while.

I'd really like to buy a Leica M9. No chance of affording that, so I've been eyeing m4/3 with interest over the last couple of years, especially the GF1. I may yet get a Voigtländer Bessa R or perhaps a Leica film camera with an eye to using the lenses on both.

Oh, and a decent digital compact that I can keep with me at all times. :)
 
Arkady said:
For that or maybe a 1970 Dodge Challenger RT/S in Black, Hemi-Orange or maybe even Lime, I'd even consider breaking my 'Ford-Only' rule...:D
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I found a picture of one in Lime - awesome :D

(with apologies to squizza for going on about cars with huge engines in her huge lens topic :lol: )
 
Im happy with what i have you can only carry so much. But i know my gear inside out and it does just what i require. lifes to short for lens & camera envy
Regards
Richard
 
Today I want 5D mark 3 and Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 IS to replace some of my ageing kit. I also want a BMW Z4 and so on. I am pretty sure everybody has a desire for better and more expensive things.
 
daugirdas said:
Today I want 5D mark 3 and Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 IS to replace some of my ageing kit. I also want a BMW Z4 and so on. I am pretty sure everybody has a desire for better and more expensive things.
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Make sure its an //M when you do get it. :thumbs:


Kev.
 
i used to feel my equipment was never enough. until i got my D3, 70 - 200 and the 24 - 70. am very happy and havent wanted better equipment since.

i almost felt like my old camera and lenses were limiting my ability, i dont know how much actual truth there is in that statement though! but now when i go out i feel so free and not worrying/limited by rubbish lenses! haha, i hope that makes sense.
 
Do you ever get the feeling your equipment is never enough.
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That's what they want you to think! :)

Unfortunately yes is still the answer for me, though I feel like I am getting good results with what I've got - there are still things I feel I am missing. I think it's easy to convince yourself you need something new though, when you might be better concentrating on using what you've got more effectively.
 
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