How would you overcome GAS?

JohnN

JohnN

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John
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Hi,

...and don't say a butt plug:)

As you can see from my sig I have some pretty decent gear, however I always seem to be looking to the next thing - in this case the 5DIII (or 7DII later), a 70200 IS II or Sigma 120-300 OS.

As you can see thats all very expensive stuff.

How do you guys stop this gnawing feeling?

Ta.
 
Go out and take photos! Also, hanging round on internet forums is bad, especially gear orientated ones like this. Fresh air and photos, that will do it.
 
When the reality hits that acquiring gear doesn't make your photos any better at all - that's a key realisation. Of course, the right gear for the right job (14mm fisheye won't work too well for wildlife for instance...) but don't be silly about it.
 
I've recently got a new job after a long time without work. I have a severe (and fortunately self-acknowledged case) of GAS, and it is growing...

My problem is i dont know which way to jump. Currently have a d300s, and would really like a d700, but dont want the added size / expense of fx lenses. Also want a fuji x100, just not sure if the lack of speed compared to a d300 would frustrate me.

And the only way ill find out is IF I SUCCUMB TO GAS...

Aarrghh
 
"5D mark III? Pffft, the mark IV will be better."

It's working so far. :lol:
 
Make use of a lens that you don't use often.

:)
 
lol, I've tried many of those - I have kids - that just gave me subjects and the need for better AF - I sadly have improved with gear, so that blows that...

Skint doesn't work either - I can always sell some gear to upgrade, but as my wife points out I sell some stuff, spend that, tag on a couple of hundred quid then it all starts again!

Its all fun...
 
menthel said:
Go out and take photos! Also, hanging round on internet forums is bad, especially gear orientated ones like this. Fresh air and photos, that will do it.
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And kids as mentioned. Or a car that dies in the middle of Leeds creating a massive traffic Jam, and requires Police intervention.

As was mentioned, it's the realisation that practice and improving technique are more likely to improve photos rather than expensive gear.

Doesn't stop me wanting a FF Nikon mind!!
 
Failed miserably Friday afternoon and ordered Sigma 70-200 :( Internet shopping is soooo easy!


Delivered at 08.50am today :D



NORTY!!!!!! :nono:



....but very nice! :lol:


Heather
 
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Lol, getting worse for me too.

I've just seen some cracking shots with a 5D3 and 135mm, exactly what I want to take of my kids!
 
The problem is that I suffered GAS and brought the 5D3 but now that only stops the symtoms of GAS below the surface out of sight you start to develop INK (I Need Kit) which basically means I need new kit to work to the level of this new kit :D
 
I had GAS for while, then I sat down and looked at what I actually enjoyed shooting. Not what I might use, no what if's. Otherwise you will need a huge bag of stuff for every eventuality.

So once I decided what I would need, I decided to go for the best. I would never be happy with the middle ground, it would always be in the back of my head that I still didn't have what I wanted. (I'm a kinda all or nothing person)

So over the space of a year, I picked up a D700, a 35mm and an 85mm. Expensive lenses, yes, but I didn't waste any money buying stop gap lenses upgrading every few months. (apart from a 24-70 I thought I needed. I didn't, so I sold it) the D700 is my second only DSLR ever.

With my 2 lenses and 1 camera I'm happy. I can't foresee me buying anything else for at least a few years. Except maybe a second hand D700 if the wedding photography kicks off)
 
GAS kind of overcomes itself in the end. Especially when you realise the last piece of not inexpensive kit you bought you've never actually used.

Mind you, I see an occasional need for a Nikkor 300mm ƒ/2.8 - heart says "yes", brain says "are you effing mad! You could buy a car for that money"
 
The fact i sold my last 5dmk2 with only 6k shots taken on it, this one will be getting kept along with the 24-105, i love looking for new kit but ive promised myself to use this to its full potential first.
 
iamchrisphoto said:
I had GAS for while, then I sat down and looked at what I actually enjoyed shooting. Not what I might use, no what if's. Otherwise you will need a huge bag of stuff for every eventuality.

So once I decided what I would need, I decided to go for the best. I would never be happy with the middle ground, it would always be in the back of my head that I still didn't have what I wanted. (I'm a kinda all or nothing person)

So over the space of a year, I picked up a D700, a 35mm and an 85mm. Expensive lenses, yes, but I didn't waste any money buying stop gap lenses upgrading every few months. (apart from a 24-70 I thought I needed. I didn't, so I sold it) the D700 is my second only DSLR ever.

With my 2 lenses and 1 camera I'm happy. I can't foresee me buying anything else for at least a few years. Except maybe a second hand D700 if the wedding photography kicks off)
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Chris, yesterday my wife (who seems to have good advice) said I should look at my pictures and see what I mostly take and then just get the best (little does she realise that its either kids or birds in flight - so that would be £8K :)), but I see what she means and it ties in very nicely with what you do, even down to stop gap lenses.

This is the list of my old (and now upgraded kit)

  • Canon 60D (body) + 2x LP-E6 (spare batteries) + 60D Grip
  • Canon 7D (body) + ACK-E6 E6 AC Adapter for Canon 7D + 3rd party grip for 7D
  • Canon 5D (body)
  • Sigma 17-50mm f2.8 EX DC OS HSM
  • Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC OS Macro HSM
  • Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM
  • Canon EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM
  • Canon EF-S 55-250mm Lens f/4 - f/5.6 IS
  • Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM
  • Canon EF 100mm f2.8 Macro USM
  • Canon EF 400mm f5.6L USM + Lens Cover Set - C61.6 - Canon 400 F5.6L + Camo-Mac - 400mm waterproof sleeve
  • Canon 70-200mm f4/L USM

Now some at least one of those (ie the 400mm) was a sideways step - sold to help finance the 50-500 OS, which while not quite as sharp or as fast is much much more flexible and is almost always on the camera.

My issue is that my main disciplines seem to be:

Bird\Wildlife (so long variable lens)
Macro (I already have the best for that so its not an issue)
Available light portraits of the kids

But I dabble in many other fields and have yet to figure out what it is I want.

I would have to say a 5D3 despite being a full frame would suit my needs as the AF is up there with the 1D3, but at 22.3MP would compensate for the 1.3 crop on a 1D3 (10.1MP) - I would loose burst speed but almost ever let rip in machine gun mode.

Long lens wise - the 50-500OS is great, but would I be better selling that and the Sigma 70-200 2.8 and get the 120-300 OS + 2x TC + 24-105 for the short end??

Either way very expensive.
 
it's not unique to photography and i've come to the conclusion that if it's built into your persona then you've got it for life.

i've been playing golf for over 20 years and i think i've had maybe 4 sets of clubs in that time. Playing off a handicap of 10 and never been a believer of needing better/newer/more expensive gear to improve my game. I'm the same with photography... i'm happy with my kit, maybe a few tweaks here and there as i go, but nothing major... it does the job.. it's my skill and committment that needs improvement :thumbs:
 
leftcurl said:
it's not unique to photography and i've come to the conclusion that if it's built into your persona then you've got it for life.

i've been playing golf for over 20 years and i think i've had maybe 4 sets of clubs in that time. Playing off a handicap of 10 and never been a believer of needing better/newer/more expensive gear to improve my game. I'm the same with photography... i'm happy with my kit, maybe a few tweaks here and there as i go, but nothing major... it does the job.. it's my skill and committment that needs improvement :thumbs:
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Yes, I believe the term was first used to mean Guitar Acquisition Syndrome, of which there are some luminary sufferers.

I just read that Joe Bonamassa was selling all but a few dozen of his 300-odd guitars. So he could blow the proceeds on just one 1959 Gibson Les Paul. Which kinda makes some sense, except that he already has two of those (about a quarter million dollars each).

Personally, I enjoy a bit of GAS. It's all part of photography's rich tapestry :D
 
Go to the bank and get a massive loan and buy everything you want and then your GAS will be over. You'll just have no money for the rest of your days, but you'll have a load of nice gear to look at.
 
modchild said:
Go to the bank and get a massive loan and buy everything you want and then your GAS will be over. You'll just have no money for the rest of your days, but you'll have a load of nice gear to look at.
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No, it's not that simple, because the perfect outfit doesn't exist, but you live in perpetual hope that the next new wonder camera/lens/bag/widget/whatever will finally scratch that itch. Which it usually does for, ooh, sometimes several minutes, before you realise it's actually not quite what you wanted.
 
i've been suffering from this just lately & i've been waiting for a 70-200vr to come along for ages. But at the moment there are people waiting to pounce on them as soon as they are listed so i keep missing out :shake:
there was a VR2 listed today for £1400 which i thought wasn't much cheaper than a new one so one quick mission to Jesops this morning & i now have a shiny new 70-200VR2 AND (this is where the stupid thing happened) a shiny new 17-55f/2.8 :cuckoo:

i am in so much trouble now!
thing is they are a bit big to hide anywhere too :bonk:
 
Tirpitz said:
i've been suffering from this just lately & i've been waiting for a 70-200vr to come along for ages. But at the moment there are people waiting to pounce on them as soon as they are listed so i keep missing out :shake:
there was a VR2 listed today for £1400 which i thought wasn't much cheaper than a new one so one quick mission to Jesops this morning & i now have a shiny new 70-200VR2 AND (this is where the stupid thing happened) a shiny new 17-55f/2.8 :cuckoo:

i am in so much trouble now!
thing is they are a bit big to hide anywhere too :bonk:
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You mean you can't get away with this:-

GF "What's this"

Me "What's what"

GF "This" - pointing at shiny new piece of expensive gear

Me "Oh, that's just an old <whatever>"

GF "Well I haven't seen it before"

Me "Well, I haven't used it for ages, I just though I'd get it out again"

Girlfriend then gives me a suspicious look, but nothing more is said. ;)
 
Slaphead said:
You mean you can't get away with this:-

GF "What's this"

Me "What's what"

GF "This" - pointing at shiny new piece of expensive gear

Me "Oh, that's just an old <whatever>"

GF "Well I haven't seen it before"

Me "Well, I haven't used it for ages, I just though I'd get it out again"

Girlfriend then gives me a suspicious look, but nothing more is said. ;)
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that works with RC buggy racing equipment but it wont work with these 2 lenses. she shoots a D90 & would notice the 70-200 from about half a mile away :thinking:
 
4737carlin said:
agree


Look at lots of exhibitions and books, and don't get hung up on cameras and technical things. Photography is about images. —Fay Godwin
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That's both arrogant and ignorant. Photography is about many things, to different people. Make of it what you want.
 
4737carlin said:
Look at lots of exhibitions and books, and don't get hung up on cameras and technical things. Photography is about images. —Fay Godwin
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

HoppyUK said:
That's both arrogant and ignorant. Photography is about many things, to different people. Make of it what you want.
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[url=http://nationalmediamuseum.blogspot.co.uk/2010_11_01_archive.html]National Media Museum Blog[/url] said:
There are two of Fay Godwin's cameras on display - a Hasselblad 500C/M camera fitted with a Planar f2.8 50mm lens and a Leica M6 camera fitted with a Summicron f2 35mm lens. Both of these cameras would have been used to produce some of the images included in the exhibition.
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It's easy to say when you've got the gear that you want :D
 
Tirpitz said:
that works with RC buggy racing equipment but it wont work with these 2 lenses. she shoots a D90 & would notice the 70-200 from about half a mile away :thinking:
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If I was her I would be borrowing lots of your lenses!:lol:

Heather
 
be poor and therefor not be able to afford anything like me lol :'(


JohnN said:
Hi,

...and don't say a butt plug:)

As you can see from my sig I have some pretty decent gear, however I always seem to be looking to the next thing - in this case the 5DIII (or 7DII later), a 70200 IS II or Sigma 120-300 OS.

As you can see thats all very expensive stuff.

How do you guys stop this gnawing feeling?

Ta.
Click to expand...
 
It's easy when you favour cheap old film cameras. The boyfriend has now enforced a "one in, one out" rule, due to running out of space :D
 
Buy the best (second hand). Love it for a while. Then realise you don't need it (this is the key moment!). Then sell it. Minimal loss, GAS neutralised. Worked for me.

The thing is, you NEED to buy what you've lusted over. Stop gapping won't help. Just buying it saves you time in the long run - well that's what I tell myself - either spend all my evenings for a few weeks reading up on something I want - or just go and buy it (used). The time I've saved could be spent working (to pay it off) or enjoying it, rather than dreaming of enjoying it.

Also helps if you have such a busy job you don't have time to have GAS / can't be bothered to lust any more!
 
I have so much GAS I will shortly explode .... I'm actually contemplating selling everything and limiting myself to a compact or the camera on my iPhone, then go out and actually take some photos without the pressure of the GAS hurting my head. :bang:
 
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