camera greed?

[photobum]

I think you should buy whatever you want without guilt. In the end, a wife, child or the government will spend whatever is left. Now that would be a waste.

 

[Curt]

Buy low, Sell high. If you want it get it. Nothing ventured, Nothing gained.

"It's not what you do but what you leave undone that gives you a little heart ache at the setting of the sun." Edora Welty

 

[Dan Fromm]

When I was looking for a lens for my FED, I ended up buying 12 collapsibles for the price of one. I still have 8 of them, having passed on the best ones except for the one I use. And then there's a couple of non-collapsible Industars and whatnot, too.

I also managed to get down to only three 150mm LF lenses, but now I'm back to five. And three 135mm's, three 180mm's and a 165mm...

Tjugen's Syndrome is like weight. Easy to go on a diet and lose weight, hard not to regain the loss.

 

[Claire Senft]

Is not Mr. Ole a fine role model and ideal choice to advise others about camera greed?

Please speak up I am hearing impaired.

 

[Ole]

I shouldn't have said that - 150mm lens no. 6 came in todays mail. A 150mm f:6.6 Zeiss Doppel-Amatar...

 

[Magnus]

It's got nothing to do with collecting or having a plan ....

I just like using 50mm lenses, it provides me with the perfect frame size, according to my preferences that is, others often get a 50mm because it's the cheapest in the range, use it for a while and then tend to buy wides or teles leaving the 50 unused. After a while they might decide to sell it for reasons of funding another lenses, this is when I come in. I pick them up at good prices and cannot get it over my heart to sell them.

Out of all the 50-ties I own, 15 are a different types, all with a certain character, not that use them all, but I do have them documented, and when I feel the need I pick a specific lens, or lenses for the subject I want to photograph.

 

[Sportera]

I guess I have camera greed too!

I have and use: a Leica M6 , A 4x5, and a Hassy

I have and seldom use a Nikon F100 outfit, Rolleiflex, and a Leica IIIF.

I have noticed that when I stick to one particular format my my work tends to improve.

 

[catem]

As I started this thread, I should say that since my opening post, and partly after considering earlier responses, I have bought both an FM3A and a Nikon 85mm f1.4 (MF), second-hand of course, as a decision to make the most of what I had already.

I'm very pleased with the decision, and in fact don't think it was greed at all, but was about time, and it has made a lot of practical difference. To change system would, I think, have been greedy and also a complete red herring (for me, at the moment).

But this thread has a life of it's own now...........(and I wouldn't say the greed in me is dead for ever, but it's under control - for now).......

 

[Claire Senft]

Dear Stargazer, with full understanding of your gender and meaning nothing untoward, do you think that camera greed is a more appropriate term than camera lust?

 

[catem]

Dear Stargazer, with full understanding of your gender and meaning nothing untoward,

Perhaps if I was more certain of the first half of your question I'd make a better answer re. the second half, but...

Gluttony, lust, seem pretty close to me ......

 

[BrianShaw]

Gee... I was thinking that there might be some sort of guilt thing going on. What's wrong with buying equipment to do the work you want/need to do, provided your not robbing or stealing to do so? I must admit, I never understood this thread and still don't. But then again, I rarely understand Claire's responses so it must be a personal problem. Thanks for listening... no response required!

 

[catem]

Gee... I was thinking that there might be some sort of guilt thing going on. What's wrong with buying equipment to do the work you want/need to do, provided your not robbing or stealing to do so? .

Nothing. It's just that it's sometimes a bit easy to get into buying equipment you DON'T need to do the work you want/need to do....
That doesn't harm anyone either, and no need to feel guilty, but as I said for me it can become a bit of a red herring - a way of avoiding getting on with it, or even facing other issues about what I'm doing.
That's not to say it means the same for everybody...(I can't answer for why this thread's gone on for so long either )

 

[Soeren]

Nothing. It's just that it's sometimes a bit easy to get into buying equipment you DON'T need to do the work you want/need to do....
That doesn't harm anyone either, and no need to feel guilty, but as I said for me it can become a bit of a red herring - a way of avoiding getting on with it, or even facing other issues about what I'm doing.
That's not to say it means the same for everybody...(I can't answer for why this thread's gone on for so long either )

Hmm that post caused a strange feeling in my stomach. I don't "need" a lot of the gear I have. I could just do with one Nikon and the 50mm but I think its fun to use my 20mm and the 85/1,4 is just a great lens that produces lovely images. I'm not using the 180 AIS alot but I still would like the AFD version. The P6X7 is a heavy old beast with a dim wievfinder but whauv it's just a lovely camera and the 75mm f/4,5 is sharp, have a great AOW but it's just SLOW. The 45mm f/4,0 is a very good wide. I really want the 165mm f/2,8 for shots of my son in good light since I am a little to close with the 75mm. Then again I don't really need it.
I don't feel I'm gready but I do have a lot of equipment that I don't "need" but I'm not a pro and I am only taking pictures because I like it.
Hmm I started out doing nature shots on slides with the Nikon and Sigmas, a 24mm f/2,8 and a 105mm f/2,8 Macro. Where am I now
I think that the "-greed" sometimes leads us on new paths. We learn from it.
You can browse the internet for info on this or that but you don't really know until you have tried it yourself.
Cheers Søren

 

[catem]

Hmm that post caused a strange feeling in my stomach. I don't "need" a lot of the gear I have. I could just do with one Nikon and the 50mm but I think its fun to use my 20mm and the 85/1,4 is just a great lens that produces lovely images. I'm not using the 180 AIS alot but I still would like the AFD version. The P6X7 is a heavy old beast with a dim wievfinder but whauv it's just a lovely camera and the 75mm f/4,5 is sharp, have a great AOW but it's just SLOW. The 45mm f/4,0 is a very good wide. I really want the 165mm f/2,8 for shots of my son in good light since I am a little to close with the 75mm. Then again I don't really need it.
I don't feel I'm gready but I do have a lot of equipment that I don't "need" but I'm not a pro and I am only taking pictures because I like it.
Hmm I started out doing nature shots on slides with the Nikon and Sigmas, a 24mm f/2,8 and a 105mm f/2,8 Macro. Where am I now
I think that the "-greed" sometimes leads us on new paths. We learn from it.
You can browse the internet for info on this or that but you don't really know until you have tried it yourself.
Cheers Søren

Of course.

Don't forget the original post was posed with a question mark, and it referred to a specific dilemma I had at a particular time, so it was referring to me. It was not meant as a general philosophical question, nor to apply to everyone in general, though I for one have been interested in the replies.

As it happens I don't believe in guilt, or sin. Life is far too short for that. Certainly if I was forced to put a name to a sin, having lots of cameras wouldn't be it. And collecting cameras for it's own sake, even without any thought of using them, is a fine pursuit in itself. I was merely trying to work out my own motives at that moment, and sometimes it helps to do this aloud.

In retrospect, though, I shouldn't have said 'greed'; 'dilemma' or 'confusion' would have been less value-laden.

Now...please can everybody stop feeling so defensive?

 

[BrianShaw]

Of course.
In retrospect, though, I shouldn't have said 'greed'; 'dilemma' or 'confusion' would have been less value-laden.

BINGO!

Now...please can everybody stop feeling so defensive?

... or GUILTY

 

[rfshootist]

In retrospect, though, I shouldn't have said 'greed'; 'dilemma' or 'confusion' would have been less value-laden.
Now...please can everybody stop feeling so defensive?

You are right. The moral interpretation of this phenomenon would be silly, these poor guys (seldom girls) with houses full of cameras an lenses are not "guilty" ! How can a man beeing so very sick be responsible for his deeds ??

Hmmm.. not good either ? Well, at least more benevolent I'd say. The humanistic approach.

Regards,
bertram

 

[Soeren]

Of course.

Don't forget the original post was posed with a question mark, and it referred to a specific dilemma I had at a particular time, so it was referring to me. It was not meant as a general philosophical question, nor to apply to everyone in general, though I for one have been interested in the replies.

As it happens I don't believe in guilt, or sin. Life is far too short for that. Certainly if I was forced to put a name to a sin, having lots of cameras wouldn't be it. And collecting cameras for it's own sake, even without any thought of using them, is a fine pursuit in itself. I was merely trying to work out my own motives at that moment, and sometimes it helps to do this aloud.

In retrospect, though, I shouldn't have said 'greed'; 'dilemma' or 'confusion' would have been less value-laden.

Now...please can everybody stop feeling so defensive?

WHOOOPS Sorry didn't mean to sound defensive, I'm really not.
Stargazer, I know you are refering to yourself but somehow I makes us all think and perhaps some do feel quilty or targeted ( does that word exist ?)
Greed is a very good word exactly covering the subject I think
Cheers, Søren

 

[Dan Fromm]

WHOOOPS Sorry didn't mean to sound defensive, I'm really not.
Stargazer, I know you are refering to yourself but somehow I makes us all think and perhaps some do feel quilty or targeted ( does that word exist ?)
Greed is a very good word exactly covering the subject I think
Cheers, Søren

Søren, I'm not so sure about that. I mean, I don't want EVERY camera or lens I see, just the ones that meet a need. And there aren't many of those.

Cheers,

Dan

 

[catem]

Greed is a very good word exactly covering the subject I think
Cheers, Søren

Well, I'm quite glad you like the word. It's quite a good one, really.

Certainly I have no problems using it and applying it to myself on occasion Let me see......Greed.... greeeeed greeeeeeeeeeeeeeed greeeeeeeeeedyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
really reeeeeeeeeeaallyyyyyy greeeeeeeeeeeedyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
yes, the word's O.K.

 

[Soeren]

Søren, I'm not so sure about that. I mean, I don't want EVERY camera or lens I see, just the ones that meet a need. And there aren't many of those.

Cheers,

Dan

Do you feel targeted Dan ?
I believe you and I don't think you are suffering from camera greed
I do think it's one of the symptoms in Magic Bullit Chasing Syndrome, You know, if I had this camera or that lens my pics would be much better
But what's the case here is the lust after something because it's cool. I mean Leica is cool, a Mamiya 7 II is cool, a gandolfi 5X7 or 8X10 is cool etc.
Its about wanting a camera or a lens for the joy of playing around with it and have something thas really top quality not because you need that exact item to be able to do a certain shot. And I think it's ok, whats wrong with buying a leica for the feel of it and its ruggedness or whatever even if a Voigtländer does the job just as good ? nothing.
I'm not a pro and I don't "need" to take pictures to get food on the table but I need to go out with my cameras to feel alive, I just can't help it. My cameras ain't tools they are toys. I feel happy playing with them and if I get great images from them great, if not I have had a good time anyway.
Thats not to say that getting good result doesn't matter of cource it does but it's not the end of the world if I fail.
Cheers, Søren

 

[catem]

I do think it's one of the symptoms in Magic Bullit Chasing Syndrome, You know, if I had this camera or that lens my pics would be much better

That's the key, isn't it, and realising that at the right time.

But collecting and using different cameras can be a pleasure in itself, I definitely agree with that too, and am REALLY not calling ANYONE 'greedy' (though I do like the word itself- just the sound of it!). After all, all those cameras and lenses out there need good homes.

 

[Dan Fromm]

Magic bullet syndrome, Søren? I think not. I just like to have 'em around.

The real reason I think its not magic bullet syndrome is that I've done a lot of shootouts. With the emulsions I shoot, my typical subjects, and my lousy technique, the lenses I've tried have fallen nicely into two categories: good enough to use, not good enough to use. The good enoughs all shoot about equally well as I use them. The not good enoughs really stand out for poor image quality.

The problem is, until a lens has been tried there's no way to tell which category its in. Reputation is fine, but past abuse matters too. There are no magic bullets.

 

[MattKing]

There are no magic bullets.

Actually, there are:

Magic Bullet

 

[Roger Hicks]

I'm with Dan on this. The only thing I'd add is that if you buy reputable names and avoid their cheaper zooms there are far more lenses that ARE good enough to use than there are that AREN'T.

Cheers,

Roger

 

[DBP]

The only time lens quality really jumped out at me was a few years ago, when I first acquired my Bessa-R. I shot a retirement ceremony indoors with it, switching between the 35/2.5 Skopar and a Jupiter 8, and my Nikon FG, with a cheap zoom on the latter. When I got the 4x6 prints back I could easily tell which camera shot which, just from the higher level contrast on the Bessa. Couldn't tell when I switched lenses on the Bessa, but I could tell when I switched cameras.

BTW, would anyone like a cheap, offbrand 35-70 zoom in AI mount?