Do I have GAS or am I just your every day idiot?

campy51 · Apr 11, 2020

What it really comes down to is I enjoy the hunt for good equipment at bargain prices that I can try out and then sell for a profit or keep for myself. I will tell you a story about one of my more successful hunts. It started when I just returned from a overnight wedding that was an hour from home, when I spotted a Craigslist ad for a Mamiya 7 that the seller said the curtain you close to change lenses wasn't working and it had a crack in one of the windows for $120. Of course I jumped on it and then drove 1 1/2 hours to meet and when I got home I realized that he wasn't doing the latch properly to release the curtain and the crack was on the light sensor window for the meter. I used it for a couple of months and decided to sell it and sold it for $1800. I do regret selling it though but it turned out great for me. I gave half the money to my wife to spend on a outrageously priced pocket book, but she feels the same way about cameras. We had spent $300 on our anniversary dinner and something else which left us $1500. I took my $750 and bought and sold the following.
Bought a 8x10 view camera for $300
Bought a Yashica 124G for a $100
Bought a Rolleiflex 2.8C for $350 and spent $175 to have it fixed
Bought a Rolleiflex 2.8E for $420
Bought a Sony A7RII for $975
Sold the view camera for $600
Sold the 124G for $200
Sold the Rolleiflex 2.8C for $840
So after starting with my $120 initial investment I ended up with a Sony A7RII and a Rolleiflex 2.8E and my wife got her pocket book and we live happily ever after. The End.

k.hendrik · Apr 11, 2020

campy51 said:
What it really comes down to is I enjoy the hunt for good equipment at bargain prices that I can try out and then sell for a profit or keep for myself. I will tell you a story about one of my more successful hunts. It started when I just returned from a overnight wedding that was an hour from home, when I spotted a Craigslist ad for a Mamiya 7 that the seller said the curtain you close to change lenses wasn't working and it had a crack in one of the windows for $120. Of course I jumped on it and then drove 1 1/2 hours to meet and when I got home I realized that he wasn't doing the latch properly to release the curtain and the crack was on the light sensor window for the meter. I used it for a couple of months and decided to sell it and sold it for $1800. I do regret selling it though but it turned out great for me. I gave half the money to my wife to spend on a outrageously priced pocket book, but she feels the same way about cameras. We had spent $300 on our anniversary dinner and something else which left us $1500. I took my $750 and bought and sold the following.
Bought a 8x10 view camera for $300
Bought a Yashica 124G for a $100
Bought a Rolleiflex 2.8C for $350 and spent $175 to have it fixed
Bought a Rolleiflex 2.8E for $420
Bought a Sony A7RII for $975
Sold the view camera for $600
Sold the 124G for $200
Sold the Rolleiflex 2.8C for $840
So after starting with my $120 initial investment I ended up with a Sony A7RII and a Rolleiflex 2.8E and my wife got her pocket book and we live happily ever after. The End.

Sooo; a nice message in these times.

Sirius Glass · Apr 11, 2020

Our charter is to encourage and support fellow members by encouraging their desires.

k.hendrik · Apr 12, 2020

Sirius Glass said:
Our charter is to encourage and support fellow members by encouraging their desires.

Yes; but,but,but. NO, yes you're right maybe I'm too serious Mr. Glass

NB23 · Apr 12, 2020

We are all every day idiots!

Who else would actively participate in a market which offers CRIPPLED products with INCREMENTAL “upgrades”?

campy51 · Apr 20, 2020

Here are a couple of test shots from the first roll of the EC-TL and 75mm lens. Most of the roll shot indoors with flash were disappointing and don't know why.

MattKing · Apr 20, 2020

Those look good.
What sort of disappointment? Maybe the flash synch needs service.

A J Chicago · May 25, 2020

Get one! They're beautiful! I did what you did, but acquired a body in a kit with lenses and attachments. Wow! They are so cool and good looking. Gorgeous. Gotta get you one! One thing though... they do require some TLC in replacing the foam rubber padding under the view finder frame and behind the mirror. As in old speaker foam surrounds, the foam disintegrates into particles over time. It's a job to work with those tiny screws in tight spaces, but it's worth it. There is a how-to video on YouTube. What a beauty, but built like a tank! Gotta get you one! You may need a couple view finders and filmbacks, too! Oh no!

A J Chicago · May 25, 2020

campy51 said:
Here are a couple of test shots from the first roll of the EC-TL and 75mm lens. Most of the roll shot indoors with flash were disappointing and don't know why.
View attachment 244364 View attachment 244365

Very nice. I have yet to process my first rolls from an S2. Gonna take em in today... color and B&W. Not expecting a lot. I know I made mistakes, but still excited to see them. Found new Lucky brand 220 B&W film! Haven't tried it yet. So much to learn and do... and acquire!

roblopes · May 25, 2020

campy51 said:
I recently won and auction for 4 Bronica lenses that fit the S2/S2A/EC cameras thinking I might buy a body to use them on, but I am having second thoughts on my purchase. At least I think the price was good. The 4 lenses are the 75mm,150mm and two 50mm but one 50mm is a Super Komura which I believe is on the lower end of quality. I don't need another medium format especially a 6x6 since I have a Hassy 503CW, Rolleiflex 2.8 E, Kowa Six, and a Minolta Autocord. Should I just sell the lenses for what I paid or bite the bullet and buy a body? BTW I have a growing collection of old film cameras that I display when not using but I have run out of room in the case.

I've lied to myself far worse.

TomNY · May 25, 2020

Hmm, I've always considered myself an everyday idiot who has GAS. No problem.

campy51 · May 25, 2020

I did it again and bought a Rolleiflex 3.5F at a decent price but it needs a CLA for slow speeds and film advance a little stiff. I am hoping to have it go head to head with my 2.8E and the loser goes, but somehow I think it will end in a tie and we all know what that means.

Grim Tuesday · May 25, 2020

campy51 said:
I did it again and bought a Rolleiflex 3.5F at a decent price but it needs a CLA for slow speeds and film advance a little stiff. I am hoping to have it go head to head with my 2.8E and the loser goes, but somehow I think it will end in a tie and we all know what that means.

I bet the 2.8 will win at 2.8, the 3.5 at 3.5-8 and then a tie at all other apertures! And you know, you sometimes need a lightweight rollei to take with you, and a heavier one with an extra half stop for those indoor low light moments... And maybe one loaded with color and one with black and white.

campy51 · May 25, 2020

Grim Tuesday said:
I bet the 2.8 will win at 2.8, the 3.5 at 3.5-8 and then a tie at all other apertures! And you know, you sometimes need a lightweight rollei to take with you, and a heavier one with an extra half stop for those indoor low light moments... And maybe one loaded with color and one with black and white.

Your not helping.

tomkatf · May 25, 2020

Sirius Glass said:
You did not read the APUG Photrio paperwork before you signed up. This website's charter demands that we enable and encourage frivolous spending on photographic equipment of all kinds.

Define "frivolous"... it does not compute...

ts1000 · May 25, 2020

some of us have more severe episodes of G.A.S
for example, some do not sell 90% of what they acquire during hunting.

Also one of the severity indicators for G.A.S is how often do you win with what you bid.

You supposed to win at 30% or less of your final bids. If you win above 30% (eg out of 10 final bids, you win 4 times or more, on average) -- you have 'out of control' G.A.S.

I also suspect on this forum, you will not find cure...

Grim Tuesday · May 25, 2020

I had such bad GAS last year that I actually made myself a spreadsheet to track it. Imagine my surprise that because of my guilty selling, I actually ended the year up $1000 in the camera gear budget (and that doesn't even count the stuff I didn't sell...)

chris77 · May 26, 2020

All you gassed up people are the reason why the prices increase while the market slowly dries up, which makes it more difficult for people who actually would like to work with the equipment.
But you guys put them on display or - even worse - in boxes to hoard them, possess them, and let them get sticky and tired and dull from not even really using them.
Well, I said it.
Wont take it back.
Good day to you all

Kino · May 26, 2020

chris77 said:
All you gassed up people are the reason why the prices increase while the market slowly dries up, which makes it more difficult for people who actually would like to work with the equipment.
But you guys put them on display or - even worse - in boxes to hoard them, possess them, and let them get sticky and tired and dull from not even really using them.
Well, I said it.
Wont take it back.
Good day to you all

There are still millions of film cameras available and there will continue to be cameras available well into the future.

One can whine or one can learn to search them out. Of course, one can just complain and pout; that's the effortless way.

95% of the camera I buy are broken/non-functional and I fix them for myself and others. They were bought non-fuctional and, for the most part, now they work.

I gift cameras to college students and young people who express an genuine interest in film photography and demonstrate some knowledge of the subject, but don't have the financial resources to purchase a basic camera.

I don't give them to people who whine and act helpless; it would be simply throwing the camera back in a junk pile.

One's lack of resourcefulness is not my problem.

campy51 · May 26, 2020

chris77 said:
All you gassed up people are the reason why the prices increase while the market slowly dries up, which makes it more difficult for people who actually would like to work with the equipment.
But you guys put them on display or - even worse - in boxes to hoard them, possess them, and let them get sticky and tired and dull from not even really using them.
Well, I said it.
Wont take it back.
Good day to you all

Not me, I pick them up and play with them just like the army men I had as a kid.

guangong · May 26, 2020

Putting aside collectors, because there is no logical explanation for their acquisitions (although they rescue much from oblivion), for users the only cure is saturation. That is, GAS is incurable until the photographer realizes that getting another camera or accessory will make no difference in results. However, until that level of the malady is reached, not following the urge for more GAS will only result in anxiety and sleepless nights. The greatest danger from GAS is how to conceal this pleasurable habit from spouse.

chris77 · May 26, 2020

guangong said:
Putting aside collectors, because there is no logical explanation for their acquisitions (although they rescue much from oblivion), for users the only cure is saturation. That is, GAS is incurable until the photographer realizes that getting another camera or accessory will make no difference in results. However, until that level of the malady is reached, not following the urge for more GAS will only result in anxiety and sleepless nights. The greatest danger from GAS is how to conceal this pleasurable habit from spouse.

Hahahaha, great response

chris77 · May 26, 2020

Kino said:
There are still millions of film cameras available and there will continue to be cameras available well into the future.

One can whine or one can learn to search them out. Of course, one can just complain and pout; that's the effortless way.

95% of the camera I buy are broken/non-functional and I fix them for myself and others. They were bought non-fuctional and, for the most part, now they work.

I gift cameras to college students and young people who express an genuine interest in film photography and demonstrate some knowledge of the subject, but don't have the financial resources to purchase a basic camera.

I don't give them to people who whine and act helpless; it would be simply throwing the camera back in a junk pile.

One's lack of resourcefulness is not my problem.

Don't worry be happy, didn't mean to bother you.
Provocation is a diagnostic tool to separate those with a gas infection from the truly and incurably sick collectors.
I have got all the material I need, no worries.
But I do see prices increase drastically and for myself I have changed my therapy and feel much better now.
I have sold quite some equipment and have still more than enough.
Peace

chris77 · May 26, 2020

campy51 said:
Not me, I pick them up and play with them just like the army men I had as a kid.

Sirius Glass · May 26, 2020

tomkatf said:
Define "frivolous"... it does not compute...

Frivolous:
1) You want it.
2) Your spouse does not.

Do I have GAS or am I just your every day idiot?

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