Feeling GAS arrrgghhh

LarryP · Jan 24, 2012

Last spring I got back into photography with rangefinders and been struggling with them ever since,decided I'm an slr guy. The pentax 645 confirmed itand decided to get the 150mm lens to expand it then later get a spotmatic for 35mm. Well this week keh has a 150mm for the 645 on sale and there's a spotmatic f for sale in the classifieds. My problem is money is tight and either one is at the edge of what I could possibly spend but am nervous about getting caught short on cash . AAARRRRGGGGHHHH.

ParkerSmithPhoto · Jan 24, 2012

As one who has overspent on equipment in the past (and probably the not too distant future) it's not worth the grief to run out of cash. I think we as photographers always have the mindset of "boy, if I had this lens/camera/enlarger I could create all these wonderful photographs." And then once we get the lens/camera/enlarger we decide that we need just one more thing.

It's a form of procrastination, and I am a 20 year offender.

Avedon's entire career was created with a Rolleiflex and an 8x10 camera, both with normal lenses. Two cameras for his entire insane voluminous photographic career. I try to remember that when I'm ho-ing around on Craigslist.

ndrs · Jan 24, 2012

I have successfully overcome GAS but now it's been replaced by MAS. Not sure if this is any better.

zsas · Jan 24, 2012

ndrs · Jan 24, 2012

Materials Acquisition Syndrome. Film and paper, mostly.

MAS also stands for Mandolin Acquisition Syndrome. I don't have that variety.

MattKing · Jan 24, 2012

Boy have you come to the wrong place for help!

CGW · Jan 24, 2012

Funny but I'm planning on shedding gear.Too many 35mm Nikon bodies(most manual lenses I'll keep). May dump all Mamiya 645 stuff and keep small Bronica SQ and Mamiya RB kits. Guess the Kodak debacle and the passing of one of Toronto's largest commercial labs is weakening my film faith. Was more productive with less. Shopping for scanners now.

stillsilver · Jan 24, 2012

Send the Nikon bodies this way, I'll find homes for them.

Mike

pbromaghin · Jan 24, 2012

Ok, I'll help...

Don't be a fool. Keeping body and soul together are way more important than a hobby. If you have people depending on you for their living, it would be criminal to buy a stupid lens. Save your money until they aren't on the edge of what you can pay.

http://www.daveramsey.com/category/tools/

bdial · Jan 24, 2012

Less is more.

There are very few all time great deals on this stuff. If you hold off, there will be more spotmatics/ae1's/om-x's/fms/etc. to buy, not to mention lenses for your 645.

John Austin · Jan 24, 2012

ParkerSmithPhoto said:
. . . Avedon's entire career was created with a Rolleiflex and an 8x10 camera, both with normal lenses. Two cameras for his entire insane voluminous photographic career. I try to remember that when I'm ho-ing around on Craigslist.

Being a pedant, I note Avedon's 10x8" work was split between a Sinar in the studio and a wooden camera in the field - American Photo Mar-Apr 1994 pp 79 and 81
- However, I agree with your point about simplicity - Who will now help me loose a few kilos of Hasselblad gear I have not used since I retired?

ParkerSmithPhoto · Jan 24, 2012

jbaphoto said:
Being a pedant, I note Avedon's 10x8" work was split between a Sinar in the studio and a wooden camera in the field - American Photo Mar-Apr 1994 pp 79 and 81
- However, I agree with your point about simplicity - Who will now help me loose a few kilos of Hasselblad gear I have not used since I retired?

He had a whole closet full of Rolleiflexes, too, but they were all the same! Truth be told, he occasionally used a Hassy with a 150mm for tight shots, too.

I think if you exclusively shoot 8x10 with a normal lens, it's the same camera no matter what make the lens and/or camera might be, provided they are relatively equivalent lenses, which I am sure they were.

Mike Wilde · Jan 25, 2012

I recently bought a tall bookcase, with glass doors, and, and made up extra shelves for it. The extra shelves were made because I planned to use it to display cameras, which are typically a good deal shorter than most books.

I installed it at the bottom of the stairs to the basement. You cannot help but look at it going down the stairs. I have it quite full of all sorts of cameras from my collection, which fuluctuates between 25 and 30 or so. The ones I use are not in the cabinet, but rather in kit bags packed ready for use.

Now if I had a way to put extra darkroom gear on display, that would probalably help. I currently have 4 enlargers scattered about the basement; three of them actually ready to be used. In truth the 5x7" Laborator 138 I really don't need, because I dont shoot or plan on shooting larger than 4x5. It is such a finely made machine I have a hard time thinking of parting with it though.

Mainecoonmaniac · Jan 25, 2012

Remember Mike... If you don't have it, you'll need it. Don't part with anything thing

benjiboy · Jan 25, 2012

I suggest we start a G.A.S suffered support group to help other members who are suffering the pangs.

lesm · Jan 25, 2012

LarryP said:
Last spring I got back into photography with rangefinders and been struggling with them ever since,decided I'm an slr guy. The pentax 645 confirmed itand decided to get the 150mm lens to expand it then later get a spotmatic for 35mm. Well this week keh has a 150mm for the 645 on sale and there's a spotmatic f for sale in the classifieds. My problem is money is tight and either one is at the edge of what I could possibly spend but am nervous about getting caught short on cash . AAARRRRGGGGHHHH.

You have my deepest sympathies, mate, but I have to agree with what others have said. If you buy knowing you can't really afford it, chances are you'll be feeling guilty before you even get home. Will you then be able to enjoy what you've bought? As you sit on the couch with your new purchase, dry-shooting because you can't afford any film, will you regret giving into GAS?

My 2c-worth - read the post about Phototherapy and go take some photos. Save up until you have more than enough, then buy. They won't run out of gear...

Sirius Glass · Jan 25, 2012

Someone has to stimulate the economy!

Do your part and have GAS!

Terry Christian · Jan 25, 2012

If it's any consolation, I have a Mamiya 645 Pro that came with an 80mm normal lens, and I bought a 150mm for cheap to go with it last year, thinking I'd use it for portraits. As it turns out, I rarely use it and like the 80mm better. Iin retrospect I think I would have used a 110mm more, or a 55-110mm zoom.

LarryP · Feb 10, 2012

Thanks guys, the GAS passed. A spotmatic was my first real slr and would still be using it if it hadn't been stolen some 15 years ago from a work truck. Part of my frustration on that was I could have gotten a spotty and a 50mm for about what i spent on the 2 rangefinders I bought dumb decision on my part. The 150mm for the 645 well several years ago when I last had a 645 I found myself wanting a 150 to supplement my 75 about 20 to 25 percent of my shots. I'd rather crop with a longer lens when needed. well they come when the money is here and the price is right.

pbromaghin · Feb 10, 2012

Great news, Larry. An amazing display of self-control.

Good job.

drumlin · Feb 10, 2012

benjiboy said:
I suggest we start a G.A.S suffered support group to help other members who are suffering the pangs.

Hi

My name is Brian and its been 8 days since I bought any photo gear. I see the classified ads on APUG in my sleep sometimes. I wake up in a cold sweat when I notice that the rollieflex thread I'd been salivating over suddenly says --- PM SENT. Noooooooo.

Seriously though, learning to be happy with what you've got and go out and shoot more photos is a constant struggle sometimes. Winter seems to be when I get GAS pains most.

pbromaghin · Feb 10, 2012

It's been bad for me, too. Eyeballing all kinds of Large format stuff just because someone has offered to give me an enlarger capable of 4x5. I haven't even really gotten comfortable with my year old MF gear and have no working darkroom yet, just a pile of boxes. It's just dumb wasting time on that when there are so many other things that need doing or buying.

benjiboy · Feb 14, 2012

The best cure for G.A.S. I know is a letter from your bank manager with red numbers on it informing you that you are overdrawn.

cantore · Feb 14, 2012

Larryp... Did you ever think of asking the wife to get a 2nd job!

Sirius Glass · Feb 14, 2012

cantore said:
Larryp... Did you ever think of asking the wife to get a 2nd job!

Great idea!

Did you patient it?

Feeling GAS arrrgghhh

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