GAS -- harmless compulsion or touch of mental instability?

munz6869 · Mar 9, 2012

I just found a Graflex RH50 70mm film holder in my cupboard I have no recollection of buying whatsoever!!! Awesome - have loaded it with aerial film already and will add it's not insignificant weight to my 4x5" backpack. Oh, happy historic-GAS day...

Marc!

Les Sarile · Mar 9, 2012

amsp said:
I think it's only a problem when you spend more time acquiring gear than actually using it.

But I need them for my portrait shots because they're the subject too . . .

Agfa Ultra 100

fstop · Mar 10, 2012

Plate Voltage said:
It's easy to end up with a couple more 35mm cameras without even buying them. How often have you guys been talking with other people and mentioned using film and heard words to the effect of, "Oh, you still shoot film? You can have my ... it's not worth trying to sell." It's hard to say no to taking in a free camera when the person offering it would rather give it away to a good home than sit on it indefinitely, or worse, throw it out.

I got free guns that way too.

Kav · Mar 11, 2012

I guess I'm the odd one here. I didn't go 35mm-MF-LF. I went Digi P&S (LX3), to DSLR (D3100), to LF (Speed Graphic), to MF (500ELX), to upgraded DSLR (D7000), to extra Speed Graphic (my first one has some cool history and I want to preserve it), to 35mm (just got a FE2 two days ago). But I find myself lusting over all kinds of film related things. I was very happy when I saw I had enough fun money to pick up the FE2. I think I will save may $$$ for a FM3 as I like the idea of being able to shoot with out batteries. I'm also saving for a F5 because I can. I had an offer the be given a film Cannon SLR and lenses but turned it down. I felt that I would not use it much, and didn't want to have to invest into another 35mm lens system that would not work with my current (D)SLRs.

fotch · Mar 11, 2012

Hey cool. You might want to look at a Nikon F2, no batteries needed. The F3 is also a cool operator. One of the best ever made. Do you have a darkroom?

Pioneer · Mar 11, 2012

I have certainly bought things that I know I have bought before. But it is definitely not GAS. I just can't remember where I laid the first one down. Totally different problem.

BradleyK · Mar 11, 2012

amsp said:
I think it's only a problem when you spend more time acquiring gear than actually using it.

Bingo! Or, you might also add: When you spend more time talking about what you own or admiring same than actually using it!

Kav · Mar 12, 2012

fotch said:
Hey cool. You might want to look at a Nikon F2, no batteries needed. The F3 is also a cool operator. One of the best ever made. Do you have a darkroom?

I'd like to pick up a newer SLR mainly because I'm not sure if my lenses will still compatible with a F2 or F3 with out being modified. But I am open to it. I have to say that I'm loving the FE2.

I don't have a dark room, but I do develop my own film from time to time with a few daylight tanks and C-41 press kits. When I was in Africa last year It was just taking too much time to send film back to the states, developed, and returned. Some times taking a few months. Developing the film was fun with no running water and no hot water. But with some creativity to heat up some water it turned out pretty well.

clayne · Mar 12, 2012

Kav said:
I'd like to pick up a newer SLR mainly because I'm not sure if my lenses will still compatible with a F2 or F3 with out being modified. But I am open to it. I have to say that I'm loving the FE2.

Take it from the people that know better: do not get a newer SLR. In fact the newest you should get should be an F3, but with an F2 you can use all NAI and AIS lenses. With an F3 it must be atleast AI to meter with it. But all AI and AIS lenses are backwards compatible with the F and F2. You do not need the newer lenses and they suck for manual focus.

Get an F2 photomic, you will not be dissatisfied one bit.

fotch · Mar 12, 2012

Kav said:
I'd like to pick up a newer SLR mainly because I'm not sure if my lenses will still compatible with a F2 or F3 with out being modified. But I am open to it. I have to say that I'm loving the FE2.

I don't have a dark room, but I do develop my own film from time to time with a few daylight tanks and C-41 press kits. When I was in Africa last year It was just taking too much time to send film back to the states, developed, and returned. Some times taking a few months. Developing the film was fun with no running water and no hot water. But with some creativity to heat up some water it turned out pretty well.

That is the beauty of the Nikon system, compatibility. One of the few exceptions is the 7.5mm Fish Eye lens. With it, you have to have Mirror lock up, like the F2 and F3 has.

one90guy · Mar 12, 2012

I guess I am better off than most, I can quit anytime. Really I can, right after I win a Yashica TL Super and some lens I am going to quit:^) Oops forgot my MG-1 broke and I really need a Nikon F but thats it!

Steve Mack · Mar 12, 2012

According to a wise man I knew many years ago, we all have our lunacies. Buying cameras doesn't rate very high on any respectable Lunacy Chart, and harms no one, and doesn't corrupt anyone's morals. As far as I can tell, it is also non-political and non-religious also, so there is no real objection possible to it. Unless one is married, of course... The answer to that is to get her to take up an equally expensive hobby, like quilting.

With best regards.

Steve

benjiboy · Mar 13, 2012

At what point does obsessively collecting cameras and lenses (or anything for that matter) become mental illness ? is a very interesting question, but unfortunately to get an answer I'll have to ask my psychiatrist.

Sirius Glass · Mar 13, 2012

I have been stoking my GAS ever since I joined APUG.
Now I have all the 35mm cameras and lenses that I want.
Now I have all the MF cameras and lenses that I want. Read Hasselblad.
Now I have all the LF cameras and lenses that I want.
I have a darkroom and a film processor.
I have refrigerators and freezers stocked with film.

My GAS has been satisfied for over a year. The sensation is wonderful. I am one happy camper.

There is hope for you, just go out and spend more money!

clayne · Mar 14, 2012

I guess now you can start taking photos!

phelger · Mar 14, 2012

Every time I acquire a new piece of photographic marvel I tell my self: "now you don't need anything more". And then..... But being an optimist I firmly believe the day I have everything I could wish IS CLOSE. My latest "present to self" is a Leica IIIg with an Elmar 50mm 2.8 - . But collecting is different, I don't, but the only nuissance with them collectors is that they make prices rise!!
Peter

Kav · Mar 15, 2012

fotch said:
That is the beauty of the Nikon system, compatibility. One of the few exceptions is the 7.5mm Fish Eye lens. With it, you have to have Mirror lock up, like the F2 and F3 has.

Very true, I need to educate my self some more on it. But before I get another camera I need to learn and get familiar with my new FE2. With that said I picked up a Nikon Nikonos-V with a 35mm and a 28mm lens yesterday. I popped into the camera store for one last look around and saw they had one. I justified it with the fact that while I'm in AZ/Cali I will be spending as much time at the cliffs as I can. I got rid of my GoPro, and was looking for a new waterproof camera anyways. Plus, it would be good good to have a rugged camera for some of the other places I go.

clayne · Mar 16, 2012

Sure but honestly if you want rugged, the Nikon F is one of the best out there. There's a reason they're still being used 40+ years later.

Kav · Mar 17, 2012

clayne said:
Sure but honestly if you want rugged, the Nikon F is one of the best out there. There's a reason they're still being used 40+ years later.

Very true, but the Nikon F isn't going to hold up that well under water while the Nikonos should be able to handel that just fine provided the o-rings are good to go. I should also say that we go diving at the cliffs, lots and lots of water to be found there. And I like to SCUBA dive from time to time as well. But that doesn't mean I wouldn't pick up a F some day. But for now I need to save for my next trip over seas. I need to get more film for it.

blockend · Mar 17, 2012

As a rule of thumb, if you're spending more money on cameras than film you have things back to front.

clayne · Mar 17, 2012

blockend said:
As a rule of thumb, if you're spending more money on cameras than film you have things back to front.

La la la la la la la la! Cannot hear you!

Ralph Javins · Mar 17, 2012

Good morning, all;

Yes, I know that in in A. A. (Acquisition Anonymous, and its competition group, CA, Cameras Anonymous), there is the rule about "cross talking," but since we do have some time before the end of the meeting, I figure it is OK to warp the rules a bit.

Rosey, thank you for bringing up this important topic for an open and honest discussion among all of us.

And, before I really get going here, I will say that one method I have found helpful (but also embarrassing), is to make an inventory list of the things you have, and to take it with you when you visit a local camera pusher's store, or a swap meet, or a garage sale, or . . .
Yes, I have found that it reduces most of the embarrassing incidents of over-duplication.
And, my own inventory list is over 80 pages long right now.

Fotch, my Nikon F can use the old 21mm lens and the 8mm lens. It has MLU, but you do lose one frame on the film when you do it. The F2 and later will do MLU without the loss of a frame on the roll.

Pioneer in Elko; Yes, sir. You have identified a serious problem. And at times it does seem that the most logical, cost and time investment effective way to do it is to just get another one. I think that the CRW syndrome is more prevalent than many of us really would like to admit. (That is the "Can't Remember Where" Syndrome.)

Blockend; Sir, I want to suggest that the logic you proposed may be reversed. When you have more cameras, then you can clearly justify getting a bulk loader and buying 100 foot long rolls and "rolling your own" with the notable saving in cost per roll of film that this will provide. So, the argument that the cost of the cameras being greater than the cost of the film may not be valid. (See, we can rationalize anything!!)

And, finally for Serius Glass; Steve, thank you for making known to the huddled masses found here that nirvana really is attainable. Yes, while there are just two (2) more Minolta ROKKOR lenses I would like to find, at this time I do have lenses in 21 of the 26 different focal lengths that the manually focusing ROKKOR lenses were made in. Yes, it is comforting to know that I really do have probably the optimum lens available here for taking just about any photograph I can envision. Yes, this is truly bliss. While it did take several years to reach this point in achieving this state, it is possible to do it, and, as you have indicated, being truly satiated is very satisfying.

blockend · Mar 18, 2012

To be serious for one moment, my fear is a large number of people will own collections of beautiful cameras for which film will no longer be available because the economics of making the stuff for the few who use it will no longer add up. Therefore I say we have a rule, the rule of reciprochal GAS - every time you buy a camera, buy a block of film. The responsibility will cut out the more gratuitous camera purchases while ensuring manufacturers keep making film for the cameras you really want to use. A win-win situation.

pschauss · Mar 19, 2012

All that I can add to this discussion is that a few years ago, when I first began to realize that I really did have more cameras than I needed, I mentioned to my wife that I was thinking that I might sell some of them. My idea, as I explained it, was not to make money at it, but simply to find a way to pass them on at a nominal cost to other people who might use them. Her reaction was, "Oh, don't sell them, our grandchildren might enjoy using them." This was shortly after our granddaughter (first grandchild) was born and she is four years old now. My collection has grown somewhat since then.

Kav · May 7, 2012

The rainy season is starting in Thailand and I found a new Lowepro waterproof back pack on the cheap for my upcoming trip. So to celebrate I looked around the store some more and found a Nikon F3 with a Micro-Nikkor 55mm f2.8. I asked them what they wanted for just the lens. When they said $50 I jumped on it. I've been toying with it on the DSLR to see what she can do. It it easily my sharpest lens. Next I'm mounting it on the FE2 and seing what I can come up with.

GAS -- harmless compulsion or touch of mental instability?

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