How do you guys avoid having GAS- bodies are so cheap?

frank · Oct 22, 2015

Alan Gales said:
Yeah, it's a lot cheaper than collecting cars.

And I'm down to two motorcycles.

Thomas Bertilsson · Oct 22, 2015

frank said:
As long as one is being fiscally responsible, and the important things are taken care of, why not indulge?

I think it depends on the reason(s) you're into photography.

1. Some are in it solely for the art, and need something that works well, and then focus their attention on simply making more photographs.
2. Others are at the other end of the spectrum, interested in photography as a science, where chemistry, mechanical engineering, electrical solutions, and such.

And most of us are somewhere in between. I think I'm 90% in number 1, and 10% in number 2. It used to be more 50/50.

frank · Oct 22, 2015

Thomas Bertilsson said:
I think it depends on the reason(s) you're into photography.

1. Some are in it solely for the art, and need something that works well, and then focus their attention on simply making more photographs.
2. Others are at the other end of the spectrum, interested in photography as a science, where chemistry, mechanical engineering, electrical solutions, and such.

And most of us are somewhere in between. I think I'm 90% in number 1, and 10% in number 2. It used to be more 50/50.

But if one is solely into creating art (the final image is all that matters) then one is less likely to be drawn into the gear/technical/collecting/journey aspects of photography, and GAS is a non-issue. It works itself out.

What I object to is those riding high-horses and who judge others on their choices for enjoyment in a hobby. One can be both a gear head and an photographer, imo.

Thomas Bertilsson · Oct 22, 2015

frank said:
But if one is solely into creating art (the final image is all that matters) then one is less likely to be drawn into the gear/technical/collecting/journey aspects of photography, and GAS is a non-issue. It works itself out.

What I object to is those riding high-horses and who judge others on their choices for enjoyment in a hobby. One can be both a gear head and an photographer, imo.

Yes, and those who are into both are the 50/50 types. We are saying exactly the same thing.

frank · Oct 22, 2015

Hi Thomas, oh good. I guess I was confused by your "it depends on the reasons" intro.

Alan Gales · Oct 22, 2015

frank said:
What I object to is those riding high-horses and who judge others on their choices for enjoyment in a hobby. One can be both a gear head and an photographer, imo.

+1

AgX · Oct 22, 2015

Jeff Bradford said:
I can't avoid the GAS, but I certainly don't have to pay too much. I only bid on items I currently have a use for - no "future projects".

Oh, those "future projects".

Make it all worse...

Xmas · Oct 22, 2015

I've only got two motorcycles.
Ten bulk loaders, ...
Don't ask about cameras.

Sirius Glass · Oct 22, 2015

I am an adult and I make my own decisions.

Russ - SVP · Oct 23, 2015

Huh, it can be avoided?

ColColt · Oct 23, 2015

It's just like guns. At one time I had seven rifles, three were 270 Winchester and 6-7 pistols. I sold two of the 270's but kept the pre-64 model. Also sold some of the pistols four of which were 45 ACP. A safe will hold only so much.

adknrsst · Oct 23, 2015

For bodies, no GAS -- I've just bought one good bang/buck body of each archetype (i.e. rangefinder, mechanical-shutter SLR, electronic SLR, motorized auto SLR), and then been happy with that. For lenses, I've stuck with the fifty, so nowhere to go in that regard either.

So those unspent impulses get redirected towards slowly building a hoard of bulk film in my fridge and freezer. Who knows, maybe I'll use some of that 2010 APX 100 one day? Can't ever have too much tri-x, some delta 3200 is fine too, ooh lovely fp4+ [despite it being too dark 3/5ths of the year], Rodinal to develop it all twice, and so forth. That's not a problem really either, storage space makes a fairly hard limit on film hoarding.

My real GAS is with Thinkpads, and that's a tale for a different forum altogether.

ColColt · Oct 23, 2015

Thinkpads? I had to google that to see what it was. I've never cared for laptops and happy with my two desk top jobbies. Those items would never give me GAS. Lens are my weakness.

Theo Sulphate · Oct 23, 2015

I'm starting to become interested in old 120 rollfilm folders. I have none and don't know where to begin or what is good. I don't need a rangefinder, though it would be nice. What I do want is a lens of about f/3.5 or faster, a nice shutter with T, B, and speeds to about 1/400. Maybe Voigtländer?

pbromaghin · Oct 23, 2015

Theo Sulphate said:
I'm starting to become interested in old 120 rollfilm folders. I have none and don't know where to begin or what is good. I don't need a rangefinder, though it would be nice. What I do want is a lens of about f/3.5 or faster, a nice shutter with T, B, and speeds to about 1/400. Maybe Voigtländer?

Certo6 has pair of nice 6x9's on the Bay, with Tessar types all CLA'd and ready to go. A Voigtlander Bessa 1 and a Zeiss (Commie) Ercona. And the BIN prices are not bad at all - less than you'd pay to buy a beater and have it CLA'd. If my GAS wasn't presently so very satisfied with recent acquisitions I would be salivating all over my keyboard.

blockend · Oct 23, 2015

Theo Sulphate said:
I'm starting to become interested in old 120 rollfilm folders. I have none and don't know where to begin or what is good. I don't need a rangefinder, though it would be nice. What I do want is a lens of about f/3.5 or faster, a nice shutter with T, B, and speeds to about 1/400. Maybe Voigtländer?

Folders are great, and can be surprisingly quick to use. If you want to throw some money around there's the Ensign Autorange 820 (like the landscape photographer Edwin Smith used), or Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta. I'd begin with a ZI Nettar, probably a 6x6 with an f4.5 triplet lens. It will give you a feel for folding cameras without much financial commitment and it will easily slip into a jacket pocket. The vulcanised fabric bellows hold up particularly well compared to Agfa and others who used plastic. The viewfinder is small and sale focusing is something that takes practice, but I have three Nettars and I love them. Wide open at f4.5 the depth of field is surprisingly shallow and offers beautiful soft portraits and the lens sharpens up nicely by f8 and peaks around f11.

ambaker · Oct 23, 2015

I finally found the cure for GAS. It's called retirement. No income, no GAS.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

ColColt · Oct 23, 2015

Nope-that's not the answer. Since retiring three years ago I've bought more cameras and lens than in the previous ten years. If you play your cards right you have money in retirement.

mooseontheloose · Oct 23, 2015

ColColt said:
Nope-that's not the answer. Since retiring three years ago I've bought more cameras and lens than in the previous ten years. If you play your cards right you have money in retirement.

And if you don't have the right cards?

To get back on topic, another reason why I like collecting cameras (not as a collector, but with the purpose of using them) is for the oft-quoted reason why people like using film cameras to begin with - they're all different, they handle differently, they produce different results... I grew up with point-and-shoot cameras in my house so have no history of parents, grandparents, or other people close to the family using (and/or allowing me to try) different types of cameras. Now many of them are really cheap so its not a huge layout to buy one to see how much I like it (or not). There are some cameras I would love to have, but collectors prices have put them out of reach for me, which I guess in some ways is good, as I have more money for film and paper.

Sirius Glass · Oct 23, 2015

ambaker said:
I finally found the cure for GAS. It's called retirement. No income, no GAS.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

ColColt said:
Nope-that's not the answer. Since retiring three years ago I've bought more cameras and lens than in the previous ten years. If you play your cards right you have money in retirement.

Since I retired I have expanded my color paper and color print chemistry. I still spend obscene amounts of money on film and offroad products for my jeep. I also take a big driving trip every other month. I also have been taking flying trips.

ColColt · Oct 23, 2015

Sounds like you played a good hand. That's what it's all about...enjoying those autumn years.

Sirius Glass · Oct 23, 2015

ColColt said:
Sounds like you played a good hand. That's what it's all about...enjoying those autumn years.

When I was younger a man or woman in their seventies was old; not so any more.

ColColt · Oct 23, 2015

Funny how that works out. I'll be 70 come February and I look in the mirror now and then and don't even recognize myself anymore. I ain't near as cute as I use to be!! Still, I'm just happy to still be here.

How do you guys avoid having GAS- bodies are so cheap?

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