Do I really need all this gear?
Jul 13, 2020 05:44:53 #
hobbit123
Loc: Brisbane, Australia
Tonight I realised I was running out of disk space so decided to do some photo reorganisation. This involved moving everything that wasn't 'current' to an external storage device thus freeing up room on the primary drive on my laptop. While doing this I came across the photos I took on a holiday to S.E. Asia a couple of years ago. This was when I first started to explore 'serious' photography. Here is a small sample of some of the images I took.
Since I took those photos I've gone from the original camera I had (D3100 with 18-55mm kit lens) to a D850 (with a plethora of f/2.8 and faster lenses) and an X-T3 with another plethora of lenses. If I was to be perfectly honest with myself I'd say I've wasted my money. I reckon I'm perfectly happy (from a technical standpoint) with those photos and I doubt my current equipment could do better.
This is not to say that the acquisition of new camera and lenses doesn't provide its own joys but from a picture taking perspective I doubt it adds much...
Does anyone else ever get this feeling?
Since I took those photos I've gone from the original camera I had (D3100 with 18-55mm kit lens) to a D850 (with a plethora of f/2.8 and faster lenses) and an X-T3 with another plethora of lenses. If I was to be perfectly honest with myself I'd say I've wasted my money. I reckon I'm perfectly happy (from a technical standpoint) with those photos and I doubt my current equipment could do better.
This is not to say that the acquisition of new camera and lenses doesn't provide its own joys but from a picture taking perspective I doubt it adds much...
Does anyone else ever get this feeling?
Jul 13, 2020 06:15:28 #
I have often gone through pictures and decided I did not need 10 images of the same thing. If I use them for memories then all I need is one of them.
Jul 13, 2020 06:16:48 #
Jul 13, 2020 06:36:30 #
Excellent pics with the D3100 - but you have previously posted great pics with your new gear. I don't think you wasted your money. Perhaps sticking to one make and type of camera could have saved you some, but if you felt the need for both cutting edge FF and Crop cameras and intended to use them - why not? Personally I would have settled with just the X-T3, that said - the 3100 is A ok too. 
Jul 13, 2020 06:47:25 #
Looking at your sampling of photos I would agree they would be hard to beat with "better" equipment. As for me, that is why I've never considered moving away from a bridge camera.
Jul 13, 2020 06:52:13 #
YES! I have done the same cogitating on my collection of "tools." The thing that comes to the fore most clearly is that my best results have been achieved with the equipment I was most familiar with at the time. I thought a larger sensor would give me better insect pics, so went from a 6mp P&S to a crop at 16mp, now 24mp. While sorting/culling old pics I have come upon some (a few) that the higher end equipment couldn't match. On the other hand there were more "keepers" with the larger sensors. In the end it seems I do best when mastering (an ongoing quest) one system. Time to select that ONE system to keep or should it be TWO? Sigh! Guess I'll sleep on it.
Jul 13, 2020 06:56:55 #
hobbit123 wrote:
Tonight I realised I was running out of disk space... (show quote)
Of course. It is painful to admit that I have bought all kinds of camera gear; and other stuff, that I simply did not need, or use enough to justify.
Jul 13, 2020 06:57:57 #
hobbit123
Loc: Brisbane, Australia
Kmgw9v wrote:
Of course. It is painful to admit that I have bought all kinds of camera gear; and other stuff, that I simply did not need, or use enough to justify.
Hahaha! I love your honesty!
Jul 13, 2020 06:58:01 #
If I could just convince the birds to stop and pose for me five feet away...
Jul 13, 2020 07:00:29 #
I have every camera that I have used since 1965 when I was ten years old. Memories and the history that they all elicit, continue to hold a wonderful place in my life.
Today I use Fuji and Panasonic M43 for my work. It's all that I need.
Today I use Fuji and Panasonic M43 for my work. It's all that I need.
Jul 13, 2020 07:00:35 #
hobbit123
Loc: Brisbane, Australia
MrBumps2U wrote:
If I could just convince the birds to stop and pose for me five feet away...
Here's one I convinced...
Jul 13, 2020 07:11:20 #
You can't replace luck and timing. But, you can replace your camera equipment.
Jul 13, 2020 07:18:27 #
hobbit123 wrote:
...Does anyone else ever get this feeling?
Actually, no! I don't. Even though I admittedly have an "embarrassment of riches" in photo gear for something that is "just a hobby", it has given me far too much pleasure and peace of mind to "say I've wasted my money." While I was still in the work-force, I definitely needed "an escape" to hold onto whatever sanity I had. Now that I have more time to myself, I really enjoy trying out different cameras and lenses and comparing results. Yes, I am a "camera nerd" and fiercely proud of it.
Jul 13, 2020 07:29:34 #
Notice that heeds and wants are two totally different things?
Jul 13, 2020 07:29:57 #
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