Amateur view on Gear

Toys. As a hobby goes; it's cheaper than some (cars, boats), and has relatively high resale value (compared to say, computers).

w0m wrote in post #15904692
Toys. As a hobby goes; it's cheaper than some (cars, boats), and has relatively high resale value (compared to say, computers).

Building computers are the worst!!!!! I mean, seriously, for what, so that you can play the latest computer games at some ridiculous resolutions with all graphic options maxed out. The worst part is that there aren't that many great computer games nowadays. I just play with PS3.

skw wrote in post #15903091
My gear lust pre-dates my interest in photography. Long ago I recognized that I love well designed things almost as a form of art. I get pleasure out of using really well engineered, beautiful tools, and unfortunately for me and my bank account cameras, lenses, and lights are all fascinating to me in their intricacies and technical abilities.

I totally relate to the above.

TooManyShots wrote in post #15904699
Building computers are the worst!!!!! I mean, seriously, for what, so that you can play the latest computer games at some ridiculous resolutions with all graphic options maxed out. The worst part is that there aren't that many great computer games nowadays. I just play with PS3.

Building a computer is a lot cheaper than buying one pre-built. You don't have to buy the best graphics card either . I know many who built their own computer, including me, only a handful buy constant upgrades. All use their PC for more than games. As for PC games, I could say the same of consoles, split-screen is dead and there are fewer exclusives on consoles than on PC.

RTHKI wrote in post #15904763
Building a computer is a lot cheaper than buying one pre-built. You don't have to buy the best graphics card either . I know many who built their own computer, including me, only a handful buy constant upgrades. All use their PC for more than games. As for PC games, I could say the same of consoles, split-screen is dead and there are fewer exclusives on consoles than on PC.

And my gaming desktop built 5 years ago doubles as a good lightroom box..

RTHKI wrote in post #15904763
Building a computer is a lot cheaper than buying one pre-built. You don't have to buy the best graphics card either . I know many who built their own computer, including me, only a handful buy constant upgrades. All use their PC for more than games. As for PC games, I could say the same of consoles, split-screen is dead and there are fewer exclusives on consoles than on PC.

research and knowing what your buying is the best asset. also knowing what you require for now and a few years helps as well.

the problem is nobody wants to do the research anymore and nobody wants to take the time to learn the true potential of their tools because something else newer and "better" comes along. but newer doesn't always mean better.

Dan Marchant wrote in post #15903065
The photo is the only thing that's important. The gear is just there to get the shot. Someone asked me the other day how many mega pixels my camera has and I couldn't remember. Best thing that happened to my camera was when I scuffed the bottom on a rock. Now I don't have to worry about keeping it in perfect condition.

Hahah, so true. I have 7D and was asked twice about megapixels. Both times I had to reach "that shelf" in my brain, because that info isn't stored in my operative memory.

I was going to say as an amateur I get the best gear that's fun to use and I can afford, but that's not really true. Problem is I can 'afford' a lot, but I don't really want to spend what I can truly afford to make an almost negligible difference in an image. But then I want to use gear that's fun to use as well (sig 85 vs canon 85L dilemma here).

I guess I'm somewhere in the middle. I get the best gear I can afford within reason to get the best images I can within reason. In the end the image is more important than the gear. I show people the images, not the image and then the camera/lens that took it. And I never, ever spout off about my camera/lenses to anyone except my wife who half paid for them. I think I've hit my limit with lenses, but then if Canon come out with a new TS-E 45mm ......

Obviously unlike the pros return on investment is a total non-issue. Once I buy something I consider the money spent and I'll never get it back, even though that may not be entirely true. I try to keep my lens elements scratch-free, but apart from that I don't baby my gear. If it's on the ground it could get kicked or stood on, but it can't fall off anything, and IME the latter is far more likely than the former.

osh_sekta wrote in post #15905832
Hahah, so true. I have 7D and was asked twice about megapixels. Both times I had to reach "that shelf" in my brain, because that info isn't stored in my operative memory.

Unfortunately for me I remember, but I usually tell people that there are cameras with a lot less megapixels that produce much better images (was especially true when I had my 15MP t1i and Nikon was selling their D700 and Canon the 5D).

I'm a Geek, and a nerd, and love stuff.

I like gear that helps me get shots that would otherwise be more difficult.
I like gear that fits my needs.

I used to take new cameras to bed with me (no, I'm serious)
Because I would read the manual in bed cover to cover in the first few days of ownership, and found that one needs to have the camera available to fully understand and implement what you are reading.

I finally have a good place to work on the computer, my own office space, and I have shelves,. where I can not only store, but in fact display my camera stuff.

I am the same way with tools for woodworking. Some give me more pleasure from ownership than they do in use,. some less practical, but more aesthetic, ...

In both cases, I know that the gear is mostly separated from my skill and artistic vision.
when I'm using them, they are just tools.
My coveted 1D2 has been exposed to more than I can say,. I take care of my tools as any carpenter should, but I do not value them above the work they serve. I have put all of my stuff at serious risk time and again in quest for the shot.
Been luck so far, with the exception of an L lens getting dunked in the ocean. Still lucky as it still works.

Merely having stuff gives me pleasure. I have a safe full of guns I don't shoot, a Camaro I don't drive, antique hand tools I don't use and cameras that sometimes go months between shutter actuations.

None of that bothers me a bit, because I have them if I want to use them and I enjoy looking at them.

Eventually I will have fantastic gear that will probably still not be used much. That will still not bother me in the least. I feel a great deal of pleasure just knowing I have nice things I could use if I wanted.


A much older relative of mine told me once that you will spend the first half of your life accumulating things, and the second half getting rid of them. I'm still young and planted firmly in the accumulation phase and I will not apologize for it.

GoWolfpack wrote in post #15907274
Merely having stuff gives me pleasure. I have a safe full of guns I don't shoot, a Camaro I don't drive, antique hand tools I don't use and cameras that sometimes go months between shutter actuations.

None of that bothers me a bit, because I have them if I want to use them and I enjoy looking at them.

Eventually I will have fantastic gear that will probably still not be used much. That will still not bother me in the least. I feel a great deal of pleasure just knowing I have nice things I could use if I wanted.


A much older relative of mine told me once that you will spend the first half of your life accumulating things, and the second half getting rid of them. I'm still young and planted firmly in the accumulation phase and I will not apologize for it.

Words of wisdom from my father...
"He who dies with the most toys wins"
and
"If you do it right; the last check you ever write will bounce"

Jokes on him though that i'm 29 and have written 4 checks in my life (One was buying a house).

Also; I also go to bed with a new camera when I get it. Drove my wife nuts.

w0m wrote in post #15907286
Words of wisdom from my father...
"He who dies with the most toys wins"
and
"If you do it right; the last check you ever write will bounce"

Jokes on him though that i'm 29 and have written 4 checks in my life (One was buying a house).

Also; I also go to bed with a new camera when I get it. Drove my wife nuts.

I hope you aren't serious. Clinging onto materials before you passed away is a sure way to have an unhappy death. You can't bring these materials to your grave. Win? But who is competing you?

I've been fascinated with the 'act' of photography since my Brownie Hawkeye days. With this little plastic box, I can actually stop time, or time travel if I choose!?!? This is so COOL! Look! There is dad at the beach in 1964! Takes me right back there. Or shots of my mom from my wedding.

With photography, I can freeze you as you are at this very moment, as you never will be again. Or twenty years from now, I can come back and visit this moment, and stay as long as I like.

Don't get me wrong, I like gear. As an amateur I've spent in the neighborhood of $10,000 on digital camera stuff, on top of 30 years of film stuff. The magic is still in the result. Be it a goofy snapshot of my grandson, one of my cats sleeping in a bucket or a posed shot of my daughter's family. I've recorded that moment, potentially forever with digital.

TooManyShots wrote in post #15907315
I hope you aren't serious. Clinging onto materials before you passed away is a sure way to have an unhappy death. You can't bring these materials to your grave. Win? But who is competing you?

So clinging to material things after you die is better? What? How, may I ask, do you have any kind of life at all, if you don't interact with material things? Who said anything about taking it with you? What is wrong with enjoying a camera, a book, a painting, a comfy chair or moments with your most valued loved ones. Material things, all of them. Life would be pretty boring without them.

Try getting through life without material things.