When is never enough, too much gear?

Just wondering is there ever really a time when having too much gear is a bad thing?

Its not about the gear, its about the tools you need to get the job done.

If you have gear not being used it should be sold because then it is too much.

So, to answer your question: There is really a time when having too much gear is a bad thing, it is when you are not using it.

When you discover that you haven't used a piece of gear in a very long time and can't even remember what you own, then you have too much gear.

Maybe I'm just OCD!

trx125 wrote in post #15916589
Just wondering is there ever really a time when having too much gear is a bad thing?

When you need to rent a warehouse to hold it all, you might have a bit much.

If I don't use it, it gets sold...I moved from shooting professionally to just shooting for fun, and downsized my gear a lot...I also downgraded some of my equipment. I rarely shoot long, so the 70-200L was sold in favour of a cheaper Tamron 70-300 VC USD, the TCs were sold, I went from 3 bodies to 1, etc...

I'd rather free up some cash and upgrade the stuff I REALLY use (bodies went from XXDs to XDs, lenses from good prosumer stuff to Ls), but I have fewer...oh and I spend the money on travelling instead...

for stuff I dont use a lot, I'll go dirt cheap. Other stuff where I value, I'm willing to spend more. If I havent used a certain lens for a whole year, it gets sold. That's pretty much how I generally treat the "stuff" I have.

goldboughtrue wrote in post #15916659
When you discover that you haven't used a piece of gear in a very long time and can't even remember what you own, then you have too much gear.

Not true for everyone.

I go 3, 4 years not touching something. Then it becomes my favorite.

I've had that happen for:
EFS 10-22
5Dii
135L
70-200 f2.8 IS

Sometimes things need to ripen.

I believe in right lens for the right job. Sure I ain't a landscape diehard, but I still won't sell my 17-40 even it only sees the light once a year. Because when you need it, you need it to get the job done properly.

I don't see the point of selling unless I'm dying for money to put food on table...

Only time it's an issue for me is when it's too much to carry to a location I want to photograph, then decisions have to be made about which photo I get that day or if I just kill my back/arms carrying it all.

Very true sometimes you have the time and money to buy buy and buy but since you spent so much your time is needed to work and pay for the things you bought leaving little time for inspiration. Then one day you have time for your self to do what makes you happy and you turn to your gear and let the fun begin..I used my gear here and there for Christmas Birthdays etc.. and rarely for anything else till now I have more time to shoot what I want and what makes me happy..you can never have enough gear …if your a gear head . some love the gear and marvel at its design and abilities . Others see it as tools to be used to achieve there nirvana what makes them happy the photo or masterpiece culmination of gear and skill = product..something like that i guess ...

NBEast wrote in post #15916871
Not true for everyone.

I go 3, 4 years not touching something. Then it becomes my favorite.

I've had that happen for:
EFS 10-22
5Dii
135L
70-200 f2.8 IS

Sometimes things need to ripen.

^^^^^ this is sort of my thinking. I may use it but once, but when the moment again arrises. i don't want to be without it. Again, maybe I'm just OCD that way!

If you do all possible things in terms of photography (all kind of portraits, macro, BIF, sports, architecture and product photography) it seems to be natural to have a lot of gear.
It doesn't matter if you amateaur or get paid for it. Nothing bad with it.

Or. Some people just likes to collect cameras, lenses and so on. I don't see why it is bad either.

Personally, I can't afford a lot of gear and I don't need it.
Two DSLRs, two zooms, two primes.

I have more gear for my film photography, because I'm learning it. But if I'm not using it or don't like film gear - it is for sale. I started last year and purchased-repaired-sold more cameras compare to what I keep to use.
Also, all of my film gear total price is well bellow of any two DSLR prime lens I have.

When you realize that you rent out your gear to others so much you need a spreadsheet to track it

When traveling.