Gear lust or GAS

I popped into Mill Galleries in London yesterday as the results of the British Wildlife Photography awards had been announced and all of the winning and highly commended images were on display..

Something that struck me was the varied gear used.. ok mostly Nikon and Canon, but also the age of the gear ... from 400D, 20D, 7D, MkII to 1D's and of course 1DX (a few mkIII's)...

All images were printed up to A2 (or larger) I specifically remember two of the prints which were particularly stunning - one shot with a Canon 550 and the other a 20D..

Just thought i'd share... if you get chance to see the gallery as it goes on tour i'd highly recommend it

Heya,

Yeap, just goes to show, a good photograph that prints large and looks wonderful can come from a $200 camera and a decent piece of glass. A lot of what makes a wildlife photograph amazing is the composition, lighting, dramatic posing/action, which is all "in the moment" type stuff that a patient observer is more likely to get in a day just by being there often, rather than going out with the best equipment once in a while. Great gear helps. But again, the real difference is the moment and that cannot be replicated or bought, but rather, requires patience, research, timing, etc.

Very best,

In my own personal experience, the following is accurate:
99.9% of the time its gear lust/GAS.
99.9% of the time my current "non-pro" gear will get the job done just fine
99.9% of the time its the photographer, not the gear, that makes or breaks the image.

What does Gas mean..?

cheffievrs wrote in post #17133805
What does Gas mean..?

Someone who spends more time on the internet, looking at gear, wanting gear based on other people's work, and measurements and crap like that, .... and spend way, way less time behind the glass. And often, don't even continue to use it after they get it but rather move on to the next great white whale that is better every few months, based on whatever is popular (it could be an old item even).



Very best,

cheffievrs wrote in post #17133805
What does Gas mean..?

Gear Acquisition Syndrome.

I wonder who might qualify on this forum?

Among the thousands of photographs I've taken, one stands out to me personally..... and it was mostly luck. I had purchased a 60D and had added my 70-300L. One evening, I saw a fluttering of wings on the lawn in our backyard. It was just a brief moment. I went outside to see if whatever it was was still around. Fairly high up in a pine tree, a barred owl was perched.... just looking around. I grabbed my 60D, installed the 70-300L and rushed outside. I shot a few handheld but he just sat there so I went back inside, got my tripod, set it up and started again. I even shouted a few times to get him to turn his head turned the right way. Our neighbors on both sides came out into their yards to see what the ruckus was about, saw my tripod and camera and went back inside.

Long story to support the theory: f/8 and be there. I couldn't have done it with my little G12, so the equipment mattered but mostly, it was beginner's luck. I've never seen him around since and it's been two years now.

SixDeeFan wrote in post #17134015
I wonder who might qualify on this forum?

99.9% of us

SixDeeFan wrote in post #17134015
I wonder who might qualify on this forum?

Think there are a few 'post your gear' threads, some read better equipped than my local shop.

I still enjoy shooting with my 350D, produces really well. At 8.2mp it's more than my retina screen can fit, on full screen. Of my own shots, one of my favourites was captured on an iPhone4 - but if I had my 350D in my hand it would have been that. That sunk home the above 99.9% rule to me.

Also a Kim

MikeBurtonPhillipson wrote in post #17132950
I popped into Mill Galleries in London yesterday as the results of the British Wildlife Photography awards had been announced and all of the winning and highly commended images were on display..

Something that struck me was the varied gear used.. ok mostly Nikon and Canon, but also the age of the gear ... from 400D, 20D, 7D, MkII to 1D's and of course 1DX (a few mkIII's)...

All images were printed up to A2 (or larger) I specifically remember two of the prints which were particularly stunning - one shot with a Canon 550 and the other a 20D..

Just thought i'd share... if you get chance to see the gallery as it goes on tour i'd highly recommend it

Just goes to prove what we all should know - the photographer is more important than the gear!
Top gear helps but it won't replace skill!

personally I decided that my GAS will dissipate once I can't carry all my gear at once anymore.

Now excuse me, have to hit the gym

I lust over my own gas.... does that count?

If Canon would stop making cameras specific to certain tasks then GAS wouldn't be a problem. It's when you have a 1D3 for wildlife and then fall out with the photogs and then move to landscapes and buy a 5D3 and then get invited to shoot pro sports and feel the need to change cause you get told your 5D3 and new lenses won't cut it. That's when GAS is a royal pain in the a$$.

That's right they do make a do it all, its called the 1Dx. How silly of me. Now where's that £4500 I left lying around. *pats pockets*

Paulstw wrote in post #17134776
If Canon would stop making cameras specific to certain tasks then GAS wouldn't be a problem. It's when you have a 1D3 for wildlife and then fall out with the photogs and then move to landscapes and buy a 5D3 and then get invited to shoot pro sports and feel the need to change cause you get told your 5D3 and new lenses won't cut it. That's when GAS is a royal pain in the a$$.

That's right they do make a do it all, its called the 1Dx. How silly of me. Now where's that £4500 I left lying around. *pats pockets*

That is not on Canon. The 'do it all' part is on the shooter. Lots of folks get by just fine with a P&S, or more recently, a cell phone as their 'do it all' camera.

With that out of the way, I have a closet full of crap that cost as much as my car.
I have GAS. Or OCD!