My perspective on becoming "spoiled"

Lately I've been obsessing over the idea of owning a lens like the 500 f/4 and lamenting the fact that it will probably be a very long time until I can own one. Yesterday I was thinking about the fact that the longer I stick with this hobby the less satisfied I become with what I have and the more that I want more.

I suppose that is the nature of any hobby, but I find it funny that owning "only" a 7D, 100-400 and 17-55 IS would be lacking. I remember when I started with a 40D and 28-135 kit. This was a nice place to start, but I was trying to shoot wildlife and this can become quite a challenge real fast. I remember seeing a man at the local nature center with the 100-400 and being so envious. Now that I have one I am striving for the 500 and I sometimes have to remind myself that while the 500 is nice, at least I have the 100-400 so I have the option of shooting some wildlife and if I put in some work than I can still get fantastic images.

I apologize for the philosophical rant. Anyone else have a similar experience?

News Flash: Having a 500 means you're envious of those with 600s and 800s... Trust me, I know!

There's always someone smarter, richer, prettier, faster, taller, etc.

Unless and until your gear is an absolute roadblock, all you should concern yourself with is making the best images you can make. If you truly find that something different is honestly a need rather than a want, you'll find a way to get your hands on it.

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #13433401
News Flash: Having a 500 means you're envious of those with 600s and 800s... Trust me, I know!

There's always someone smarter, richer, prettier, faster, taller, etc.

Unless and until your gear is an absolute roadblock, all you should concern yourself with is making the best images you can make. If you truly find that something different is honestly a need rather than a want, you'll find a way to get your hands on it.

You're probably right about wanting more after the 500 as well. That 600 II is looking pretty sweet at the same weight and probably better handling than the 500 I.

Heh! I can certainly relate! My gear acquisition phase was a fun time when I had the funds and added lenses, another body, more lenses, etc...but, well, it all came to a halt. I sold off my 300 f/2.8 IS, sad to see it go, but I had to live.

So now, yeah, I'd love the 500/500/800, but, oh well I don't spend any energy on it. I still do have a 100-400 and I use it with a 1.4x TC and am what you could call "content"...

The real world is a bit like POTN. There's always a bigger member. Someone with more gear, more skill, more time, money, connections.....

If you would enjoy the results of a 500 enough, get one. Life's short.

Daniel:

I have a mental wish list that I don't convert to actual pieces of equipment because I know that the quest for the perfect gear lineup is never-ending. I have to work within all sorts of limitations, with equipment being only one of them, and the challenge is to make good pictures despite those limitations. I find that interesting enough.

Also, as it is, when I have a bad outing, I can always blame it on my supposed lack of equipment.


—Tedder

Always.

I went through a 2 year period where I had gear lust and was constantly upgrading my equipment. Then at some point I realized I was spending more time obsessing about equipment that I was actually using it. So I decided to take a couple of months and just use what I have instead of buying something new. That was 14 months ago. I discovered I can take great photos with what I have and don't really need all that gear.

Actually I've recently become envious of those with 400 f/2.8L IS lenses, as I own a 500 f/4 and find it a bit long in a lot of situations for me.
Maybe some day I'll find a 400 owner jealous enough of my 500 to consider a trade

DennisW1 wrote in post #13434220
Actually I've recently become envious of those with 400 f/2.8L IS lenses, as I own a 500 f/4 and find it a bit long in a lot of situations for me.
Maybe some day I'll find a 400 owner jealous enough of my 500 to consider a trade

Wait and get a 1DX...

500mm at a true 500mm! Problem Solved!

Moose408 wrote in post #13434072
I went through a 2 year period where I had gear lust and was constantly upgrading my equipment. Then at some point I realized I was spending more time obsessing about equipment that I was actually using it. So I decided to take a couple of months and just use what I have instead of buying something new. That was 14 months ago. I discovered I can take great photos with what I have and don't really need all that gear.

Yeah, this is a good idea. When I first started I had sold my 28-135 and was planning on getting a Tamron 17-50, but ended up not being able to spend any money on photo gear for a while. At first I was pissed and didn't go out at all, but after a while I ended up using the only lens I had (50 1.8) and I discovered that I enjoyed just being out there shooting.

Haven't you heard you're not a good photographer unless you can shoot great pictures at a night football game with a pinhole camera made from a shoebox and bouncing ambient light from a sheet of dirty poster board?


In all seriousness, there is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting more gear. Hate me if you want, but if you desire more gear because it will allow you to do more things that you can't do with your current setup, then you have your priorities in the right order. If the gear you have isn't up to the task of taking the kind of pictures you want to take, then it's perfectly logical to want to acquire the things that will free you from that constraint.

On the other hand, we've got to be honest with ourselves and drop this pretense of "needing" some new toy or another. As long as you're not taking food off your family's table or skipping the rent to buy a lens, then go for it and don't try to justify it. I've found I feel a lot better about myself since I stopped trying to find a practical use for the stuff I want and just buying it for fun when I've got the extra money.

Just re-mortgage your house and buy a 1200 5.6, you'll never have to worry about lens envy again (though you might need to buy a bus as well to transport it)

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #13433401
News Flash:

There's always someone smarter, richer, faster, taller, etc.

...then i met myself, the envy was over!!! but back to the OP, flyingphotog is absolutely correct!

You can always rent those big lenses. Meanwhile you might enjoy reading Brodie: Virus of the Mind, and Kruger: Remote Control