In the music business we used to refer to those that were on a constant hunt for the next guitar, amp, cord, stomp box, pick, strings, or whatever piece of gear that would take their playing over the top as having GAS or Gear Acquisition Syndrome. Time that might have been spent practicing to actually improve technique was spent reading the latest tests and comparisons in magizines, reading posts and reviews on all kinds of forums to determine the next holy grail. Do you see this in the photography world? I don't see it in this forum, but I hear it all the time from the photographers I work with. They're always anticipating the next widget being released from Canon or Nikon, sure that this will change their photographic life "once they learn to use it properly". Folks here tend to spend their time outside, getting dirty, and taking pictures (the quality shows evidence of time spent in the field) rather than fawning over the next do-dad. So... fess up! Have you bought anything that you never use, just because it seemed like a good idea at the time?
It seems that this syndrome is everywhere where people are creating something with more than just hand tools (or is there also the FAMOUS hammer producer brand ). As for buying junk, well (un)fortunatelly my wallet doesn't support buying much....
I know what you mean...I have friends who always buy magazines having lots of review and tests...and do not even know how and when to turn off the pop-up flash on their cams...and oh yes, they all want 28-300 (read 18-200 for digital world) lenses that make great pictures.
I guess I have GAS, but not for camera gear. Having been an inveterate guitar picker for the last 43 years, I plunked down my deposit on a Shanti acoustic handbuilt guitar! I've been looking for a custom instrument for a long time. I didn't read tests, or reviews about instruments: I took them to hand and played them--Martins, Taylors, Collins, Morgans, Santa Cruz, etc., and finally I played a Shanti. I have not played or heard one better. The sound is simply magical and the workmanship is the height of the luthiers art!
Each of Micheal Hornick's Shanti guitars are built by hand from the finest materials available and to the specifications of the future owner. Because I have smallish hands, Micheal will carve the neck to fit my hand so that I can realize the full potential of the instrument. I have already chosen a top and back and sides. Other items will be decided upon as we move toward the actual build, which will be in about two years. I hope I can wait that long!
How does this relate to photgraphy? A fine instrument/camera is a joy to use and performs flawlessly for you in a variety of situations. In my opinion, a camera and its associated lenses and other accessories must all work in concert to set the photographer free!
Unfortunately, most of us cannot afford (or cannot find) a custom-built camera system, so we must choose carefully among the myriad of offerings that will allow us to concentrate on the photograph. So, it is OK to read tests and reviews to get some information and to try out various systems. The trick is to distinguish between equipment we really need, and what we wish we needed.
Hi Kelly
I've seen this everywhere although it's pretty minimal on this forum. In the boating world there's 2 foot-itis where the next slightly bigger boat will be perfect. Here in the photographic world there's always that better/faster/longer/heavier/lighter... camera and lens combination that "takes great pictures". As with my time as a guitarist and racing sailor the folks with GAS are never the ones who think putting in the hours of practice is what's really required - it's equipment that will put THEM over the top.
I guess nature photogs are a bit more sensible (sometimes) and realize that all the gear they buy has to be lugged out into the field with them! Now that gives me gas
Hmmm? Maybe I don't have GAS for a guitar, since I practice an average of two hours per day. Heck, I even went up to the mountains today and played for three hours waiting for the light to fair up. Once it did, I grabbed my 4x5 and made a few exposures! It was great!
I've had it with (relatively) minor purchases. Somehow I decided I HAD to have a 135/2.8 "soft focus" lens. I actually have taken some serious shots with it on one occasion (weirdly enough, shots of a sunset in Hawaii!), but I've never seriously tried to use the soft focus feature. Fortunately, it was a beater I bought cheap (though still over $100). It's a surprisingly sharp little lens (in tests) but any time I could take it along, I'd rather take more weight and take my 70-200/4 instead, which is a much more useful lens. So it's almost always left at home.
Posted by David Redding on June 19, 2006 at 10:42 PM
I have seen this in a lot of learning forums. Everyone one thinks that they need the next new body that comes out because it has 5 extra MPs or something along those lines. I was told from the get go that its the photographer that takes the pictures, not the camera.
I can see upgrading when the camera just cant do what you want (Night photography with a P&S isnt fun......talk about noise) but other then that......just because its new doesnt mean it takes better pictures.
The biggest problem with digital is that it takes photography into the relm of DVDs, computers, MP3 players, TVs and the rest of the over hyped consumer world. Now that Sony and Panasonic have thrown in with Canon and Nikon with dSLRs of there own, its just gonna get worse.
I went to my local Future Shop (Owned by Best Buy) and saw this huge poster advertising the Canon 20D with the phrase "Shoot like a Pro" in big letters. Gezzzz like the technic and knowledge of actual photography has nothing to do with it.
Discussion
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It seems that this syndrome is everywhere where people are creating something with more than just hand tools (or is there also the FAMOUS hammer producer brand
Marko
Each of Micheal Hornick's Shanti guitars are built by hand from the finest materials available and to the specifications of the future owner. Because I have smallish hands, Micheal will carve the neck to fit my hand so that I can realize the full potential of the instrument. I have already chosen a top and back and sides. Other items will be decided upon as we move toward the actual build, which will be in about two years. I hope I can wait that long!
How does this relate to photgraphy? A fine instrument/camera is a joy to use and performs flawlessly for you in a variety of situations. In my opinion, a camera and its associated lenses and other accessories must all work in concert to set the photographer free!
Unfortunately, most of us cannot afford (or cannot find) a custom-built camera system, so we must choose carefully among the myriad of offerings that will allow us to concentrate on the photograph. So, it is OK to read tests and reviews to get some information and to try out various systems. The trick is to distinguish between equipment we really need, and what we wish we needed.
-PB
I've seen this everywhere although it's pretty minimal on this forum. In the boating world there's 2 foot-itis where the next slightly bigger boat will be perfect. Here in the photographic world there's always that better/faster/longer/heavier/lighter... camera and lens combination that "takes great pictures". As with my time as a guitarist and racing sailor the folks with GAS are never the ones who think putting in the hours of practice is what's really required - it's equipment that will put THEM over the top.
I guess nature photogs are a bit more sensible (sometimes) and realize that all the gear they buy has to be lugged out into the field with them! Now that gives me gas
-PB
I can see upgrading when the camera just cant do what you want (Night photography with a P&S isnt fun......talk about noise) but other then that......just because its new doesnt mean it takes better pictures.
The biggest problem with digital is that it takes photography into the relm of DVDs, computers, MP3 players, TVs and the rest of the over hyped consumer world. Now that Sony and Panasonic have thrown in with Canon and Nikon with dSLRs of there own, its just gonna get worse.
I went to my local Future Shop (Owned by Best Buy) and saw this huge poster advertising the Canon 20D with the phrase "Shoot like a Pro" in big letters. Gezzzz like the technic and knowledge of actual photography has nothing to do with it.
It's gonna get much much worse