Has anybody ever kicked their LBA habit?

maxwell1295 · 03-17-2008, 02:21 PM

How do you do it? Do you wean yourself off slowly? Or do you just go "cold turkey"?

I was looking at my purchases from the last month or so:

2/12 K1000 with Pentax-A 50mm/f1.7 & Pentax-A 70-210mm/f4
2/22 J.C. Penney 135mm/f2.8
3/01 Soligor 24mm/f2.8
3/02 Gemini 2X PK-A Teleconverter
3/05 Sears 135mm/f2.8 Macro
3/12 Super Takumar 105mm/f2.8
3/13 Tamron-F 135mm/f2.8
3/15 Pentax-A 35-135mm/f3.5-4.5
3/15 Spotmatic w/Super Takumar 50mm/f1.7 & Vivitar 28mm/f2.5
3/17 Vivitar 2x Macro Focusing Teleconverter, Vivitar Automatic Extension tubes

It's not as bad as it was the previous month was. Before, I would buy stuff not knowing whether it was going to fit with the stuff I already had. What I've realized is that even though the goal to have the best equipment I can afford, there still has to be a method to the madness. Now, I'm spending more time zeroing in on specific items instead of buying something just to try it out or because a deal was too good to pass up.

I think I'm getting closer to the finish line. I can almost see light at the end of this tunnel. I just need to clear out the stuff I don't need and work on getting a long telephoto lens. At that point, I think the LBAing should be over.....at least that's what I'm telling myself.

aegisphan · 03-17-2008, 02:29 PM

Collecting lenses, especially those inexpensive, old manual focus ones, can be very addictive. I used to have 6 different 50s, 3 85s, and 3 135s. But then i realized i need to be more of a practical shooters than a collector. Those extra lenses would destine to sit on the shelves for a while (such a waste). So i sold most of them and coming close to be "clean".

lost · 03-17-2008, 02:31 PM

Why would you want to break the LBA habit? It's so much fun when you get the box in the mail. While most of my lenses are of the cheaper sort, I buy what I can afford in the ranges I need. I think I have most of the types of shooting I do covered, so I can start saving for better lenses now.

On a side note, how do you like the JCPenney 135/2.8? I picked one up in a pawn shop (couldn't help myself) and haven't used it yet except to test in the store.

yeedub · 03-17-2008, 02:32 PM

I've pretty much satisfied my LBA by purchasing the two very expensive DA* 16-50 and 50-135mm lenses. I just dont want to buy a cheap older lenses and use it in place of my costly lenses so i stopped looking - otherwise i'll be worried about buyers remorse

.

TaoMaas · 03-17-2008, 02:33 PM

uh...yeah....good luck with that.

My LBA has pretty much run it's course, but I suspect I'll suffer a relapse after I've been shooting digital for a while longer since I really need to consolidate and update my zooms. lol

Jester_rm · 03-17-2008, 02:39 PM

It's not a habit....it's a lifestyle!

nathancombs · 03-17-2008, 02:52 PM

Sigma APO micro 70-300 F4-5.6 AF (work horse)
Tonkina AT-X 80-200 F2.8 MF (work horse)
Vivitar Series 1 100-500 F5.6-8 MF (GOOD lens)
Takumar 135 F2.5 MF (GOOD lens)
Pentax - DA 18-55 F 3.5-5.6 AF (work horse)
Kion micro 70-210 F4.5-5.6 MF (GOOD lens)
Takumar- A 70-210 F4.5-5.6 MF (GOOD lens)
Pentax- M 50 F1.7 MF (kick BUTT lens)
MC 28-70 F3.5-4.5 MF
Pentax - FA 28-80 F3.5-4.5 AF
2x coverter ( BIG pece of JUNK but got really cheep am going to replace)
Slogar Mirror Lens 500 MF
Pentax - M 50 F1.4 MF

i think i have every thing coverd by some good lenes. i might start buying primes but i tell you what it is hard when i see a good deal and have to remind my self that i allredy have a good lens in that range LOL

i got a better paying 2nd job and the paper is starting to make some $$$

Last edited by nathancombs; 03-17-2008 at 03:02 PM.

**rparmar** · 03-17-2008, 03:15 PM

Originally posted by nathancombs

i think i have every thing coverd by some good lenes. i might start buying primes but i tell you what it is hard when i see a good deal and have to remind my self that i allredy have a good lens in that range

Well, I don't know... you seem to be seriously missing some limiteds. And once you get one you just have to get them all...

tybeck · 03-17-2008, 03:29 PM

I'm seeing my LBA go down already. I've got a decent set of lens now, at least for the types of photos that I like to take. The fact that everything is on the net now and I have to plan ahead helps. I have two maybe three more lens in my sights over the next few years and then I'll really be good to go.

lapeen · 03-17-2008, 03:53 PM

I think I did. When I first got my k100d I was buying like crazy and always looking for the next lens to get.

At the moment I am perfectly happy with my 18-250 and my 50 1.4. I also still have a few of the manual lenses I bought when I had LBA, but they are just waiting for me to sell them at this point. The only lenses I may like to have at some point in life are a fisheye, and a macro lens... but I am in no rush for those.

I don't need a ton of lenses that I am only going to use once a year or so. And I don't want to spend 3 hours trying to decide which lenses to take with me when I go somewhere.

Peter Zack · 03-17-2008, 04:02 PM

Originally posted by rparmar

Well, I don't know... you seem to be seriously missing some limiteds. And once you get one you just have to get them all...

Ain't that the truth. I've owned the 43 and 77, needed some money so they are temporarily gone. Have the 31mm right now and that is one beautiful piece of glass. The 43 and 77 will be back this year.

I think I've stopped and another lens just pops up. Just got the SMC F 24-50 f4 and it's a sweet lens.

I might need to cut off my internet connection.....

daacon · 03-17-2008, 04:11 PM

My grandfather use to tell me about this guy that kicked the habit once - he tells a story of having to walk uphill in the snow , both ways to the local camera shop ... lost his legs in WWII that cured him.

I am with Peter - Internet = Browsing = Thinking = Wanting = Justyfying = Pay Pal = Purchase = Delivery = Use = download on Computer = Browsing - Loop

Finn · 03-17-2008, 05:14 PM

After a year or so and a couple of dozen lenses bought and sold (some twice or thrice), I'm down to:

DA 21mm
FA 31mm
FA 77mm

I can't think of a lens I'm really missing that would expand my photography greatly. Sure a fast zoom or a macro lens would be nice, but I hate using zooms and I'm not really that drawn to macro. A lot of lenses have sounded great in principle but have turned out not to mesh well with my photographic style. So I think I'm set for the time being.

Could it be my LBA is cured? Or am I just rationalizing to make myself feel better about my battered bank account?

creampuff · 03-17-2008, 05:24 PM

Finn, you've pared down to only 3 lenses.

You have truly reached a zen like state - so minimalist.
Surely a role model for the rest of us to follow.

maxwell1295 · 03-17-2008, 05:50 PM

I figured that trap would snare a few of you. I don't think I want to completely stop LBAing.....as was mentioned above, it's way too much fun. What makes it even more fun is that I really haven't paid much for the stuff I have. A lot of those lenses were part of lots that paid for the lenses I wanted. I think the most I paid for an individual lens was about $55 shipped for the A50/1.7 and the 24mm Soligor. When all is said an done, it should look something like this:

Soligor 24mm
A50mm
Super Tak 50mm/1.4
Super Tak 105mm
Tamron 135mm
A35-70mm
A35-135mm
A70-210mm
Vivitar 2xMFTC
Vivitar Macro Tubes
Pentax M42 Adapter

I don't think I'm going to need much more to that lineup. Well, maybe a 85mm prime (Jupiter?) would be a good fit.

03-17-2008, 02:21 PM	#1
maxwell1295 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Long Island, New York Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,703	Has anybody ever kicked their LBA habit? How do you do it? Do you wean yourself off slowly? Or do you just go "cold turkey"? I was looking at my purchases from the last month or so: 2/12 K1000 with Pentax-A 50mm/f1.7 & Pentax-A 70-210mm/f4 2/22 J.C. Penney 135mm/f2.8 3/01 Soligor 24mm/f2.8 3/02 Gemini 2X PK-A Teleconverter 3/05 Sears 135mm/f2.8 Macro 3/12 Super Takumar 105mm/f2.8 3/13 Tamron-F 135mm/f2.8 3/15 Pentax-A 35-135mm/f3.5-4.5 3/15 Spotmatic w/Super Takumar 50mm/f1.7 & Vivitar 28mm/f2.5 3/17 Vivitar 2x Macro Focusing Teleconverter, Vivitar Automatic Extension tubes It's not as bad as it was the previous month was. Before, I would buy stuff not knowing whether it was going to fit with the stuff I already had. What I've realized is that even though the goal to have the best equipment I can afford, there still has to be a method to the madness. Now, I'm spending more time zeroing in on specific items instead of buying something just to try it out or because a deal was too good to pass up. I think I'm getting closer to the finish line. I can almost see light at the end of this tunnel. I just need to clear out the stuff I don't need and work on getting a long telephoto lens. At that point, I think the LBAing should be over.....at least that's what I'm telling myself.

03-17-2008, 02:32 PM	#4
yeedub Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Vancouver BC Canada Posts: 78	I've pretty much satisfied my LBA by purchasing the two very expensive DA* 16-50 and 50-135mm lenses. I just dont want to buy a cheap older lenses and use it in place of my costly lenses so i stopped looking - otherwise i'll be worried about buyers remorse.

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03-17-2008, 02:29 PM	#2
aegisphan Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New Mexico Posts: 815	Collecting lenses, especially those inexpensive, old manual focus ones, can be very addictive. I used to have 6 different 50s, 3 85s, and 3 135s. But then i realized i need to be more of a practical shooters than a collector. Those extra lenses would destine to sit on the shelves for a while (such a waste). So i sold most of them and coming close to be "clean".

03-17-2008, 02:31 PM	#3
lost Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: central Louisiana Posts: 161	Why would you want to break the LBA habit? It's so much fun when you get the box in the mail. While most of my lenses are of the cheaper sort, I buy what I can afford in the ranges I need. I think I have most of the types of shooting I do covered, so I can start saving for better lenses now. On a side note, how do you like the JCPenney 135/2.8? I picked one up in a pawn shop (couldn't help myself) and haven't used it yet except to test in the store.

03-17-2008, 02:33 PM	#5
TaoMaas Pentaxian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Oklahoma City Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,574	uh...yeah....good luck with that. My LBA has pretty much run it's course, but I suspect I'll suffer a relapse after I've been shooting digital for a while longer since I really need to consolidate and update my zooms. lol

03-17-2008, 02:39 PM	#6
Jester_rm Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Redmond, Oregon Photos: Gallery Posts: 228	It's not a habit....it's a lifestyle!

03-17-2008, 02:52 PM	#7
nathancombs Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Waysboro va Photos: Gallery Posts: 517	Sigma APO micro 70-300 F4-5.6 AF (work horse) Tonkina AT-X 80-200 F2.8 MF (work horse) Vivitar Series 1 100-500 F5.6-8 MF (GOOD lens) Takumar 135 F2.5 MF (GOOD lens) Pentax - DA 18-55 F 3.5-5.6 AF (work horse) Kion micro 70-210 F4.5-5.6 MF (GOOD lens) Takumar- A 70-210 F4.5-5.6 MF (GOOD lens) Pentax- M 50 F1.7 MF (kick BUTT lens) MC 28-70 F3.5-4.5 MF Pentax - FA 28-80 F3.5-4.5 AF 2x coverter ( BIG pece of JUNK but got really cheep am going to replace) Slogar Mirror Lens 500 MF Pentax - M 50 F1.4 MF i think i have every thing coverd by some good lenes. i might start buying primes but i tell you what it is hard when i see a good deal and have to remind my self that i allredy have a good lens in that range LOL i got a better paying 2nd job and the paper is starting to make some $$$ Last edited by nathancombs; 03-17-2008 at 03:02 PM.

03-17-2008, 03:15 PM	#8
rparmar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,817	Originally posted by nathancombs i think i have every thing coverd by some good lenes. i might start buying primes but i tell you what it is hard when i see a good deal and have to remind my self that i allredy have a good lens in that range Well, I don't know... you seem to be seriously missing some limiteds. And once you get one you just have to get them all...

03-17-2008, 03:29 PM	#9
tybeck Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 452	I'm seeing my LBA go down already. I've got a decent set of lens now, at least for the types of photos that I like to take. The fact that everything is on the net now and I have to plan ahead helps. I have two maybe three more lens in my sights over the next few years and then I'll really be good to go.

03-17-2008, 03:53 PM	#10
lapeen Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: bangor, maine Posts: 380	I think I did. When I first got my k100d I was buying like crazy and always looking for the next lens to get. At the moment I am perfectly happy with my 18-250 and my 50 1.4. I also still have a few of the manual lenses I bought when I had LBA, but they are just waiting for me to sell them at this point. The only lenses I may like to have at some point in life are a fisheye, and a macro lens... but I am in no rush for those. I don't need a ton of lenses that I am only going to use once a year or so. And I don't want to spend 3 hours trying to decide which lenses to take with me when I go somewhere.

03-17-2008, 04:02 PM	#11
Peter Zack Pentaxian Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2007 Location: Edmonton Alberta, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 10,643	Originally posted by rparmar Well, I don't know... you seem to be seriously missing some limiteds. And once you get one you just have to get them all... Ain't that the truth. I've owned the 43 and 77, needed some money so they are temporarily gone. Have the 31mm right now and that is one beautiful piece of glass. The 43 and 77 will be back this year. I think I've stopped and another lens just pops up. Just got the SMC F 24-50 f4 and it's a sweet lens. I might need to cut off my internet connection.....

03-17-2008, 04:11 PM	#12
daacon Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Alberta,Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 20,914	My grandfather use to tell me about this guy that kicked the habit once - he tells a story of having to walk uphill in the snow , both ways to the local camera shop ... lost his legs in WWII that cured him. I am with Peter - Internet = Browsing = Thinking = Wanting = Justyfying = Pay Pal = Purchase = Delivery = Use = download on Computer = Browsing - Loop

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03-17-2008, 05:14 PM	#13
Finn Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Phoenix Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,056	After a year or so and a couple of dozen lenses bought and sold (some twice or thrice), I'm down to: DA 21mm FA 31mm FA 77mm I can't think of a lens I'm really missing that would expand my photography greatly. Sure a fast zoom or a macro lens would be nice, but I hate using zooms and I'm not really that drawn to macro. A lot of lenses have sounded great in principle but have turned out not to mesh well with my photographic style. So I think I'm set for the time being. Could it be my LBA is cured? Or am I just rationalizing to make myself feel better about my battered bank account?

03-17-2008, 05:24 PM	#14
creampuff Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,953	Finn, you've pared down to only 3 lenses. You have truly reached a zen like state - so minimalist. Surely a role model for the rest of us to follow.

03-17-2008, 05:50 PM	#15
maxwell1295 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Long Island, New York Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,703 Original Poster	I figured that trap would snare a few of you. I don't think I want to completely stop LBAing.....as was mentioned above, it's way too much fun. What makes it even more fun is that I really haven't paid much for the stuff I have. A lot of those lenses were part of lots that paid for the lenses I wanted. I think the most I paid for an individual lens was about $55 shipped for the A50/1.7 and the 24mm Soligor. When all is said an done, it should look something like this: Soligor 24mm A50mm Super Tak 50mm/1.4 Super Tak 105mm Tamron 135mm A35-70mm A35-135mm A70-210mm Vivitar 2xMFTC Vivitar Macro Tubes Pentax M42 Adapter I don't think I'm going to need much more to that lineup. Well, maybe a 85mm prime (Jupiter?) would be a good fit.