[Cerebum]

Hi
I was reading another thread which was delving into whether kit can hold us back. I was also replying to another in which I listed recent, random obscure purchases and I began to question why I keep buying.

Regarding reaching the limits of our lenses capabilities, I am not even close. I sometimes test a lens and add it to the ebay list only to revisit in a different frame of mind and find it enchanting. I am not very far into my photographic journey and would probably benefit from company, but circumstances dictate. Also, flitting from lens to lens, as I do, I am probably not getting to know each lens, something I will address in time.

Regarding kit use, I tend to have a spell using primes then, after a week or so hanker after one of my zooms, and vice versa. I rarely carry more than one lens, preferring to select one in the morning and work with it at lunchtime or whenever else I get five minutes. I believe that using primes has helped my overall photography as I have to think harder about composition. Of course, this could be nonsense like I said, I am solitary so don't have someone telling me I am talking b®&*ocks again

As for purchases (the point of the post (finally)) my first prime was the smc da 35mm f2.4, which I love. My second prime was a Miranda (cosina) 24mm f2.8 macro which is a ka mount, which is also a delight. I absolutely loved the differences in operation and found that I felt added satisfaction from a manual focus lens. Next came a variety of Pentax-m lenses (50mm f2, 135mm f3.5, 200mm f4). I also picked up a cosina mc 135mm which was the first to hit the eBay pile, only to be resurrected. By this time I was addicted to the different handling characteristics of each lens and I think that is key. I am getting stuff based on it being different, which now I come to think of it, is pretty stupid given it should really all be about quality. But then I have (possibly accidentally) some beautiful glass! I have pancolars, preset takumars and lenses like the tak 100mm f4 macro that scores 98% on PF. The thing is, I live and work in a beautiful part of the UK, but every day I cover the same ground. Prior to my LBA I occasionally didn't take my camera because I felt like i had photographed everything. Now I choose a lens then think to myself "OK, let's see what I can get from this"! I recently had a back to basics week with my K3, 18-135mm and some filters where I concentrated on photography techniques rather than lens idiosyncracies but I am jonesing for primes again and today took out my DA 35mm. So that is me. I just love the feel of an alloy tessar and a slim, 60 year old preset Takumar and will probably continue to stock up, despite the fact that with what I have spent, I could probably have bought a couple of limiteds is this a common reason for LBA? I suspect there are others, hence the thread. It will be interesting to see who enters the confessional

[monochrome]

There are as many reasons to buy lenses as there are people buying lenses, and as many lines demarking how many is too many. I came of age in the mid 70’s when my grandmother gave me a black KX and K50/1.4 with ER case as my college graduation present. The camera box had a booklet describing the functions of the KX and a brochure of the KM and K2. The lens box had a brochure that listed all the K lenses. I lusted after those lenses for 35 years. In the interim I won an MESuper lens / flash / cases boxed kit in a sales contest with M50/1.4 and acquired another set of brochures to peruse and dream about.

In 1999 I got an eBay ID and started buying, trying and selling Pentax cameras and lenses. At first I actually sold things and made some money. Then I just stopped selling, but I still lusted after those K lenses as well as certain top-end cameras and lenses that had been out of reach. Now that I’ve saved some money (not paying for college) I can make discretionary purchases just because I want something.

Jus recently I’ve concluded I really don’t use all this gear and I certainly don’t need it, so I’ve covered a tabletop with things I once thought would be in the drawer when I die. It will be a lot of work to sell this stuff but the money should be pleasant to receive, though I won’t receive nearly what I paid. I’ve had to decide what I actually want and will use - the rest is sort of gluttony.

It took me nearly 20 years to get here. I suspect your journey will be similar, but not identical. As long as you enjoy it and it isn’t s burden I wouldn’t concern myself. Just do it, and take photos with your stuff.

[pepperberry farm]

because you can

because you want to

because, because, because....


and one more.... why not?

[HarisF1]

I've been on the Pentax journey for maybe four years now and have experienced loads of different emotions with regards to lenses. I first wondered why wide angle lenses were so expensive (M 20mm for the price of a brand new Sigma 10-20!) without the understanding of full frame and crop sensor formats. I then got a taste of the M42 world with the beautiful Takumars, and my buying and selling journey began.

Four years later, my LBA has pushed me to own and use some of the best lenses Pentax has to offer, and I've never really been loyal to any of them since I sell to buy others. It's a fun little hobby, especially since I'm probably a terrible photographer! But really, as long as you buy sensibly you should very rarely take a large hit when it comes to the second hand market for lenses. I can confidently buy a lens (apart from the uber expensive A*135) knowing that it can just as easily be sold to recoup most of the price paid, and sometimes being slightly profitable.

So to comment on LBA, I think it requires a bit of self-control if you really want to splash out on good lenses. A great deal on a K85 may mean you have to stop your hand from grabbing a DA 15 Ltd, but having a few months of fun with the K85 can then mean you can sell it to buy that DA lens.

[fehknt]

Photography for enjoyment versus photography for a profession -- I love picking up an old manual focus non-SMC lens with straight aperture blades and having fun with it. I just bought myself a Helios to play with Petzval lens design and really enjoy seeing and crafting with lens aberrations in mind. When I go hiking, I often bring one or two lenses; sometimes the 24-70 but often maybe just the 100 macro or bring along the Laowa 15mm macro or other "oddball" lenses to try and get something really different. I definitely agree that carrying just one lens, particularly a prime, really makes you think more carefully about the other photographic aspects as you get used to "looking for a composition" rather than "looking for a scene" and then composing in camera -- at least that's my experience.

When I went to shoot a golf tournament, I packed my DFA 24-70 and similar lenses; I needed to know I could get the shots with a couple seconds without worrying about flare resistance etc.

Overall, though, I would agree that I love the feeling of picking up a new prime and really exploring what it can do and how that changes my photographic habits and capabilities, and it's a significant factor in my LBA.

[Cabessius]

despite the fact that with what I have spent, I could probably have bought a couple of limiteds

This is something recurring in my mind.
My lens count is almost 70 (many Ms, Ks, Taks, Soviets, Germans...and every month I add a couple more.
With the money I´ve spent I could easily have three limiteds and a high quality zoom.
And probably get much better pictures but surely get much less fun.
That´s the reason why I´m into photography. I have fun.
I already know that I won´t get the perfect pic with a flare-prone single coated 60 years old Auto Tak, but I know I will have fun shooting with it.

[Mikesul]

I think for some of us it really is a kind of sickness. Whenever, I think I have or am near to having all the lenses I want a sort of sadness comes over me until a learn about something else or a new one comes out. I like the new glass a lot but the older lenses still have great draw.

[boriscleto]

What's wrong with collecting just for the sake of collecting?

Feel free to click the link in my sig to see the depths of my LBA (111 ATM).

[pepperberry farm]

What's wrong with collecting just for the sake of collecting?

Feel free to click the link in my sig to see the depths of my LBA (111 ATM).

exactly - why do we need to dissect it or justify it to anyone?

[Cerebum]

Lol, I forgot the sadness, I get that too. I have three to test this week, two of which are below (lens porn) the black one is a schneider-kreuznach edixa tele xenar 135mm f3.5 and the one on the camera is a steinheil munchen edixa cassaron 50mm f2.8. The steinheil is supposed to be disappointing but I have found it to be great fun with bubble bokeh (leaf pic) the rose is a Takumar 35mm f3.5 flare monster and the mausoleum is a Pentax-m 40mm pancake which was completely the wrong lens for the church I discovered in the woods, but after lots of recomposition it turned out to be a really good session.

As for selling lenses, I may never get to that point. I often buy a lens with a view to selling it on when the object of my desire becomes available, but then I can't bring myself to part with it. As for the quality of my pictures, I get lots of things wrong but for me it is all about process and progress.

Interesting replies maybe this should become the MF, LBA acquisitions thread I may be solitary in my photography but I am delighted to see I have plenty of company when it comes to lusting after bonkers vintage glass

[Cabessius]

LBA is also a healthy and potentially profitable addiction.
It will improve your health by forcing you to leave the sofa and go out shooting.
And if you buy at a good price (like I always do), you can always re-sell for a profit*

*This is the next excuse I will give my wife when the postman arrives with another lens (hopefully Monday)

[Cerebum]

exactly - why do we need to dissect it or justify it to anyone?

The only person I justify it to is me if I can do that the lens is mine ....mine........all mine........bwhwhwhwhwhahahahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaa

[pepperberry farm]

The only person I justify it to is me if I can do that the lens is mine ....mine........all mine........bwhwhwhwhwhahahahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaa

bingo!

[Just1MoreDave]

Nothing substitutes perfectly for using a lens. You can get an idea from reviews and photos, but it's maybe 75% of the story. The rest for me are questions like "does it fit in my bag next to another lens" or "is it too heavy". The only way to tell for sure is to own the lens for a while. If you don't pay too much and don't buy a broken lens, reselling is always an option, and the lessons you can learn are cheap.

[Cerebum]

Nothing substitutes perfectly for using a lens. You can get an idea from reviews and photos, but it's maybe 75% of the story. The rest for me are questions like "does it fit in my bag next to another lens" or "is it too heavy". The only way to tell for sure is to own the lens for a while. If you don't pay too much and don't buy a broken lens, reselling is always an option, and the lessons you can learn are cheap.

Valid points, but with me its just greed lolol