GAS (Gear Aquisition Syndrome) by Olivier Duong

Yos · 07-10-2013, 06:47 PM

Not sure if someone already posted this...
Found this blog post and thought I would share it.
It gave me something to reflect on. I know I love to buy new gear but I don't think I will fall into the GAS trap.

Confessions of an ex gear addict: How buying cameras and lenses made me miserable and lose thousands - Olivier "F8" Duong | Documentary & Street Photography

Cheers
Yos

alamo5000 · 07-10-2013, 08:37 PM

Awesome article!!! He's got it right. Work with what you got

Of course there is a minimum level of stuff you need, but beyond that... not so much.

**geomez** · 07-10-2013, 09:45 PM

I saw this earlier on DPR. It did a good job of making me feel look I me crap about myself. But that's a good thing. They say the first step toward recovery is realizing you have a problem.

carrrlangas · 07-11-2013, 02:51 AM

haha funny and true!

**Kerrowdown** · 07-11-2013, 05:59 AM

You will need weekly counselling to quit GAS, one on one.

**geomez** · 07-11-2013, 09:27 AM

This is no laughing matter. My GAS is totally out of control

ducdao · 07-11-2013, 09:52 AM

The lessons learned from this is don't go crazy on bodies, buy lenses instead as lenses do keep its values or you can even make a profit by selling them back. I personally can attest this

Parallax · 07-11-2013, 10:21 AM

GAS can be a serious condition. It can lead to hyper inflation of camera bags, and bank account atrophy. It can be idiopathic, presenting as sudden onset, but there are risk factors as well. Anyone who suffers from LAGS (Latest And Greatest Syndrome), is at greater risk for GAS.

EarlVonTapia · 07-11-2013, 01:49 PM

It's always the damn accessories that get you.

I've been keeping a spreadsheet of (ALL) camera related purchases. For my bodies and lenses, I'm at least able to get some money back for them, and in the case of the lenses I think I can come out ahead thanks to some savvy sniping.

But I will be lucky if I can get back 5-10% of what I spent on "accessories" like bags, tripod alternatives, etc.

wildman · 07-14-2013, 02:50 AM - **1 Like**

"GAS, the syndrome that makes you hoard gear that you don’t really need and get stuff for the sake of getting it."

The problem is the entire industrial global economy, and your job directly or indirectly, depends on such behavior.

Consume or die.

Enigmaticca · 08-28-2013, 04:12 AM

World record GAS: Photojournalist Reveals His 4,425 Camera Collection, Breaks His Own World Record

mrNewt · 08-28-2013, 07:03 AM

Yep... I have went minimalist way some time ago... I've actually become "cheap" when it comes to gear. You realize that "just enough" and "DIYs" will do very well and let you concentrate on your photography more.

Go out, treat your camera as a tool, search the light and click away...

ducdao · 08-28-2013, 09:44 AM

Originally posted by mrNewt

Yep... I have went minimalist way some time ago... I've actually become "cheap" when it comes to gear. You realize that "just enough" and "DIYs" will do very well and let you concentrate on your photography more.

Go out, treat your camera as a tool, search the light and click away...

+1

I'm gradually downsizing my gear right now. Not an easy thing to do though.

By leaving the same lens and using the same camera for more than one day does actually help appreciating the gear and learn photography better...

mrNewt · 08-28-2013, 10:57 AM

My everyday in the bag setup that covers ALL my basics (macro, "normal", tele)...

- K5
- 2.8 45mm pancake lens
- set of 4 macro filters
- 2x Vivitar MC tele converter

My K-01 is macro dedicated and never touch it unless I go hunting bugs.

I honestly do NOT need anything else. I haven't touched any of my other lenses.
I've also got to the conclusion that sharp images for me are becoming boring... I'm more interested in colors, composition and the "emotion" you get in the end.

richmondthefish · 08-30-2013, 12:05 PM

I have Sony RX1 gas

Small full frame is making me ill

especially when its producing better pics than many DSLRs in a smaller package

07-10-2013, 06:47 PM	#1
Yos Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Stockholm Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 533	GAS (Gear Aquisition Syndrome) by Olivier Duong Not sure if someone already posted this... Found this blog post and thought I would share it. It gave me something to reflect on. I know I love to buy new gear but I don't think I will fall into the GAS trap. Confessions of an ex gear addict: How buying cameras and lenses made me miserable and lose thousands - Olivier "F8" Duong \| Documentary & Street Photography Cheers Yos

07-11-2013, 05:59 AM	#5
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,835	You will need weekly counselling to quit GAS, one on one. Last edited by Kerrowdown; 07-11-2013 at 11:31 AM.

07-11-2013, 10:21 AM	#8
Parallax Senior Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Dakota Photos: Gallery Posts: 19,332	GAS can be a serious condition. It can lead to hyper inflation of camera bags, and bank account atrophy. It can be idiopathic, presenting as sudden onset, but there are risk factors as well. Anyone who suffers from LAGS (Latest And Greatest Syndrome), is at greater risk for GAS. Last edited by Parallax; 07-11-2013 at 11:36 AM.

07-14-2013, 02:50 AM - 1 Like	#10
wildman Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Flyover America Posts: 4,469	"GAS, the syndrome that makes you hoard gear that you don’t really need and get stuff for the sake of getting it." The problem is the entire industrial global economy, and your job directly or indirectly, depends on such behavior. Consume or die. Last edited by wildman; 07-14-2013 at 03:09 AM.

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07-10-2013, 08:37 PM	#2
alamo5000 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 2,962	Awesome article!!! He's got it right. Work with what you got Of course there is a minimum level of stuff you need, but beyond that... not so much.

07-10-2013, 09:45 PM	#3
geomez Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Roanoke, Virginia, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,760	I saw this earlier on DPR. It did a good job of making me feel look I me crap about myself. But that's a good thing. They say the first step toward recovery is realizing you have a problem.

07-11-2013, 02:51 AM	#4
carrrlangas Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Joensuu (Finland) Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,761	haha funny and true!

07-11-2013, 09:27 AM	#6
geomez Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Roanoke, Virginia, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,760	This is no laughing matter. My GAS is totally out of control

07-11-2013, 09:52 AM	#7
ducdao Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Montreal/Vermont Posts: 2,160	The lessons learned from this is don't go crazy on bodies, buy lenses instead as lenses do keep its values or you can even make a profit by selling them back. I personally can attest this

07-11-2013, 01:49 PM	#9
EarlVonTapia Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,207	It's always the damn accessories that get you. I've been keeping a spreadsheet of (ALL) camera related purchases. For my bodies and lenses, I'm at least able to get some money back for them, and in the case of the lenses I think I can come out ahead thanks to some savvy sniping. But I will be lucky if I can get back 5-10% of what I spent on "accessories" like bags, tripod alternatives, etc.

08-28-2013, 04:12 AM	#11
Enigmaticca Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 311	World record GAS: Photojournalist Reveals His 4,425 Camera Collection, Breaks His Own World Record

08-28-2013, 07:03 AM	#12
mrNewt Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ON, RH Posts: 2,181	Yep... I have went minimalist way some time ago... I've actually become "cheap" when it comes to gear. You realize that "just enough" and "DIYs" will do very well and let you concentrate on your photography more. Go out, treat your camera as a tool, search the light and click away...

08-28-2013, 09:44 AM	#13
ducdao Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Montreal/Vermont Posts: 2,160	Originally posted by mrNewt Yep... I have went minimalist way some time ago... I've actually become "cheap" when it comes to gear. You realize that "just enough" and "DIYs" will do very well and let you concentrate on your photography more. Go out, treat your camera as a tool, search the light and click away... +1 I'm gradually downsizing my gear right now. Not an easy thing to do though. By leaving the same lens and using the same camera for more than one day does actually help appreciating the gear and learn photography better...

08-28-2013, 10:57 AM	#14
mrNewt Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ON, RH Posts: 2,181	My everyday in the bag setup that covers ALL my basics (macro, "normal", tele)... - K5 - 2.8 45mm pancake lens - set of 4 macro filters - 2x Vivitar MC tele converter My K-01 is macro dedicated and never touch it unless I go hunting bugs. I honestly do NOT need anything else. I haven't touched any of my other lenses. I've also got to the conclusion that sharp images for me are becoming boring... I'm more interested in colors, composition and the "emotion" you get in the end.

08-30-2013, 12:05 PM	#15
richmondthefish Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 221	I have Sony RX1 gas Small full frame is making me ill especially when its producing better pics than many DSLRs in a smaller package