Do you suffer from G.A.S?

Do you suffer from G.A.S. as in Gear Acquisition Syndrome? Many photographers suffer from this, I know I certainly am. I was never that much of a hoarder until I got into photography, but suddenly I have stuff everywhere.

https://unsplash.com/@jakobowens1

https://unsplash.com/@jakobowens1

Camera Bodies

I won't even count the digital Instamatics Point & Shoot I've had, and there was a few of those. But I had a Nikon D5300, then the D7100, D750. Then the Sony A7ii, A7Riii (my current workhorse), Hubby also has a Nikon Z6. I could sell the older Nikons, but I worry about needing a backup if a camera dies. Or a myriad of other reasons I keep telling myself.

Photo by ShareGrid on Unsplash

Photo by ShareGrid on Unsplash

JuliePowell_Vintage Cameras.jpg

Lenses

I thought camera bodies is bad enough, so what about lenses? Seriously I need to cull. I had several lenses for crop sensor Nikons Zoom, Primes, Wide-angle and Macro, thankfully the 50mm Prime and 90mm Macro suited the full-frame Nikons so they still get used, but we have two 18-80mm, 18-200mm, 18-300mm, 35mm and a great Sigma Wide Angle. Then both Hubby and I switched to full-frame, but different brands so we have doubled up on pretty much everything again. I have also replaced basic kit lenses with far better quality glass, but still keep the kits stuff...why?

Bags

If you have been into photography long enough I am sure you probably have an assortment of camera bags too? I have my mini day bag, the travel bag, the big Pelican overseas travel case (still yet to actually use that by the way!), Then I have the Nikon bag (with all my Nikon stuff) and the Sony bag (obviously has my Sony body and lenses), then there is a box in the cupboard with a raft of other lenses, lens ball, filters and more that get moved from bag to bag as we need them. Hubby keeps getting bigger bags to carry more stuff (which means they are heavy), I am trying to go smaller. We have at least 5 bags on the go between us at the moment.

Tripods

Another area for concern, the problem is I use them ALL. The studio tripod, the travel tripod, the tripod I have my macro rail on permanently, then there is the old tripod perfect for my mobile phone for shooting video. Then there is the Gimbal and Mini Gorilla tripod. They all have a use and I can't seem to part with any of them.

JuliePowell_Vintage Cameras.jpg

Collectibles

I have my original Olympus OM1, which I bought second hand as a teenager when I first got into photography (a million years ago, or so it seems), then I added the Kodak Brownie and now a Canon AE-1 film camera belonging to my Mother. I actually have a shelf for old technology, I won't even tell you what else is hidden in there.

So what's the solution?

Julie Powell