Am I the only one suffering (mildly, nothing too serious!!) from choice-fatigue?

[deednets]

I had a sales splash a few weeks ago and found that I didn't miss a single item I sold. Afterwards.

So there's money in the bank and I could no go out and find replacements. Any questions as to what I would want to shoot - and cannot shoot right now - I would have to pass as I really don't know.

So this could be an easy path to simplification, right?

I just bought a Sony A7IV, but only have 2 lenses, the 20/1.8 and the fabulous Batis 40/2.0 CF. CF stands for "close-focus" which makes the Batis a highly versatile lens.

But cannot for the love of it think of anything that I would like to shoot. Not into birds, can see the attraction of taking the photos, being there and all that, but cannot see the attraction of actually keeping any photos of birds. Create an album, print a couple, then move on.

Portrait sessions a bit "out" still at the moment as Covid, masks etc all those things are still at play when trying to organise a shoot ...

Where was I? Ah, yes, choice-fatigue: Regarding the A7IV and those 2 lenses I think I am already really well placed for a lot of stuff I could potentially shoot. Fatigue kicks in when I think about what I would like to shoot outside the 20/40mm spectrum.

A zoom?? Heavy, IQ might be ok, but expensive and heavy

Another prime? Which one? Batis 85/1.8 fine but 0.85m closest focusing distance? 135/2? F2.8 anything? Or wide angle? Had the 16-35mm last year and found the images that stuck with me were all taken at 20mm ...

So fatigue, not because I have so much stuff but fatigues seems to kick in when I even only think about some other stuff ...

Am I unique or is this also a sign of the times?? Have a Q2 and THAT level of simplification I find strangely soothing ... the SONY I use for dogs ... and sometimes people ...


SONY A7C, 16-35/4 20mm wide angle shot


SONY A7IV Batis 40/2 CF


SONY A7C Batis 40/2 CF

Dunno ...

Deed

 

[yardcoyote]

Maybe you're just happy to be where you are for a while. (I'm sort of there myself. Got my walkaround stuff, got my macros.) Maybe you want something silly, like a cool old point and shoot with a CCD sensor or a fixed aperture toy lens? Something artsy like an IR-converted camera?

 

[richj20]

I had a sales splash a few weeks ago and found that I didn't miss a single item I sold. Afterwards.

So there's money in the bank and I could no go out and find replacements.

Any questions as to what I would want to shoot - and cannot shoot right now - I would have to pass as I really don't know.

I hope this will change!

So this could be an easy path to simplification, right?

My easy path to simplification happened 7 years ago when I purchased a Sony A7R2 camera and two lenses: FE 2,8/35 and FE 2.8/50. A few months later I added a second body, and later, a FE 4/12-24 G lens.

I just bought a Sony A7IV, but only have 2 lenses, the 20/1.8 and the fabulous Batis 40/2.0 CF. CF stands for "close-focus" which makes the Batis a highly versatile lens.

But cannot for the love of it think of anything that I would like to shoot.

Perhaps sell those, start over as I did:

My choices were based on what I like to photograph: Landscapes/Nature photography the most - both when traveling:





Locally - a park/lake near my home. A wonderful place to get away for the day.



And my own garden.



Moving into Sony FF was not inexpensive, so I thought carefully about my choices for lenses and how I would use them.

Seven years in, I'm more than happy with the return on my investment.

--
Richard
http://www.rsjphoto.net/

 

[Huntin4photos]

I had a sales splash a few weeks ago and found that I didn't miss a single item I sold. Afterwards.

So there's money in the bank and I could no go out and find replacements.

Any questions as to what I would want to shoot - and cannot shoot right now - I would have to pass as I really don't know.

I hope this will change!

So this could be an easy path to simplification, right?

My easy path to simplification happened 7 years ago when I purchased a Sony A7R2 camera and two lenses: FE 2,8/35 and FE 2.8/50. A few months later I added a second body, and later, a FE 4/12-24 G lens.

I just bought a Sony A7IV, but only have 2 lenses, the 20/1.8 and the fabulous Batis 40/2.0 CF. CF stands for "close-focus" which makes the Batis a highly versatile lens.

But cannot for the love of it think of anything that I would like to shoot.

Perhaps sell those, start over as I did:

My choices were based on what I like to photograph: Landscapes/Nature photography the most - both when traveling:





Locally - a park/lake near my home. A wonderful place to get away for the day.



And my own garden.



Moving into Sony FF was not inexpensive, so I thought carefully about my choices for lenses and how I would use them.

Seven years in, I'm more than happy with the return on my investment.

in another few years, who woul want it, with AI becoming more and more capable

Loading…

www.cbsnews.com

Sad....BTW--Great great photos. Please do not be insulted, but did any of the photos have post-processing that involved AI?

 

[richj20]

...

Locally - a park/lake near my home. A wonderful place to get away for the day.



Moving into Sony FF was not inexpensive, so I thought carefully about my choices for lenses and how I would use them.

Seven years in, I'm more than happy with the return on my investment.

in another few years, who woul want it, with AI becoming more and more capable

This has been mentioned many times. I wouldn't change what I do!

https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/ne...o-state-fair-causing-controversy-jason-allen/

Sad....BTW--Great great photos.

Thank you.

Please do not be insulted, but did any of the photos have post-processing that involved AI?

If by post-processing you mean the RAW file - no. In these cases I edited the JPEG file. My photo editor is Photoshop 7 and I use my own intelligence.

I have a camera that makes wonderful JPEGs, so the only time I post-process a RAW file in my RAW processor (SilkyPix) is to correct for overexposure, or some other user error.

Otherwise, in Photoshop, I rarely edit changes other than contrast and some burning, dodging, sharpening. The colors are as I found them. If the scene is too bland, I don't bother clicking the camera in the first place.

I know people like to use HDR and other effects to "create" a scene as they want it. Or now AI as the complete "creative" process, as in the example you reference. That is fine, but of no interest to me.

My enjoyment in nature photography is to look for the special scenes already there.

In the "Clouds over Fairmount Park" above, this is Southern California, and this cloud formation was quite unusual - preceding a storm, if I remember. I can say, this is the way I found the park that day. No "added clouds."

There were others who noticed the clouds and had walked up on the ridge overlooking the park to view this scene. A special occurrence.

--
Richard
http://www.rsjphoto.net/

 

[New Day Rising]

If you were inclined to entertain a zoom, I would suggest looking at the Tamron 28-75 f/2.8. Heavy? Light and really quite inexpensive with excellent IQ and a nice extension to your available focal lengths.

I have accumulated a bit of a collection of bits and pieces of gear, but virtually everything I do at the moment is covered by the A7Rii and 28-75/2.8 and the Nikon D7200 and 70-300. Fujifilm X-T2 or X-E2s and 35/1.4 or 23/2.0 covers almost all of the rest. Things shift and quite a bit of the other gear does get used often enough to justify its continued presence in my life. The m4/3 gear is falling by the wayside - each time I use it I feel disappointed with the results compared to the other gear.

In terms of future additions, the only thing I want for is good animal eye AF for my puppy. I will probably add in a Sony a6400.

Even with money being no object, I don't feel I want anything else or anything different.

 

[deednets]

If you were inclined to entertain a zoom, I would suggest looking at the Tamron 28-75 f/2.8. Heavy? Light and really quite inexpensive with excellent IQ and a nice extension to your available focal lengths.

I have accumulated a bit of a collection of bits and pieces of gear, but virtually everything I do at the moment is covered by the A7Rii and 28-75/2.8 and the Nikon D7200 and 70-300. Fujifilm X-T2 or X-E2s and 35/1.4 or 23/2.0 covers almost all of the rest. Things shift and quite a bit of the other gear does get used often enough to justify its continued presence in my life. The m4/3 gear is falling by the wayside - each time I use it I feel disappointed with the results compared to the other gear.

In terms of future additions, the only thing I want for is good animal eye AF for my puppy. I will probably add in a Sony a6400.

Even with money being no object, I don't feel I want anything else or anything different.

 

[deednets]

I had a sales splash a few weeks ago and found that I didn't miss a single item I sold. Afterwards.

So there's money in the bank and I could no go out and find replacements.

Any questions as to what I would want to shoot - and cannot shoot right now - I would have to pass as I really don't know.

I hope this will change!

So this could be an easy path to simplification, right?

My easy path to simplification happened 7 years ago when I purchased a Sony A7R2 camera and two lenses: FE 2,8/35 and FE 2.8/50. A few months later I added a second body, and later, a FE 4/12-24 G lens.

I just bought a Sony A7IV, but only have 2 lenses, the 20/1.8 and the fabulous Batis 40/2.0 CF. CF stands for "close-focus" which makes the Batis a highly versatile lens.

But cannot for the love of it think of anything that I would like to shoot.

Perhaps sell those, start over as I did:

My choices were based on what I like to photograph: Landscapes/Nature photography the most - both when traveling:





Locally - a park/lake near my home. A wonderful place to get away for the day.



And my own garden.



Moving into Sony FF was not inexpensive, so I thought carefully about my choices for lenses and how I would use them.

Seven years in, I'm more than happy with the return on my investment.

--
Richard
http://www.rsjphoto.net/

Thanks for your comments and pics. If I started over, the first thing I would get is the 40/2 Batis, then the 20/1.8 Sony.

Not tired of those 2, but find thinking about other lenses exhausting.

 

[richj20]

,,,

I just bought a Sony A7IV, but only have 2 lenses, the 20/1.8 and the fabulous Batis 40/2.0 CF. CF stands for "close-focus" which makes the Batis a highly versatile lens.

But cannot for the love of it think of anything that I would like to shoot.

Thanks for your comments and pics. If I started over, the first thing I would get is the 40/2 Batis, then the 20/1.8 Sony.

Why? You wrote earlier that you can't think of a use for them!

- Richard

--
http://www.rsjphoto.net/

 

[Son Of Waldo]

No, but I am suffering a bit from what-to-sell fatigue...

I had a sales splash a few weeks ago and found that I didn't miss a single item I sold. Afterwards.

So there's money in the bank and I could no go out and find replacements. Any questions as to what I would want to shoot - and cannot shoot right now - I would have to pass as I really don't know.

So this could be an easy path to simplification, right?

I just bought a Sony A7IV, but only have 2 lenses, the 20/1.8 and the fabulous Batis 40/2.0 CF. CF stands for "close-focus" which makes the Batis a highly versatile lens.

But cannot for the love of it think of anything that I would like to shoot. Not into birds, can see the attraction of taking the photos, being there and all that, but cannot see the attraction of actually keeping any photos of birds. Create an album, print a couple, then move on.

Portrait sessions a bit "out" still at the moment as Covid, masks etc all those things are still at play when trying to organise a shoot ...

Where was I? Ah, yes, choice-fatigue: Regarding the A7IV and those 2 lenses I think I am already really well placed for a lot of stuff I could potentially shoot. Fatigue kicks in when I think about what I would like to shoot outside the 20/40mm spectrum.

A zoom?? Heavy, IQ might be ok, but expensive and heavy

Another prime? Which one? Batis 85/1.8 fine but 0.85m closest focusing distance? 135/2? F2.8 anything? Or wide angle? Had the 16-35mm last year and found the images that stuck with me were all taken at 20mm ...

So fatigue, not because I have so much stuff but fatigues seems to kick in when I even only think about some other stuff ...

Am I unique or is this also a sign of the times?? Have a Q2 and THAT level of simplification I find strangely soothing ... the SONY I use for dogs ... and sometimes people ...


SONY A7C, 16-35/4 20mm wide angle shot


SONY A7IV Batis 40/2 CF


SONY A7C Batis 40/2 CF

Dunno ...

Deed

Great shot of your (only slightly apprehensive) friend BTW, love it!

You are in a great spot with the two lenses you already have, simple choices with plenty of high-quality capability. Here is a lens that caught my eye while browsing the B&H E-mount pages: Voigtlander MACRO APO-LANTHAR 110mm f/2.5 . Sure looks nice for the price to me and can give you looks that shorter lenses simply cannot.

I haven't invested in a mirrorless camera to this point but one important aspect stands out for me: the current E-mount lens selection is far more diversified (and for me, interesting) than what is available for Nikon Z-mount. If I do end up with some sort Nikon Z camera in the future one of my first purchases would be something like this: Megadap ETZ21 Sony E-Mount Lens to Nikon Z-Mount .

Don't know about you ,but the main photography issue I'm currently having is lack of time which also involves getting to locations. Close focus lenses allow me to make something interesting out of day-to-day life.

Enjoy!

 

[Blind Bill]

I had a sales splash a few weeks ago and found that I didn't miss a single item I sold. Afterwards.

So there's money in the bank and I could no go out and find replacements. Any questions as to what I would want to shoot - and cannot shoot right now - I would have to pass as I really don't know.

So this could be an easy path to simplification, right?

I just bought a Sony A7IV, but only have 2 lenses, the 20/1.8 and the fabulous Batis 40/2.0 CF. CF stands for "close-focus" which makes the Batis a highly versatile lens.

Two excellent lenses. Rather than think in terms of what you want to add to your kit you may change this into an exploration of where you want to shoot? Why not take a trip or attend a workshop and with the help of others open your mind further and let your creative juices start to flow again.

But cannot for the love of it think of anything that I would like to shoot. Not into birds, can see the attraction of taking the photos, being there and all that, but cannot see the attraction of actually keeping any photos of birds. Create an album, print a couple, then move on.

Portrait sessions a bit "out" still at the moment as Covid, masks etc all those things are still at play when trying to organise a shoot ...

Where was I? Ah, yes, choice-fatigue: Regarding the A7IV and those 2 lenses I think I am already really well placed for a lot of stuff I could potentially shoot. Fatigue kicks in when I think about what I would like to shoot outside the 20/40mm spectrum.

Often I confuse myself trying to decide 'what' equipment I should take with me on a shoot. You're in an enviable position of not having to make those decisions. Take them out...experiment with them.

A zoom?? Heavy, IQ might be ok, but expensive and heavy

I've changed to small primes myself and am less interested in zooms, as you are.

Another prime? Which one? Batis 85/1.8 fine but 0.85m closest focusing distance? 135/2? F2.8 anything? Or wide angle? Had the 16-35mm last year and found the images that stuck with me were all taken at 20mm ...

Except for my Batis 85mm the rest of primes are all MF. Exploring photography using MF lenses has brought me back to a time when all my lenses were MF and digital was not invented yet so we had to be very thoughtful and deliberate in composing and focusing our shots. Film was our only medium back then. Another poster has already mentioned the Voigtlander 110mm APO. It is an excellent lens; I own one and it is a lot of fun to use. Maybe a lens such as this would help you get out of the doldrums?

So fatigue, not because I have so much stuff but fatigues seems to kick in when I even only think about some other stuff ...

Am I unique or is this also a sign of the times?? Have a Q2 and THAT level of simplification I find strangely soothing ... the SONY I use for dogs ... and sometimes people ...

I think it is in our nature to split hairs infinitely, and because we wake up and go to bed thinking of choices we develop mental fatigue until we eventually give in and buy something else (Guilty!). As I said before, you may be in an enviable position of not having to think so much about choices. Move forward with what you have, explore and let your head decide where it wants to go next. Asking others? Well, we want to focus on what your next lens should be and not on where your head is.

Dunno ...

Deed

 

[Mark_A]

There is a bewildering array of options out there ..

I decided on Nikon, then ..

I tried to buy what I need for subjects I know I want to shoot.

Mark_A

 

[JimH123]

I had a sales splash a few weeks ago and found that I didn't miss a single item I sold. Afterwards.

So there's money in the bank and I could no go out and find replacements. Any questions as to what I would want to shoot - and cannot shoot right now - I would have to pass as I really don't know.

So this could be an easy path to simplification, right?

I just bought a Sony A7IV, but only have 2 lenses, the 20/1.8 and the fabulous Batis 40/2.0 CF. CF stands for "close-focus" which makes the Batis a highly versatile lens.

But cannot for the love of it think of anything that I would like to shoot. Not into birds, can see the attraction of taking the photos, being there and all that, but cannot see the attraction of actually keeping any photos of birds. Create an album, print a couple, then move on.

Portrait sessions a bit "out" still at the moment as Covid, masks etc all those things are still at play when trying to organise a shoot ...

Where was I? Ah, yes, choice-fatigue: Regarding the A7IV and those 2 lenses I think I am already really well placed for a lot of stuff I could potentially shoot. Fatigue kicks in when I think about what I would like to shoot outside the 20/40mm spectrum.

A zoom?? Heavy, IQ might be ok, but expensive and heavy

Another prime? Which one? Batis 85/1.8 fine but 0.85m closest focusing distance? 135/2? F2.8 anything? Or wide angle? Had the 16-35mm last year and found the images that stuck with me were all taken at 20mm ...

So fatigue, not because I have so much stuff but fatigues seems to kick in when I even only think about some other stuff ...

Am I unique or is this also a sign of the times?? Have a Q2 and THAT level of simplification I find strangely soothing ... the SONY I use for dogs ... and sometimes people ...


SONY A7C, 16-35/4 20mm wide angle shot


SONY A7IV Batis 40/2 CF


SONY A7C Batis 40/2 CF

Dunno ...

Deed

Sounds like you need to expand your "what I like to shoot" horizon!

For instance, I have found close up photography fun. And then there is IR photography. And then mono sensor photography. And then astro photography. And with astrophotography, there are Milky Way shots, and shots of nebula and then shots of galaxies, and so on. Next is microscope photography.

There's so much to photograph that I just don't run out of things that interest me. I will spend a week or two on one of those directions until one of the others is calling out for attention. I never get bored.

 

[Arek Halusko]

...

 

[stevenj2]

I go out for a few hours when I feel like it and take one camera and lens and no bag. No matter what I take, I always wish I had something wider or longer with me, too.

I have Nikon DX and FX and a whole pile of lenses. Besides a SONY a6300 and a few lenses, and a GRii. Spent too much to figure out what I like, for a hobby LOL, but at least all bodies were used or refurb and and so were many of the lenses.

What does it mean?

You put up nice shots to make me jealous here in the middle of the city, down below the good views and in narrow streets.

I wish I had a nice sunset view at hand, Or a dog. In some fresh air. If that's what you have, love it and show it in pics.

I don't easily do it in dirty downtown streets and such and get tired of that walk-around.

 

[Eddie Rizk]

You said that you don’t like zooms, and you had the 16-35, but you always shot at 20. Well, 20 is what you’re used to.

My recommendation, for something that will challenge you and spice up your photography, is to get an ultra wide prime of 16 or wider.Force yourself to shoot at the new focal length in the same places
Ultra wide is hard to shoot. Every slight change in perspective makes a big difference in the shot It’s a slow and ponderous photographic tool, but It’s great fun.

--
That's my opinion, and it's worth what you paid for it.
Eddie Rizk
The race is not always to the swift nor the battle to the strong, but that's the way to bet.
Formerly "Ed Rizk"
My email was hacked and unrecoverable along with all associated accounts, so I got permission to create a new one.

 

[Ellis Vener]

Photograph what interests you. Ignore what everyone else is photographing, just pay attention to your own interests.

 

[deednets]

,,,

I just bought a Sony A7IV, but only have 2 lenses, the 20/1.8 and the fabulous Batis 40/2.0 CF. CF stands for "close-focus" which makes the Batis a highly versatile lens.

But cannot for the love of it think of anything that I would like to shoot. Except for what I can shoot with those 2. I also do portraits but use a Fuji for that.

Thanks for your comments and pics. If I started over, the first thing I would get is the 40/2 Batis, then the 20/1.8 Sony.

Why? You wrote earlier that you can't think of a use for them!

- Richard

What I mean was that I couldn't think of another lens I would want ... must re-read my OP, was it really that unclear?

Have filled some extra content ...

Sorry about the confusion.

 

[deednets]

You said that you don’t like zooms, and you had the 16-35, but you always shot at 20. Well, 20 is what you’re used to.

My recommendation, for something that will challenge you and spice up your photography, is to get an ultra wide prime of 16 or wider.Force yourself to shoot at the new focal length in the same places
Ultra wide is hard to shoot. Every slight change in perspective makes a big difference in the shot It’s a slow and ponderous photographic tool, but It’s great fun.

I didn't mean I always shot at 20mm but that the shots I took at 20mm I liked best. Not too little detail and not too close.

I took a lot of shots at 16mm, 18, 20, 24 and 35 with that lens and after some pixel peeping etc I decided that 20mm I liked best. What might be at play here is also that I used to shoot the 20/2.8 Nikkor AF-D ...

 

[deednets]

Photograph what interests you. Ignore what everyone else is photographing, just pay attention to your own interests.

Yes of course and then you see some "look" and what gear was used ... GAS, then re-evaluation (as in my case here) and then a bit lost.









The Q2 ... well, not much GAS there ... after you have one that is ;-)

Deed