Trying to recover from G.A.S., need advice on consolidating and getting rid of camera stuff..

Hello,

My opinion is that the solution might be found by restricting your (types of) photography.

If you truly want to fotagraph everything, then your present gear is not enough. BUT if you make a choice, you'll know what to sell.

Gerard

Daniel Clarke wrote:

I travel a lot (internationally, every month due to work) and so I do a lot of travel photography.

E-M5 (I or II), 12-35, 35-100, 25. However, 14-140 and 25 is an option.

The rest of the time, I really do everything.. landscapes,

E-M5 (I or II), 12-35, 35-100, maybe 60 Macro just in case

street photography,

Both E-M5's with 15, 25, and maybe 45 packed. Others might go for just 17 (1.8) & 45. Still others would use the 12-35. Depends on you.

portraits for friends and family,

E-M5 (I or II), 25, 45, 75. For groups, the 12-35.

a few weddings as second shooter for acquaintances,

Depends on situation. Maybe both E-M5's with 12-35 for group grabs and 45/75 for candids of individuals and couples.

outdoors macro photography,

E-M5 (I or II), 60 macro. Others might look at a quality macro close-up lens on the 35-100.

some sports and even birding a little.

E-M5's, 35-100, 75-300.

I guess the point is to look critically at the types of photography YOU really want to do, and think about "kits" that you'd typically want to carry. Also think about your tolerance for size, weight and IQ. Maybe the 14-140 is perfectly acceptable for most of your travel and landscape duties. I've never tried one, but I'd be loathe to part with my 12-35 and 35-100; and these two (along with a 25 or 60) are an acceptable weight and IQ for my travel or landscape kits.

Hello Dan,

I sincerly hope your financial situation will be better soon.

I'll try to give my 2 cents about what is essential in your impressive setup.

Cameras :

• Olympus OM-D E-M5 II Titanium Limited Ed. (2015)
• Olympus PEN E-P1 silver (2009)

I would sell the E-M5. The E-P1 is difficult to sell and you'll get nothing for it. I kept it too and use it sometimes as the IQ is great and I feel JPEG colors are the best ever in m4/3, but that's personal.

Lenses :

I would say the minimal setup (from the lenses you have) which will provide you high quality images is :

Zooms

• Lumix GX 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS HD
• Lumix GX 35-100mm f/2.8 OIS HD
• Zuiko D 75-300mm II f/4.8-6.7

Primes

• Leica DG 15mm f/1.7
• Leica DG 25mm f/1.4
• Zuiko D 60mm f/2.8 macro
• Zuiko D 75mm f/1.8

Flash

• Olympus FL-600R flash
• Olympus FL-300R flash

With this setup, you have nearly all bases covered. If you like wider than 12mm, maybe ad a 9-18 or 7-14.

In any case, all the best to you, hope you will recover soon!

I wouldn't agonize too much over the photographic capabilities of each piece of gear. Start by selling your most expensive piece. Repeat until you're left with one camera body and only your 2 or 3 cheapest lenses.

Or take it a step further... This might be a perfect time for a "one year, one lens" project (Google it!).

Daniel Clarke wrote:

Hello everyone,

Don't make fun of me please, but I am trying to recover from G.A.S. (gear acquisition syndrome), and would need advice on consolidating and getting rid of some of my accumulated camera stuff..

Thing is, it's not as easy to do as it sounds. I travel a lot (internationally, every month due to work) and so I do a lot of travel photography. The rest of the time, I really do everything.. landscapes, street photography, portraits for friends and family, a few weddings as second shooter for acquaintances, outdoors macro photography, some sports and even birding a little.

I am strictly a hobbyist that enjoys photography a lot, but I have never earned a dime from this hobby.

My - camera gear - background:

Much before m4/3, I got into the 4/3 system with the Olympus E-510 DSLR and the Panasonic Leica 25mm f/1.4 lens. Over the years, cameras came and went, and I built up an impressive system for my needs. I usually owned 2 bodies at a time, and in the 4/3 system I owned the Olympus E-3 (x2), Olympus E-30, Olympus E-620, Olympus E-510 Evolt, Panasonic DMC-L10, and Leica Digilux 3 DSLR bodies.

My "final setup" at the time was the following:

• Olympus E-3
• Olympus E-620

• Leica D 25mm f/1.4
• Leica D 14-150mm f/3.5-5.6

• Zuiko D 14-35mm f/2 SWD
• Zuiko D 35-100mm f/2

• Zuiko D 12-60mm f/2.8-4 SWD
• Zuiko D 50-200mm f/2.8-3.5 SWD

• Zuiko D 25mm f/2.8 pancake
• Sigma D 150mm f/2.8 HSM macro

• Olympus FL-50R flash
• Olympus FL-36R flash

Getting into micro 4/3:

In 2009, I purchased an Olympus E-P1 with the 17mm f/2.8 lens, and really liked that camera (except for missing a viewfinder). For a while I used both systems, but as soon after I was going through a very hard time financially, I decided to sell off all my 4/3 system mostly, and replace everything with m4/3 equivalents when the possibility comes in the future (i.e. when lenses come and I could afford them). I only kept the E-620 and the Leica 25mm f/1.4 and Leica 14-150mm for a while (the 620 even used the same battery as the E-P1, and that was important).

A bit later, during a trip to Japan, I purchased 3 lenses (and sold off my remaining 4/3 gear to fund these purchases, and since the new setup took care of my travel photography needs anyway):

• Lumix G 7-14mm f/4
• Lumix G 14-140mm f/4-5.8 OIS HD
• Lumix G 20mm f/1.7 pancake

So, I used an E-P1 with 3 lenses for a while (the 17mm f/2.8 didn't see much use).

I was however missing a lot in other fields.. no lenses available to replace those venerable 4/3 lenses I used to own and use.

During the past years, I only bought three m4/3 bodies: E-P1 (in 2009), OM-D E-M5 (in 2012), and OM-D E-M5 Mark II (in 2015). So, except for very strongly wanting the PEN-F now (mostly for the rangefinder style, PEN body with viewfinder and increased resolution), I guess my G.A.S. could have been worse, as far as camera bodies go... I still currently own all 3 bodies however.

After this, I only sold 2 lenses (the Lumix 7-14mm was not getting much use, and after I got the new Lumix G 14-140mm II f/3.5-5.6 OIS HD, I sold the older/heavier one).

However, during the following years, I managed to build up my dream system as follows:

• Olympus OM-D E-M5 II Titanium Limited Ed. (2015)
• Olympus OM-D E-M5 silver (2012)
• Olympus PEN E-P1 silver (2009)

• Zuiko D 12mm f/2
• Zuiko D 17mm f/1.8
• Zuiko D 25mm f/1.8
• Zuiko D 45mm f/1.8
• Zuiko D 60mm f/2.8 macro
• Zuiko D 75mm f/1.8

• Zuiko D 17mm f/2.8 pancake
• Lumix G 14mm f/2.5 pancake
• Lumix G 20mm f/1.7 pancake

• Leica DG 15mm f/1.7
• Leica DG 25mm f/1.4

• Lumix GX 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS HD
• Lumix GX 35-100mm f/2.8 OIS HD

• Lumix G 14-140mm II f/3.5-5.6 OIS HD
• Zuiko D 75-300mm II f/4.8-6.7

• Olympus 15mm f/8 body cap

• Olympus FL-600R flash
• Olympus FL-300R flash
• Olympus FL-36R flash
• Olympus FL-LM3 flash
• Olympus FL-LM2 w.proof flash

• Olympus MAL-1 macro arm light
• Olympus VF-1 optical viewfinder

+ tripods, bags, filters, etc..

(I was going to get an ultra-mini body, like the GM5, or upcoming GM7 as a lightweight travel body.)

THANK YOU for bearing with me so far.. here comes the problem:

I am now going through some difficulties again, lost income for several months due to a health issue, and some other important things have piled up as well (need a new computer to replace a 6-year old broken iMac, and need to come up with a down payment on a car for the family as well). So I decided to seriously pair down my system, however difficult it might be. I am completely stuck though as to what to keep and what not to keep.. All stuff gets used usually, and I am not a rich guy by any means, but save up and build up the best setup for my needs..

While I do want to consolidate really and simplify my setup, I keep thinking about the new PEN-F, and even the not-even-announced, just rumored Olympus 12mm, 25mm, 50mm f/1.2 lens line I would love to get in the future...

I do not want to make a mistake and sell off something that I might regret. I will want to have a complete setup in the future as well when my financial situation gets better, but the current 3 bodies + 16 lenses + 5 flashed are overkill and I do need to simplify(!!) anyway while being able to do most types of photography..

The only thing so far I know for sure, is that I could get rid of 2 pancake lenses: Olympus 17mm f/2.8 and Lumix 14mm f/2.5, as these are the only ones in my setup, that do not see much usage. Could possibly sell the 15mm body cap lens as well, but all this would not help much financially, or in the simplification process either.

I do not really need to E-P1 and the older E-M5, as I use the E-M5 II mostly, but would love to have the PEN-F which seems to be my ideal camera body.. I am not sure though, if it worth to sell all 3 bodies for that one.

I will be selling a fairly recent (Full-HD) Panasonic video camera as well, I just wish Olympus had a 4K camera body, that could take it's place and even be an upgrade.

So, I need your advice, suggestions, etc. as to what would you do in my place?? How would you simplify my lens setup?

Please, be nice though, I love photography, but I do admit, I am crazy about quality camera gear as well..

Thank you to all who took the time to read this in advance and hoping for some good input from the forum here!

Best regards,

Dan

Seeing as the motivation is to raise money and not knowing what sort of photography you do, here is my suggestion. Keep the EM5 and the EP1 because they are not worth much as resales whereas the EM5-2 is valuable, so sell it.

Likewise keep the Zuiko 17, 25 and 45 and the Panny 14 and the 75-300 and sell the rest because for the most part they are more valuable. Keep 1 compatible flash and sell the rest.

With 14, 17, 25 and 45 lenses and a long zoom, there is not much you cannot do. Many of the photography greats only used a couple of lenses and mostly in those focal lengths.

Add a cheap tripod and see IQ go up hugely in poor light. Really I think that is all anyone needs in most situations. If you prefer a zoom, sell the 17 and add a cheap used Panny 12-35, a short zoom that really delivers.

I don't think i ever had quite the collection as you did but I did get into photography to save money; the wife loves to take professional photos of our family.

I started with a GF2 with a kit lens and panaleica 25mm. My system grew substantially once I got into the hobby and before long I had a G3, 14-45, 45-200, 14mm, 25mm, 45mm, 7.5mm, and a bunch of lighting equipment. I lost my job and sold everything I could. I literally ended up with my G3 and panaleica 25mm for almost 2 years, exclusively.

Instead of looking at it as a lost of equipment, I chose to look at it as an opportunity to grow. I shot the hell out of that set up. Don't think of it as a handicap, think of it as an opportunity. I learned more in those two years than I have through any photography tutorial or video or book. This is a great opportunity for you, just think of it as that. It'll be like an exercise. Plus, with such a minimal set up, I had no thoughts in what to bring, what to use, anything... I simply had the one camera and lens for everything.

If you're interested in the rest of my story, read further:

I soon acquired a great job, I purchased an E-P5 and a bunch of lenses 9-18mm, 17mm, 25mm, 45mm, 40-150mm, FL600, filters, hoods, tripod. I was so lost with all my new equipment, I had hard time adjusting to having so much. I had even grown accustomed to the ergonomics of the G3 that I couldn't get used to the E-P5. I had to get rid of it, so I recently picked up the E-M5 II with the grip and the 12-40mm.

What's funny is, whenever I'm running out of the house now, I just grab the E-M5 II with the 25mm, no grip, nothing. Everything else is practically used for special occasions.

Good luck in your endeavors and remember to enjoy the hobby of photography... not just collecting photography gear.

You have health issues that is interrupting your income stream and which puts you in difficult times.

Think about it. How can you enjoy photography if you have health issues? Or enjoy everything else as you clearly have difficulty maintaining an income stream.

If you can address your health issues first and get well and restore an income stream, then perhaps you would have no need to sell off your gear?!?

If you need to sell your gear; my advice is to sell it all and get the needed cash to seek good medical help. Once you're healthy again, then you can consider rebuilding your new kit with the new PEN-F. Everyone falls into difficult times from time to time. Sometimes, you just have to get strong and well and turn the ship around. Don't play defensive and let your health hang in the balance and juggle other finances. Cameras can be easily replaced, but sometimes good health isn't so easy to replace

Hope this helps..