It's still about the gear you have with you

Like many, I have been unable to avoid the GAS feelings lately, whether wishing I could spend the money for a K-1II, the new D-FA 50, or even adding more high end M43 lens.  And nothing like getting out to do some photos again to fix all those needless wants.

Just use the camera you got stupid!

Totally agree with you and certainly better than a mug, a cat or garden flowers taken with a K1 and DFA 50.

I enjoyed photography more with a compact camera when I had a life, lots of friends, holidays, parties and family etc.

In the past year I got fed up taking landscapes, hardly use my gear any longer and have a big thought about selling most of it.

😥

Wonderful photos!

There is a saying that photos are made by what is in front of the camera and what is behind it. Not by the camera itself.

You've just provided super evidence for that!

Mike Arledge wrote:

Like many, I have been unable to avoid the GAS feelings lately, whether wishing I could spend the money for a K-1II, the new D-FA 50, or even adding more high end M43 lens. And nothing like getting out to do some photos again to fix all those needless wants.

There is certainly nothing like the feeling of "I'm here, now let's have some fun and see what we can do today!"

Just use the camera you got stupid!

At any time, that's all we can do. But ....

Afterwards, I often reflect on what just happened. What lessons should I learn?

Sometimes the lesson is that I could have used different equipment that I already have. Here is an example from a recent shoot:
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/61652237

Sometimes I even have the chance to go back with different equipment and get extra photos:
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/61296792

Sometimes it really is the case that sooner or later I'll need something else.

Beautiful shots Mike, thanks for sharing!

Joey

True

I still discover my k3ii.

Beautiful and lovely series.

The color rendering is amazing.

MNBob wrote:

So true....

Very nice photos of pretty ladies with some nice gear...it's the photographer that makes the difference.

Bob

Many thanks, now if only that last line would stick in my head, how happy my wallet would be!

MightyMike wrote:

Wonderful photos and I totally agree, while it can be fun to discuss and dream about other gear Its far more fulfilling to get out and shoot, create and explore with what you already have. Why have a camera in the first place if you'd rather bicker about the gear you don't have?

For sure, but such is life in the internet age, and when more time in spent in doors in front of a computer for work, the bickering comes naturally sadly

Oiche wrote:

Totally agree with you and certainly better than a mug, a cat or garden flowers taken with a K1 and DFA 50.

I enjoyed photography more with a compact camera when I had a life, lots of friends, holidays, parties and family etc.

In the past year I got fed up taking landscapes, hardly use my gear any longer and have a big thought about selling most of it.

😥

I understand that feeling.  A year ago this week I went on vacation in Vermont hoping to do landscape work, but it was much too hot to go hiking where I wanted with all the gear, and thus, landscape work is a sticking point for my gear right now as well.  But it is not the gear's fault, just my own for not going to places to use it more often.

Barry Pearson wrote:

Wonderful photos!

There is a saying that photos are made by what is in front of the camera and what is behind it. Not by the camera itself.

You've just provided super evidence for that!

Mike Arledge wrote:

Like many, I have been unable to avoid the GAS feelings lately, whether wishing I could spend the money for a K-1II, the new D-FA 50, or even adding more high end M43 lens. And nothing like getting out to do some photos again to fix all those needless wants.

There is certainly nothing like the feeling of "I'm here, now let's have some fun and see what we can do today!"

Just use the camera you got stupid!

At any time, that's all we can do. But ....

Afterwards, I often reflect on what just happened. What lessons should I learn?

Sometimes the lesson is that I could have used different equipment that I already have. Here is an example from a recent shoot:
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/61652237

Sometimes I even have the chance to go back with different equipment and get extra photos:
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/61296792

Sometimes it really is the case that sooner or later I'll need something else.

The reflective period after a shoot where you think about the tangible things you did and could have done is a very different (and better) mental space than the angst of GAS feelings between shoots.  GAS is an internet marketing and consumer driven feeling to acquire more with little purpose behind it beyond "gotta catch em all!"  Thoughtful appreciation of gear choices in the context or a real life situation is much more pleasant and fun in my opinion!

Good thoughtful threads you linked.

KPM2 wrote:

Hello Mike Arledge

That are very nice tele-perspective-pictures.

And that is my personally point, it's not the gear, it's more what perspective do to the focal length of the lens and sensor size, your gear can give you, with that you can compose or captured a scene.

You can compose a scene with your KP/lens with a K1/lens with the same perspective, you need only an other focal length for a K1. On the other hand, the K1 can give your existing lens (like your prime lens) an other perspective (focal length), and that can makes the K1 so interesting for you, when you have a lens, which you like and where you would be happy to use it in it's other perspective (focal length).

But your existing gear do not restrict you in your choose for a specific perspective.

best regards KPM2

Those are all very good thoughts for sure, and yes, nothing restricted me on this shoot (not even, GASP! Auto focus).  The only time I really angst over going FF is for the event work I do from time to time.  I do feel a K1 sensor would give me cleaner shots at ISOs above 1600, however, the fastest wide lens is still a 30-35mm 1.4 range lens in the Pentax space.  Would love to see a 24 or 28 F2 or faster for our lovely Pentax system.

zakaria wrote:

True

I still discover my k3ii.

Beautiful and lovely series.

The color rendering is amazing.

Yes, and color is why I stick to Pentax, I just love the DNG files and what I can do with them

You got it right Mike, and those are great examples too. I remember when I first took the plunge into digital, and my first wedding with a 6MP *ist D, coming from a film Pentax 645 and shooting mostly Kodak VPS. I was sooooo nervous it wouldn't satisfy the clients. Man, I was wrong. When it comes to clients and portraits, it is all about the image and memories.

TBLF wrote:

You got it right Mike, and those are great examples too. I remember when I first took the plunge into digital, and my first wedding with a 6MP *ist D, coming from a film Pentax 645 and shooting mostly Kodak VPS. I was sooooo nervous it wouldn't satisfy the clients. Man, I was wrong. When it comes to clients and portraits, it is all about the image and memories.

Yeah, I cannot imagine the pressures around wedding client work.  I tend to steer fully clear of that.  But maybe the fear kept me from doing fun things, since as you point out, its all about the memories, and I seem to do pretty good with those things.

Joseph Tainter wrote:

Lovely shots. But there's still one or two more lenses I want in full frame.

Joe

Same here, but until then I can at least sleep content with what I have!