I like to use the term ‘GAS’ (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) which refers to a constant desire by photographers to upgrade equipment when a new piece of gear is available on the market. If you suffer from GAS, it can be quite an expensive affliction and the cost may not justify the benefits! Here are some ways to avoid falling victim to GAS and to only purchase equipment based on need:
- Make an honest assessment of what your shooting patterns have been like and try to foresee what direction you see your photography heading in the future. For instance, I am primarily a landscape photographer and delve into wildlife photography when the opportunity arises. Therefore, if a new 400m prime lens became available on the market, I would have to question what benefit it would give me given my current situation.
- Look at your current body of work and make an assessment of what is currently holding you back from creating the images that you desire. Do you shoot a lot of long exposures but have troublesome casts from cheap filters? Better quality filters might be of use to you. Do you shoot a lot of milky way images but are trouble by noise? A body with better ISO capability or a lens with wider maximum aperture may help you.
With NiSi Natural Night
- How often are you going to be able to use the piece of equipment you are considering purchasing? For instance, I sometimes consider whether I will delve into macro photography. But my shooting patterns limit me to brief windows of shooting throughout the year during which my emphasis is primarily on landscapes. For that reason, my decision was to stick with using a close-up filter rather than purchasing a dedicated macro lens. As time has progressed though, I find my catalogue being filled with more macro images, so in the future, a dedicated macro lens may well be justified!
- What could you do with the money if you weren’t spending it on equipment? This is particularly relevant if you are considering a major investment in a good quality lens or high-end camera body. I have resisted buying new equipment in the past simply because for the price of a piece of gear, I could spend it on a family holiday, which at this point in time is a high priority.
In summary, be honest with yourself in terms of your track record, your assessment of future plans and most importantly what barrier the specific gear you are considering will help you overcome.
How Good Are NiSi Filters for Landscape Photography
by Dylan Toh
